Oscilloscopes are undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions in the field of testing and measurement.
They present the microscopic world of signals to us, allowing us to observe closely, capture problems precisely, and discover potential issues, making them very useful for improving product quality.
More than ten years ago, when I was in high school, I borrowed an oscilloscope from my physics teacher and connected it to the headphone output. The screen was jumping up and down, looking like it was having a great time.
Years later, I realized that my measurements back then were meaningless; I should have performed a Fourier transform to analyze the frequency spectrum, which might have been valuable.
Nowadays, the global oscilloscope industry is developing rapidly. International first-class manufacturers like Tektronix, Yokogawa, Keysight (formerly Agilent), and Rohde & Schwarz are still strong players. Virtual instrument manufacturers like NI have also shone brightly after years of customer cultivation. Domestic leading companies like Zhou Ligong have emerged with strong independent research and development capabilities, offering high cost-performance ratios…
So, it is indeed necessary for us to study them.
Competitors Entering the Scene
This article will conduct a horizontal comparison and evaluation of the currently mainstream oscilloscopes in the industry, mainly including:
| Brand |
Country |
Main Features |
| Rohde & Schwarz |
Germany |
Powerful performance |
| Keysight |
USA |
Spun off from Agilent |
| Tektronix |
USA |
Widely used |
| LeCroy |
USA |
| Yokogawa |
Japan |
User-friendly details, large market stock |
| PICO |
UK |
Virtual instruments, widely used in industry, automotive field relies on Vector |
| Zhou Ligong |
China |
| Prysmian |
China |
Released the first domestically produced oscilloscope in 2002 |
| Digilent |
China |
There are two important parameters of oscilloscopes that we need to pay attention to:
Bandwidth: The receiving frequency when the signal enters the oscilloscope; the higher the bandwidth, the better the testing performance for high-frequency components. Higher bandwidth means higher price, which rises steeply.
Sampling Rate: The density of sampling points in a digital oscilloscope; the higher the sampling rate, the more precise the local measurement, but it also results in a large amount of data, requiring high CPU performance.
Generally speaking, a bandwidth that is too low can lead to signal errors, misidentifying signals; a square wave may be captured as a sine wave. Insufficient sampling rates can cause signal distortion errors, turning high-definition movies into slides.
In the automotive testing industry, the waveforms that need to be measured are generally digital or slowly changing physical quantities, such as CAN, LIN, CANFD, Ethernet, IO, voltage, etc.
For example, with a CANFD at a baud rate of 10M, 10M is the fundamental frequency, and the fifth harmonic is 50M, so the oscilloscope bandwidth must be at least 50M for the square wave to look somewhat accurate. In actual applications, it generally starts at 200M bandwidth.
The sampling frequency must also be sufficiently high to capture details and restore waveforms.
However, with a high sampling rate, the data volume becomes substantial, posing a challenge for the oscilloscope’s CPU or PC.
Today, we will evaluate and compare one commonly used oscilloscope from each brand from the user’s perspective, focusing on the ease of secondary development and the completeness of built-in functions.
After all, our long-term goal in using oscilloscopes is not just to twist knobs and adjust cursors manually, nor solely to use the manufacturer’s software for screenshots and control. Our goal is to integrate the oscilloscope into a fully automated testing system, automatically acquiring data, analyzing data, computing the required results, generating conclusions, images, and reports seamlessly.
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Basic invocation to acquire waveform data. In the example, we used 2 channels, connecting hardwire signals and message signals, triggering on the rising edge of the hardwire signal, and calculating their time difference.
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Advanced invocation, dynamic triggering.
As Lion No. 1 said when using TSMaster, I hope to encapsulate complex functions within TSMaster as the core for execution, then directly retrieve its conclusions through LabVIEW.
This yields the best results, allowing professionals to focus on their specialties with high flexibility.
In the oscilloscope domain, I similarly wish to configure complex content within the oscilloscope and then directly retrieve its results, right?
The answer is certainly feasible.
Next, let’s assume a scenario where I need to use the oscilloscope on the CAN network of a car to analyze the compliance of various IDs at the physical layer. How do I do that?
Step 1: Use a CAN card to read about 10 seconds of messages and analyze which IDs are present on that network segment.
Step 2: Sort these IDs uniquely.
Step 3: Sequentially write the IDs obtained in Step 2 into the oscilloscope’s message trigger source, and after 3 seconds, capture the oscilloscope’s screenshot and waveform data, then activate single continue after reading.
Drumroll, please. The first to enter the scene is the Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscope.
