dScope Series III Features

Four versions for the feature set you want

The dScope Series III is now available in four different versions:

• dScope Series III "Analogue and Digital Audio Test System" - the original full version with extensive digital and analogue capabilities
• dScope Series IIIE "Essentials" package - ideally suited to price sensitive analogue and digital QC applications
• dScope Series IIIA+ "Analogue-Plus Audio Test System" for those who don't need digital audio capabilities, but do need the advanced features of the full dScope Series III.
• dScope Series IIIA "Analogue Audio Test System" for those who don't need digital audio capabilities or the full power of dScope analysis.

The dScope Series III "Essentials" package supports all of the most commonly used measurement functions for analogue, digital and soundcard-based audio measurements. The system includes multi-channel switching capabilities and modern analysis methods such as multi-tones and chirps, to ensure the fastest possible test times in a QC environment.

The Analogue version (dScope Series IIIA) is suitable for standard analogue audio measurements, including acoustic transducer measurements and production line QC. The Analogue Plus version is suited to more demanding R&D applications including characterising electronic devices, multi-channel and multi-tone testing. The dScope Series III standard unit is suited to digital and analogue device testing including converters in all areas of product design, research and manufacture. Please refer to the feature table to the right for details.

Analogue, Analogue plus and Analogue-and-Digital Essentials versions of the dScope Series III system have different hardware to the flagship dScope Series III model. We offer an upgrade path from all three of these models to the full dScope Series III specification should you later decide that you require more functionality. This involves returning the instrument to the factory - please contact us for details. The Analogue and Analogue-Plus versions are the same hardware as each other, but differ in the software options available. The Analogue version can be upgraded to Analogue Plus at a later date by the addition of a licence file.

Version Feature Table:

Option	dScope Series III System Unit
	dScope Series III	dScope Series IIIE	dScope Series IIIA+	dScope Series IIIA
Analogue I/O sampling rates 48kHz/96kHz/192kHz				48kHz/96kHz only
Analogue I/O sampling rates 384kHz
Analogue Analyzer sampling rate to 768kHz
Sound Card I/O
Signal Analyzer (Ampl/Freq/Phase)
Continuous Time Analyzer (Ampl/THD+N/IMD etc)
FFT Analysis
Impulse Response Tests
Scripting
Multi-tone Gen/Analysis
FFT Detectors	40	2	40	2
Scripted FFT Detectors
Nest/Sense sweep, script on sweep step, plot I/P on X axis
Regulation
Integrated GPIO switchable up to 4 lines Currently pending release
Integrated VSIO for I2S (single wire each way + clocks) Currently pending release
dS-NET I/O Switcher
dS-NET VSIO Control
Port Access from scripts
Event Manager
Digital I/O (max 192kHz)
BNC WCK Sync IN/OUT (For DO only)
Digital Carrier analysis - Comprehensive
Digital Carrier analysis - Basic Currently pending release
Digital Channel Status - Simple view
Digital Channel Status - FULL Detail
Digital Carrier/sync monitor BNCs
Monitor Outputs on system unit (BNC, Headphone & Speaker)
Monitor Outputs on host PC (Via PC audio out)	Via system unit BNC, H/ph & spkr.	Via system unit BNC, H/ph & spkr.	Via system unit BNC, H/ph & spkr.	Via system unit BNC, H/ph & spkr.
Core Signal Generator Functions Sine, Log Swept Sine, Twintone White/Pink noise
Advanced Signal Generator Functions Ramp, Pulse/Square, Tone burst, Bin centered tones, User waveforms

specifications subject to amendment

Two-channel analogue and digital Signal Generators¹

• Wide choice of standard functions including sine, square, ramp and noise plus complex waveforms e.g. bursts, pulses, swept sine and twin-/multi-tones.
• Independent generators for A and B channels, each driving analogue, digital and Windows sound device outputs concurrently.
• Scriptable waveforms allowing, for example, user-defined multi-tone or tone-burst generation.
• Standard WAV files can be played back in a loop from the dScope generator.
• Adjustable level alignment between analogue and digital domains.
• Digital generator can be synchronized to any standard AES11 Look up 'AES11' in the glossary., WCK WCK: Wordclock
(click for a glossary definition) or video reference (or internally) and can generate at any standard rate with +/-1500ppm variation in 1ppm steps.
• Regulation can be used to automatically adjust the generator frequency or amplitude until a specified analyzer parameter / value is met.

Two-channel analogue and digital Signal Analyzer¹

The dScope Series III provides a Continuous-Time Analyzer (CTA) for continuous display of standard measurements, and a sampling Fast Fourier Transform Analyzer (FFTA) for detailed spectral analysis or complex measurements. Both types of analysis may be performed concurrently. Amplitude, frequency and phase readings are always available in the Signal Analyzer, regardless of the functions selected in the Continuous-Time Analyzer (CTA) or the FFT Analyzer measurement detectors.

The CTA is a real-time instrument with various filters which may be used in combination to perform a range of standard measurements.
• Real-time readings for two channels including amplitude, THD+N THD+N: Total Harmonic Distortion Plus Noise
(click for a glossary definition) etc.
• High and low pass and weighting filters.
• Tracking or fixed band-pass/band-reject filter.

Two-channel FFT Analyzer (FFTA)¹

The FFT Analyzer operates on a sampling basis, with buffer acquisition being controlled by a trigger facility. Various scalar readings can be derived from the FFT and displayed as SmartFFT Detector results. Many FFT-derived readings can be displayed concurrently.
• Analysis of Analogue, Digital or Windows Sound device inputs
• FFTs up to 256k points.
• Broad selection of FFT window functions including industry standards and high-performance proprietary types.
• Real-time trace averaging "as you watch".
• Wide range of FFT-derived measurement results for THD THD: Total Harmonic Distortion
(click for a glossary definition), IMD IMD: Intermodulation Distortion
(click for a glossary definition)etc.
• Scriptable FFT Window function Look up 'Window function' in the glossary. and measurement readings.

