pico Technology PicoScope 3425 User Manual

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PicoScope 3425

PC Oscilloscope

User's Manual

ps3425.en-2

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Page 3: Table Of Contents
3 Visual Basic ............................53 4 Delphi ............................53 5 Excel ............................53 6 Agilent VEE ............................53 7 LabView 4 Troubleshooting .............................54 ............................54 1 Software error codes ............................55 2 Driver error codes 5 Glossary .............................56 Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 5: Introduction
Minimum PC requirements For the PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope to operate correctly, you must connect it to a computer with the minimum requirements to run Windows or the following (whichever...
Page 6: Safety Information
Mains voltages and measurement category The PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope is designed only for CAT I measurements as defined by BS EN61010-1:2001, which permits measurements on circuits that are not directly connected to the mains (line power). The oscilloscope is not designed for measurements on CAT II, III or IV circuits.
Page 7: Safety Symbols
For safety and maintenance information see the safety warning CE notice The PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope meets the intent of the EMC directive 89/336/EEC and is designed to the EN61326-1 (1997) Class B Emissions and Immunity standard. The oscilloscope also meets the intent of the Low Voltage Directive and is designed to the BS EN 61010-1:2001 / IEC 61010-1:2001 (safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use) standard.
Page 8: Legal Information
Liability Pico Technology and its agents shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury, howsoever caused, related to the use of Pico Technology equipment or software, unless excluded by statute.
Page 9: Company Details
Introduction Company details You can obtain technical assistance from Pico Technology at the following address: Address: Pico Technology James House Colmworth Business Park Eaton Socon St. Neots PE19 8YG United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 1480 396 395 Fax: +44 (0) 1480 396 296...
Page 10: Product Information
PicoScope software before connecting a PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope to your PC for the first time. Install the software by following the steps in the quick start guide supplied with your oscilloscope. You can then connect your oscilloscope to the PC.
Page 11: Connector Diagrams
6. LED. Lights up when the oscilloscope is first powered up, switches off when the PicoScope software begins to run, and then flashes while the oscilloscope is capturing data. 7. USB port. Compatible with 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports. Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 12: Connecting The Oscilloscope
Insert the grounding plug into one of the ground sockets on the front of the oscilloscope. This grounds the screen of the cable to prevent it from picking up electromagnetic noise that might otherwise interfere with the signal. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 13: Specifications
4.6 V to 5.25 V DC @ approx. 500 mA No external power supply required Dimensions 255 mm x 170 mm x 40 mm (approximately 10.0 in x 6.7 in x 1.6 in) Weight 920 g (approximately 2 lb) Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 14: What Is A Differential Oscilloscope
PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope What is a differential oscilloscope? The PicoScope 3425 is a differential PC Oscilloscope. A differential oscilloscope measures the voltage difference between two points, regardless of the voltage of either point with respect to ground. This is unlike a conventional single-ended oscilloscope, which requires one of the points to be at ground potential.
Page 15: Overflow Indicators
Product information Overflow indicators PicoScope 6, the PC Oscilloscope software supplied with the PicoScope 3425, displays a yellow common-mode overflow indicator for each channel when either the positive or the negative input voltage with respect to ground is outside the range stated in the Specifications.
Page 16: Programmer's Reference
Setup Information File, picopp.inf Once you have installed the PicoScope and PicoLog software, Windows will automatically install the driver when you plug in the PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope for the first time. Programming with the PicoScope 3000 Series library in your PicoScope installation directory allows you to ps3000.dll...
Page 17: Sampling Modes
3.2.4.1 Block mode In block mode, the computer prompts a PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope to collect a block of data into its internal memory. When the oscilloscope has collected the whole block, it will signal that it is ready and then transfer the whole block to the computer's memory through the USB port.
Page 18 In a streaming mode, the computer prompts the PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope to start collecting data. The data is then transferred back to the PC without being stored in oscilloscope memory. Data can be sampled with a period between 1 µs and 60 s, and the maximum number of samples is limited only by the amount of free space on the PC's hard disk.