To be honest, aside from the somewhat cheap appearance, this oscilloscope performs quite well in other respects!
The LabVIEW demo from their official website can be downloaded and run successfully without any modifications or communication with the manufacturer, which is commendable.
Invoking the oscilloscope to acquire waveform data or take screenshots is very convenient.
Using the example program provided by Rohde & Schwarz to acquire waveform data is overly simple, so I won’t demonstrate it further; we will only show the subsequent data processing as illustrated below:
After obtaining the raw values of the two-channel waveform data using the demo VI, we continued processing them in the program, calculating the time difference, adding auxiliary display curves, and generating images, completing the task.
Now we have the time difference values and waveform images, which is quite satisfying!
Advanced Invocation
You can manually set the trigger ID on the oscilloscope, or modify the trigger ID through LabVIEW.
Next up is the oscilloscope from Keysight Technologies, which we previously interviewed; details can be seen in the video below:
Keysight Technologies is the former Agilent oscilloscope division that was split off. The oscilloscope I used in high school was one from Agilent.
I really don’t understand why American companies love to split their large corporations…
Isn’t it better to grow strong? A larger scale would showcase better social achievements, right? 
If Rohde & Schwarz only achieved command-level invocation, then Keysight Technologies has taken it a step further, allowing direct control using their software, which also comes with a COM interface, making secondary development very convenient.
Honestly, this is quite similar to CANoe; if you are willing to figure out its COM interface, I believe both basic and advanced features can be easily implemented.
Of course, it’s not absolute.
The functionality of the host software may not necessarily be achievable through COM; it depends on whether it was released when the COM was published.
Specifics can be checked in the software’s help manual; if it’s available, great; if not, don’t get your hopes up.
Since Keysight’s oscilloscope does not have a dominant market share in the industry, this software does not hold as prominent a position in the industry as CANoe does in the bus field. When selecting, it is still necessary to consider price, ease of use, and other factors.
Perhaps Keysight Technologies is simply too busy with their business; Lion No. 1 asked around but couldn’t find technical support. Sigh~
Basic Invocation
With software and COM included, we can skip the demonstration.
Typically, such setups do not bother to provide LabVIEW demos; if the COM works, just use it directly. If the COM API lacks relevant interfaces, don’t expect to develop using commands unless the manufacturer is very proactive in support; otherwise, it will be challenging.
Advanced Invocation
Tektronix oscilloscopes are generally quite heavy and feel substantial, and the plastic casing has a certain special craftsmanship that gives it a more upscale feel compared to Rohde & Schwarz.
Moreover, the plastic casing is crafted in a special way, giving it a more premium feel compared to Rohde & Schwarz.
Basic Invocation
Lion No. 1 went through a lot of effort but couldn’t find a LabVIEW example program compatible with my oscilloscope on the official website. Later, after asking their customer service, I learned that they do not officially support secondary development.
.
However, customer service provided me with a forum link,
https://forum.tek.com/viewtopic.php?f=580&t=133570
They told me that these example codes are uploaded by enthusiasts, and Tektronix engineers also upload relevant codes.
Well, Lion No. 1 immediately ran to this forum to find relevant secondary development source code.
Fortunately, I found it smoothly, and I found the source code for my model, which redirected to NI’s official website for download, indicating that Tektronix is quite impressive and influential, as even NI actively links to them.
However, when I opened the source code project, a pair of errors appeared, saying “Warning: Deleted”.
I replaced them based on my intuition, and when I ran it, I successfully acquired the waveform.
However, this situation is extremely unfriendly for beginners; not everyone’s intuition is this accurate 
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In summary, Tektronix is not bad, but it’s not easy to use or obtain; you need to ask their customer service to know where the source code is, and after downloading, you still need to fix the project yourself to run it.
I suggest that Tektronix optimize this in the future, such as adding a direct link to the secondary development code forum on their official website and optimizing the source code to eliminate errors.
The usage of Tektronix is almost identical to that of Rohde & Schwarz; both acquire waveform data from various channels, and then you perform big data analysis yourself. It still feels quite simple and does not require special research or contemplation.
Advanced Invocation
You can manually set the trigger ID on the oscilloscope or modify the trigger ID through LabVIEW.
The LeCroy oscilloscope is also from the USA, and its product capabilities can rival those of Keysight Technologies.
It can also acquire all information and control operations from the oscilloscope through its PC software.
Additionally, it provides an ActiveX interface driver specifically for facilitating secondary development with third-party software.
Given Lion No. 1’s consistent tendency to “take shortcuts” and advocate for automated testing, this ActiveX, which is essentially a COM interface, is naturally very appealing.
