Datasheet

  700mA max or 2.1W max for each supply when using an external wall power supply 
  Single channel voltmeter (AC, DC, ±25V) 
  Network analyzer – Bode, Nyquist, Nichols transfer diagrams of a circuit. Range: 1Hz to 
10MHz 
  Spectrum Analyzer – power spectrum and spectral measurements (noise floor, SFDR, 
SNR, THD, etc.) 
  Digital Bus Analyzers (SPI, I²C, UART, Parallel) 
The Analog Discovery 2 was designed for students in typical university-based circuits and 
electronics classes. Its features and specifications, as well as the additional requirements of 
operating from USB or external power, maintaining the small and portable form factor, the 
robustness to withstand student use in a variety of environments, and low-cost are based 
directly on feedback that was obtained from numerous professors from several universities. 
Meeting all of these requirements proved challenging; however, the task ultimately generated 
some new and innovative circuits. This document describes the Analog Discovery 2's 
circuits, with the intent of providing a better understanding of its electrical functions, 
operations, and a more detailed description of the hardware’s features and limitations. It is 
not intended to provide enough information to enable complete duplication of the Analog 
Discovery 2, or to allow users to design custom configurations for programmable parts in the 
design. 
Analog Discovery 2 is the next generation of the very popular Analog Discovery. The main 
improvements are: 
  Ability to use an external power supply and consequently deliver more power to user 
supplies. When USB-powered, the Analog Discovery 2 delivers the same power as the 
Analog Discovery. 
  New enclosure with enhanced design and improved connector reliability. 
  Improved signal/noise and crosstalk performances for both the scope and waveform 
generator. 
  Better defined bandwidth for both the scope and waveform generator. 
1.1 Architectural Overview and Block Diagram 
Analog Discovery 2's high-level block diagram is presented in Fig. 2 below. The core of the 
Analog Discovery 2 is the Xilinx® Spartan®-6FPGA (specifically, the XC6SLX16-1L device). 
The WaveForms application automatically programs the Discovery’s FPGA at start-up with a 
configuration file designed to implement a multi-function test and measurement instrument. 
Once programmed, the FPGA inside the Discovery communicates with the PC-based 
WaveForms application via a USB 2.0 connection. The WaveForms software works with the 
FPGA to control all the functional blocks of the Analog Discovery 2, including setting 
parameters, acquiring data, and transferring and storing data. 




