How to save and view waveform data on an oscilloscope
Saving and viewing waveform data is one of the important functions of an oscilloscope, which helps analyze, record and share test results . This article details how to save waveform data on an oscilloscope and explains how to view the saved data.
1. Basic steps for saving waveform data
Oscilloscopes of different brands and models may have different operating interfaces, but the basic steps are roughly the same.
1. Connect the storage device
1. Prepare the USB flash drive:
·? Make sure your USB flash drive has been formatted with the FAT32 file system. It is a format supported by most oscilloscopes.
2. Plug into the USB port:
·? Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the front/rear of the oscilloscope.
2. Capture waveform data
1. Set up the oscilloscope:
·? Connect the signal under test to the input channel of the oscilloscope (such as CH1).
·? Adjust vertical sensitivity, time base and other parameters to make the waveform clearly displayed on the screen.
2. Stop waveform update:
·? Press the "STOP" button to freeze the current waveform display.
3. Save waveform data
1. Enter the save menu:
·? Press the "Storage" or "Save" button to open the save menu.
2. Select the save type:
·? Most oscilloscopes provide multiple save formats, such as pictures (PNG/BMP/JPG), data files (CSV), memory archives ( WFM) etc.
·? Select "Waveform Data" or similar option to save waveform data.
3. Select the storage location:
·? Select the USB flash drive as the target storage device.
4. Name the file:
·? Enter the file name. Most oscilloscopes allow file names to be entered using a knob or keyboard.
5. Confirm saving:
·? Press the "Save" or "OK" button to complete data saving.
2. View the saved waveform data
The saved data can be viewed on a computer using common software, or through the oscilloscope's own readback function.
1. View on the computer
1. Remove the USB flash drive:
·? Safely eject the USB flash drive from the oscilloscope and connect it to the computer .
2. Open the data file:
·? Select the appropriate software to open the file according to the saved format.
·? If saved as a CSV file, the data can be opened and viewed using Excel or any text editor.
·? If saved as a picture file (such as PNG/BMP/JPG), you can use image viewing software to view it.
·? If you save as a WFM file, you need to use general waveform viewing software.
2. Read back on the oscilloscope
1. Insert the USB flash drive:
·? Plug the USB flash drive containing the saved data back into the oscilloscope USB port.
2. Enter the read menu:
·? Press the "Storage" or "Load" button to open the read menu.
3. Select the file to read:
·? Select the file type (such as Waveform Data).
·? Browse the USB flash drive and find the file you need to read.
4. Load the file:
·? Select the file and press the "Load" or "OK" button, the waveform data will be loaded onto the oscilloscope display.
Example operation
Suppose you have a sine wave signal with a frequency of 1kHz, and you want to save its original waveform data to a USB flash drive and view it on your computer (using RIGOL DHO814 (Example):
1. Preparation:
·? Insert the USB flash drive formatted as FAT32 into the USB port of the oscilloscope.
2. Capture the waveform:
·? Connect the probe to the signal source and adjust the oscilloscope settings to clearly display the waveform.
Puyuan DHO814 oscilloscope
3. Stop updating:
·? Press the "STOP" button to freeze the waveform.
4. Save waveform data:
·? Click the function menu in the lower left corner of the screen and select "Storage"
·? Select the save type as "Waveform Storage" , then select whether the data source is "screen" or "memory", and select the format as ".csv" for easy viewing
·? Name the file "RigolDS0".
·? Select the USB flash drive as the target storage device
·? Click "Save".
5. View data:
·? Insert the USB flash drive into the computer, open the file "RigolDS0.csv", and use Excel to view the waveform data.
Notes
·? Format compatibility: Ensure that the data format is compatible with the software used. For example, CSV files can be opened with spreadsheet software, while WFM files may require special software.
·Data Integrity: Before unplugging the USB flash drive, ensure that the data has been completely saved and eject the USB device safely.
·? File naming: Use meaningful file names to facilitate subsequent search and analysis.
Summary
With the above steps, you can easily save waveform data on your oscilloscope and view or analyze the data when needed. This not only improves work efficiency, but also enhances data management and analysis capabilities. I hope you found this guide helpful and if you have further questions please feel free to ask.
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