Lion No. 1 believes that LeCroy treats this COM driver as a separate software offering on their website, indicating their importance and usefulness to users, suggesting that their API is comprehensive, encapsulating many complex and customer-required functions, which is worth trying and understanding.
Basic Invocation
Omitted, as it comes with COM, we can skip directly. Just like after having the COM interface for TSMaster, Lion No. 1 almost never uses DLL anymore; it’s the same principle.
Moreover, if the COM cannot even achieve this basic invocation, that would be quite unacceptable.
Advanced Invocation
We have also interviewed the Yokogawa manufacturer; everyone can check out the video below:
Yokogawa’s oscilloscopes have a large market presence, and they are highly regarded in engineering circles for their user-friendly features. Many functions you might imagine are available.
Basic Invocation
The following diagram is the wiring diagram:
The following diagram is the oscilloscope interface:
Advanced Invocation
Yokogawa’s oscilloscope has a very user-friendly feature where it adds a decoding channel that synchronizes directly with the waveform channel. For example, the four clusters of waveforms above can be read directly by the decoding channel, making all information clear at a glance.
Typically, if the screen time width is set to 0.2ms, then only one ID will appear on the screen. After setting the specific ID trigger, we can even read back the ID from this decoding channel to see if it matches what we set.
PICOScope is a typical virtual instrument, similar to NI, with a compact device and powerful functionality in PC software.
According to product positioning, PICOscope should not appear in automotive R&D testing fields; its main market is in after-sales maintenance.
Beijing Hengtai Measurement and Control is a leader in this field, connecting the Picoscope probe to the engine to see which part is malfunctioning through the computer.
Hengtai is also a strong seller and developer of the Picoscope product line in China, showcasing remarkable strength in this area.
From auditory and tactile feedback to computer spectrum analysis, the torchbearers continue the legacy, endlessly.
However, the Picoscope’s partnership with Vector has serious implications.
Basic Invocation
Connect the wires as shown in the diagram below:
Then follow the links below to set up the corresponding driver:
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Software Development Driver Package 32-bit:
https://www.picotech.com/download/software/sr/PicoSDK_32_10.7.22.241.exe
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2. Software Development Driver Package 64-bit: https://www.picotech.com/download/software/sr/PicoSDK_64_10.7.22.241.exe
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3. Programming Examples: https://github.com/picotech
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4. Programming Manual: https://www.picotech.com/library/documentation
Open the LabVIEW demo, configure according to the VI interface shown in the demonstration, then run it and enable the parameters to acquire waveform data.
The waveform in the Picoscope software looks like this:
The waveform obtained in LabVIEW looks like this:
The subsequent processing is quite similar.
Advanced Invocation
When paired with CANoe software, it can be implemented powerfully, significantly enhancing its capabilities.
Vector doesn’t even have its own oscilloscope; it specifically commissioned Picoscope to produce a batch of specialized models, such as the 5242B, designed for use with CANoe.
According to feedback from manufacturers, this oscilloscope is merely a general model with a different casing, and the specific model names were created for Vector to facilitate quick identification of the oscilloscope’s origin.
The CANoe’s PICO oscilloscope license is bound to the serial number of the PICO device. This means that if the Vector sells you a defective oscilloscope, you cannot simply replace it with the same model from Hengtai.
Mr. Zhou Ligong is a pioneer in domestic automotive electronics, making foundational contributions in several fields. In the oscilloscope field, Zhiyuan Electronics is a rising domestic brand.
The first domestic CAN card, the first domestic CAN analyzer, and the first domestic high-performance oscilloscope are all foundational contributions by Zhiyuan Electronics to the industry!
My first automotive electronic tool product was Mr. Zhou Ligong’s CAN box. When I realized how to invoke it using LabVIEW, I felt like the sky had brightened, marking the beginning of my journey in automotive electronics!
From this perspective, Mr. Zhou Ligong can also be considered my workplace guide.
In 2014, Zhiyuan Electronics released its first oscilloscope product and even gave our company a unit for trial use. I was honored that the boss handed it to me at the launch event, allowing us to carry it back.
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Alright, back to the point. Let’s discuss how to invoke the Zhiyuan Electronics oscilloscope using LabVIEW.
Basic Invocation
Connect the wires as shown in the diagram below; the device model is ZDS5054Pro, with 500M bandwidth and 4G sampling rate.
Then download the LabVIEW source code from here:
The waveform on the oscilloscope interface looks like this:
Then the data obtained using that source code looks like this.
