PS 4824A Missing Data in Streaming Mode

Post discussions on applications you are writing
Post Reply
TrentonWallis
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:19 pm

PS 4824A Missing Data in Streaming Mode

Post by TrentonWallis »

Experimenting with the Picoscope 4824A I noticed there seems to be an issue with data being missed at around 3.3 seconds when sampling at 20 MHz.

My team is looking to use a Picoscope as both a data logger and as a triggering device. For data logging I am downsampling on software side, and for triggering, I am triggering on software side.

I went ahead and implemented the scenario where I end up with the issue based off of the streaming example in Python. The code is below.

Code: Select all

#
# Copyright (C) 2018-2019 Pico Technology Ltd. See LICENSE file for terms.
#
# PS2000 Series (A API) STREAMING MODE EXAMPLE
# This example demonstrates how to call the ps4000A driver API functions in order to open a device, setup 2 channels and collects streamed data (1 buffer).
# This data is then plotted as mV against time in ns.

import ctypes
import numpy as np
from picosdk.ps4000a import ps4000a as ps
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from picosdk.functions import adc2mV, assert_pico_ok
import time

PROCESS_RATE = 20000000 # Hz
PROCESS_TIME = 5300 # ms
# Create chandle and status ready for use
chandle = ctypes.c_int16()
status = {}

# Open PicoScope 2000 Series device
# Returns handle to chandle for use in future API functions
status["openunit"] = ps.ps4000aOpenUnit(ctypes.byref(chandle), None)

try:
    assert_pico_ok(status["openunit"])
except:

    powerStatus = status["openunit"]

    if powerStatus == 286:
        status["changePowerSource"] = ps.ps4000aChangePowerSource(chandle, powerStatus)
    else:
        raise

    assert_pico_ok(status["changePowerSource"])


enabled = 1
disabled = 0
analogue_offset = 0.0

# Set up channel A
# handle = chandle
# channel = PS4000A_CHANNEL_A = 0
# enabled = 1
# coupling type = PS4000A_DC = 1
# range = PS4000A_2V = 7
# analogue offset = 0 V
channel_range = 7
status["setChA"] = ps.ps4000aSetChannel(chandle,
                                        ps.PS4000A_CHANNEL['PS4000A_CHANNEL_A'],
                                        enabled,
                                        ps.PS4000A_COUPLING['PS4000A_DC'],
                                        channel_range,
                                        analogue_offset)
assert_pico_ok(status["setChA"])






def getSamplesBasedOnTime(time_to_record_ms, frequency_hertz):
    '''
    Returns number of samples based on the time you want to record.
    frequency hertz will be a set enum since variable frequency is not possible (I think) 
    '''

    num_samples = int(frequency_hertz*time_to_record_ms/1000) 
    assert num_samples > 0
    return num_samples 

total_samples_to_collect = getSamplesBasedOnTime(PROCESS_RATE, PROCESS_TIME)

# Size of capture
sizeOfOneBuffer = total_samples_to_collect


# Create buffers ready for assigning pointers for data collection
bufferAMax = np.zeros(shape=sizeOfOneBuffer, dtype=np.int16)

memory_segment = 0

# Set data buffer location for data collection from channel A
# handle = chandle
# source = PS4000A_CHANNEL_A = 0
# pointer to buffer max = ctypes.byref(bufferAMax)
# pointer to buffer min = ctypes.byref(bufferAMin)
# buffer length = maxSamples
# segment index = 0
# ratio mode = PS4000A_RATIO_MODE_NONE = 0
status["setDataBuffersA"] = ps.ps4000aSetDataBuffers(chandle,
                                                     ps.PS4000A_CHANNEL['PS4000A_CHANNEL_A'],
                                                     bufferAMax.ctypes.data_as(ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_int16)),
                                                     None,
                                                     sizeOfOneBuffer,
                                                     memory_segment,
                                                     ps.PS4000A_RATIO_MODE['PS4000A_RATIO_MODE_NONE'])
assert_pico_ok(status["setDataBuffersA"])


