PicoScope Enhancements: Rise-Time Triggering, PSI5 Decode, and Automation Upgrades

Pico Technology, a leading provider of display-less PC oscilloscopes, has recently introduced four new functions to its software. These additions include rise-time and fall-time triggering, decode for the automotive PSI5 bus, measurement logging, and the ability to nudge the host PC if waveforms fall outside set parameters. According to the company, these features are designed to empower engineers who are debugging, characterizing, and verifying the operational reliability of complex electronic and automotive designs.

New Features in PicoScope 7

The latest release of PicoScope 7 includes several notable features:

Rise and Fall Time Triggering

The rise and fall time triggering function allows engineers to set triggers based on the duration of rising or falling edges. Threshold voltages, transition times, and edge comparisons can all be customized. This feature is particularly useful for capturing and observing non-compliant signals, as well as validating EMC compliance.

Additionally, the rise and fall time triggering can be used to assess slower edge transitions, such as the slew-rate of motor command voltages.

Decoder for PSI5 Serial Bus

PicoScope now includes a decoder for the PSI5 serial bus, commonly used in the automotive industry to monitor connections between sensors and vehicle ECUs (electronic control units). With this addition, PicoScope's decoder total reaches an impressive 38.

Automatic Logging of Measurement Parameters

The software now allows for the automatic logging of 24 time and 10 frequency parameters into a .csv file on the host PC. This feature enables engineers to perform statistical analysis, such as assessing drift against supply voltage, temperature, or time.

Measurement Actions

PicoScope 7 introduces a new function called "measurement actions." This feature enables engineers to automatically compare any measurement with a user-defined limit. If the comparison triggers a match, various actions can be taken, including sounding a beep, playing a sound, stopping or restarting capture, running an executable, saving the current buffer, saving all buffers, or triggering the scope's signal generator. This functionality allows PicoScope 7 to serve as a semi-automated tool for unattended monitoring of parameters.

"Actions enable PicoScope 7 to perform as a semi-automated tool for unattended monitoring of parameters, either in the laboratory or in the field," said the company. "At the most basic level, if a measurement test fails, the user can be alerted with a beep to investigate the cause."

Availability

PicoScope 7 is available in Windows, Linux, and macOS versions, providing flexibility for engineers across different operating systems.

With these new functions, Pico Technology continues to enhance its PC oscilloscope software, empowering engineers to tackle complex electronic and automotive designs with greater efficiency and reliability.