User Manual

Glossary18

PicoScope software. A program that accompanies all Pico PC Oscilloscopes. It turns

your PC into an oscilloscope, spectrum analyser and measuring instrument.

Real-time sampling. The normal operating mode of a digital oscilloscope. The scope

collects a single, unbroken sequence of samples at or below its maximum sampling

rate. Compare with equivalent-time sampling.

(Vertical) Resolution (bit). The number of bits used to digitise an input signal. The

higher the resolution, the smaller the voltage change that can be detected.

Time base. The time base controls the time intervals marked on the horizontal

divisions of the scope view. There are ten divisions across the scope view, so the total

time across the view is ten times the time base per division.

USB 1.1. Universal Serial Bus (Full Speed). This is a standard port used to connect

external devices to PCs. A typical USB 1.1 port supports a data transfer rate of 12

megabits per second, so is much faster than an RS232 COM port.

USB 2.0. Universal Serial Bus (Hi-Speed). This is a standard port used to connect

external devices to PCs. A typical USB 2.0 port supports a data transfer rate 40 times

faster than USB 1.1 when used with a USB 2.0 device, but can also be used with USB

1.1 devices.

Voltage range. The range of input voltages that the oscilloscope can measure. For

example, a voltage range of ±100 mV means that the oscilloscope can measure

voltages between -100 mV and +100 mV. Input voltages outside this range will not

damage the instrument as long as they remain within the protection limits stated in

the relevant specifications table.