PicoScope 5000 Series
High Performance Oscilloscopes
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PicoScope 5000 Series
Pricing
PicoScope 5242A (PP863)
$1753.00*  Order
PicoScope 5242B (PP864)
$1973.00*  Order
PicoScope 5243A (PP865)
$2225.00*  Order
PicoScope 5243B (PP866)
$2425.00*  Order
PicoScope 5244A (PP867)
$2645.00*  Order
PicoScope 5244B (PP868)
$2885.00*  Order
PicoScope 5442A (PP869)
$2325.00*  Order
PicoScope 5442B (PP870)
$2645.00*  Order
PicoScope 5443A (PP871)
$2985.00*  Order
PicoScope 5443B (PP872)
$3345.00*  Order
PicoScope 5444A (PP873)
$3685.00*  Order
PicoScope 5444B (PP874)
$4005.00*  Order
PicoScope: Power, Portability and Versatility
Pico Technology continues to push the limits of PC oscilloscope design. For the first time in an oscilloscope, Pico Technology have used reconfigurable ADCs to offer a choice of 8-bit to 16-bit resolutions in a single product.

Flexible Resolution

Most digital oscilloscopes gain their high sampling rates by interleaving multiple 8-bit ADCs. Despite careful design, the interleaving process introduces errors that always make the dynamic performance worse than the performance of the individual ADC cores.

The PicoScope 5000 scopes have a significantly different architecture in which multiple high-resolution ADCs can be applied to the input channels in different series and parallel combinations to boost either the sampling rate or the resolution. In series mode, the ADCs are interleaved to provide 1 GS/s at 8 bits (see Fig1).

Interleaving reduces the performance of the ADCs, but the result (60 dB SFDR) is still much better than oscilloscopes that interleave 8-bit ADCs. This mode can also provide 500 MS/s at 12 bits resolution.

In parallel mode, multiple ADCs are sampled in phase on each channel increasing the resolution to 14 bits (see Fig 1) at 125 MS/s per channel (70 dB SFDR). If only two channels are required then resolution can be increased to 15 bits, and in single-channel mode all the ADCs are combined to give a 16‑bit mode at 62.5 MS/s.

timing
Fig1 Picoscope 5000 series architecture

Portability

Pico Technology oscilloscopes are small, light and portable. In 2-channel mode the 5000 Series scopes can be powered from USB only, making them ideal for the engineer on the move. The external power supply is only needed when operating more than 2 channels. The 5000 Series oscilloscopes are suitable for field use in many applications, such as design, research, test, education, service and repair.

High Bandwidth, High Sampling Rate

Most USB-powered oscilloscopes have real-time sampling rates of only 100 or 200 MS/s, but the PicoScope 5000 Series offers up to 1 GS/s, and a maximum bandwidth of 200 MHz. Equivalent time sampling (ETS) mode can be used to further boost the sampling rate to 10 GS/s for a more detailed view of repetitive signals.

Digital triggering

Most digital oscilloscopes sold today still use an analog trigger architecture based on comparators. This can cause time and amplitude errors that cannot always be calibrated out. The use of comparators often limits the trigger sensitivity at high bandwidths.

In 1991 we pioneered the use of fully digital triggering using the actual digitized data. This technique reduces trigger errors and allows our oscilloscopes to trigger on the smallest signals, even at the full bandwidth. Trigger levels and hysteresis can be set with high precision and resolution.

Digital triggering also reduces re-arm delay and this, combined with the segmented memory, allows the triggering and capture of events that happen in rapid sequence. At the fastest timebase you can use rapid triggering to collect 10,000 waveforms in under 20 milliseconds. Our mask limit testing function can then scan through these waveforms to highlight any failed waveforms for viewing in the waveform buffer.

Huge buffer memory

The PicoScope 5000 Series offers memory depths up to 512 million samples, more than any other oscilloscope in this price range. Other oscilloscopes have high maximum sampling rates, but without deep memory they cannot sustain these rates on long timebases. Using its 512 MS buffer, the PicoScope 5444B can sample at 1 GS/s all the way down to 50 ms/div (500 ms total capture time).

buffer memory

Managing all this data calls for some powerful tools. There's a set of zoom buttons, plus an overview window that lets you zoom and reposition the display by simply dragging with the mouse. Zoom factors of several million are possible.

Each captured waveform is stored in a segmented buffer so you can rewind and review up to 10,000 previous waveforms. No longer will you see a glitch on the screen only for it to vanish before you stop the scope. A mask can be applied to hide waveforms that are not of interest.

