Waveform maths functions enhance Fluke ScopeMeters

Fluke has upgraded its 190 Series ScopeMeters with a new firmware release that adds powerful waveform mathematics capabilities.

Fluke has upgraded its 190 Series ScopeMeters with a new firmware release that adds powerful waveform mathematics capabilities.

It is now possible, for example, to multiply individual channel inputs to calculate power graphs.

This and many other easy-to-use functions are built into the version 4.0 firmware.

The 190 Series are digital dual-input oscilloscopes available with bandwidths up to 200MHz and real-time sampling rates of 2.5Gsample/s.

Each input has its own digitiser, so it is possible to simultaneously acquire and analyse two waveforms.

With the new waveform mathematics capability, these input waveforms can be added, subtracted or multiplied.

This allows for one input channel for instance, to be used to measure the voltage across a device while the other input may be set up to measure the current through that device.

The display can then show both waveforms plus a trace representing the multiplied traces, representing power as a function of time - useful for fault-finding excessive dissipation that could lead to premature failure.

Other mathematics functions include adding or subtracting individual channels, useful for determining distortion or locating sources of nonlinear behaviour in a signal chain.

Rise- and fall-times can be fully measured automatically on both input channels, offering greater consistency and accuracy than semi-automatic techniques using on-screen cursors.

Switching parameters can also be measured automatically, for which the ScopeMeter determines the appropriate high and low values.

On-screen markers indicate the 10 and 90% signal crossing points.

The new firmware also allows for A versus B display of two input waveforms, to show the amplitude- and phase relationship between applied signals in what is often referred to as an x-y display.

All new ScopeMeter 190 Series instruments have the new mathematical functions built-in.

Owners of ScopeMeters with a V3.x firmware release are entitled to a free upgrade, for which a software upgrade tool is available via the Internet from the Fluke website.

ScopeMeters running earlier firmware releases can be upgraded at Fluke authorised service centres for a nominal charge.

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