Post-capture waveform analysis: 8-channel Pico and ATS eScope -- try it yourself

In a recent thread it was asked how 8-channel scopes differ when it comes to sharing and analysing waveforms after they are captured. Ideally, to test that we would need to hook up a few different scopes to the same car, collect as many signals as possible and then take a look. May be at some point such an experiment will be carried out, but, meanwhile, I have done the following: I fetched the Picoscope waveform for a quad-cam engine collected by Matthew S.:

diag​.​net/file/f3qw24ia3… ​

and exported the data as an array of floating point numbers, preceded by the sampling interval, the sample length, and the number of channels used. This is the most simple format possible for storing channel data, but, surprisingly or not, such file can be opened by the eScope:

diag​.​net/file/f1otlg5jo… ​

A few notes about the conversion:

• the Picoscope waveform is collected at 2MS/s, while for eScopes the data has to be decimated to 125kS/s (the maximum sample rate for this scope when 5-8 channels are in use). Despite using an anti-aliasing filter, the decimation results in visible aliasing for some traces, for example, for the ignition trace (uneven height of the firing line); it is what it is, I tried my best.
• the Picoscope file format saves trace positions, scales, filters, cursor positions, and the zoomed-in region. Matthew nicely scaled and separated the traces, and they will be restored this way each time the file is opened. I don't know if it's possible to save trace settings in the eScope, so the data for the eScope will be loaded "as is" each time the file is opened.
• the Picoscope format supports conversion of transducer output voltage into custom units such as Amps. For the eScope I presented the amp-clamp output at 1V=10A scale (Channel 7).
• if you believe any step in such conversion is flawed, please let me know, and I will try to fix it.

So, here are the files and links to the software to open them:

Pico file from Matthew S.: diag​.​net/file/f3gc8r1px…

Exported file for eScope: diag​.​net/file/f32bg64eh…

Software for Picoscope: picoauto​.​com/downloads

Software for eScope PRO: automotivetestsolutions​.​com/software-updat…

(Download, enable Demo mode, switch to Deep Rec tab, then Load Deep Rec)

Here are sample exercises for the two waveform files:

1. Zoom into two engine revolutions around second 3. Put phase rulers on the ignition sync. How many degrees away from the firing line is the CKP gap?
2. What is the length, in microseconds, of each low pulse in the CKP trace?
3. What is the maximum primary current in the ignition coil for the whole waveform?
4. Scale and shift a trace up and down.
5. Plot frequency of the CKP trace.
6. What is the system voltage of this car?