CompuScope 1602-8M DynamicSignals PCI Bus Ultra-Fast Waveform Digitizer Card

The DynamicSignals / GaGe CompuScope 1602 Series PCI Bus Ultra-Fast Waveform Digitizer Card can simultaneously sample two analog signals at speeds up to 2.5 MS/s with 16 bit resolution and store the data in the on-board memory.

CompuScope 1602 uses state-of-the-art data conversion technology to provide dual-channel simultaneous sampling rate of 2.5 MS/s with 16 bit resolution. Each channel has its own ADC chip, eliminating the need for multiplexing the inputs.

Differential inputs allow the user to fully exploit the 16-bit A/D of the CompuScope 1602. Differential input circuitry automatically eliminates noise picked up by the signal and its reference. With over 80 dB CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio) for low frequency inputs, differential inputs eliminate any ground loop problems. Single-ended inputs are also available through a simple software command. This command simply connects the negative input of the differential pair to zero volts, allowing single-ended operation.

In order to isolate the high-frequency analog circuitry from PCI bus-related digital electronics, a two-board piggyback configuration is used. This allows maximum separation of analog and digital grounds, thereby providing high immunity to digital noise.

CompuScope 1602 has memory depths of 1M, 4M, 8M, 64M, 256M, 512M and 1G (16-bit samples). This memory can be used as a circular buffer for storage of pre- and post-trigger data. Memory is divided equally between the two input channels, i.e. a 1 Meg board provides 512 Ksamples of memory per channel. The data stored in the CompuScope 1602 memory can be transferred to the system RAM for post-processing, display or storage to hard disk without any interface bus (no GPIB bus required).

CompuScope 1602 features flexible, oscilloscope-like analog triggering. An analog comparator provides triggering from any one of the two input channels, from an external signal or from software. In addition to the trigger source, trigger level and slope are also selectable by software, making the trigger system similar to traditional oscilloscopes.

CompuScope 1602 uses a unique architecture to provide 16-bit resolution. The input signal is over-sampled by a factor of 8 and the resulting data stream is fed into an on-chip decimation filter and error-correction circuitry which enhances the effective resolution and dynamic range by eliminating high frequency noise and by providing the lower order bits of the digital output.

Even though the PCI bus allows very fast data throughput to system RAM, there may still be applications in which data bursts cannot be off-loaded either due to very fast trigger repeat frequency or due to software limitations. Multiple Recording allows CS1602 to capture data on successive triggers and stack it in the on-board memory. Up to 4,194,304 triggers can be captured in multiple record mode. Once the CompuScope 1602 finishes capturing a Multiple Record segment, the trigger circuitry is automatically re-armed within 5 sample clock cycles to start looking for the next trigger - with no software intervention.