DSO Virtual Instruments

Using Virtual Instruments, DSO offers much more than just an oscilloscope. The current version supports the following test, measurement and data acquisition functions:

Digital Storage Oscilloscope
Mixed Signal Oscilloscope
Logic State Analyzer
Waveform Generator
Spectrum Analyzer
Data Recorder

Each function is implemented by a user selectable virtual instrument (VI). VIs program BitScope to perform appropriate waveform acquisition, generation and/or signal processing.

They are all tightly integrated making comparative measurements between them possible. For example, high speed logic capture can be compared with high resolution analog waveforms and their spectra captured at a different time scale.

Scope Selectors

The buttons that appear down the right side of the DSO app is where virtual instruments and their associated tools are selected.

The selectors are arranged in three groups:

ID	GROUP	FUNCTION
1	Power and Setup	Setup and DSO application start up.
2	Virtual Instruments	Selects from available virtual instrument.
3	Scope Tools	Selects various tools and features.

Group 1 provides POWER and SETUP as described for setup.

These buttons are always available.

However, the buttons which appear in the groups 2 and 3 depend on what type of BitScope is connected. For example, the buttons shown on the left are those supported by BS10. Other models may offer different choices.

Virtual Instruments

When using DSO, the first step is to choose the virtual instrument required. Selection is mutually exclusive; choosing one instrument deselects another. Almost all DSO parameters (e.g. timebase, voltage scaling, display mode etc) depend on which instrument is selected and the parameter values are stored with each instrument. Switching between instruments restores parameters.

The exceptions are those parameters for which it does not make sense to have different values just because the instrument changed (e.g. probe scaling which depends on the probes used not the selected virtual instrument).

The virtual instruments that are available depend on features of the BitScope but the complete list of instruments that can be supported by the current DSO version is:

INSTRUMENT	DESCRIPTION
SCOPE	Independent multiple channel Digital Storage Oscilloscope.
DUAL	Sample linked dual channel Digital Storage Oscilloscope.
CHOP	Dual channel chopped capture Digital Sampling Oscilloscope.
ALT	Dual channel alternating capture Digital Sampling Oscilloscope.
MIXED	Multi-channel Mixed (Analog+Logic) Signal Storage Oscilloscope.
LOGIC	Direct capture high speed Logic State and/or Timing Analyzer.
WAVE	Combined Analog Waveform Generator and Sampling Oscilloscope.
BAND	Multi-band RF Spectrum Analyzer and Sub-Sampling Oscilloscope.
SCAN	Slow speed continous sampling Digital Oscilloscope.

Some features such as the built-in base-band spectrum analyszer and data recorder in all BitScope models are available regardless of which instrument is selected. They do not appear as instruments themselves. Other model specific features such the DSP waveform generator are also available to all virtual instruments and do not appear as instruments themselves.

Scope Tools

Scope Tools are additional features provided by the DSO which usually operate independently of the selected virtual instrument and provide a variety of test, measurement and related functions.

This table enumerates the scope tools supported by the current DSO version:

TOOL	DESCRIPTION
GRID	Enables the display graticule and adjusts its brightness.
CURSOR	Enables measurement cursors (time, voltage and/or frequency).
MACRO	Enables high resolution data capture ("macro mode").
PRESET	Configuration presets (selectors for configuration memories).
SAVE	Saves the complete waveform display to an image file.
WAVE	Enables the DSP based waveform generator on supported devices.
CAL	Enables probe calibration and clock signal generation on supported devices.
HIDE	Hide parameter control panels (to maximize screen realestate).
HELP	Open online help (i.e. launches this user guide).

All BitScope models support GRID, CURSOR, SAVE, HIDE and HELP. Only some models support the other tools. Some buttons may appear disabled (unclickable) because the feature is supported but not currently available (e.g. a required hardware option is not installed).