# Begin streaming mode:
sampleInterval = ctypes.c_int32(int(10**9/PROCESS_RATE))
sampleUnits = ps.PS4000A_TIME_UNITS['PS4000A_NS']
# We are not triggering:
maxPreTriggerSamples = int(sizeOfOneBuffer/2)
maxPostTriggerSamples = int(sizeOfOneBuffer/2)

autoStopOn = 0
# No downsampling:
downsampleRatio = 1

status["runStreaming"] = ps.ps4000aRunStreaming(chandle,
                                                ctypes.byref(sampleInterval),
                                                sampleUnits,
                                                maxPreTriggerSamples,
                                                maxPostTriggerSamples,
                                                autoStopOn,
                                                downsampleRatio,
                                                ps.PS4000A_RATIO_MODE['PS4000A_RATIO_MODE_NONE'],
                                                sizeOfOneBuffer)
assert_pico_ok(status["runStreaming"])



# We need a big buffer, not registered with the driver, to keep our complete capture in.
bufferCompleteA = np.zeros(shape=total_samples_to_collect, dtype=np.int16)

nextSample = 0
autoStopOuter = False
wasCalledBack = False


def streaming_callback(handle, noOfSamples, startIndex, overflow, triggerAt, triggered, autoStop, param):
    global nextSample, autoStopOuter, wasCalledBack
    wasCalledBack = True
    destEnd = nextSample + noOfSamples
    sourceEnd = startIndex + noOfSamples
    bufferCompleteA[nextSample:destEnd] = bufferAMax[startIndex:sourceEnd]
    nextSample += noOfSamples


# Convert the python function into a C function pointer.
cFuncPtr = ps.StreamingReadyType(streaming_callback)

# Fetch data from the driver in a loop, copying it out of the registered buffers and into our complete one.

start_time = time.time_ns()
while nextSample < total_samples_to_collect:
    status["getStreamingLastestValues"] = ps.ps4000aGetStreamingLatestValues(chandle, cFuncPtr, None)
    if not wasCalledBack:
        time.sleep(0.01)

print("Done grabbing values.")

# Find maximum ADC count value
# handle = chandle
# pointer to value = ctypes.byref(maxADC)
print("Performing ADC Conversion")
maxADC = ctypes.c_int16()
status["maximumValue"] = ps.ps4000aMaximumValue(chandle, ctypes.byref(maxADC))
assert_pico_ok(status["maximumValue"])

# Convert ADC counts data to mV
adc2mVChAMax = adc2mV(bufferCompleteA, channel_range, maxADC)
print("Plotting")

# Create time data
time = np.linspace(0, (len(adc2mVChAMax) - 1) * sampleInterval.value, len(adc2mVChAMax))

# Plot data from channel A and B
plt.plot(time, adc2mVChAMax[:])
plt.ylabel('Voltage (mV)')
plt.show()

# Stop the scope
# handle = chandle
status["stop"] = ps.ps4000aStop(chandle)
assert_pico_ok(status["stop"])

# Disconnect the scope
# handle = chandle
status["close"] = ps.ps4000aCloseUnit(chandle)
assert_pico_ok(status["close"])

# Display status returns
print(status)
For some reason it will not let me attach the image, but I am measuring a 100mHz sine wave as an example. At around 3.3 seconds the data jumps creating a sharp rising edge or falling edge, then the size wave continues from that point. Does anyone know what my issue could be?
Attachments
Screen Shot 2022-06-24 at 4.29.46 PM.png
Last edited by TrentonWallis on Sun Jun 26, 2022 8:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

bennog
Advanced User
Advanced User
Posts: 206
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:16 am
Location: Netherlands

Re: PS 4824A Missing Data in Streaming Mode

Post by bennog »

My python is not good enough to debug your code. But for that speeds you certenly need to use C or C++ and probably threads to post proces the data.

So 1 thread reading the data from the scope to a giant ring buffer. High priority.
And 1 or more threads evaluating the data in the rung buffer. (lower priority)
Without locks !

Benno

TrentonWallis
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:19 pm

Re: PS 4824A Missing Data in Streaming Mode

Post by TrentonWallis »

Thank you for the suggestion. I may end up lowering the speeds to keep in Python for now since my team may not need 20 MHz collection rate.

One thing interesting to note:

Right now I am sub sampling the code so I do not create large amounts of data for post processing. I checked my processing times (with subsampling and the getLatest value calls) and I seem to be using up around 2-5% of the time it takes to collect the data which is really great overhead.

The strangest part is that after the 3.3 seconds it seems to be fine. I ran it for 90 seconds and all the data looks great after the 3.3 second skip. When I run it at 15MHz after about 10ish seconds the data starts to look like two sine waves overlapping. It is very strange. I will try to post that here as well.
Attachments
Screen Shot 2022-06-26 at 1.31.47 PM.png

Post Reply