What is the Analog Discovery 2?
Digilent Analog Discovery 2 is a USB oscilloscope, logic analyzer, and multi-function instrument that allows users to measure, visualize, generate, record, and control mixed-signal circuits of all kinds. Despite our competitive oscilloscope price, we never compromise on quality. Developed in conjunction with Analog Devices and supported by Xilinx University Program, this compact oscilloscope is small enough to be a pocket oscilloscope, but powerful enough to replace a stack of lab oscilloscopes and equipment, providing engineering professionals, students, hobbyists, and electronic enthusiasts the freedom to work with analog and digital circuits in virtually any environment, in or out of the lab. The analog and digital inputs and outputs can be connected to a circuit using simple wire probes; alternatively, the Analog Discovery BNC Adapter and BNC probes can be used to connect and utilize the inputs and outputs.
Driven by the free WaveForms software (Mac, Linux, and Windows compatible), this small oscilloscope can be configured to work as any one of several traditional test and measurement instruments including an Oscilloscope, Waveform Generator, Power Supply, Voltmeter, Data Logger, Logic Analyzer, Pattern Generator, Static I/O, Spectrum Analyzer, Network Analyzer, Impedance Analyzer, Protocol Analyzer, and Curve Tracer.
USB Oscilloscope
The Analog Discovery 2 oscilloscope is designed to be a portable alternative to a stack of benchtop equipment. It’s durable enclosure measures (3.23 inch x 3.25 inch x7/8 inch) and fits in a pocket. The Digilent Discovery 2 can be connected to circuits and designs via the included female flywires, or used in conjunction with the included gender changers when a male connection is necessary.
The main improvements are:
- Ability to use an external power supply and consequently deliver more power to the user supplies. When USB-powered, the Analog Discovery 2 delivers to the user same power as the Analog Discovery.
- New enclosure with enhanced design and improved connector reliability.
- Improved signal/noise and crosstalk performances for both the scope and waveforms generator.
- Better defined bandwidth for both the scope and waveforms generator.
Architectural Overview and Block Diagram
Analog Discovery 2’s high-level block diagram is presented in Fig. 1 Above. The core of the Analog Discovery 2 is the Xilinx® Spartan®-6 FPGA (specifically, the XC6SLX16-1L device). The WaveForms application automatically programs the Discovery’s FPGA at start-up with a configuration file designed to implement a multi-function test and measurement instrument. Once programmed, the FPGA inside the Discovery communicates with the PC-based WaveForms application via a USB 2.0 connection. The WaveForms software works with the FPGA to control all the functional blocks of the Analog Discovery 2, including setting parameters, acquiring data, and transferring and storing data.
Signals in the Analog Input block, also called the Scope, use “SC” indexes to indicate they are related to the scope block. Signals in the Analog Output block, also called AWG, use “AWG” indexes, and signals in the Digital block use a D index – all of the instruments offered by the Discovery 2 and WaveForms use the circuits in these three blocks. Signal and equations also use certain naming conventions. Analog voltages are prefixed with a “V” (for voltage), and suffixes and indexes are used in various ways: to specify the location in the signal path (IN, MUX, BUF, ADC, etc.); to indicate the related instrument (SC, AWG, etc.); to indicate the channel (1 or 2); and to indicate the type of signal (P, N, or diff).
Accessories can be purchased separately to provide additional functionality, such as the BNC Adapter for higher bandwidth and BNC connectors, or the Breadboard Adapter and Breadboard Breakout for a direct connection to the breadboard, or the Impedance Analyzer for additional Impedance measurement functionality. The Analog Discovery 2 comes packaged in a durable project box that will fit all the included accessories and some additional adapter boards. The project box measures (7″ x 5.75″ x 1.5″) and provides even more durability when stashing your portable Oscilloscope and multi-function instrument in your backpack or briefcase.
Features:
- Two-channel USB digital oscilloscope (1 MΩ, ±25 V, differential, 14-bit, 100 MS/s, 30 MHz+*)
- Two-channel arbitrary waveform generator (±5 V, 14-bit, 100 MS/s, 12 MHz+ bandwidth*)
- 16-channel digital logic analyzer (3.3 V CMOS and 1.8 V or 5 V tolerant, 100 MS/s)
- 16-channel pattern generator (3.3 V CMOS, 100 MS/s)
- 16-channel virtual digital I/O including buttons, switches, displays, and LEDs, which is perfect for logic training applications
- Two input/output digital trigger signals for linking multiple instruments or providing an external trigger source
- Two channel voltmeter
- Network Analyzer with Bode, Nyquist, Nichols transfer diagrams of a circuit. The Network Analyzer has a range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz
- Spectrum Analyzer capable of power spectrum and spectral measurements (noise floor, SFDR, SNR, THD, etc.)
- Data Logger with exportable data and plot functionality
- Impedance Analyzer for analyzing capacitive and inductive elements
- Curve Tracer to analyze characteristics of discrete semiconductors such as diodes and transistors
- Protocol Analyzer with SPI, I2C, CAN, AVR, and UART
- Two programmable power supplies (0.5 V to 5 V , -0.5 V to -5 V). The maximum available output current and power depend on the Analog Discovery 2 powering choice.
- Stereo audio amplifier to drive external headphones or speakers with replicated Arbitrary Waveform Generator signals
- An available Software Development Kit for programming with Python and C++, and a toolkit for programming with LabVIEW.
- MATLAB support for the Data Acquisition Toolbox
Software
What is WaveForms?
WaveForms is the free software application for the Analog Discovery 2 and enables use of the available analog and digital instruments. The software has been refined by customer feedback for over 10 years and features a computer and laptop friendly user interface that has the feel of traditional benchtop software. The Analog Discovery 2 communicates with WaveForms via a USB connection to your computer, allowing users to capture, record, analyze, and generate mixed signal and mixed domain waveforms. WaveForms can be downloaded and installed in under 60 seconds and can be tested without hardware using its demo mode feature. In addition to the use of instruments in the application, the WaveForms application has a script editor tool, which allows custom scripting of the instrument in JavaScript. WaveForms is designed to be run on a laptop or desktop computer and is Mac, Windows, and Linux compatible.
The following instruments are available in the WaveForms application for the Analog Discovery 2:
- Oscilloscope
- Waveform Generator
- Power Supplies
- Voltmeter
- Data Logger
- Logic Analyzer
- Pattern Generator
- Static I/O
- Spectrum Analyzer
- Network Analyzer
- Impedance Analyzer
- Curve Tracer
- Protocol Analyzer
Videos
What’s Included
- Analog Discovery 2
- One regular-sized project box
- One USB A to micro B programming cable
- One 2×15 flywire signal cable assembly
- 5-pack of 6-pin male headers
- One ferrite cable snap-on
- 30-pin flywire labels
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