Export waveform capture times to a CSV file
It is now possible to export capture times to CSV via the Save or Waveform navigator dialog
- Click on the Waveform navigator lozenge and ensure Capture time is set to On.
- Note, clicking on the i button within the Waveform navigator options panel will provide a brief explanation of functionality with further information when clicking on More…
- To save the Timestamps to CSV, click on the Export button within the Waveform navigator options panel, or Save followed by the dropdown arrow in the File type field and select Timestamps CSV file.
- Below is how the Timestamps CSV file will appear once saved and opened with Excel. Note: Trigger timestamps do not apply to Auto Scopes at present
Feedback on the design and function of the Capture times export feature would be most welcome. Click on More > Help and support > Send Feedback within the software
New Channel Deskew (Horizontal offset) control
It is now possible to Deskew channels to amend time differences between captured signals.
Regarding the following forum post https://www.picoauto.com/support/viewtopic.php?p=98601#p98601, where identical CAN signals are captured at differing locations about a vehicle, we can apply the Deskew feature to accommodate timing differences.
- Below, we have captured CAN Hi & Lo from the same network, at differing locations about a vehicle.
- Using the Views feature below, we have hidden channels B & D (CAN Lo) and increased the scale and offset for channels A & C (CAN Hi). Note: Both CAN Hi waveforms are now overlayed.
- Using the zoom feature, we can see the time delay between CAN Hi measured at differing vehicle locations. These delays can be attributed to many factors such as propagation time, component tolerances and impedance differences within the test equipment.
- Above we can see a delay (shift) of approx. 94.37262 ns, which can be corrected using the Deskew feature.
- Clicking on Channel C button and selecting the Display tab will reveal the Deskew option, where we have applied 94.37 ns of horizontal offset (Deskew) to align both CAN Hi signals.
- Note below, Channel C button indicates Deskew is active via the double arrow symbol (<>).
Please note, Deskew is intended for correction of minuscule delays or shifts (nano or micro seconds) that are attributed to variations in test equipment impedance and probe tolerances. The delay/shift correction described above serves as an example of how Deskew could be used. In reality, the delay/shift captured between both CAN Hi signals is a true event and present on the vehicle, so not to be corrected by Deskew.
- More information can be found on Channel Deskew by clicking on the i button within the Channel button > Display tab, where a brief explanation of functionality can be found with further information included by clicking More…
- The following link will provide additional information surrounding Deskew: https://www.picotech.com/library/knowledge-bases/oscilloscopes/channel-deskew.
Feedback on the design and function of the Deskew feature would be most welcome. Click on More… > Help and support > Send Feedback within the software.
Reference waveform delay improvements
It is now possible to adjust the Reference waveform delay to the extent of the entire current capture time, rather than just the capture time at point of creation. To explain this feature in more detail, we will use PicoScope in Demo mode.
- Open PicoScope 7 Automotive software and select Demo mode.
- Select the port injector voltage signal for channel A (default signal) with a +- 100 V input range at 2 ms/div.
- Below we have also included a Repeat, Simple edge, Rising trigger at 40 V with a 50% Pre-trigger setting.
- Create a Reference waveform of the above signal (Refer to configuration below)
- Change the time base to 20 ms/div, run PicoScope and then stop the capture.
- Below is how the reference waveform captured at 2 ms/div can now be delayed by the entire length of the current capture (200 ms/div).
- Using the slide control of the Delay key pad will enable rapid positioning of the reference waveform.
- In contrast, reversing the above process and creating a reference waveform at 20 ms/div (then reverting to 2 ms/div), the delay feature will enable alignment of multiple injection events captured on the slower time frame (See configuration below).
- Going forward, the above improved Reference waveform delay feature will enhance ease-of-use when comparing waveforms downloaded from the Reference Waveform Library (RWL), captured on differing time bases, to your original/current capture.
Feedback on the design and function of the improved Reference waveform delay feature would be most welcome. Click on More… > Help and support > Send Feedback within the software.
Measurement graph indicators can now be toggled on/off
Following on from the introduction of the Measurement graph indicators described here https://www.picoauto.com/support/viewtopic.php?p=106217#p106217, we can now toggle this feature on/off.
- Below we have added a Maximum measurement to our injector signal, whereby the graph indicator highlights the peak value.
- Click on the Measurement icon to open the Measurement options panel and select the Settings tab.
- Below is how the Measurement graph indicators can now be toggled on/off
Feedback on the design and function of the Measurement graph indicator feature would be most welcome. Click on More… > Help and support > Send Feedback within the software.
Serial Decoding filter settings are now saved within psdata and pssettings files.
Following on from our improved serial decoding filter feature here https://www.picoauto.com/support/viewtopic.php?p=106080#p106080, it is now possible to save applied filter settings in .psdata or .pssettings file format.
- Below we have used the CAN bus serial decoding Guided Test and applied the identical filters as described in the link above. The file was saved as Test Save Decode filters.psdata whereupon opening, the relevant filters are already applied to the decoded data.
Feedback on the design and function of the Serial decode filter “Save” feature would be most welcome. Click on More… > Help and support > Send Feedback within the software
The conversation doesn’t stop here! We’d love for you to join us on the forum to discuss this article, see what other users are saying, and catch all the updates. Click here to jump in: https://www.picoauto.com/support/viewtopic.php?p=106383#p106383