ZTEC Instruments introduces the ZT4210 EPICS oscilloscopes designed specifically to operate in the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) environment. ZTEC’s 300 MHz ZT4210 EPICS oscilloscopes, along with the 1 GHz ZT4610 series EPICS scopes introduced earlier this year, are the first self-contained high performance digital oscilloscopes designed with an internal EPICS IOC (Input/Output controller). Learn more about ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes >>
These small, 1U height, half-rack width, rack mountable, high channel-density oscilloscopes include powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes are ideal for particle accelerator oscilloscope applications, where fast signal acquisition, waveform math and analysis, high channel-density, and remote instrument monitoring and control are crucial.
All ZT4210 EPICS units include an internal EPICS IOC with Channel Access to publish set/get process variables (PVs) that are used to change and query all instrument states. The PV names can be modified by users to reflect local naming conventions and avoid conflict with other instruments on the network.
New EPICS features introduced with the ZT4210 EPICS scopes include the ability to upload waveform files (for example, into a reference channel), the addition of a PV that allows users to send SCPI commands to the instrument and the creation of EPICS environmental variables, such as EPICS_CA_AUTO_ADDR_LIST. For customers who have already purchased a ZT4610 EPICS unit, ZTEC will update the older units for free so that they also support the new EPICS features.
For non-EPICS users, the ZT4210 LAN is available. The LAN units are identical to the ZT4210 EPICS units, with the exception of the internal EPICS IOC.
The ZT4210 EPICS and ZT4210 LAN units, with their Ethernet connectors, offer complete remote instrument control including the ability to view waveform data and to transfer data and setup files from anywhere, as long as the user has access to the instrument’s IP address.
These high-performance oscilloscopes are available in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include 300 MHz analog bandwidth, up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 256Mpoint record lengths. The ZT4210 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters and includes 4 calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.
Free instrument drivers from ZTEC enable users to programmatically control the ZT4210. Drivers are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.
Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify which ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.
