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| + | ====== Using the Oscilloscope ====== | ||
| + | ~~TechArticle~~ | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{reference: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Introduction ===== | ||
| + | Oscilloscopes are used to capture and analyze analog signals. This guide explains the use of the WaveForms' | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Prerequisites ===== | ||
| + | * A Digilent Test and Measurement Device with Analog Input and Output Channels: | ||
| + | * [[test-and-measurement: | ||
| + | * [[test-and-measurement: | ||
| + | * [[test-and-measurement: | ||
| + | * [[test-and-measurement: | ||
| + | * [[test-and-measurement: | ||
| + | * A Computer with [[software: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Guide ===== | ||
| + | ==== 1. Opening the Scope ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 1.1 === | ||
| + | Plug in the Test and Measurement Device, then start WaveForms and make sure the device is connected. | ||
| + | |||
| + | If no device is connected to the host computer when WaveForms launches, the **Device Manager** will be launched. Make sure that the device is plugged in and turned on, at which point it will appear in the Device Manager' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //" | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //The Device Manager can be opened by clicking on the " | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group>< | ||
| + | === 1.2 === | ||
| + | Once the Welcome page loads, in the instrument panel at the left side of the window, click on the **Scope** button to open the // | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 1.3 === | ||
| + | Once the //Scope// instrument opens, the window contains the data plot (1.) showing captured data, the configuration panel (2.) to right of the plot, and the control toolbar (3.) at the top of the window. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ==== 2. Using the Scope ==== | ||
| + | //This section walks through setting up the // | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //This guide can be followed using a " | ||
| + | === 2.1 Hardware Setup === | ||
| + | In order to measure a signal with the //Scope// instrument, there must first be a signal to measure. To this end, this guide describes setting up a simple loopback circuit that connects the Test and Measurement device' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | == MTE Cables == | ||
| + | //If your Digilent Test and Measurement device supports MTE cables for analog input, open the dropdown below for instructions on setting up a loopback circuit with them.// | ||
| + | --> MTE Cable Loopback# | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Connect the Test and Measurement device' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | == BNC Oscilloscope Probes == | ||
| + | //If your Digilent Test and Measurement device supports BNC cables, then select your device below for instructions on setting up a loopback with them.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | --> Analog Discovery Studio # | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Connect BNC cables to the Test and Measurement device' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //While BNC Probes are single-ended (as is the Waveform Generator hardware), a connected circuit must still share a common ground with the device. No more than one ground should be connected, in order to avoid the creation of ground loops, which may damage your device.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //When using BNC Cables, make sure to take note of the probes' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //The Analog Discovery Studio' | ||
| + | |||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Make sure to flip the switch that selects between BNC and MTE input for Oscilloscope Channel 1 towards the BNC connector. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | |||
| + | --> Analog Discovery 2 with BNC Adapter # | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Connect BNC cables to the Test and Measurement device' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //While BNC Probes are single-ended (as is the Waveform Generator hardware), a connected circuit must still share a common ground with the device. No more than one ground should be connected, in order to avoid the creation of ground loops, which may damage your device.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //When using BNC Probes, make sure to take note of the probes' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Take note of the jumper that selects between AC and DC coupling on the BNC adapter. Either will work to measure the sine wave produced here, but some waveforms may find one setting or the other significantly more useful. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | --> Analog Discovery Pro (ADP3450/ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Connect a BNC oscilloscope probe to the Analog Discovery Pro's Oscilloscope Channel 1 connector and a set of BNC minigrabbers to its Wavegen Out Channel 1 connector. Connect these together, as pictured, to form a loopback circuit. Check the input probe' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //While BNC Probes are single-ended (as is the Waveform Generator hardware), a connected circuit must still share a common ground with the device. No more than one ground should be connected, in order to avoid the creation of ground loops, which may damage your device.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //When using BNC Probes, make sure to take note of the probes' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | |||
| + | --> Analog Discovery Pro (ADP5250) # | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Connect a BNC oscilloscope probe to the Analog Discovery Pro's Oscilloscope Channel 1 connector and the BNC minigrabbers to the AWG Channel 1 connector on the front of the ADP5250 to create a loopback circuit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //While BNC Probes are single-ended (as is the Waveform Generator hardware), a connected circuit must still share a common ground with the device. No more than one ground should be connected, in order to avoid the creation of ground loops, which may damage your device.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Note:** //When using BNC Probes, make sure to take note of the probes' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 2.2 Additional Software Setup === | ||
| + | With the loopback circuit set up, a signal must now be applied to the analog output pins. WaveForms' | ||
| + | |||
