Pico Technology

Here is your Test and Measurement update from Pico Technology.

1.  New PicoScope 2000 Series Oscilloscopes up to 200 MHz

There’s now an even wider choice of oscilloscopes in the entry–level PicoScope 2000 Series. We have reduced the prices of the original models and added three new ones with higher bandwidths and sampling rates, including the first USB–powered scopes to offer a 1 GS/s  sampling rate. Other outstanding features are:

• 2 channels
• Signal generator/arbitrary waveform generator
• Spectrum analyzer
• External trigger input (PicoScope 2206 and above)
• Full version of PicoScope software including advanced triggering, channel math, 26 automatic measurements, mask limit testing, serial decoding, alarms and reference waveforms
• USB powered — no need for external PSU

Matching probes are also available in packs of two.

Full specifications and ordering information

2.  Software News

New Linux driver for the PicoScope 6000 Series

Many customers, particularly those working in education and science, have been asking us for Linux drivers for our scopes, so we have been working hard to support them. Our latest production is a 32–bit driver for the high–performance PicoScope 6000 Series and works on Ubuntu 11.04. A driver for the PicoScope 3000A/B Series is also available.

Download Linux drivers from Pico Labs

New PicoScope R6.6.10 beta

PicoScope 6.6.10 beta includes support for the new PicoScope 2206, 2207 and 2208 (see above), as well as various minor improvements.

Download latest PicoScope beta from Pico Labs

R6.6.10 Release Notes

3.  PicoScope Feature of the Month: Arbitrary Waveform Editor

Most PicoScope oscilloscopes now include an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) as well as a conventional function generator. Unlike a function generator, which is limited to producing waveforms from a list of standard shapes, the AWG can produce any waveform within the performance limits of the device. This allows you to test circuits that require non–standard input signals such as chopped sine waves, bit streams and irregular pulses.

The arbitrary waveform editor is a vital part of the PicoScope software that defines the waveform that the AWG will produce. It has the following features:

• Drawing tools. Use the straight line and freehand tools to draw any waveform you can imagine.
• Standard waveforms. Instead of drawing your waveform from nothing, create a standard waveform (sine, square, triangle, ramp, filtered pulse) with specified parameters and then modify it.
• Bit stream. Enter a binary or hexadecimal value to create a binary bit stream with specified levels.
• Normalize. Expand the waveform to maximum amplitude.
• Import channel. Copy a waveform from an oscilloscope channel into the editor.
• Import/export CSV. Exchange waveforms with other programs such as spreadsheets, or save for later use with PicoScope.

Read more about PicoScope arbitrary waveform generators

4.  PicoScope Training Videos: Part 4

On picoscope.tv, our oscilloscope training channel, you will find a wealth of video material designed to help you use your scope more effectively. Here are some of the latest new videos:

• Measuring Total Power of an RF Pulse
• Making Automated Measurements in Spectrum Mode
• Making Automated Measurement in Scope Mode
• Using the Maths Channel feature
• Saving Waveforms as Animated GIFs
• Saving and Loading Waveforms and Setups

There are many more videos than we can list here, so please explore picoscope.tv and find the one that will answer your questions. You can also help us improve our content by leaving your comments below the videos.

5.  Questions and Answers

Q. Probe compensation. Where can I find a test signal to compensate my scope probe?

A. Many of our oscilloscopes have a signal generator or arbitrary waveform generator output marked SIG, GEN or AWG. This can be used as a compensation/calibration test signal. Start the PicoScope software, click the signal generator button on the toolbar, and select ‘Square’ from the drop–down list of waveforms. Plug the scope probe into the ‘A’ input of the scope, touch the tip of the probe to the inner contact of the signal generator connector, and you will see a square wave on the screen. Follow the instructions supplied with your probe to adjust the low–frequency (LF) compensation so that the square wave appears correctly. For a full technical explanation, consult our detailed article on scope–probe compensation.

Q. Channels. How do I manually adjust multiple channels on the PicoScope screen?

A. PicoScope provides several different ways of arranging and displaying waveforms using the mouse, the ‘Auto–Arrange Axes’ command and the offset and scaling tools. All the options are explained in our video, ‘Viewing Waveforms in PicoScope 6’, on picoscope.tv.

6.  Events

For the latest information about upcoming exhibitions, please see our “Test and Measurement Events” page.

7.  Careers at Pico Technology

Come and join our award–winning^* development team! Due to our continuing growth, we have the following vacancies:

• Development Engineer — Software (Windows Desktop Applications) [7 positions]
• Development Engineer — Digital Electronics [2 positions]

Find details of these positions, and an online application form, at pico.jobs. You can also send enquiries by email to jobs@picotech.com.

If you want to be part of a growing company at the leading edge of test equipment design, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

^*You could even win a personal award. Two of our young engineers are currently shortlisted for the Elektra 2011 ‘Rising Star New Engineer of the Year’ award. We look forward to the judges’ announcement in December.

8.  Software Releases

“For a software guy I can use your scope in ten seconds and get a signal on the screen. When using a traditional hardware scope I, and many hardware guys, can take minutes to hours to get the scope just right.” — Galen Spooner

Our latest software releases are available for free download from our website. To check which release you are using, start the software (PicoScope, PicoLog or EnviroMon) and select Help > About.

See Software Releases — New Features for a fulllist of changes and additions to the software.

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10.  Contact Details

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