Page 19 Retrieve any part of the data at any time scale by calling ps3000_get_streaming_values() If you require raw data, retrieve it by calling ps3000_get_streaming_values_no_aggregation() Repeat steps 10 to 11 as necessary Close the oscilloscope by calling ps3000_close_unit() Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 20: Oversampling
3.2.6 Scaling The PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope has a resolution of 12 bits, but the oscilloscope driver normalises all readings to 16 bits. This enables it to take advantage of noise reduction from oversampling , when this is enabled. The following table shows the relationship between the reading from the driver and the voltage of the signal.
Page 21: Functions
The following user-defined functions are also described: Callback function to copy data to buffer Callback function to save data Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 22 This function opens a PicoScope 3000 Series PC Oscilloscope. The driver can support up to four oscilloscopes. Applicability All modes Arguments None Returns if the oscilloscope fails to open, if no oscilloscope is found, (device handle) if the device opened >0 ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 23 The driver can support up to four oscilloscopes. Applicability All modes Arguments None Returns 0 if there is a previous open operation in progress 1 if the call has successfully initiated an open operation Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 24 0 to 100. 100 implies that the operation is complete. Returns if the driver successfully opens the unit if opening still in progress if the unit failed to open or was not found ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 25 PC Oscilloscope that is attached to the computer. PS3000_BATCH_AND_SERIAL The batch and serial number of "CMY66/052" the oscilloscope. PS3000_CAL_DATE "21Oct07" The calibration date of the oscilloscope. PS3000_ERROR_CODE "4" One of the Error codes Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 26 PS3000_500MV ±500 mV PS3000_1V ±1 V PS3000_2V ±2 V PS3000_5V ±5 V PS3000_10V ±10 V PS3000_20V ±20 V PS3000_50V ±50 V PS3000_100V ±100 V PS3000_200V ±200 V PS3000_400V ±400 V ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 28 Flashes the LED on the front of the oscilloscope three times and returns within one second. Applicability All modes Arguments the handle of the required device. handle, Returns if a valid handle is passed if handle is invalid ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 29 If this is set to zero the oscilloscope will wait for a trigger indefinitely. Returns if one of the parameters is out of range if successful Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 30 If this is set to zero the oscilloscope will wait for a trigger indefinitely. Returns 0 if one of the parameters is out of range 1 if successful ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 31 If this is set to zero, the scope device will wait indefinitely for a trigger. Returns if unsuccessful, or if one or more of the arguments are out of range if successful Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 32 It is scaled in 16-bit counts. the channel to which the properties apply. channel, either a level or window trigger. Use one of thresholdMode, these constants: - LEVEL (0) WINDOW(1) ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 33 If NULL, triggering is switched off. should be set to 1 if conditions is non-null, nConditions, otherwise 0. Returns if unsuccessful, or if one or more of the arguments are out of range if successful Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 34 The oscilloscope can only use a single channel for the trigger source. Therefore you must define and the pulse width qualifier CONDITION_TRUE CONDITION_FALSE, if required, for only one channel at a time. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 35 ENTER for window triggers: entering the window EXIT for window triggers: leaving the window ENTER_OR_EXIT for window triggers: either entering or leaving the window NONE no trigger Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 36 PW_TYPE_OUT_OF_RANGE pulse width not between lower and upper Returns if unsuccessful, or if one or more of the arguments are out of range if successful ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 37 Pulse-width qualified triggering Members the type of channelA, channelB, channelC, channelD: condition that should be applied to each channel. Use these constants: - CONDITION_DONT_CARE (0) CONDITION_TRUE (1) CONDITION_FALSE (2) not used external, Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 38 -50% means that it is in the middle of the block. Returns if unsuccessful, or if one or more of the arguments are out of range if successful ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 39 Note: The actual time may differ from computer to computer, depending on how fast the computer can respond to I/O requests. Returns if one of the parameters is out of range 1 if successful Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 42 Applicability All modes Arguments the handle of the required device. handle, Returns if an invalid handle is passed if successful ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 43 Returns The actual number of data values per channel returned, which may be less than if streaming. no_of_values if one of the parameters is out of range. FALSE Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 45 We recommend using an initial value of 15,000 samples. Returns if streaming has been enabled correctly, if a problem occurred or a value was out of range. Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 46 The actual number of data values returned per channel, which may be less than if streaming, where max_samples is a parameter passed to max_samples ps3000_run_streaming_ns(). if one of the parameters is out of range. FALSE ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 47 Any non-zero value triggeredAt signifies TRUE a Boolean indicating whether streaming data auto_stop, capture has automatically stopped. Any non-zero value signifies TRUE the number of values in each overview buffer. nValues, Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 48 Each sample of aggregated data is created by processing a block of raw samples. The aggregated sample is stored as a pair of values: the minimum and the maximum values of the block of raw samples. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 50 Boolean indicating that a trigger has trigger, occurred and is valid. triggerAt the number of values required. no_of_values, Returns the number of values written to each buffer, or if a parameter was out of range ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 52 Boolean indicating previous_buffer_overrun, whether the overview buffers have overrun. Any non-zero value indicates a buffer overrun. Returns if the function was successful if the function failed due to an invalid handle ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 53 Applicability Fast streaming mode only Arguments a pointer to the buffer where the values are stored. dataBuffer, tells your function how many buffers there are. noOfBuffers, Returns Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 54 Shuts down a PicoScope 3425 oscilloscope. Applicability All modes Arguments the handle, returned by ps3000_open_unit() , of the handle, oscilloscope being closed. Returns if a valid handle is passed, if not. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 55: Programming Examples
(Microsoft Visual C 32-bit applications). ps3000.lib The following file must be in the compilation directory: ps3000.h and the following file must be in the same directory as the executable: ps3000.dll Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 56: Visual Basic
Note: The functions which return a TRUE/FALSE value, return 0 for FALSE and 1 for TRUE, whereas Visual Basic expects 65,535 for TRUE. Check for >0 rather than =TRUE. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 57: Delphi
6.1 of LabVIEW for Windows. To use the example, copy these files to your LabVIEW directory: ps3000_fastStream.vi ps3000_runBlock.vi ps3000_runStream.vi ps3000wrap.c ps3000wrap.dll You will also need this file from the installation directory: PS3000.dll Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 58: Troubleshooting
The operating system is not recent enough to support the PicoScope 3425 PC Oscilloscope. Consult the system requirements section for more information. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 59: Driver Error Codes
The oscilloscope is not responding to commands from the PC. PS3000_CONFIG_FAIL The configuration information in the oscilloscope has become corrupt or is missing. PS3000_OS_NOT_SUPPORTED The operating system is not Windows XP SP2 or Vista. Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 60: Glossary
This is unlike a conventional oscilloscope, which requires one of the two points to be at ground potential. More details. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 61 Overview buffer. A buffer in which the PicoScope 3000 Series driver temporarily stores data on its way from the scope device to the application's buffer. PC Oscilloscope. A measuring instrument consisting of a Pico Technology scope device and the PicoScope software. It provides all the functions of a bench-top oscilloscope without the cost of a display, hard disk, network adapter and other components that your PC already has.
Page 62 Calculation techniques can improve the effective resolution. Voltage range. The voltage range is the difference between the maximum and minimum voltages that can be accurately captured by the oscilloscope. ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 63 Compatible streaming mode ps3000_run_streaming Compliance ps3000_run_streaming_ns Contact details ps3000_save_streaming_data Copyright ps3000_set_channel Current clamp adaptor 6, 8 ps3000_set_trigger ps3000_set_trigger2 ps3000_stop ps3000SetAdvTriggerChannelConditions Data acquisition ps3000SetAdvTriggerChannelDirections DC coupling ps3000SetAdvTriggerChannelProperties Delphi programming ps3000SetAdvTriggerDelay Device Manager ps3000SetPulseWidthQualifier Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 64 13, 56 compatible Normal mode fast normal windowed Opening a unit 18, 19, 20 Support Operating environment Oscilloscope probe 7, 8 Overflow indicator Oversampling Technical assistance Overview buffer Technical support ps3425.en Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 65 TRIGGER_CHANNEL_PROPERTIES structure TRIGGER_CONDITIONS structure Triggering 12, 25, 26 Upgrades Usage 1, 9, 56 cable port Vertical resolution 9, 16 Viruses Visual Basic programming Voltage range 9, 56 Website Weight Windowed mode Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps3425.en...
Page 68 Pico Technology Ltd James House Colmworth Business Park Eaton Socon St. Neots PE19 8YG United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1480 396 395 Fax: +44 (0) 1480 396 296 Web: www.picotech.com ps3425.en-2 7.12.07 Copyright © 2007 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.

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