Getting started

This introduction will show you some examples to get started working with the software. A Handyscope HS5 is used in most of the examples, but other instruments supported by the Multi Channel oscilloscope software can also be used.

When started without instrument connected, the Multi Channel oscilloscope software operates as demo software.

Start application

When you start the application the screen will look like figure 1.

Multi Channel oscilloscope software after starting

Figure 1: Multi Channel oscilloscope software after starting

Application sections

The main window of the application is divided into three sections which will be described in the next paragraphs.

Toolbars

A few toolbars are situated directly below the main menu. The first toolbar can be used for accessing frequently used items from the file menu. The other toolbars contain quick functions to use the measurement instruments as a standard virtual instrument: oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, data logger or voltmeter and other function in the software.

Instrument controls

Instruments can be controlled with the instrument toolbar and the channel toolbars. More information about controlling instruments can be found in the instrument controls section.

Graph section

Below the instrument bar, the graph windows are situated. The graphs can show the acquired measurements, other sources and outputs of I/O blocks. An output of an I/O block can for example be low-pass filtered measured data. More information about graphs can be found in the graph section.

Object tree

At the left on the main form, the object tree is situated. In the object tree the different in- and output blocks can be connected. The object tree is closed by default, and can be opened by clicking the Open object tree Object tree button. More information about the object tree can be found in the object tree section.

Edit fields for numerical values

In many locations in the software, it is possible to enter a numerical value, e.g. to set the gain value of a Gain / Offset I/O.

Entering numbers can be done in various ways:

  • as plain number, e.g. 1200
  • in scientific notation, e.g. 1.2e3
  • using prefixes, e.g. 1.2k or 1k2
  • as an expression, e.g. 10 * ( 100 + 20 )

Valid prefixes that can be used in edit fields are:

Prefix Name Value
f femto 1e-15
p pico 1e-12
n nano 1e-9
µ or u micro 1e-6
m milli 1e-3
k kilo 1e3
M mega 1e6
G giga 1e9
T tera 1e12
P peta 1e15

Prefixes are case sensitive!

Expressions can besides numbers also use parentheses (always in pairs), constants and mathematical functions. These are case insensitive. Supported constants are:

Constant Value
pi 3.141592638
eulersnumber or en 2.718281828

Supported functions are:

Function Description
sin( Arg1 ) returns the Sine of angle Arg1 in degrees
cos( Arg1 ) returns the Cosine of angle Arg1 in degrees
tan( Arg1 ) returns the Tangent of angle Arg1 in degrees
arcsin( Arg1 ) returns the angle in degrees of the ArcSine of value Arg1
arccos( Arg1 ) returns the angle in degrees of the ArcCosine of value Arg1
arctan( Arg1 ) returns the angle in degrees of the ArcTangent of value Arg1
arctanxy( Arg1, Arg2 ) returns the angle in degrees of the ArcTangent of Arg2 / Arg1
degtorad( Arg1 ) converts angle Arg1 in degrees to an angle in radians
radtodeg( Arg1 ) converts angle Arg1 in radians to an angle in degrees
sqr( Arg1 ) retuns the square of a value Arg1
sqrt( Arg1 ) returns the square root of a value Arg1
ln( Arg1 ) returns the natural logarithm of value Arg1
log10( Arg1 ) returns the ten base logarithm of value Arg1: 10log Arg1
log2( Arg1 ) returns the two base logarithm of value Arg1: 2log Arg1
logn( Arg1, Arg2 ) returns the Arg1 base logarithm of value Arg2: Arg1log Arg2
exp( Arg1 ) returns e (euler's number) to the power Arg1: eArg1
power( Arg1, Arg2 ) returns Arg1 to the power Arg2: Arg1Arg2
ceil( Arg1 ) returns the nearest integer that is equal to or greater than value Arg1
floor( Arg1 ) returns the nearest integer that is equal to or less than value Arg1
round( Arg1 ) rounds value Arg1
trunc( Arg1 ) returns the integer part of the floating point value Arg1
mod( Arg1, Arg2 ) returns the remainder of Arg1 divided by Arg2
div( Arg1, Arg2 ) returns the whole number result of Arg1 divided by Arg2

Any expression that is entered, will be evaluated by the software and the resulting value is used. The expression will be kept, to make later changes easier. The expression is also saved when saving a setup to a .TPS file and reloaded when that file is later reloaded.