New 4-channel, compact, USB Oscilloscopes

05 July 2012 - The PicoScope 3000 Series of high-performance oscilloscopes has been expanded to include six new 4-channel models. The new oscilloscopes offer a maximum sampling rate of 1 GS/s (up to 10 GS/s effective for repetitive signals), a range of input bandwidths from 60 MHz to 200 MHz, and buffer memory depths from 4 M to 128 M samples. The new FlexiPower system allows the scopes to run on either USB or AC power.

With an option of either a built-in function generator or a built-in arbitrary waveform generator, and a new, slim case design, these scopes are perfect for engineers and technicians needing a complete, portable test bench in a single unit.

The PicoScope oscilloscope software includes as standard all the oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer functions you would expect, as well as serial decoding, mask limit testing, segmented memory and advanced triggers: features that often cost extra on other manufacturers’ scopes. Running on your Windows PC, PicoScope shows waveforms on a large, clear display and allows easy zooming and panning under keyboard or mouse control. Other built-in features include persistence displays with fast waveform update rates, math channels, automatic measurements with statistics, programmable alarms, and decoding of I2C, UART/RS232, SPI, CAN bus, LIN and FlexRay signals. Updates to the software are released regularly, free of charge.

The advanced triggering modes include pulse width, interval, window, window pulse width, level dropout, window dropout, runt pulse, variable hysteresis, and logic. All triggering is digital, ensuring lower jitter, greater accuracy and higher voltage resolution than the analog triggering found on many competing scopes.

A free Software Development Kit (SDK) allows you to control the new scopes from your own custom applications. The SDK includes example programs in C, C++, Excel and LabVIEW, and can be used with any language that supports C calling conventions. The PicoScope software and SDK are compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

The PicoScope 3000 Series 4-channel oscilloscopes are available now from Pico distributors worldwide and from www.picotech.com. Prices range from only £599 for the 60 MHz PicoScope 3404A with function generator to only £1349 for the 200 MHz PicoScope 3406B with AWG, including four probes and a 5-year warranty.