Advanced triggers

As well as the standard range of triggers found on most oscilloscopes, the PicoScope 5000 series has a full complement of advanced triggers as standard to help you capture the data you need.

Advanced triggers include:

Pulse Width:

Window:

Dropout:

Delay:

Logic Level:

Pulses less than/greater than a specified time width can be triggered on.

If a signal moves into or out of a specified window, defined by 2 thresholds, a trigger event can be generated. Optionally, the event can be qualified by pulse width, and other trigger sources.

Triggers after a signal stops toggling for a user defined amount of time, can be qualified by other trigger sources

Once a trigger event has been identified, the unit can be configured to trigger on the nth event and can additionally be delayed by a user defined amount of time.

A range of triggers to identify a user defined logic state or pattern. There are up to 4 logic trigger sources: CHA, CHB, EXT and AUX I/O.

Arbitrary waveform and function generator

All units have a built-in function generator (sine, square, triangle, DC level). As well as basic controls to set level, offset and frequency, more advanced controls allow you to sweep over a range of frequencies. Combined with the spectrum peak hold option this makes a powerful tool for testing amplifier and filter responses.

The PicoScope 5000 Series B models include additional built-in waveforms as well as an arbitrary waveform generator. Waveforms can be created or edited using the built-in AWG editor, imported from oscilloscope traces, or loaded from a spreadsheet.

High signal integrity

Most oscilloscopes are built down to a price; ours are built up to a specification. Careful front-end design and shielding reduces noise, crosstalk and harmonic distortion. Years of oscilloscope experience leads to improved pulse response and bandwidth flatness.

We are proud of the dynamic performance of our products and publish these specifications in detail. The result is simple: when you probe a circuit, you can trust in the waveform you see on the screen.

Picoscope Features

High-end features as standard

Buying a scope from some companies is a bit like buying a car. By the time you have added all the optional extras you need, the price has gone up considerably. With the PicoScope 5000 Series, high‑end features such as mask limit testing, serial decoding, advanced triggering, measurements, math, XY mode, digital filtering and segmented memory are all included in the price.

To protect your investment, both the PC software and firmware inside the unit can be updated. We have a long history of providing new features for free as software downloads. Other companies make vague promises about future enhancements but we deliver on our promises year after year. Users of our products reward us by becoming lifelong customers, frequently recommending us to their colleagues.

The design of the PicoScope software ensures that maximum display area is available for waveform viewing. Even with a laptop you have a much bigger viewing area and higher resolution than a typical benchtop scope.

Persistence display modes

See old and new data superimposed, with new data in a brighter color or shade. This makes it easy to see glitches and dropouts and to estimate their relative frequency. Choose between analog persistence and digital color, or create a custom display mode.

Persistence display modes

Serial decoding

The PicoScope 5000 Series, with its deep memory, is ideal for serial decoding as it can capture thousands of frames of uninterrupted data. Protocols currently included are I²C, SPI, RS232/UART, CAN, LIN and FlexRay. Expect this list to grow with free software updates.

Serial decoding

High-Speed Data Acquisition/Digitizer

The drivers and software development kit supplied allow you to write your own software or interface to popular third-party software packages such as LabVIEW.

If the scope's ultra-deep memory isn't enough, the driver supports data streaming, a mode that captures gap-free continuous data through the USB port directly to the PC's RAM or hard disk at a rate of over 10 MS/s (maximum speed is PC-dependent).

Mask limit testing

This feature is specially designed for production and debugging environments. Capture a signal from a known working system, and PicoScope will draw a mask around it with your specified tolerance.

Connect the system under test, and PicoScope will highlight any parts of the waveform that fall outside the mask area. The highlighted details persist on the display, allowing the scope to catch intermittent glitches while you work on something else. The measurements window counts the number of failures, and can display other measurements and statistics at the same time. You can import and export masks as files.

Mask Limit Testing
Spectrum Analyser Math Channels

Spectrum Analyser

With a click of a button, you can display a spectrum plot of the selected channels with a maximum frequency up to 200 MHz. A full range of settings gives you control over the number of spectrum bands, window types and display modes: instantaneous, average, or peak-hold.

You can display multiple spectrum views with different channel selections and zoom factors, and see these alongside time-domain waveforms of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD, can be added to the display.

You can display multiple spectrum views with different channel selections and zoom factors, and see these alongside time-domain waveforms of the same data. A comprehensive set of automatic frequency-domain measurements, including THD, THD+N, SNR, SINAD and IMD, can be added to the display.

