User manual

Programming with the PicoScope 6000 Series10

3.5.2

Rapid block mode

In normal block mode, the PicoScope 6000 Series scopes collect one waveform at a

time. You start the the device running, wait until all samples are collected by the

device, and then download the data to the PC or start another run. There is a time

overhead of tens of milliseconds associated with starting a run, causing a gap between

waveforms. When you collect data from the device, there is another minimum time

overhead which is most noticeable when using a small number of samples.

Rapid block mode allows you to sample several waveforms at a time with the

minimum time between waveforms. It reduces the gap from milliseconds to less than

1 microsecond.

See Using rapid block mode for details.

3.5.2.1

Using rapid block mode

You can use rapid block mode with or without aggregation. With aggregation, you

need to set up two buffers for each channel to receive the minimum and maximum

values.

Without aggregation

1. Open the oscilloscope using ps6000OpenUnit.

2. Select channel ranges and AC/DC coupling using ps6000SetChannel.

3. Using ps6000GetTimebase, select timebases until the required nanoseconds per

sample is located.

4. Use the trigger setup functions ps6000SetTriggerChannelConditions,

ps6000SetTriggerChannelDirections and ps6000SetTriggerChannelProperties to

set up the trigger if required.

5. Set the number of memory segments equal to or greater than the number of

captures required using ps6000MemorySegments. Use ps6000SetNoOfCaptures

before each run to specify the number of waveforms to capture.

6. Start the oscilloscope running using ps6000RunBlock.

7. Wait until the oscilloscope is ready using the ps6000BlockReady callback.

8. Use ps6000SetDataBufferBulk to tell the driver where your memory buffers are.

9. Transfer the blocks of data from the oscilloscope using ps6000GetValuesBulk.

10. Retrieve the time offset for each data segment using

ps6000GetValuesTriggerTimeOffsetBulk64.

11. Display the data.

12. Repeat steps 6 to 11 if necessary.

13. Stop the oscilloscope using ps6000Stop.

With aggregation

To use rapid block mode with aggregation, follow steps 1 to 7 above and then proceed

as follows:

8a. Call ps6000SetDataBuffersBulk to set up one pair of buffers for every waveform

segment required.

9a. Call ps6000GetValuesBulk for each pair of buffers.

10a. Retrieve the time offset for each data segment using

ps6000GetValuesTriggerTimeOffsetBulk64.

Continue from step 11 above.