PicoScope 4444 ® See the difference: high-resolution differential USB oscilloscope 4 true differential inputs Flexible 12- or 14-bit resolution 20 MHz bandwidth Up to 400 MS/s sampling rate 256 MS capture memory High common-mode rejection ratio Balanced high-impedance inputs for a low circuit load Intelligent probe interface Measure differential signals with a single channel Measure non-ground-referenced signals Reject common-mode voltages in electronic and biomedical applications Safely probe single and
The PicoScope 4444: a new standard in differential measurement With four true differential inputs, 12- to 14-bit resolution and wide differential and common-mode voltage ranges, the PicoScope 4444 and its accessories offer accurate and detailed measurement for a multitude of applications. The two key accessories are the new PicoConnect™ differential voltage probes. We have used 9-pin D-type connectors to create a true differential probe interface.
Why make differential measurements? While you can make a wide variety of measurements with an ordinary ground-referenced scope, there are some circumstances where that just won’t work. VSIG VSIG VSUM VSUM VCM VCM 0V 0V Common-mode voltages are unwanted signals that are applied equally to both measurement terminals in your probing system. The circuit above consists of a signal source (purple) with AC and DC components producing a total output of VSIG, which we wish to measure.
Why use the PicoScope 4444 differential oscilloscope? There are, of course, plenty of differential probes available, all with similar inconveniences: bulky interface boxes, missing or flat batteries, snaking power leads... The PicoScope 4444 uses specially designed passive voltage probes that have smaller and lighter (or no) interface boxes.
Deep memory The PicoScope 4444 oscilloscope offers a large capture memory of 256 MS, allowing it to sustain high sampling rates across long timebases. Running at 12-bit resolution, it can sample at 400 MS/s all the way down to 50 ms/div giving a 500 ms total capture time. Powerful tools are included to allow you to manage and examine all of this data.
Unique intelligent probe interface Signal integrity When you connect any Pico Technology probe with D9 connection to the PicoScope 4444, the PicoScope 6 software will detect, identify and, where necessary, power it. This means you spend less time setting up and don’t have to worry about battery packs or power supplies. The software automatically sets up the display and controls to match your probe. Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk, and harmonic distortion.
Accessories The convenient preconfigured kits supplied by our distributors each include three differential voltage probes with Pico D9 connectors, and a single-ended D9-BNC adaptor. These and a range of other accessories are also available separately. See the table at the back of this document for prices and ordering information. Alternatively, you can devise your own configuration on our website, www.picotech.com.
Current measurement probes Two current probes are available with Pico D9 connections. The TA300 and TA301 both use the Hall effect to measure AC and DC currents. The intelligent probe interface means that the probes are powered directly by the PicoScope 4444, so you can use them to measure current for extended periods of time without worrying about flat batteries. It also means that when you connect either of these probes, the PicoScope 6 software automatically configures itself to display your signal.
Flexible AC current probes The TA325 and TA326 current probes use the Rogowski coil principle to measure AC currents up to 3000 A, without suffering from saturation. These probes have flexible sensor coils, enabling you to measure currents on conductors that clamp-type current probes just can’t get to, while the long battery life means you can leave them connected for longer-term measurements.
PicoScope 6 software The PicoScope software display can be as basic or as detailed as you need. Begin with a single view of one channel, and then expand the display to include up to four live channels, plus math channels and reference waveforms. Display multiple scope and spectrum views in a configurable grid. Tools menu: Set up custom probes, serial decoding, reference waveforms, mask tests, alarms and macros from the Tools menu.
Advanced display PicoScope 6 software lets you view your signals with exceptional detail and clarity. The majority of the display area is dedicated to the waveform, so you can see a huge amount of data at once. • Size The size of the display is limited only by the size of your monitor, so even on a laptop, the viewing area for a PicoScope USB oscilloscope is far larger than that of a typical benchtop scope.
Spectrum analyzer With a click of a button, you can display a spectrum plot of selected channels up to the bandwidth of the oscilloscope. A comprehensive range of settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bins and a choice of window functions and display modes. You can display multiple spectrum views with different channel selections and zoom factors, and place these alongside time-domain views of the same data.