Sweep Analyzer¹

• A wide variety of parameters can be assigned as sweep sources
• up to four results can be plotted simultaneously including custom SmartFFT results.
• Results can be plotted on the X-axis (e.g. THD+N vs. power).
• Dual-source 'nested' sweeps can be performed.

Trace window

• Single or dual channel trace display with trace zooming; labelling; store and recall; trace cursors and markers; print preview.
• Available trace types include 'Scope, FFT, Sweep, CTA detector residual output (for example THD+N), FFT of CTA residual, demodulated Digital Input jitter Look up 'Jitter' in the glossary.¹, FFT of Digital Input jitter.¹
• Upper and lower limit lines can be applied to traces, the breaching of which can be set to trigger various alarm actions.

Windows Sound Device testing

• Use installed Windows sound devices such as sound cards or bluetooth audio headsets as generator outputs or analyzer sources.
• Map generator output to multi-channel devices with control over sample rate, word length and dither
• Map Windows sound device inputs to dScope analyzer inputs for FFT based analysis with control over sample rate, word length

Impulse Response Testing

• Impulse response derived between generator and analyzer (dual channel) or between analyzer channels (single channel)
• Stimuli include bin centres (pink or white weighting), Swept sine (linear or logarithmic) but any signal with sufficient bandwidth can be used, including music (inter-channel only)
• Windowing of impulse response to derive anechoic frequency response
• Rapid distortion responses can also be derived (log swept sine stimulus only)

Digital interface testing¹

• Measurement and display of source and cable-induced jitter components, sample-rate, eye narrowing & carrier amplitude.
• Simulation of lossy cables and/or jittered sources by the digital generator.
• Routing of demodulated jitter signal to FFT Analyzer enables viewing of jitter spectrum.
• Full support for Channel Status generation and analysis, with 'simple' and 'advanced' options.
• In-line patching of Channel Status.
• Display of Carrier Waveform (Eye Diagram) for any part of the Digital Input carrier frame.
• Control and display of 'Valid' bits
• Word length control and bit activity indication.
• Regulation can be used to automatically adjust the Digital output DC offset or carrier jitter frequency / amplitude until a specified analyzer parameter / value is reached.

Readings

• Reading windows can be "dragged" out of dialogue boxes and resized to customize your view of the instrument.
• Reading headings, colours and units can be adjusted.
• Reading display can include a bargraph.
• Upper and lower limits can be set to trigger various alarm actions.
• Maximum and minimum readings can be displayed

Monitor outputs

Two pairs of assignable Monitor Output BNCs are provided, one monitoring the Signal Generator, the other the Signal Analyzer. These can be set to monitor a wide range of functions, including CTA residual (e.g. THD+N) or digital carriers.¹ An assignable loudspeaker and headphone feed can also be assigned to the Analyzer or Generator monitor functions.

Scripting

Automation is by means of Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting (VB Script). As well as automated test sequences, many other areas of the dScope can be customised using VBScripts; for example Signal Generator waveforms, FFT Analyzer weighting filters, window functions and result calculations.¹ Scripts can also pass data between applications: for example an Automation Script could first perform a pre-arranged series of tests and then log the results in an Access database. Scripts are easy to write in the dScope's Script Editor: dScope variables can be 'dragged' from a hierarchical tree of options and when needed, allowed named constants are prompted. Alternatively, VBScripts can be written using any text editor. A library of user controls is included to allow scripts to include push-buttons, check-boxes, progress bars etc.

Intuitive operation

The dScope user-interface has been carefully designed to be simple and intuitive, whether the job in hand is basic or complex.
• A 'Startup Wizard' helps by customising the dScope's operation for first-time users.
• A configurable toolbar lets you choose which shortcut icons are available at any time.
• A configurable 'user bar' lets you run Scripts or load Configurations at the click of a button.
• The dScope desktop has several 'pages' which can be quickly switched - this eases space problems on the desktop and allows different tasks to be set up on different pages for instant task-swapping.
• User-defined 'Memos' can be used to annotate the dScope desktop.

dS-NET Peripherals

The dScope Series III features a serial port on the back panel for connection of peripherals such as a 16x2 I/O Switcher or a VSIO Digital Serial Interface Adapter. Multiple units can be daisy chained which makes very large switcher arrays possible. Control is built into the dScope software, either from the user interface, or via scripting for automation purposes. In addition, the access to the computer serial ports is possible from the dScope automation interface (dS-NET functionality and scripted port access are features of dScope Series III and Series IIIA+ and are not included in the dScope Series IIIA).

Fast and reliable calibration

During recalibration, dScope Series III requires no hardware adjustments: the entire calibration task is performed in software, and calibration coefficients are stored in non-volatile memories on their respective modules. Calibrations are therefore less prone to wandering than those made with mechanical trimmers and modules can be interchanged without re-calibration. To ensure traceability, calibration is performed by Spectral Measurement authorised distributors using suitably-qualified references.

Lightweight case
Completely self-contained in a custom carrying case² (including a compartment for test cables etc.), dScope Series III can be transported as carry-on airline luggage. No oscilloscope is needed to view signal or residual waveforms, or even digital carriers, and a monitor speaker is built-in - all you need is a laptop.

Specifications subject to amendment