Datasheet

PicoScope 4444 differential oscilloscope
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.
PicoScopes broke new ground by being the first to use digital triggering. This method reduces errors and allows our oscilloscopes to trigger on the smallest signals, even at the full bandwidth. Trigger
levels and hysteresis can be set with high precision and resolution.
Digital triggering also reduces rearm delay and this, combined with the segmented memory, allows the triggering and capture of events that happen in rapid sequence. At the fastest timebase you can use
rapid triggering to collect 10 000 waveforms in under 12 ms, and still use mask limit testing to identify problem waveforms.
As well as simple edge triggers, a selection of time-based triggers are available for both digital and analog inputs, including:
• Pulse-width trigger: allows you to trigger on either high or low pulses which are shorter or longer than a specified time or which fall inside or outside a range of times.
• Interval trigger: measures the time between subsequent rising or falling edges. This allows you to trigger if a clock signal falls outside of an acceptable frequency range, for example.
• Dropout trigger: fires when a signal stops toggling for a defined interval of time, functioning as a watchdog timer.