Well, the data format is the same as that of Tektronix, Rohde & Schwarz, and PICO; this is the universal language among peers worldwide.
Zhiyuan Electronics is excellent!
Advanced Invocation
Currently, dynamic modification of the trigger ID is not achievable; it can only be set manually on the oscilloscope panel. However, it can retrieve waveform data and screenshots from the oscilloscope using software.
Basic Invocation
We won’t go into details, as Prysmian oscilloscopes are pioneers among domestic oscilloscopes. Currently, their DS70000 series oscilloscopes reach bandwidths of up to 5GHz.
The boss is named Wang Yue, a “second-generation technology” individual. Both parents work at the Institute of Semiconductor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and he is quite ambitious, aiming to serve the country through technology.
Prysmian’s secondary development API is comprehensive, and there are LabVIEW demos available.
However, upon opening it, something feels off; it’s too “simple,” just this one VI, and not much else, which is equivalent to almost nothing.
Isn’t it said that Chinese people don’t deceive other Chinese people?
This might be a common issue with domestic tools, where there’s an engineer’s mindset rather than a user’s mindset, resulting in something that’s incomplete and unsatisfactory, needing improvement.
Advanced Invocation
Like Zhou Ligong, it can achieve specific ID triggering, and the trigger ID can also be modified manually through the oscilloscope panel, but dynamic modification through LabVIEW is not possible.
Basic Invocation Usability: Rohde & Schwarz = Zhiyuan Electronics > Tektronix > PICO.
PICO is close to the category of virtual instruments and is of a similar type to NI, offering great flexibility, but the usage difficulty is relatively higher.
Portability: PICO > Zhiyuan Electronics = Rohde & Schwarz > Tektronix.
Tektronix is generally too heavy, causing arm pain.
Technical Support Cooperation: Zhiyuan Electronics ≈ PICO > Tektronix > Rohde & Schwarz
Tektronix stops answering calls at 5 PM, and Rohde & Schwarz has been unreachable 
Automation Depends on the Situation
Oscilloscope analysis is suitable for optimizing product performance during the advanced stages of design work.
One should not automate for the sake of automation; sometimes manual testing is still valuable and meaningful. The invocation of oscilloscopes is suitable for large-scale, routine, repetitive performance metric analysis; if it’s a temporary testing task, there’s no need to exert effort figuring it out; a manual test will suffice.
Strictly speaking, in the automotive R&D testing circle, PICO cannot achieve advanced invocation for secondary development.
This oscilloscope belongs to the category of virtual instruments and does not have this functionality built-in.
Its advanced features are achieved through CANoe, utilizing the VN1640 hardwire output to the Picoscope oscilloscope, capturing waveforms via external triggering.
For CANoe’s core functionalities, such as purely analyzing message waveforms, cycles, and DLC, it is indeed perfect; however, for more complex systems involving Excel file read/write, IO control, power control, etc., it becomes quite challenging.
Tektronix and Rohde & Schwarz
Tektronix and Rohde & Schwarz have been deeply involved in the oscilloscope field for many years and indeed perform better in some obscure advanced features.
The control commands are comprehensive, and using their API commands, it’s easy to achieve waveform recording for specific messages, and it’s completely free. With a bit of software foundation, it can be easily implemented.
Especially Tektronix, whose commands are very comprehensive; almost all functions achievable through manual operations can also be implemented through API commands, including automatic measurement, analysis, and image storage, yielding excellent results.
For the proprietary oscilloscope of Vector, PICO is also used in the CAN bus field. In more demanding areas, such as CANFD and even Ethernet, Tektronix oscilloscopes remain the top choice, with even Spirent selecting Tektronix oscilloscopes for Ethernet testing.
Zhiyuan Electronics currently cannot achieve dynamic modification of the trigger ID through LabVIEW; it can only be set manually via the oscilloscope buttons.
However, it must be noted that the vast majority of users capturing waveforms using Tektronix and Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscopes are also mainly operating the oscilloscope buttons manually; there are few cases of automated invocation. From this perspective, Zhiyuan Electronics is on par with them, and I believe they will catch up in the near future~
As a standalone device, Yokogawa oscilloscopes are excellent; however, unfortunately, Yokogawa oscilloscopes are not very suitable for secondary development invocation, lacking self-contained software and LabVIEW demos.
They might support professional programming languages like C++ better, but most automotive engineers don’t know C++.
Prysmian
As a pioneer among domestic oscilloscopes, it has considerable recognition and is sufficient for most basic applications and low-end scenarios, but there remains a significant gap compared to foreign brands in high-end scenarios.
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