Unveiling the Power of Scopy Network Analyzer: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of electronics and signal processing, understanding the frequency response of a system is crucial. The Scopy Network Analyzer, a feature within the ADALM2000 (M2k) Active Learning Module, offers a versatile solution for analyzing and visualizing this response. This article provides a deep dive into the Scopy Network Analyzer, exploring its functionalities, settings, and practical applications.

Navigating the Scopy Network Analyzer Interface

Accessing the Network Analyzer is straightforward: simply select "Network Analyzer" from the menu within the Scopy software. The user-friendly interface is designed for efficient operation, allowing you to quickly run or stop the instrument using the convenient white square icon next to its name in the menu.

Front Panel Overview

The front panel of the Scopy Network Analyzer is logically organized, providing access to essential controls and visualizations:

• Run/Stop and Single Buttons: Initiate or halt the network analysis process. For a streamlined workflow, utilize the white square icon for quick start/stop control directly from the menu.
• Settings Menu Button: Toggles the visibility of the general settings menu, enabling customization of analysis parameters.
• Buffer Previewer: Offers a time-domain view of acquired buffers, aiding in signal integrity assessment.
• Cursors Button: Activates or deactivates cursors on the Bode plot, facilitating precise measurements of frequency, magnitude, and phase.
• Plot Area: Displays the frequency response in various formats, including Bode plots, Nyquist plots, and Nichols plots.

Diving into Settings: Customizing Your Analysis

The Settings Menu is the heart of the Scopy Network Analyzer, offering granular control over the analysis process. Here's a breakdown of key settings:

• Reference Channel: Designate the reference channel (oscilloscope probes 1+ or 2+) to serve as the phase reference for measurements.
• Waveform Settings: Fine-tune the generated signal's characteristics, including amplitude (1uV to 10V), offset (-5V to 5V), and settling time.
• Response Settings:
  • DC Filtering: Enable or disable DC filtering to remove unwanted DC components.
  • Gain Mode: Select the gain mode (Automatic, High, or Low) based on the signal characteristics.
  • Settling Time: Adjust the settling time to ensure accurate measurements.
• Sweep Settings:
  • Linear/Logarithmic Switch: Choose between linear or logarithmic scales for the frequency axis.
  • Start/Stop Frequency: Define the frequency range for the analysis (1 mHz to 20MHz).
  • Samples/Decade and Total Samples Count: Control the sampling density and total number of samples.
  • Periods: Specify the minimum number of periods to acquire.
  • Average: Set the number of averages to apply for noise reduction.
• Display Settings: Customize the visual representation of the plots, adjusting magnitude and phase ranges for optimal clarity.

Buffer Previewer: A Time-Domain Window

The Buffer Previewer provides valuable insight into the time-domain characteristics of the acquired signals:

• Buffer Previewer Plot: Displays the selected buffer in a time-domain graph.
• Acquisition Status: Provides real-time information, including sample index, current frequency, averaging status, DC voltage, and gain mode.
• Buffer Selector: Navigate through acquired buffers to examine specific data points.
• View in Osc Button: Seamlessly transfer the current buffer to the Oscilloscope tool for further analysis.

General Settings and Data Export

The General Settings menu enables further customization and data management:

• Plot Selection: Choose the desired plot type: Bode, Nichols, or Nyquist.
• Export Button: Export network analyzer data for further processing or documentation.
• Reference Management: Import a reference file or create a snapshot of the current channel to use as a reference for comparative analysis.

Visualizing Frequency Response: Bode, Nyquist, and Nichols Plots

The Scopy Network Analyzer offers three powerful visualization tools for understanding frequency response:

• Bode Plot: A classic representation that displays magnitude (in dB) and phase shift as separate plots against frequency. Zooming and display controls allow for detailed analysis of specific frequency ranges.
• Nyquist Plot: A polar plot that combines magnitude and phase information on a single graph, providing insights into system stability.
• Nichols Plot: Displays gain magnitude (dB) versus phase (degrees), facilitating the determination of gain and phase margins.

Practical Application: Analyzing a Low-Pass Filter

The Scopy Network Analyzer is easily adapted for various circuits. The Analog Devices Wiki provides an example of a low-pass filter that shows how to use the Network Analyzer to get a frequency response of the filter. Whenever using the network analyzer, you need a stimulus/reference channel (waveform output channel 1 and oscilloscope channel 1) and a measurement channel (oscilloscope channel 2).

Conclusion

The Scopy Network Analyzer empowers students, hobbyists, and professionals to delve into the intricacies of frequency response analysis. Its intuitive interface, versatile settings, and powerful visualization capabilities make it an invaluable tool for understanding and optimizing electronic circuits and systems. By incorporating this tool into your workflow, you can unlock deeper insights into system behavior and achieve superior design outcomes. Don't forget to explore other valuable educational resources from Analog Devices, including their Engineer Zone and Analog Dialogue.