PicoScope 2000 Series User Guide
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Copyright 2005-6 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.
PS2000044-1.1
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Glossary
AC/DC switch
To switch from alternating current to direct current, or vice versa, select AC or DC from
the control on the oscilloscope toolbar of the PicoScope software application. The setting
should be adjusted to suit the characteristics of the input signal.
Analog bandwidth
The input frequency at which the signal amplitude has fallen by 3 dB from its nominal
value.
Block mode
A sampling mode in which the computer prompts the oscilloscope to collect a block of
data into its internal memory before stopping the oscilloscope and transferring the whole
block into computer memory. This mode of operation is suitable when the input signal
being sampled contains high frequencies. Note: To avoid aliasing effects, the sampling
rate must be greater than twice the maximum input frequency.
Buffer size
The size of the oscilloscope buffer memory. The buffer memory is used by the
oscilloscope to store data temporarily. This allows the oscilloscope to sample data
independently of the speed at which it can transfer data to the computer.
Device Manager
Device Manager is a Windows applet that displays the current hardware configuration of
your computer. On Windows 98 or Windows ME, right click on 'My Computer' and choose
the 'Device Manager' tab. On Windows 2000 or Windows XP, right click on 'My
Computer,' choose the 'Hardware' tab and select 'Device Manager'.
Driver
A software application that controls a piece of hardware. The driver for the
PicoScope
2000 series PC Oscilloscopes is supplied in the form of a 32 bit Windows DLL. This is
used by the PicoScope and PicoLog software to control the oscilloscopes.
Maximum sampling rate
A figure indicating the maximum number of samples the oscilloscope is capable of
acquiring per second. Maximum sample rates are usually given in MS/s (megasamples
per second) or GS/s (gigasamples per second.) The higher the sampling speed of the
oscilloscope, the more accurate the representation of the high-frequency details in a fast
signal.
PC Oscilloscope
An instrument consisting of a PicoScope 2000 series PC Oscilloscope and the PicoScope
software application.
PicoLog software
This is a software product that accompanies all our oscilloscopes. It turns your PC into a
data logger and chart recorder.
PicoScope 2000 series
A PC Oscilloscope range that includes the PicoScope 2202 PC Oscilloscope.
PicoScope software
This is a software product that accompanies all our oscilloscopes. It turns your PC into an
