We want two conflicting features in a logic analyzer; high sample RATES (high resolution) and high sample COUNTs (a lot of data/time).

We usually reduce sampling RATES to capture more data because sample COUNTs (data buffer depth) is fixed. To combat this trade-off, the sample buffer is made as deep as possible. However, this approach is linear and does not scale well. Doubling the buffer doubles either TIME or sample RESOLUTION. It can take gigabytes of memory to achieve both if your data transitions are fairly sparse (microsecond or more gaps).

Ideally, we would like to have high sample RATES AND high sample COUNTs to capture a long time-span with high resolution. DigiView achieves this, like other logic analyzers, by using a deep data buffer. However, DigiView also attacks this problem from another, even more effective angle. DigiView uses one or more real-time, hardware based compression techniques to compact the captured data. This has a much greater impact than increasing the buffer depth. The data captured in logic analyzer applications is often stable for multiple sample periods (particularly at higher sample rates). This, coupled with fast sample times and a very long run-length limit, makes our compression very applicable in real-world applications.

To illustrate the effect of DigiView's compression and also present it in a manner that is more relevant to real-world usage, we have calculated several typical performance benchmarks for each DigiView Model and sampling mode. You may actually see better performance ratings than the conservative estimations below.

DV1-100

DV3400 - 200MHz

DV3400 - 400MHz

Final note:

The data is compressed in real-time with dedicated hardware and is NEVER fully de-compressed (which could result in data files much larger the available hard-drive capacities). DigiView software transfers the entire compressed data buffer from the hardware to internal PC memory in compressed form. This allows us to transfer the entire buffer in about 1 second. The waveform display routines fetch only enough data from the compressed buffer to fill the viewable portion of the display screen and even that is compressed.