MS-500-OM-E Rev C
ISSUED: June, 2009
35
ISOLATE AND ANALYZE SIGNAL ACTIVITY
The combination of Analog Triggering, Digital Triggering, Analog Capture, Digital Capture, and
normal oscilloscope features is a powerful combination of tools that can make it very easy to find
latent HW or SW problems in your circuit. The oscilloscope is no longer a tool only for hardware
engineers. Now software engineers can easily visualize the mix of analog and digital signals and
relate it to programming code and operation.
Some common mixed signal analysis needs and methods are discussed as follows:
Capture Long Pre-Trigger Time
LeCroy oscilloscopes are available with optional very long acquisition memory. For instance,
analog channels on the WaveRunner Xi oscilloscope can capture up to 12.5 Mpts on 4 channels,
or 25 Mpts on 2 channels. WaveSurfer Xs oscilloscopes can capture up to 10 Mpts on 4 channels
The MS-500 option adds 900 Mpts of digital memory (50 Mpts/ch on 18 channels, 25 Mpts/ch on
36 channels). If you wish, all this memory can be 100% pre-trigger, 100% post-trigger, or
something in between.
1. Adjust Pre-Trigger and Post-Trigger time
by adjusting the
Delay
knob on the
oscilloscope’s front panel.
2. Optimize your Sample Rate or Memory
Length by accessing the
Horizontal
Dialog in your oscilloscope and selecting
as follows:
a. WaveRunner Series
– either Set
Max Memory mode or Fixed
Sample Rate mode.
b. WaveSurfer Series
– choose a
Max Number of Sample Points
3. Note that you must make sure that your
timebase setting and memory length
combined do not result in too low of a
sample rate, or your analog and digital
signals may not be acquired accurately.
Reference your oscilloscope’s On-Line Help or Getting Started Manual for more information on
these common settings.