Math channels

Create new channels by combining input channels and reference waveforms. Choose from a wide range of arithmetic, logarithmic, trigonometric and other functions. Define a function using the push-button control panel or type an equation in the text box.

Custom Probe Settings

The custom probes feature allows you to correct for gain, attenuation, offsets and nonlinearities in special probes, or to convert to different units of measurement (such as current, power or temperature).

You can save definitions to disk for later use.

Connections

The front panels of the 2-channel PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscopes have:

  • 2 x BNC analog input channels
  • 1 x BNC external trigger input
  • 1 x BNC AWG/function generator output
  • 1 x probe compensation output

The front panels of the 4-channel PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscopes have:

  • 4 x BNC analog input channels
  • 1 x BNC external trigger input
  • 1 x BNC AWG/function generator output
  • 1 x probe compensation output

The rear panels of all oscilloscopes in the PicoScope 5000 Series have:

  • 1 x DC power socket
  • 1 x USB 2.0 port
Oscilloscope Probe

Probes

Your PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscope kit comes with 2 or 4 10:1/1:1 switchable oscilloscope probes specifically trimmed to match the performance of your oscilloscope.

60 MHz150 MHz250 MHz
MI007TA132TA131

Kit Contents & Accessories

Your PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscope kit contains the following items:

  • PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscope
  • 2 x 10:1/1:1 probes (2-channel scopes)
  • 4 x 10:1/1:1 probes (4-channel scopes)
  • Double-headed USB 2.0 cable
  • Standard USB 2.0 cable (4-channel scopes only)
  • Mains power adaptor (4-channel scopes only)
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Software and Reference CD
Picoscope Software
PicoScope: the display can be as simple or as complex as you need. Begin with a single view of one channel, and then expand the display to include any number of live channels, math channels and reference waveforms.
Oscilloscope controls: Controls such as voltage range, scope resolution, channel enable, timebase and memory depth are placed on the toolbar for quick access, leaving the main display area clear for waveforms.
Signal generator: Generates standard signals or (on selected scopes) arbitrary waveforms. Includes frequency sweep mode.
Tools > Serial decoding: Decode multiple serial data signals and display the data alongside the physical signal or as a detailed table.
Tools > Reference channels: Store waveforms in memory or on disk and display them alongside live inputs. Ideal for diagnostics and production testing.
Tools > Masks: Automatically generate a test mask from a waveform or draw one by hand. PicoScope highlights any parts of the waveform that fall outside the mask and shows error statistics.
Waveform replay tools: PicoScope automatically records up to 10,000 of the most recent waveforms. You can quickly scan through to look for intermittent events, or use the Buffer Navigator to search visually.
Zoom and pan tools: PicoScope allows a zoom factor of several million, which is necessary when working with the deep memory of the 5000 Series scopes. Either use the zoom-in, zoom-out and pan tools, or click and drag in the zoom overview window for fast navigation.
Views: PicoScope is carefully designed to make the best use of the display area. You can add new scope and spectrum views with automatic or custom layouts.
Channel options: Filtering, offset, resolution enhancement, custom probes and more.
Rulers: Each axis has two rulers that can be dragged across the screen to make quick measurements of amplitude, time and frequency.
Auto setup button: Configures the timebase and voltage ranges for stable display of signals.
Maths channels: Combine input channels and reference waveforms using simple arithmetic, or create custom equations with trigonometric & other functions.
Trigger marker: Drag to adjust trigger level and pre-trigger time.
Ruler legend: Absolute and differential ruler measurements are listed here.
Movable axes: The vertical axes can be dragged up and down. This feature is particularly useful when one waveform is obscuring another. There's also an Auto Arrange Axes command.
Trigger toolbar: Quick access to main controls, with advanced triggers in a pop-up window.
Automatic measurements: Display calculated measurements for troubleshooting and analysis. You can add as many measurements as you need on each view. Each measurement includes statistical parameters showing its variability.
Zoom overview: Click and drag for quick navigation in zoomed views.
Spectrum view: View FFT data alongside scope view or independently.
PicoScope 5000 Series High Performance Oscilloscopes Specifications
Vertical 5242A 5442A 5242B 5442B 5243A 5443A 5243B 5443B 5244A 5444A 5244B 5444B
Number of Channels242424242424
Bandwidth (-3 dB) All modes: 60 MHz 8 to 15-bit modes: 100 MHz
•16-bit mode: 60 MHz
8 to 15-bit modes: 200 MHz
•16-bit mode: 60 MHz
Bandwidth Limiting (–3 dB) 20 MHz, switchable
Rise time
(Calculated, 10%~90%)
All modes: 5.8 ns 8 to 15-bit modes: 3.5 ns  •16-bit mode: 5.8 ns 8 to 15-bit modes: 1.8 ns  •16-bit mode: 5.8 ns
Input ConnectorsBNCs on front panel
Resolution*
Enhanced Vertical Resolution
8 bits, 12 bits, 14 bits, 15 bits, 16 bits
Hardware resolution + 4 bits
Input Characteristics1 MΩ ±1% || 13 pF, ±1 pF
Input CouplingAC/DC
Input Sensitivity2 mV/div to 4 V/div
Input Ranges±10 mV to ±20 V full scale, in 11 ranges
Analog Offset Range±250mV (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 mV ranges), ±2.5 V (500 mV, 1 V, 2 V ranges), ±20 V (5, 10, 20 V ranges)
DC Accuracy
±50 mV to ±20 V
±10 mV & ±20 mV Ranges