Serial decoding All PicoScope oscilloscopes include serial decoding capability as standard. Display the decoded data in the format of your choice: as a graph, in a table, or both at once. • Graph format shows the decoded data beneath the waveform on a common time axis, with error frames marked in red. You can zoom in on these frames to investigate noise or distortion.
Advanced digital triggers Since 1991, Pico Technology has been pioneering the use of digital triggering and precision hysteresis using the actual digitized data. Traditionally, digital oscilloscopes have used an analog trigger architecture based on comparators, which can cause time and amplitude errors that cannot always be calibrated out. Additionally, the use of comparators can often limit the trigger sensitivity at high bandwidths and can create a long trigger rearm delay.
Mask limit testing Mask limit testing allows you to compare live signals against known good signals, and is designed for production and debugging environments. Simply capture a known good signal, automatically generate a mask around it, and then attach the system under test.
Plot frequency against time with PicoScope 6 All oscilloscopes can measure the frequency of a waveform, but often you need to know how that frequency changes over time, which is a difficult measurement to make. The freq math function can do exactly this: in this example, it is being used to plot the frequency of the top waveform, revealing that it is exponentially modulated.
Rulers Automatic measurements PicoScope 6 contains a full set of rulers to help you make onscreen measurements. You can use just one ruler to make an absolute measurement, or a pair to make a delta measurement. All of them are easy to use - just use the colored ruler handles to drag the rulers into position.
Specifications VERTICAL Input channels Analog bandwidth (–3 dB) Rise time (calculated) Bandwidth limiter Vertical resolution, 12-bit mode Vertical resolution, 14-bit mode Enhanced vertical resolution (PicoScope 6 software), 12-bit mode Enhanced vertical resolution (PicoScope 6 software), 14-bit mode Input type Input characteristics OSCILLOSCOPE SPECIFICATIONS SPECIFICATIONS WITH PICOCONNECT 442 1000 V CAT III PROBE 4 channels One differential pair per connected probe 20 MHz with D9-BNC adaptors 15 MHz
HORIZONTAL 1 channel: 400 MS/s 2 channels: 200 MS/s 3 or 4 channels: 100 MS/s 1 channel: 50 MS/s 2 channels: 50 MS/s 3 or 4 channels: 50 MS/s Maximum sampling rate (real time) 12-bit mode Maximum sampling rate (real time) 14-bit mode Maximum sampling rate (USB streaming) 10 MS/s Capture memory (real time) 256 MS shared between active channels Capture memory (USB streaming) 100 MS (shared between active channels) Maximum duration of capture at fastest sampling rate (real time), 12-bit mode Maximum dur
TRIGGERING Source Any channel Trigger modes None, auto, repeat, single, rapid Trigger types Edge, window, pulse width, window pulse width, dropout, window dropout, interval, runt pulse, logic Trigger sensitivity Digital triggering provides up to 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth Maximum pre-trigger capture 100% capture length Maximum trigger time-delay 4 billion samples Trigger rearm time Maximum trigger rate < 2 µs on fastest timebase 10 000 waveforms in a 12 ms burst PROBE COMPENSATION PIN
SDK/API DETAILS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR USERS WRITING THEIR OWN SOFTWARE (see “HORIZONTAL” above for details when using PicoScope 6 software) Supplied drivers 32- and 64-bit drivers for Windows 7, 8 and 10 Linux drivers Mac OS X drivers Example code C, C#, Excel VBA, VB.
Ordering information Oscilloscope kits Order code Description High-resolution differential oscilloscope with three PicoConnect 441 1:1 passive differential voltage probes and PicoScope 4444 standard kit one TA271 single-ended D9-BNC adaptor High-resolution differential oscilloscope with three PicoConnect 442 1000 V CAT III passive differential voltage PicoScope 4444 1000 V CAT III kit probes and one TA271 single-ended D9-BNC adaptor High-resolution differential oscilloscope.
