New app ideas - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: SWR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 07:32:13 am
content: In case the GW Instek development team should be following this forum, I have a few ideas for new apps for the MDO series oscilloscopes.1 Network analyzerThe dual Arbitrary Waveform Generator can already do tracking, sweep and phase offset.Would it be possible to do a real network analyzer in a LUA app?If not, would it be possible to do just a S11 analyzer?2 Smith chartThey've already released the Bode plot app.How hard would it be to do a Smith chart if they have the phase information?3 Serial pattern generatorYou can already define arbitrary waveforms on the scope with the built in waveform editor or on the PC and load them on the scope, so this is just to speed up serial debugging. Let's say you're a hardware engineer and want to debug you new PCB without waiting for the SW guys to write you a HW test SW. If we had an app that could generate a waveform by choosing the protocol and punching in the binary/hex/ASCII code, it would be really quick to test a serial peripheral.Example: AWG1 as SPI clock and AWG2 as MOSI or AWG1 as I²C clock and AWG2 as I²C data.The I²C data would have to be connected through a schottky diode, but a custom BNC test probe could be modified for that.Then you could hook up the scope and see the reply with the built in serial decoder for UART, SPI, I²C, CAN and LIN.It would be really quick to test different baud rates just by tweaking the AWG frequency.You could test a lot of stuff without having to get the whole embedded tool chain flying.I guess it's just a way to decouple the HW smoke test from the time schedule of the SW guys.4 Dummy loadThis is not really an app but a case of more wants more (the aprils fool multimeter comes to mind).If they could include a small dummy load in the next revision of these scopes you would have something to test the outputs with (like the AWGs can be used for the inputs). I'm currently using cheap loads like these:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/35w-usb-tester-electronic-load-adjustable-constant-current-aging-resistor-voltage-capacity-qualcomm-qc2-0-3/32677950277.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.VCnsmEhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/150W-DC-Digital-voltmeter-Constant-Current-Electronic-Load-200V-20A-Tester-Discharge-meter-car-battery-Capacity/32822372034.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.VCnsmEWith the nice scope UI you could easily create more complex load patterns.Please feel free to expand on these ideas.If you have a better way to contact GW Instek please point me in the right direction.Kind regardsSoren

author: SWR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 08:58:55 am
content: I found an e-mail address to GW Instek and send them these ideas together with a recommendation to open up the LUA specifications to the community.It was a pleasant surprise that they sent me a confirmation that the ideas have been passed on to the R&D department.If something comes out of it I'll be even more pleasantly surprised.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 09:35:13 am
content: Quote from: SWR on April 05, 2018, 07:32:13 amDummy load is not good enough. Much better oscilloscope function would be built-in kettle.You can not only test your power supplies using scope but have a tea while doing it. Brilliant, huh?

author: SWR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 11:09:24 am
content: Maybe just exposing the heatsink for the fan cooled load on top of the cabinet as a heated cup holder to keep your tee warm?