Analog Discovery 2 Tutorial

BELS created self-help video tutorials

We have created a few videos if you are new to Analog Discovery 2. They can be found at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjRU0pO6-u3epnIlBOIJzsWfsTSUQjShK

Software Download

The software required to use the Analog Discovery 2 is the Waveforms software, found on the Digilent website. 

In order to download the waveforms software, you will have to input your name, last name, and your UCSC email. Under occupation, input student as well as select your Digilent device as Analog Discover 2 and select the operating system you are using. The download will happen once you press the "Select Button." 

Using the Power Supply 

The Analog Discovery 2 has a negative and positive power supply. The positive supply is accessed by the red wire, while the white wire accesses the negative supply. Using male-to-male connectors, connect the wires of the Analog Discovery 2 to your breadboard's rails to access the supplies. 

There are three options in the Waveforms software supplies menu: File, Control, and Window. 

The file allows you to open an existing project, save the existing project or close the window. Control allows you to run or stop the program. Lastly, Window allows you to move to the Waveforms program. The master enables button allows you to run or stop the power supplies. The positive and negative power supply buttons have three modes: Ready, On, and Off.

When the Master Enable is Off, you are allowed to switch between the Ready and Off states for the supplies. 

When the Master Enable is On, you are allowed to switch between the On and Off states for the supplies. 

On the right of these buttons is a drop-down option for the supply voltages. The supply voltages vary from +/- 500mV to +/- 5V. In order to have an accurate supply value, make sure to calibrate your device. 

Using the Voltmeter

On the Analog Discover 2, the orange wire is channel 1, and the blue wire is channel 2. If you want to use the voltmeter, connect the wires to the locations you want to measure the voltage difference between. For example , if you want to measure the voltage difference of a resistor, connect one wire before the resistor and one after the resistor. 

The Voltmeter tool has three options: File, Control, and Window. 

The file allows you to open an existing project, save the existing project, export data and close the voltmeter window. 

Control allows you to run or stop the voltmeter. 

Lastly, Window allows you to move to the Waveforms program, 

The Voltmeter interface displaces 2 columns, channel 1 and channel 2. The rows display each channel's DC, true RMS, and AC RMS values. When you click run, you will see the DC, true RMS, and AC RMS values. 

Using the Oscilloscope

On the Analog Discover 2, the orange wire is channel 1, and the blue wire is channel 2. If you want to use the oscilloscope, connect one or both of the wires where you want to observe your breadboard's signal. 

File allows you to create a new instance of a scope in the oscilloscope menu, save your current configuration, open an existing configuration, export and import files.

Control will run your scope a single time, continuously, or stop the oscilloscope.

Zoom is used to look at the oscilloscope at different points. You can move the red bar around to view the different points.

+XY is used to plot current and voltage characteristics or voltage-current characteristics depending on which channel you use for the X-Y axis. 

The FFT selection plots data as amplitude versus frequency. The data selection plots voltage over time values. The measurements selections allow you to select built-in measurements. The X and Y cursor selection allows you to open the cursor plane. This is used to measure the difference between two points.

Using the Waveform Generator

The wires that access the Analog Discovery 2's waveform generator are the yellow wires. Connect these wires where you want to input your signal in your breadboard.

Click the wavegen button to access the waveform generator. There are 4 options in the waveform generator menu: File, Control, Edit, and Window.

The file allows you to create a new waveform generator, open a waveform, wave your waveform, export and close your waveform.

Control allows you to run all or stop all waveforms.

Edit allows you to copy your waveforms or swap your waveforms between channels.

Windows allows you to switch between different waveforms or windows. 

In the default menu, there are three options: Run all, Channels, and synchronization.

Run all will run the waveforms on any channels that are activated. Channels allow you to activate or deactivate channel 2 and channel 2. This final drop-down option allows you to modify various synchronization options between channels and use or change the trigger options.

No synchronization is used when you don't require a waveform with synchronization or trigger patterns. 

Independent is used when you want channels to work independently. In this mode, you have the option to independently configure the trigger, wait, run and repeat settings. 

Auto synchronization is almost the same as the synchronized mode, but the run time is adjusted to be the longest period from both channels.

On the left-hand side are six configuration options that will get you your desired waveform.

Simple is the first configuration option. It allows you to choose a few types of waveforms, including a DC signal, sine wave, square wave, and other simple signals. After choosing the desired signal, you can adjust its frequency, amplitude, offset, symmetry and phase. These options will be grayed out if the signal you choose doesn't require these options, such as DC.

Basic is the second configuration option. It has the same options as the simple configuration, except you have more control over your signal. The biggest difference is that now you have sliders that are adjustable in real-time.

The third configuration option is Custom. In the custom configuration, click new. Here you can name your signal, normalize your signal, or even export it.

 You can create your desired waveform on the left-hand side just like in the simple and basic configuration. In the math tab, you can graph a mathematical function by writing out the formula. In the values tab, you can add up to 100 values to create a specific step function. You can import a waveform in the file tab and use the start and length options to choose how much of the imported file you want to use. In the walter tab, you can alter a waveform you have already created. On the right-hand side, you have the option to manually adjust specific points of your waveform.

The fourth configuration option is Play. In the play, you can import and playback a CSV, txt, mp3, WMC, or avi file.

The fifth configuration option is Sweep. Sweep allows you to have various frequencies and amplitudes over a certain time period. The left side has configurable options with sweet and damp as a new additional feature. You can configure the sweep's upper limit, while the lower limit is the value written in the frequency box. You also have the ability to control the duration of the sweep. For Damp to, you can adjust this value to set the upper limit. The lower limit is set by adjusting the amplitude box. Click Run to play your frequency. 

The sixth configuration option is modulated. Modulation allows you to change the higher frequency carrier signals amplitude depending on the low-frequency signal. The left side contains options to modify the signals. The right side contains the signals themselves, specifically the carrier signal, the FM modulation signals, and the output signal. The left-most configurable row modifies the carrier signal. The middle row modifies the frequency modulation, and the rightmost row modifies the amplitude modulation. Click run to play the signals when you are done configuring them.