Pico Technology

All PicoScope models include an integrated function generator or arbitrary waveform generator, triggering, automatic measurements with statistics, a Fast Fourier transform spectrum analysis mode, waveform maths, mask limit testing, and serial decoding for I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, LIN and FlexRay.

USB 2.0 oscilloscopes from Pico Tech are available with bandwidths up to 1 GHz, up to 4 input channels, hardware vertical resolutions up to 16 bits, sampling rates up to 5 GS/s, buffer sizes up to 2 GS, and built-in signal generators.

USB 3.0 SuperSpeed oscilloscopes from Pico Tech offers up to 500 MHz bandwidth (1.25Gsample/s) on four channels, and 2 GS of buffer memory shared between the channels.[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130417006501/en/Cypress%E2%80%99s-EZ-USB%C2%AE-FX3%E2%84%A2-Controller-Powers-Industry%E2%80%99s-USB Cypress’s EZ-USB® FX3™ Controller Powers Industry’s First USB 3.0 Oscilloscopes from Pico Technology], BusinessWire, 17 April 2013 Pico Tech has been variously credited for developing the world's first USB 3.0 PC-based oscilloscope.

The PicoScope 6000 series is considered a "Deep-memory oscilloscope", and uses hardware acceleration to provide fast display update rates on the PC.[https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/6000/picoscope-6000-overview PicoScope 6000 Series], Deep-memory high-performance USB scopes, Pico Tech Website[http://www.rdmag.com/articles/2014/08/preferred-method-electronic-test The Preferred Method for Electronic Test], R&D Magazine, 8 June 2014, Lindsay Hock, Managing Editor The 6000 Series hardware acceleration engine can process up to 5 billion samples per second, approximately two-orders-of-magnitude faster than what could be processed on a typical PC CPU.

The PicoScope 9000 series of "sampling scopes" are noted to reach a 12 GHz and even 20 GHz sampling rate, and are often used for analysing electrical communications standards and mainstream signal integrity (SI).[https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/picoscope-9000-series PicoScope 9000 Series sampling oscilloscopes], Pico Tech Website{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/test-and-measurement/pico-improves-12ghz-pc-sampling-scope-2010-04/|title=Pico improves 12GHz PC sampling scope|work=Electronics Weekly|date=19 April 2010 }} Such oscilloscopes work in conjunction with the PicoScope PC software that supports 70+ serial standards including RapidIO, PCI Express and Serial ATA.{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/test-and-measurement/usb-sampling-scope-hits-12ghz-2008-04/|title=USB sampling scope hits 12GHz|work=Electronics Weekly|date=28 April 2008 }}

The PicoScope Advanced Automotive Diagnostics Kit enables testing of ignition, injectors and fuel pumps, starter and charging circuits, batteries, alternators, starter motors, and timer relays.[http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/automotive-oscilloscope-kit-turns-pc-into-diagnostic-tool-20033132 Automotive Oscilloscope Kit turns PC into diagnostic tool], ThomasNet, 18 September 2014 The Kit is compatible with any vehicle make or model, and can measure and test virtually all electrical and electronic components and circuits. Power comes from USB port of PC so no batteries or power leads are required.

The PicoLog range of data loggers includes various devices to periodically measure and record voltage, temperature, and power consumption data.[http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/pico-has-beta-drivers-for-raspberry-pi-and-beaglebone-black/66051/ Pico has beta drivers for Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone Black], NewElectronics, 19 November 2014, "The data logger range includes multichannel voltage loggers, 8channel thermocouple loggers and the educational DrDAQ multifunction logger"[https://www.picotech.com/products/data-logger PicoLog Data Loggers], Pico Tech The range includes the DrDAQ educational multi-function data logger, that has been described as "a greatly simplified version of the PicoScopes", and "can certainly be recommended to those involved in teaching computer interfacing, or wishing to use computer based equipment when demonstrating appropriate scientific experiments".[http://www.lanzo.se/drdaqreview.html DrDAQ Data Logger Reviewed], Everyday Practical Electronics, July 2000[http://www.lanzo.se/science-data-logger.html DrDAQ: It turns your PC into a science lab], Silicon Chip (UK), Review by Peter Smith, 2000

Pico Technology offers passive and active oscilloscope probes up to 1.5 GHz, high-voltage and high-bandwidth differential voltage probes, current probes, thermocouples, accelerometers and pressure transducers.

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The PicoScope PC software is provided free with every oscilloscope, and enables real-time signal acquisition and capture of waveforms on Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE and macOS platforms.{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/test-measurement/picoscope-gets-linux-software-2014-02/|title=Embedded World: PicoScope gets Linux software|work=Electronics Weekly|date=25 February 2014 }}[http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4428558/A-USB-scope-for-Linux-fans A USB scope for Linux fans], EDN Magazine, Christoph Hammerschmidt −19 February 2014 PicoScope software enables analysis using FFT, a spectrum analyser, voltage-based triggers, and the ability to save/load waveforms to disk. PicoScope is compatible with Parallel port oscilloscopes and the newer USB oscilloscopes.

The software has been described as "very good for laptops" and can be used with desktop or laptop PCs. The Linux version has been described as "lightyears ahead [of] Qpicoscope and other attempts at Linux scope software" and "well capable of replacing a professional benchtop scope".[http://codeandlife.com/2014/01/19/picoscope-beta-for-linux/#more-1567 Picoscope Beta for Linux], Code and Life, Joonas Pihlajamaa, 19 January 2014 Beta versions of the software also work on the ARM-based BeagleBone Black and Raspberry Pi development hardware.{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/test-measurement/usb-scopes-work-beaglebone-black-raspberry-pi-2014-11/|title=USB scopes work with BeagleBone Black and Raspberry Pi|work=Electronics Weekly|date=19 November 2014 }}

PicoScope software enables real-time scope display with zooming and panning, and buffers captured waveforms on the PC to enable engineers to view previous measurements.{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/test-and-measurement/200mhz-pc-picoscope-gets-four-channels-and-1gsamples-2012-07/|title=200MHz PC PicoScope gets four channels and 1Gsample/s|work=Electronics Weekly|date=4 July 2012 }} PicoScope uses configurable triggers, which are available for digital and analogue waveforms. Triggers include pulse width, interval, window, window pulse width, level drop-out, window drop-out, runt pulse, variable hysteresis, and logic.{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/test-and-measurement/pico-technology-aims-pc-scope-bench-engineers-2015-01/|title=Pico Technology aims PC scope at bench engineers|work=Electronics Weekly|date=26 January 2015 }} Mixed signal variants combine digitised analogue triggers with edge and pattern triggering on the digital inputs.

Screen size and resolution are unrestricted, and depend on the PC connected. For developers that require integration, PicoScope includes a free software development kit (SDK) with that can be programmed from C#, VB.NET, C++, Microsoft Excel, LabVIEW or MATLAB.[https://www.picotech.com/support/forum23.html .Net Languages (C#, VB.Net)], Pico Tech Forum{{cite web|url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/test-and-measurement/embedded-world-pc-scope-eight-20mhz-12bit-channels-2014-02/|title=Embedded World: PC scope has eight 20MHz 12bit channels|work=Electronics Weekly|date=26 February 2014 }}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• Agilent
• Rigol
• Tektronix
• Velleman

{{Oscilloscopes}}

Category:Electronics companies established in 1991

Category:Electronics companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Electronic test equipment manufacturers

Category:Companies based in Cambridgeshire

Category:Instrument-making corporations

Category:1991 establishments in England

Category:British brands