Glossary
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ps3000d.en r2
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Glossary
API.
Application Programming Interface. A set of function calls that give programmers
access to the PicoScope 3000 Series (A API) driver.
AWG. Arbitrary waveform generator.
A signal generator that can play back a
waveform of any shape defined by the user.
Bandwidth.
The range of input frequencies over which the measured signal amplitude
is no more than 3 decibels below its true value.
Buffer size.
The size of the oscilloscope buffer memory, measured in samples. In
block mode, the buffer memory is used by the oscilloscope to store temporary data.
This allows the oscilloscope to sample data independently of the speed at which it can
transfer data to the computer.
Driver.
A program that controls a piece of hardware. The driver for the PicoScope
3000 Series (A API) oscilloscopes is supplied in the form of a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows
DLL,
ps3000a.dll
. This is used by the PicoScope software, and by user-designed
applications, to control the oscilloscopes.
External trigger.
The BNC connector marked EXT on the oscilloscope. It can be used
as a trigger source but not as a waveform input.
GS/s. Gigasamples (billions of samples) per second.
Used to quantify the
sampling rate of an oscilloscope.
Maximum sampling rate.
A figure indicating the maximum number of samples the
oscilloscope can acquire per second. Maximum sampling rates are usually given in
MS/s (megasamples per second) or GS/s (gigasamples per second.) The higher the
sampling rate of the oscilloscope, the more accurate the representation of the high-
frequency details in a fast signal.
MS/s. Megasamples (millions of samples) per second.
Used to quantify the
sampling rate of an oscilloscope.
MSO. Mixed-signal oscilloscope.
An oscilloscope that has both analog and digital
inputs.
PC oscilloscope.
A virtual instrument formed by connecting a PicoScope oscilloscope
to a computer running the PicoScope software.
PicoScope software.
The software product that accompanies all Pico Technology
oscilloscopes. It enables your PC to be an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, and meter
display.
Signal generator.
A built-in circuit that generates signals suitable for driving an
external device under test. Its output is the BNC connector marked GEN or AWG on
the oscilloscope. Connect a BNC cable between this output and one of the channel
inputs to send a signal into the channel.
Timebase.
A timer that controls the speed at which the scope captures data. At slow
timebases this process is visible as PicoScope draws the trace across the scope view
from left to right. At fast timebases PicoScope draws the whole trace in a single
operation. The timebase is measured in units of time (such as seconds) per division.
There are ten divisions across the scope view, so the total time across the width of the
view is ten times the "per division" setting.
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