SIGMA2 & SIGMA LOGIC ANALYZERS User's Guide Features: • • • • • Very large event memory (256 Mb) Up to 200 MHz sample speed Up to 16 inputs Flexible trigger options Controlled and powered by USB SIGMA2/SIGMA: User's Guide v. 2.2, 2012-11-27 Copyright © 1991-2012 ASIX s.r.o. All trademarks used in this document are properties of their respective owners. This information is provided in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty. We disclaim any liability for the accuracy of this information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. SIGMA2 AND SIGMA LOGIC ANALYZERS...........................................3 2. INSTALLATION..................................................................................3 3. TARGET CONNECTION.......................................................................3 4. INDICATORS AND BUTTON................................................................4 5. USING SIGMA & OMEGA LOGIC ANALYZERS SOFTWARE..................5 5.1 Modes of operation...........................................
1. SIGMA2 AND SIGMA LOGIC ANALYZERS SIGMA2 and SIGMA are logic analyzers - development tools intended for tracing and debugging of TTL (and compatible) digital signals. SIGMA is an original version of the logic analyzer, it was being delivered until November 2011. SIGMA2 is a new version which replaces original SIGMA; it has been available since December 2011.
device (e.g. for measuring signal slope in particular conditions by an oscilloscope). TO 1 3 5 7 GND 9 11 13 15 TI 2 4 6 8 GND 10 12 14 16 Fig. 1: Target connector SIGMA2 is equipped by high impedance inputs with TTL logic levels (with 1 MΩ pull-down resistor). Capacitance of probe cables should be taken into consideration when connecting to a debugged application, otherwise a cross-talks of fast signals may occur.
Main panel contains seven LED indicators providing with overall status information at a glance. ON-LINE READY USB BUSY TRIGGER WAIT BUSY TRIGGER DETECT PIN CHANGE lights whenever SIGMA is connected with PC through USB lights when SIGMA has been configured and is in idle state indicates that data transfer is in progress SIGMA is waiting for trigger condition SIGMA is acquiring data flashes when trigger cond.
amount of the analyzer memory space for saving of a sample, because the fact that the sample capture time must be saved as well. 20ns Clock Data Fig. 3: Sampling with asynchronous clock • 15 inputs, 1 synchronous clock input (only a first input on either port may be used as the clock signal), rising or falling edge, clock speed should be within the range of 1MHz to 99.9 MHz.
5.3 Traces Term trace refers to visualization of acquired data. A trace can be composed of several inputs as well, otherwise a single input may be used in multiple traces, e.g. it is possible to visualize several inputs as a bus while still having the possibility to display individual signals. Traces are defined in Settings/Traces setup or using Ctrl+T hotkey. If a trace is defined as a bus, the value on the bus will be displayed according to configurable formatting.
Although this approach makes the describtion of very complex situations possible, accordingly it allows to define moment to be captured precisely, there are certain limitations determined by capabilities of the hardware. If the expression is too complex to be implemented in the hardware, exclamation icon appears to indicate this fact.
(if applicable). Several plugins are APPLICATION PACKAGE by default. part of the ASIX SIGMA&OMEGA Some data decoded by some plugins (UART, SPI, I 2C) can be inserted among captured signals as a virtual track. For that feature go to the Settings/Traces Setup menu. When the track is market by a click, the plugin can be chosen in the ComboBox on the right. Bookmarks (dll_bookmarks.dll) This plugin provides with possibility to define up to 10 bookmarks for convenient navigation in the data.
Simple marker (dll_simplemarker.dll) Allows user to place a single mark at the cursor position by pressing spacebar. This is particularly useful for measuring time distance between two points (place the mark to one location, move the cursor to the other one and watch the tooltip). UART Plugin (dll_uart.dll) It decodes one or more captured UART signals and displays data in ASCII, decimal or hexadecimal value. SPI Bus Analyzer Plugin (dll_spibus.
Additional plugins can be provided in the future. Source codes of some plugins are released under GPL, thus users are free to modify or create plugins.
7. PROTOCOL DECODERS Protocol decoders are drawn up as plugins. 7.1 UART Plugin (dll_uart.dll) It decodes captured UART signal and displays that as ASCII characters, decimal or hexadecimal values. Fig.
Fig. 6: SPI Plugin settings It is possible to choose bit order (MSB first, LSB first), synchronising on rising or falling edge (signal chip select in positive or negative logic level) and data sampling on a rising or falling edge of clock signal. 7.3 I2C Bus Analyzer Plugin (dll_i2cbus.dll) This plugin decodes captured I2C signal and displays start bits, stop bits, addresses, acknowledges and data in hexadecimal values. Fig.
Fig. 8: Adding a new license What to measure With USB analyzer plugin users can analyze USB 1,5 Mbps (Low-Speed) and 12 Mbps (full speed) data rate communication captured by SIGMA2 analyzer. Measure tool attachment Although USB data comunication si partly differential, GND and both USB data signal (DATA+,DATA-) must be connected to SIGMA2 analyzer. SIGMA2 samples that signal with enough accuracy as a common TTL signal.
Measuring Measuring is possible only with a purchased license. USB data signals (DATA+, DATA-) can be connected to any two inputs, other inputs are allowed to be used for measuring of another signals or e.g. for measuring of another USB communications. Measuring of more than only one USB communication is possible. Processing When signals have been captured (= the test has been done) it is necessary to decode it. It can take tens of seconds depending on amount of the captured data.
Fig 9: USB Filter settings Another way how to pop-up the Dialog Settings → Filter Settings menu is to click on the title of Addr or on the Endpoint column. Fig 10: Window with hidden transactions which are ended with NAK Searching For searching for a specific type of packets or events (Bus Reset, Error, Stuffed Bit) open the Search → Find... menu or hit Ctrl+F and then for another occurrence hit F3 key. Fig.
Fig. 12: DATA0 packet highlighted If data packets (DATA0, DATA1) are being searched, searching can be limited to particular endpoint, device address or by hexadecimal string. Linking the events window with the analyzer window When a particular USB event has been choosen than real place of occurrence is highlighted. The place can be also zoom in by hitting the right mouse button and then choosing Zoom.
8. FREQUENCY MEASURING A utility for measuring frequency on up to 4 inputs is provided as part of the ASIX SIGMA&OMEGA APPLICATION PACKAGE software package. Filtering and averaging can be selected for each measured input individually. Please note, that the frequency measuring software and ASIX SIGMA&OMEGA LOGIC ANALYZERS software cannot be used simultaneously, an exclusive access to SIGMA2 is required. 9. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION 9.
1) tsksp is skew between pins belonging to the same port 2) tskbp is skew between pins belonging to different ports 3) indoor use only 10. PACKAGE CONTENTS • • • • SIGMA2 logic analyzer Target cables: 20 individual pins (SIGMACAB) one-to-one 20 pins (SIGCAB20) one-to-one 10 pins (SIGCAB10) USB cable (A-B) CD-ROM (software, drivers) 11. CONTACT INFORMATION Address: E-Mail: WWW: Telefon: Fax: ASIX s.r.o. Staropramenna 4 150 00 Prague Czech Republic support@asix.net (technical support) sales@asix.
