Logic Analyzer vs. Oscilloscope | Distinguishing features
Assuming you have to look at the inputs and outputs of a 16bit counter to detect a timing error, but you only have a 2-channel area. What do all required signals look like? Or suppose you have just developed timing diagrams for a board full of digital circuits. How do you verify them? How do you acquire and analyze the signals on the board?
Without the right tools, solving such problems can be very time consuming. For the problems mentioned above, a logic analyzer is the best solution.
Oscilloscope or logic analyzer?
When many engineers have the choice between an oscilloscope or a logic analyzer, they choose an oscilloscope. However, ranges are of limited use in some applications. Depending on what the user wants to achieve, a logic analyzer can provide more useful information.
When to use a range
- When it is necessary to observe small voltage variations in the signal.
- When high time interval accuracy is required.
Reasons for using a logic analyzer
- To observe many signals at the same time.
- Viewing signals such as hardware
- Triggering of heights and depths in several lines and output of their results
A logic analyzer reacts in the same way as a logic circuit when a single threshold is exceeded by a signal in the system. It detects that the signal is either low or high. It can also trigger patterns of highs and lows that are displayed on these signals.
In general, you should use a logic analyzer if you need to view more lines than can be monitored with an oscilloscope. Logic analyzers are especially useful for viewing time relationships or data on a bus - for example, a microprocessor address, data, or a control bus. They can decode the information on microprocessor buses and present it in a meaningful form.
What specifications should a logic analyzer meet?
Nowadays there are suitable logic analyzers for almost every application, which differ in the number of channels, memory and other features. PGY-LA-EMBD is an industry first in its category logic analyzer that enables engineers to troubleshoot timing issues and perform simultaneous protocol analysis of I2C, SPI, UART, I3C, RFFE & SPMI interfaces in embedded designs. This allows designers to quickly troubleshoot circuit and system level problems.
The device comes with the appropriate analysis software, which is available free of charge for all users. The biggest unique selling point between other logic analyzers is the huge database of add-on scripts that can be used to analyze any common protocol and is unique in the logic analyzer market.