Software-Customizable Scopes Take Analysis To Another Level

Dec. 4, 2003

The My Infiniium software enables engineers to customize Agilent Infiniium series 54830 and 54850 oscilloscopes, as well as perform advanced on-site laboratory analysis of analog and mixed-signal designs. Users can extract relationship data from these designs, enhancing debugging capabilities and accelerating the product-development process. With the new software, engineers can work with Excel, MathWorks, and Matlab inside their Infiniium scopes at the touch of a button.

Two interface options are available: a new extensible graphical user interface (eGUI) and a "quick execute" feature. With eGUI, engineers can add menu items to the Infiniium oscilloscope's menu structure and link them to perform custom analysis. The quick execute feature lets engineers customize the QuickMeas+ key on the Infiniium oscilloscope's front panel for one-button access to custom measurements.

The software works on all Windows XP-compatible environments. An industry-accepted IVI-COM driver is also available for VEE Pro, LabView, Visual Studio, and other development environments. The driver can be downloaded free of charge at www.agilent.com/find/adn.

The software is compatible with Infiniium oscilloscopes that possess an A.03.10 or higher version of the Windows XP Pro-based operating system. (All new 54830 oscilloscopes are shipped with these versions.) Free software upgrades are available at www.agilent.com/find/infiniium_software. Existing 54830 units with an A.02.30 or earlier version of Windows 98 or higher can be upgraded with the Agilent N5383A kit.

The E2699A My Infiniium software costs $795, and the N5383A upgrade costs $495. It's free of charge until Dec. 31 with the purchase of the software.

Agilent Technologies Inc.www.agilent.com (800) 452-4844

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.