Pico Technology announced the new PicoScope 5000E Series oscilloscopes, a new family of compact, USB-C oscilloscopes for engineers. Addressing the need to measure sensitive, low-amplitude signals and move quickly between analog, digital and mixed-signal debugging. The PicoScope 5000E Series delivers true 16-bit resolution with bandwidths up to 200 MHz, sample rates of 2.5 GS/s and 1 GS capture memory. The PicoScope 5000E Plus Series models add a switchable 8-bit high-speed mode with bandwidths up to 500 MHz, sampling rate of 5 GS/s and 2 GS of deep memory, giving engineers the advantage of a high-resolution precision oscilloscope and a faster 500 MHz debug oscilloscope in one portable instrument.  

Low-Noise, High-Dynamic Range Measurements 

Today’s engineers are measuring smaller signals in noisier systems: millivolt-level ripple on DC rails, low-level sensor outputs, precision audio, analog front ends, medical electronics and mixed-signal designs where a rare glitch can matter as much as the main waveform. The PicoScope 5000E Series 16-bit resolution offers an industry-leading noise floor below 22 µV root mean square (RMS) and better than –73 dB total harmonic distortion (THD). This high-dynamic range helps engineers maximize the usable resolution, finding small amplitude components, ripple, distortion and anomalies that lower-resolution or noisier instruments can hide. 

Specifications and Features

The latest additions to the PicoScope range combine cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design to meet the diverse needs of analog engineers. Key features include: 

  • True 16-bit acquisition: Bandwidths up to 200 MHz, sampling up to 2.5 GS/s and 1 GS capture memory for low-noise analog and power integrity measurements.
  • 5000E Plus high-speed mode: Switchable 8-bit operation extends bandwidth to 500 MHz, sampling to 5 GS/s and memory to 2 GS for digital edges, higher-frequency analog signals and rapid mixed-signal debug. 
  • Ultra-low-noise front end: Less than 22 µV RMS noise floor and better than –73 dB of THD, for measuring low-amplitude signals.  
  • Deep capture memory: 1 GS of sample storage on standard models, doubling to 2 GS on Plus models in 8-bit mode, for capturing long-duration signals at maximum speeds. 
  •  7-in-1 instrument versatility: Functions as an Oscilloscope, FFT Spectrum Analyzer, 200 MS/s 14-bit AWG, Function Generator, Frequency Counter, Protocol Analyzer and Logic Analyzer (on MSO models).
  • Portable, USB-C design: A compact, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Type-C connected device that leverages your PC’s high-fidelity monitor to visualize complex data. 
  • PicoSDK® support: Interface directly with the PicoScope 5000E Series using our latest multi series API and write custom applications using C, C#, C++, Python, MATLAB or LabVIEW. 

PicoScope 7 turns the PicoScope 5000E Series into a versatile test platform that benefits from lifetime software upgrades to continuously expand its technical capabilities. For debug and validation, PicoScope 7 includes more than 40 serial protocol decoders, advanced math channels, automated measurements including power analysis, DeepMeasure for multi-capture analysis, measurement and mask limit testing and Actions for code-free test automation.  

“With the PicoScope 5000E Series, we focused on the measurements engineers struggle to make on conventional scopes: small ripple and intermittent anomalies that are easy to miss. Pair that with a switchable 16 or 8-bit resolution, it’s a versatile piece of equipment that every electronics lab should include.” said James Mackey, Senior Product Marketing Executive at Pico Technology. 

Availability 

The PicoScope 5000E Series oscilloscopes are available as 4-channel or 4 + 16 channel mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) variants. The standard PicoScope 5000E Series is available in 60, 100 and 200 MHz bandwidth models. The Plus models expand this offering, available in 60/200 MHz, 100/350 MHz and 200/500 MHz models (reflecting their dual 16-bit/8-bit bandwidth capabilities, respectively).  

They are available for purchase through authorized PicoScope distributors worldwide and on picotech.com. For more information about pricing, specifications and availability, contact your local distributor or visit https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/picoscope-5000e-series-16-bit-usboscilloscope