
PicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide 15
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6 Glossary
API. Application Programming Interface. A set of function calls that give
programmers access to the PicoScope 5000 A and B Series driver.
Bandwidth. The range of input frequencies over which the measured signal amplitude
is no more than 3 decibels below its true value.
Buffer size. The size of the oscilloscope buffer memory, measured in samples. In
block mode, 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.
Driver. A program that controls a piece of hardware. The driver for the PicoScope
5000 A and B Series oscilloscopes is supplied in the form of a 32-bit Windows DLL,
ps5000a.dll. This is used by the PicoScope software, and by user-designed
applications, to control the oscilloscopes.
External trigger. This is the BNC connector marked Ext on the PicoScope 5000 A and
B Series oscilloscopes. It can be used as a trigger source but not as a waveform input.
Flexible Resolution Oscilloscope. The instrument formed by connecting a PicoScope
5000 A and B Series oscilloscope to a computer running the PicoScope software
application.
Maximum sampling rate. A figure indicating the maximum number of samples the
oscilloscope can acquire per second. Maximum sample rates are usually given in MS/s
(megasamples per second) or GS/s (gigasamples per second.) The higher the
sampling rate of the oscilloscope, the more accurate the representation of the high-
frequency details in a fast signal.
MS/s. Megasamples per second. Used to quantify the sampling rate of an
oscilloscope.
PicoScope software. This is a software product that accompanies all our
oscilloscopes. It turns your PC into an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, and meter
display.
Signal generator. A built-in circuit that generates signals suitable for driving an
external device under test. Its output is on the BNC connector marked Gen on the
oscilloscope. If you connect a BNC cable between this and one of the channel inputs,
you can send a signal into the channel.
Timebase. A timer that controls the speed at which the scope device captures data.
At slow timebases this process is visible as PicoScope draws the trace across the scope
view from left to right, but at fast timebases PicoScope draws the whole trace in a
single operation. The timebase is measured in units of time (such as seconds) per
division. There are ten divisions across the scope view, so the total time across the
width of the view is ten times the "per division" setting.
USB 1.1. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard port that enables you to connect
external devices to PCs. A typical USB 1.1 port supports a data transfer rate of 12
Mbps (12 megabits per second), much faster than an RS232 port.
USB 2.0. A typical USB 2.0 port supports a data transfer rate that is 40 times faster
than USB 1.1. USB 2.0 is backwards-compatible with USB 1.1.
USB 3.0. A USB 3.0 port uses signaling speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second and is
backwards-compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.
Vertical resolution. A value, in bits, indicating the precision with which the
oscilloscope converts input voltages to digital values. The resolution enhancement
function in PicoScope can improve the effective vertical resolution.
Voltage range.The range of input voltages that the oscilloscope can measure. For
example, a voltage range of ±20 V means that the oscilloscope can measure voltages
between —20 V and +20 V. Input voltages outside this range will not be measured
correctly, but will not damage the instrument as long as they remain within the
protection limits stated in the specifications.
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