Multi Channel oscilloscope software

An oscilloscope is used to display signal voltages, plotted against time (Yt) or against another signal voltage (XY).

The oscilloscope in the Multi Channel oscilloscope software can have one or more large, fully configurable graphs, where each graph can display different parts of a signal. Measured signals can be copied to reference channels, to compare live signals with earlier measured signals.

Cursors are available in the oscilloscope to make on screen measurements, as well as a t=0 line to indicate the trigger moment. Signals can be given descriptive names and a legend is available to simplify identifying the displayed signals. Text labels can be placed to mark interesting parts of the signal(s).

To reveal all details of the measured signals, the oscilloscopes offer unlimited zooming in both vertical and horizontal direction. All zoom actions can be undone with an undo zoom function.

More information on the oscilloscope...

To simplify setting up the measurements, the Multi Channel oscilloscope software contains a large number of measurement templates, for almost any application. A measurement template contains the basic settings for a specific measurement as well as additional information regarding the selected template, like e.g. how the instrument and/or accessories need to be connected. Templates can also contain reference signals. After loading the template, that specific measurement can be performed and if needed, small adjustments to the setup can be made.

The templates are carefully organized in a tree structure, ordered by application. Just a few mouse clicks allow to perform a complex measurement.

More info, including an interactive simulation, on the measurement templates...

When two or four measurement channels are not sufficient, the Handyscope series of instruments offers the possibility to combine and synchronize multiple oscilloscopes to one single oscilloscope with many input channels. Just a coupling cable is required to combine the multiple instruments to a single combined instrument with many channels.

The Multi Channel oscilloscope software combines the individual instruments automatically to a large combined oscilloscope with many input channels which are sampled fully synchronized and can be controlled in one application. You get one oscilloscope.

More information on combining instruments...

The Multi Channel oscilloscope software offers a large variety of mathematical operations like adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, integrating, differentiating, determining the square root, determining the logarithm, etc. These mathematical operations are available in the form of I/Os, also called processing blocks, and can be used to process the measured signals and reference signals.

Combining these mathematical processing blocks gives unrivaled possibilities in constructing complex mathematical operations to analyze your measurements thoroughly and obtain all the information you need from your data. The results of the mathematical operations can be displayed in one or more graphs, can be displayed in numeric displays, in tables and can be written to disk in various common file formats.

More info on the mathematical functions...

A spectrum analyzer is an instrument that graphically displays signal amplitude against frequency, in the frequency domain. It will show which frequency components are present in a signal and how strong these are.

• With a spectrum analyzer small harmonic distortions on a signal can be displayed better than on an oscilloscope. A sine wave may look good in the time domain, however in the frequency domain the harmonic distortion is visible.
• A noise signal may look fully random in the time domain on an oscilloscope, in the frequency domain on a spectrum analyzer it can appear that one frequency is dominantly present.
• In the frequency domain it is very simple to determine carrier frequency, modulation frequency, modulation level and modulation distortion from a modulated signal (AM or FM).

More information on the spectrum analyzer...

A data logger is a direct registering instrument to display signal voltages, plotted against time (Yt) or against another signal voltage (XY).

The data logger is the ideal instrument for measuring slowly changing signals like e.g. the temperature change in a room. While capturing the whole process, any change on the input signal(s) is immediately visible.

Another application for the data logger is to measure long non-repetitive signals like e.g. a serial communication signal, that would last too long to be captured in the internal memory of the hardware.

More information on the Data logger...

The multimeter is an instrument that performs a measurement on a signal and then determines one or more specific properties of that signal and displays these as numeric values.

The multimeter can be used to measure or monitor specific properties of a signal, like RMS value, frequency, maximum value etc. The Multi Channel oscilloscope software can have any number of fully configurable displays, either displaying the measured value as a number or using a gauge display. When using a gauge display, it can be very helpful when adjusting a circuit for a specific property, e.g. adjusting an offset to zero.

More information on the Multimeter...

An arbitrary waveform generator is an instrument that can generate repetitive or single shot signals. The signals can have a predefined standard shape like a sine wave or a square wave as in a conventional function generator. However, the signals can also have an arbitrary shape, defined by the user. These signals can be created using the Multi Channel oscilloscope software or an external program or can be signals previously measured by the oscilloscope and loaded in the generator.

A function generator is an essential instrument in testing circuits. It can be used to apply a signal to a circuit under test, to test the functionality of that circuit.

A specific application of an arbitrary waveform generator is the ability produce signals that simulate certain external conditions without the need of having the actual condition. An example of this is generating a previously measured crankshaft sensor signal and apply that to the motor management system of a car. Various parts in the motor management system can then be tested without the engine having to run. Also systems relying on serial communication signals can be tested this way.

More information on the Arbitrary Waveform Generator...

A protocol analyzer is a measuring instrument that analyzes one or more signals that are used to communicate between electronic devices according a specific protocol. A protocol analyzer examines the signals and decodes the information that is transferred. The decoded information can be displayed in graphs, meter sinks and table sinks.

A protocol analyzer is a useful tool when developing a hardware and/or software implementation of a communication bus. It can also be used when debugging device or bus failures.

The Multi Channel oscilloscope software contains the following protocol analyzers:

• CAN bus analyzer
• J1939 decoder
• I²C analyzer
• Serial analyzer

More information on Protocol analyzers...

The user interface of the Multi Channel oscilloscope software can be can be set to many different languages. The following languages are available: