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Talking to end-users of oscilloscopes has proved that the only way for test and measurement vendors to develop products capable of meeting customers’ needs is to work closely with them, ask a lot of questions and listen to them to discover what barriers are standing in their way.
Engineers and researchers look to manufacturers to develop the latest and most sophisticated instruments. Engineers find they are having to solve problems faster due to time-to-market pressures, but many entry-level engineers can find that oscilloscopes are complex instruments to understand and operate.
It is not a one-way conversation; manufacturers look to their customers to learn specifically what features an oscilloscope of the future has to incorporate. Taking into account the voice of the customer at every stage of product development, an oscilloscope manufacturer can hope to create a piece of equipment that satisfies the end-user’s requirements.
Conversations with customers generate insight that could not have been obtained through a conventional product development process. Whether giving feedback from their workbenches or out in the field, research shows engineers wanted to be able to test and measure whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted, without having to compromise between performance and portability.
Identifying pain points
Analysing the daily challenges that engineers face identifies significant unaddressed pain points in test and measurement across various industries.
Research showed that oscilloscope entry-level users felt intimidated by the number of buttons and knobs on traditional scopes. While a 10-inch, high-resolution touchscreen display was an attractive alternative to novice users, it became clear there was still a need for some buttons and knobs if users were to achieve precise measurements.
Another frustration novice users expressed was around an oscilloscope’s user interface (UI), which is fashioned for each brand and often changes significantly across one brand’s product family. Once engineers learn how to use an entry-level oscilloscope, they would have to relearn the process in order to use the next oscilloscope they worked with, which usually had a different UI even though it might be from the same company. The majority of users said they would be much happier with a product that allowed them to move up the range and the UI remained the same. Having a common UI over all platforms would make integration easier across the bench and workflows.
Tying in with engineers’ desire to be able to test and measure whatever they want, wherever they want – with waveform analysis achievable from literally anywhere – most users interviewed said they needed portability to be built into oscilloscopes, but without sacrificing functionality. Engineers have to test and measure on the laboratory bench as well as in the field; normally they would have to use at least two oscilloscopes with different sets of capabilities that may or may not integrate with each other. The solution would be to produce a lightweight and portable oscilloscope that could be moved between laboratory and field, which could offer the same level of functionality but fit into a laptop bag, for example. In discussions with users, it became clear that a battery-powered scope that weighed around 3.6kg, with a slim design of no more than 38mm, would be ideal. Such a small form factor would not only be easily portable but would also take up less space on a bench.
Battery power and versatility
Although not all engineers power their oscilloscopes using batteries, the research found that they feel battery power is crucial in the field. For an oscilloscope to be really versatile it would benefit from having a detachable external battery pack for use as required. The battery pack would ideally have two slots with batteries capable of being hot swapped and providing an overall runtime of eight hours with two batteries.
Flexibility and versatility in positioning a scope are also vital. Customer-focused research using cardboard and 3D prototypes revealed that an oscilloscope is most often used standing up on its own using its two ‘feet’. However, engineers wanted the ability to secure their scope to a vehicle, integrate it into a rack or mount it on to an arm for articulating movement. The ideal model would be an oscilloscope that could be used when sitting down, standing up or kneeling on the floor, with an optional kickstand for easy set up and carrying.
Another requirement that engineers expressed was the need to share data and to collaborate. The pandemic made it essential that test data could be accessed and shared easily, so a modern oscilloscope would need to be able to store and access data on a network or in the cloud by using integrated software and a wireless network for seamless sharing of files and with no USB stick required.
Remote operation (with control by PC, tablet or phone), collaboration and file sharing are requirements of any entry-level scope, which would ideally have a built-in virtual network computing server. Even features such as a front and side input/output would help to improve access and connectivity.
Advanced triggers
An oscilloscope capable of working in a range of industries and environments should be able to provide up to four analogue channels with bandwidths between 70MHz and 500MHz. It should offer 16 digital channels, a 50MHz one-channel arbitrary function generator and a 4-bit pattern generator for manual and file-based pattern generation. Other important features would be a touch-sensitive, full-colour display and easily understandable coloured LED ring lights around knobs, indicating trigger source, active source and adjust parameters (with lights underneath to indicate status).
While a flat layout will offer users easy access to all critical controls, a stacked mode display will enable them to carry out more comprehensive and complex analysis. For ease of use, the display should be able to show waveform or screen-based cursor measurements, with up to 36 automated and unlimited measurements available. The oscilloscope should also be able to work with best-in-class probes for all types of signals, including voltage probes, current probes, high-voltage single-ended probes and high-voltage differential probes. The research also deducted that other features seen as must-haves include a full set of advanced triggers capable of capturing elusive events as well as decode facilities for popular bus protocols.
Finally, engineers require responsiveness and configurability from their oscilloscopes. In the past they have been let down by units that were slow to respond and difficult (if not impossible) to configure. Engineers now expect their instrument to have a similar user experience to their smartphone, in the sense that it is very responsive to touch and easy to configure. Not only are response speeds important, but users want configurable elements such as the ability to change font sizes, colours and display formats – putting the engineer firmly in control.
