Scope Display

Create a display that functions as a digital oscilloscope. This display is useful for viewing measurements that oscillate rapidly in time such as electrical signals and sound waves.

Overview

Note

Set the Recording Mode to Fast Monitor Mode in order to sample data at high sample rates.

1. Scope Tools

   • Scale to Fit

     Click to automatically scale the y-axis to the best fit.

   • Trigger

     Click to activate the scope trigger to get a stable trace. Click the menu to switch between using a positive or negative edge trigger.

   • Single Trace

     Use with the trigger to capture a single trace, which is useful for fast, non-repetitive events.

   • Auto Sample Rate

     When activated, the sample rate automatically adjusts to the best rate as you adjust the range of the time axis. Capstone activates this tool by default.

2. Trace Tools

   • Run Selector

     Change the visibility of individual data runs without deleting the data.

   • Offset Trace

     Use to offset a trace from the x-axis. This is useful when viewing more than one trace on the display. Click to increase the offset, click to decrease the offset, or click to remove the offset.

   • Coordinates Tool

     Click to add a coordinates tool to determine the coordinates of a single data point. Use the delta tool to determine the difference between two data points.

   • Record Trace

     Use this tool to record a snapshot of the trace to analyze in a graph display.

3. Data Point Tools

   Use these tools to increase or decrease the number of data points in a trace. Increasing the number of data points makes a smoother trace but decreases the displayed range of the trace.

4. Axis Tools

   • Add y-axis

     Click to add an additional y-axis to the plot area.

   • Remove y-axis

     Click the axis you want to remove, then click the remove button.

   • Rearrange Axes

     Use to rearrange y-axes. Click the tool, then drag a y-axis to a different location.

5. Display Tools

   • Pin Toolbar

     Click to prevent the toolbar from hiding automatically.

   • Display Properties

     Click to access the display properties.

   • Show or Hide Tools

     Click to show or hide specific tools from the toolbar.

6. Measurement Selector

   Click the measurement to select a different measurement to display. Click the unit to select a different unit for the current measurement.

7. Axis

   • Click and drag to scale each axis individually.
   • Double-click the maximum or minimum value to set to a specific value.
   • Right-click to access axis properties and lock the scale.
8. Plot Area
   • Click and drag to move the plot area.
   • Right-click the plot area to access the Plot Area Properties.
   • Right-click the trace to access the Run Properties.
9. Legend
   • Click a run to apply the trace tools to that run.
   • Right-click a run name to access the Plot Area Properties.
   • Right-click a symbol to change the run color and access the Data Set Properties.

10. Display Title

    Click to enter a custom title for the display.

Get a Stable Trace

Use the trigger to get a stable trace on the scope display.

Note

Set the Recording Mode to Fast Monitor Mode to sample data at high sample rates.

1. Click Monitor .
2. Click to activate the scope trigger. The trigger icon appears on the y-axis of the scope display.
3. Drag the trigger along the y-axis to the value that the signal must pass to start measuring.

Capstone sets the trigger to a positive edge by default. This means that the scope displays the trace as the signal is rising at the trigger point. Click the menu to change the trigger to a negative edge to make the scope display a trace as the signal is falling at the trigger point.

Capture a Single Trace

The single trace tool is useful for fast, non-repetitive events, such as measuring the time between a sound impulse and its echo. When activated, the scope displays one frame of data and stops monitoring. This tool is typically used with the trigger.

Note

Set the Recording Mode to Fast Monitor Mode to sample data at high sample rates.

1. Select to activate the single trace tool.
2. Select to turn on the trigger.
3. Drag the trigger on the y-axis to set the trigger threshold.
4. Click Monitor . The scope immediately stops monitoring data after detecting a signal.

Offset a Trace

Prevent multiple traces from overlapping on a Scope display by offsetting a trace.

1. Select a trace by clicking the trace or selecting the trace symbol in the legend.
2. Click to move the trace upwards or click to move the trace downwards.

To return the trace back to its initial position, click to remove the offset.

Show More than One Trace

You can display multiple traces on the Scope display by adding a similar measurement or adding another y-axis.

Same type of measurement

Use the Add Similar Measurement tool to display another trace that uses the same units as the currently displayed measurement.

1. Select the current measurement displayed on the y-axis.
2. In the context menu, hover the mouse over Add Similar Measurement, then select a measurement to add.

Different type of measurement

Use the Add y-axis tool to display another trace that uses different units than the currently displayed measurement.

1. Add a y-axis using one of the following methods:
   • In the scope toolbar, click .
   • Click the y-axis of the current display, then click .
2. On the new axis, click Select Measurement, then select the measurement from the list.

Record a Trace to Analyze

Since the scope is monitoring data at high sample rates, a trace isn't automatically recorded when monitoring data stops. Record a trace using the record trace tool.

Note

Set the Recording Mode to Fast Monitor Mode to sample data at high sample rates.

1. Click Monitor .
2. Adjust the scope as needed to obtain a desired trace.
3. Click to record the trace.

The default name for the trace is Monitor Run-ScopeSnapshot#, where # represents the sequential number of the snapshot. You can select this run in a Graph display to perform further analysis.