≥ 12-bit mode: ±0.25% typical @ 25°C (±1% of full scale max @ 20 - 30°C)
•8-bit mode: ±1% typical @ 25°C (±3% of full scale max @ 20 - 30°C) All modes: ±2% typical @ 25°C (±5% of full scale max @ 20 - 30°C)
Overvoltage Protection
± 100 V (DC + AC peak)
* Maximum effective resolution is limited on the lowest voltage ranges: ±10 mV = 8 bits • ±20 mV = 12 bits. All other ranges can use full resolution.
HorizontalAll Models
Max. Sampling Rate
8-bit mode12-bit mode14-bit mode15-bit mode16-bit mode
1 GS/s500 MS/s125 MS/s125 MS/s62.5 MS/s
500 MS/s250 MS/s125 MS/s125 MS/s-
250 MS/s125 MS/s125 MS/s--
250 MS/s125 MS/s125 MS/s--
Any 1 Channel
Any 2 Channels
Any 3 Channels
Four channels
5242A 5442A 5242B 5442B 5243A 5443A 5243B 5443B 5244A 5444A 5244B 5444B
Sampling Rate
(Repetitive Sampling)
2.5 GS/s5 GS/s10 GS/s
Sampling Rate
(USB Streaming)
10 MS/s in PicoScope 6. >10 MS/s using supplied API
Timebase Ranges 2 ns/div to 1000 s/div1 ns/div to 1000 s/div500 ps/div to 1000 s/div
Buffer Memory** (8-bit) 16 MS32 MS64 MS128 MS256 MS512 MS
Buffer Memory** (≥ 12-bit) 8 MS16 MS32 MS64 MS128 MS256 MS
Buffer Memory** Continuous Streaming100 MS in PicoScope software
Waveform buffer
(No. of Segments)
10,000 in PicoScope software
Timebase Accuracy (Drift) ±50 ppm (±5 ppm/year)±2 ppm (±1 ppm/year)±2 ppm (±1 ppm/year)
Sample Jitter3 ps RMS, typical
** Shared between active channels
Dynamic Performance (Typical; Analog Channels)
CrosstalkBetter than 400:1 up to full bandwidth (equal voltage ranges)
Total
Harmonic Distortion (THD)
8-bit mode: > 60 dB at 100 kHz full scale input  •≥ 12-bit mode:> 70 dB at 100 kHz full scale input
SFDR8 and 12-bit: > 60 dB at 100 kHz full scale input  •14 to 16-bit: > 70 dB at 100 kHz full scale input
Noise (On 50 mV Range) 8-bit mode 120 μV RMS  •12-bit mode 110 μV RMS  •14-bit mode 100 μV RMS  •15-bit mode 85 μV RMS  •16-bit mode 70 μV RMS
Bandwidth Flatness(+0.3 dB, -3 dB) from DC to full bandwidth
Triggering
SourceAll Channels
Trigger ModesNone, Auto, Repeat, Single, Rapid (segmented memory)
Advanced TriggersEdge, Window, Pulse width, Window pulse width, Dropout, Window dropout, Interval, Runt pulse, Logic
Trigger Types (ETS mode)Rising, falling
SensitivityDigital triggering provides 1 LSB accuracy up to full bandwidth of scope. • ETS mode: Typical 10 mV p-p, at full bandwidth
Maximum
Pre-Trigger Capture
100% of capture size
Maximum
Post-Trigger Capture
4 billion samples
Maximum Trigger RateUp to 10,000 waveforms in a 20 ms burst
External Trigger Input
Trigger TypesEdge, pulse width, dropout, interval, logic
Input CharacteristicsFront panel BNC, 1 MΩ ±1% || 13 pF ±1 pF
Bandwidth60 MHz100 MHz200 MHz
Voltage Range±5 V, DC coupled
Overvoltage Protection±100 V (DC + AC peak)
Function Generator
Standard Output SignalsSine, square, triangle, DC voltage
Standard Signal FrequencyDC to 20 MHz
Output Frequency Accuracy ±50 ppm (±5 ppm/year)±2 ppm (±1 ppm/year)±2 ppm (±1 ppm/year)
Output Frequency Resolution< 50 mHz
Output Voltage Range±2 V with ±1% DC accuracy
