Waveform averaging in PicoScope

PicoScope can be used to display the average of a sequence of waveforms. This note explains how it can be done, by simply combining the waveform buffer and math channels features.

Our test signal is a filtered square wave with some amplitude instability. Figure 1 is as viewed by a PicoScope 3206B oscilloscope.

The signal source was the PicoScope 3206B’s own arbitrary waveform generator. The oscilloscope timebase was adjusted so that one cycle almost filled the scope view. In this real-time view, we can see that the pulse heights vary but there is no way to measure the variability.

PicoScope automatically stores the selected number of waveforms (by default, 32) in the waveform buffer. We can now click the Buffer Navigator button to explore the contents of the buffer (Figure 2).

The Navigator view can be scrolled to review the stored waveforms. Any waveform can be transferred to the main scope view by clicking its thumbnail picture in the Navigator. This method allows us to make detailed measurements on any waveform we like, but we are still limited to viewing one waveform at a time.

Another way to view multiple waveforms is to enable Color Persistence mode. This is switched on by clicking the Persistence Mode button (Figure 3).

Rapid trigger mode

PicoScope acquires the specified number of waveforms directly into the scope’s buffer memory before displaying the data the screen. This mode can achieve very short delays between waveforms: as little as 1 µs  on fast timebases. The averaging function works on these waveforms too.