| + | From the //Scope// instrument, opened in Step 1.2, return to WaveForms' | ||
| + | |||
| + | For more details on how to use the //Wavegen// instrument, please see the [[waveforms-waveform-generator]] guide. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to the //Scope// instrument by clicking on its tab in the bar at the top of the screen. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | //If using BNC cables with your Digilent Test and Measurement device, click the dropdown below.// | ||
| + | --> Set the BNC Cable Attenuation Factor # | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Regardless of the device, if BNC cables are used, make sure that the attenuation factor setting in WaveForms for Oscilloscope Channel 1 (pictured to the right) matches the setting of the probe. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | {{section> | ||
| + | |||
| + | //The Analog Discovery Pro (ADP3450/ | ||
| + | --> Enable the Analog Discovery Pro's 20 MHz Hardware Filter # | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | The Analog Discovery Pro's hardware filter can be enabled individually for each channel. Open the channel' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <-- | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 2.3 Begin Capturing Data === | ||
| + | Click the Run button in the control bar near the top of the window to begin capturing data on the analog input channels. Captured data will appear in the plot pane as a set of colored lines. The yellow line (labeled 1 in the image to the right) corresponds to the signal captured on Oscilloscope Channel 1. The blue line (2) corresponds to the signal captured on Oscilloscope Channel 2. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Since Oscilloscope Channel 2 was left " | ||
| + | |||
| + | For devices that support 4 channels, channels 3 and 4 also appear, colored purple and green respectively. They are also given their own configuration options and can be individually enabled and disabled. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 2.4 Plot Pane Axes === | ||
| + | By default, the plot has a vertical range of -2.5V to 2.5V, and a horizontal range of -5ms to 5ms (with respect to the trigger configuration, | ||
| + | |||
| + | To re-scale the horizontal axis of the plot to show only two periods of the sine wave, change the **Base** value in the drop-down menu located in the Time box at the top of the configuration panel on the right side (labeled " | ||
| + | |||
| + | To re-scale the vertical axis of the plot, as before, change the **Range** value in the " | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 2.5 Quick Measure Cursors === | ||
| + | To take a quick measurement of the period and frequency of the sine wave, click the Quick Measure: Pulse icon({{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 2.6 Measurements === | ||
| + | To view calculated values for period, frequency, amplitude, and various others, that may not be available through the Quick Measure cursors, click on the " | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | When opened, the measurements pane does not contain any values. Click on the Add button ({{: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | In the popup window, make sure that " | ||
| + | |||
| + | Each measurement selected will now be displayed in the Measurements pane. As can be seen, the list of measurements now contains estimates of the frequency and peak-to-peak voltage of the captured signal. As expected, these measurements will be listed as approximately 1 KHz and 2V, respectively. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ==== Note: Using Multiple Instruments ==== | ||
| + | The // | ||
| + | |||
| + | It should be noted that the analog input channels cannot be shared by multiple instruments. When the // | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ==== 3. Scope User Interface Overview ==== | ||
| + | //This section walks through the wide variety of controls and features present in the //Scope// instrument// | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.1 Control Buttons=== | ||
| + | As seen in Section 2, the control bar near the top of the window can be used to stop and start the capturing of data from the analog input pins. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In addition to the Run/Stop button, described above, the Single button can be used to capture a buffer of data based around the first occurrence of a pre-defined trigger. The size of the buffer and when the buffer is captured relative to the trigger event are defined in [[# | ||
| + | |||
| + | The control bar also contains the trigger configuration options, described in the next section. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.2 Triggers === | ||
| + | Immediately next to the Single button are a set of options that can be used to configure oscilloscope triggers. When taking repeated measurements, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The **Mode** drop-down allows the user to select what will happen when the Run button is pressed. For descriptions of the available settings, please see the WaveForms reference manual, available through the Help menu in WaveForms, in the menu bar at the top of the screen. The reference manual is also hosted on the Digilent Wiki at this link: [[software: | ||
| + | |||
| + | The **Source** drop-down allows the user to trigger the oscilloscope based on events in other instruments. For more information, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The **Condition** and **Level** drop-downs allow the user to describe what type of event to trigger on. For example, the configuration //Condition = Rising// and //Level = 1V// will generate a trigger event whenever the captured data rises above 1V. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Additional trigger configuration options can be found by clicking on the green down arrow to the right of the level field. Please use the WaveForms Help menu for more information. | ||
| + | |||
| + | By default, the trigger event is centered in the plot. Data captured before and after the trigger can be viewed by modifying Time configuration settings, described in the next section of this guide. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.3 Time Configuration Group === | ||
| + | By default, the Time group in the Configuration panel contains the " | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Gear button ({{: | ||
| + | |||
| + | Additional time and sampling configuration options can be found by clicking the green down arrow at the bottom of the Time group. For instance, the sample count and rate used when capturing data can be manually configured - it should be noted that doing so also automatically changes the position and base settings. More information on these options can be found through the WaveForms Help menu. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.4 Channel Configuration Groups === | ||