Output Voltage AdjustmentSignal amplitude and offset adjustable in approx. 0.25 mV steps within overall ± 2 V range
Amplitude Flatness< 2 dB to 20 MHz, typical @ 50 Ω load
SDFR> 70 dB, 10 kHz full scale sine wave
Connector TypeBNC, 50 Ω output impedance
Overvoltage Protection±20 V
Sweep ModesUp, down, or alternating, with selectable start/stop frequencies and increments
AWG (B models only)
Update Rate-200 MS/s -200 MS/s -200 MS/s
Buffer size-16 kS-32 kS-48 kS
Resolution -14 bits (output step size approx. 0.25 mV) -14 bits (output step size approx. 0.25 mV) -14 bits (output step size approx. 0.25 mV)
Bandwidth-> 20 MHz-> 20 MHz-> 20 MHz
Rise Time (10% to 90%)-< 10 ns-< 10 ns-< 10 ns
Probe Compensation Output
Output Characteristics600 Ω
Output Frequency1 kHz
Output Level3 V pk-pk
Overvoltage Protection10 V
Spectrum Analyser
Frequency RangeDC to 60 MHzDC to 100 MHzDC to 200 MHz
Display ModesMagnitude, average, peak hold
Windowing FunctionsRectangular, Gaussian, triangular, Blackman, Blackman-Harris, Hamming, Hann, flat-top
Number of FFT pointsSelectable from 128 to 1 million in powers of 2
Math Channels
Functions –x, x+y, x–y, x*y, x/y, x^y, sqrt, exp, ln, log, abs, norm, sign, sin, cos, tan, arcsin, arccos, arctan, sinh, cosh, tanh, delay
OperandsA, B, C, D (input channels), T (time), reference waveforms, pi
Automatic Measurements
Oscilloscope AC RMS, true RMS, DC average, cycle time, frequency, duty cycle, falling rate, fall time, rising rate, rise time, high pulse width, low pulse width, maximum, minimum, peak to peak
SpectrumFrequency at peak, amplitude at peak, average amplitude at peak, total power, THD %, THD dB, THD+N, SFDR, SINAD, SNR, IMD
StatisticsMinimum, maximum, average and standard deviation
Serial Decoding
ProtocolsI²C, I²S, SPI, RS232/UART, CAN, LIN, FlexRay
Mask Limit Testing
StatisticsPass/fail, failure count, total count
Display
InterpolationLinear or sin(x)/x
Persistence ModesDigital color, analog intensity, custom, or none
General
PC ConnectivityUSB 2.0 hi-speed (USB 1.1 and USB 3.0 compatible)
Power Requirements1 A (2 channels) from 2 USB ports (double-headed cable supplied) or 1.5 A at 5 V (up to 4 channels) from AC adaptor
Dimensions190 x 170 x 40 mm (including connectors), < 0.5 kg
Temperature RangeOperating: 0 °C to 50 °C (20 °C to 30 °C for stated accuracy). Storage: –20 °C to 60 °C.
Humidity RangeOperating: 5 %RH to 80 %RH non-condensing. Storage: 5 %RH to 95 %RH non-condensing.
EnvironmentDry locations only; up to 2000 m altitude
Safety ApprovalsDesigned to EN 61010-1:2010
EMC ApprovalsTested to EN61326-1:2006 and FCC Part 15 Subpart B
Environmental ApprovalsRoHS and WEEE compliant
Software/
PC Requirements
PicoScope 6, SDK and example programs. Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (Windows RT not supported)
Accessories Included
Additional Hardware USB cable(s), 2 or 4 10:1/1:1 switchable probes in probe case, AC adaptor for 4-channel scope
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