| + | Each input channel of the Test and Measurement Device can be configured via the associated Channel # group in the Configuration panel. By default, each of these groups contains **Offset** and **Range** fields. The **Offset** field is used to set the vertical position of the captured signal in the plot. The **Range** field is used to set the scale used for the vertical axis of the plot for that channel. The checkbox next to the channel name can be used to enable or disable that channel, as seen in Step 2.3 of this guide. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Additional options for each channel can be found by clicking on that channel' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.5 Other Channels === | ||
| + | Other types of channels can be added to the plot and Configuration pane through the Add Channel button ({{learn: | ||
| + | |||
| + | //Math// channels can be used to display signals passed through some function. For example, high/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | // | ||
| + | |||
| + | //Digital// channels can be used to display data captured on the digital input/ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.6 Additional Configuration Options === | ||
| + | The //Options// drop-down above the channel groups contains a set of options that apply to multiple channels at once. For instance, the rate at which the plot is updated can be changed from this menu. For more information on the options available in this menu, please refer to the WaveForms Help menu. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.7 Chart Pane === | ||
| + | The Chart pane displays data captured on the analog input channels. The horizontal axis of the plot represents time before and after the trigger event that initiated the capture. The vertical axis represents the voltage level (or other selected unit, for math and reference channels). Each channel has its own vertical scale, which can be selected by clicking on their identifiers in the top left corner of the plot pane (C1, C2, etc.). | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Capture status information can be found next to the channel select buttons, including a state string (Stop / Config / Trig' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Another set of buttons can be found in the upper right corner of the plot panel: | ||
| + | * The Thumbnail button ({{learn: | ||
| + | * The three "Quick Measure" | ||
| + | * Free ({{learn: | ||
| + | * Vertical ({{learn: | ||
| + | * Pulse ({{learn: | ||
| + | * The Show Entire Capture button ({{learn: | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Gear button next to the previous five buttons can be used to change how the plot is displayed, including adding labels, changing the background between light and dark, displaying all channel scales at once, and others. For more information on these options, refer to the WaveForms Help menu. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | The " | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.8 File Menu === | ||
| + | The **File** menu at the top of the window provides the ability to create another //Scope// instrument, as well as to save and load acquisitions and projects. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Saving an acquisition allows the user to load captured data back into WaveForms later. Acquisitions can be loaded into other instruments, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Saving a project (with or without any acquisitions) allows the user to close WaveForms without losing any configurations. In addition to this, projects can be shared with others to aid in group projects and guided learning. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Exporting data as an image allows the user to produce a screenshot of the entire //Scope// tool. Alternatively, | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.9 Control Menu === | ||
| + | The **Control** menu at the top of the window provides the same functionality as the Single/ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | {{ : | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> | ||
| + | <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | === 3.10 View Menu === | ||
| + | A wide variety of different view panes can be added to the user interface using the **View** menu in the toolbar above the Single/ | ||
| + | * //Add Zoom:// Creates an additional plot that can be used to zoom in on particular regions of interest in the signal. | ||
| + | * //Add XY:// Creates an additional plot with configurable X and Y axes. For instance, two channels can be plotted against one another to create an IV curve diagram. | ||
| + | * //Add XYZ 3D:// Creates a 3D plot where the axes can be sources from any three channels. Note that a device with three or more channels is required. | ||
| + | * //FFT:// Creates plot to display a Fast Fourier Transform diagram of the captured signals. | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * //Data:// Creates a chart that exposes raw capture data in a spreadsheet. | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * //Audio:// Allows the user to playback captured signals as sound through the host computer' | ||
| + | * //X/Y Cursors:// Lists all cursors that have been added to the plot. | ||
| + | * //Notes:// Creates a text editor pane that can be used to document configuration choices, or whatever other information could be useful | ||
| + | * // | ||
| + | * //Digital Measurements:// | ||
| + | to remember. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{ reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | <WRAP group> <WRAP column half> | ||
| + | Note that, in the newest versions of WaveForms, all of these options are also now available through the toolbar above the control panel, as seen to the right. | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | {{reference: | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ==== Next Steps ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | For more guides on how to use the Digilent Test and Measurement device, return to the device' | ||
| + | |||
| + | If voltage values seen in the //Scope// are significantly different from expected, please calibrate the device by following the [[waveforms-calibration|Calibration Guide]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | For more information on WaveForms, visit the [[software: | ||
| + | |||
| + | For technical support, please visit the [[https:// | ||

