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Feature Catalog and Industry Modules

Ideas for custom firmware features and trade-specific applications. The hardware supports most of these as pure software — one firmware, many uses.

Merged from feature_brainstorm.md and industry_modules.md.

Core Insight

Most industry-specific tests are variations of the same basic measurements. The firmware provides core functions; trade-specific "modules" are context layers (UI labels, thresholds, guided procedures) on top.

Context Layers (JSON procedure files per trade)

  HVAC:          Auto:           Industrial:
  "Compressor    "Compression    "Motor Current
   Current Test"  Test"           Signature Analysis"

Core Functions (same firmware)

  Current waveform capture -> peak detection -> FFT
  Voltage measurement -> logging -> statistics
  Protocol decode -> display overlay
  Signal gen sweep -> response measurement -> Bode plot
  Component test -> I-V curve -> parameter extraction

Signal Generator

Feature Description Complexity
Arbitrary waveform Load custom waveform shapes from filesystem files Medium
Protocol test patterns Generate valid I2C, SPI, UART, CAN bitstreams from signal output Medium-Hard
Frequency sweep Ramp from F1 to F2 over time (for Bode plots) Easy
Modulated signals AM, FM, PWM modulation on carrier Medium
Noise injection White/pink noise, or noise added to a signal Easy
Chirp / burst Time-limited signals: single pulse, N cycles, rising frequency chirp Easy-Medium
Servo tester Generate standard RC servo PWM (50Hz, 1-2ms adjustable pulse) Easy
S-Bus generation Inverted UART at 100kbaud, 8E2 — test RC receivers and ESCs Easy-Medium

DAC Architecture Note

The signal generator uses the MCU's built-in 12-bit DAC (2 channels) driven by DMA from a hardware timer. Waveform tables are typically 256-512 points. For digital protocols (PWM, S-Bus, I2C test traffic), the MCU's hardware timer outputs and UART/SPI peripherals are more appropriate than the DAC.

Oscilloscope Display Modes

Feature Description Complexity
Persistence / phosphor Old traces fade instead of clearing. Shows jitter and glitches. Easy
Color-graded persistence Hot pixels glow bright, rare hits dim. Probability distribution. Medium
XY mode CH1 as X, CH2 as Y. Lissajous figures, I-V curves, phase measurement. Easy-Medium
Roll mode Continuous scrolling for slow signals (temperature, battery voltage) Medium
Waveform comparison overlay Load a reference waveform, overlay on live capture Easy

Oscilloscope Analysis

Feature Description Complexity
Math channels A+B, A-B, A*B, FFT. Cortex-M4 DSP makes FFT fast. Medium
Mask / limit testing Define upper/lower boundary, alert if signal exits. Manufacturing QA. Medium
Rise/fall time Automatic edge speed measurement Easy
Duty cycle history Graph duty cycle over time for PWM debugging Easy-Medium
Segmented capture Capture N separate trigger events, flip through like pages Medium-Hard
Measurement statistics Std dev, sample count, confidence interval alongside measurements Easy

Oscilloscope Triggering

Feature Description Complexity
Pulse width trigger Trigger only on pulses wider/narrower than threshold Medium (may need FPGA)
Runt trigger Trigger on pulses that don't reach full amplitude Medium (may need FPGA)
Pattern trigger Trigger on specific combination of CH1 and CH2 states Medium
Protocol trigger Trigger on specific I2C address, UART byte, or CAN message ID Hard

Cross-Functional (3-in-1 Features)

These leverage the oscilloscope + signal generator + multimeter together:

Feature Description Complexity
Component tester Signal gen sweeps, scope captures response through component. Plot V vs I. Identifies diodes, transistors, caps, inductors, zener voltages. Medium
Bode plot Signal gen sweeps frequency, scope measures amplitude + phase. Essential for filter design. Medium-Hard
Impedance measurement At a specific frequency, measure V and I through component to calculate Z. Medium-Hard
Cable length / TDR Send pulse, measure reflection time. Speed of light * time / 2 = cable length. Medium
Power analysis Current clamp on CH1, voltage on CH2. Real-time power (V*I), energy, power factor. Medium

Protocol Decoding

Feature Description Complexity
UART decode Auto-detect baud, extract bytes, hex/ASCII overlay Easy-Medium
I2C decode Start/stop detection, address + R/W + data on 2 channels Medium
SPI decode MOSI/MISO/CLK/CS with byte values Medium
CAN bus decode From analog waveform: bit-level decode with stuffing, ID + data Medium-Hard
1-Wire Dallas temperature sensors, iButton Easy-Medium
Modbus RTU RS-485 industrial protocol (UART-based) Easy
DMX-512 Lighting control (UART at 250kbaud) Easy
LIN bus Automotive (UART-based, 19.2kbaud) Easy-Medium
K-Line (ISO 9141) Older OBD protocol Easy

Multimeter Upgrades

Feature Description Complexity
Data logging Record measurements over time (hours). Graph or export CSV. Medium
Min/Max/Average Continuously track and display Easy
Relative mode Zero the display, show deviation Easy
Analog bar graph Visual bar alongside digital reading Easy
Thermocouple input K-type temperature via voltage + lookup table Easy-Medium
dB measurement Decibels relative to reference Easy

Buzzer / Audio Feedback

The buzzer is a passive piezo driven by TIM8 PWM. Full control over frequency and duty cycle.

Synthesized Tones

Sound Use Case
Single beep Auto-hold captured
Double beep Stack push / short-to-reset
Rising sweep Power-on, success
Descending tones Stack full, warning
Pitch-proportional tone Continuity (R to pitch), nulling/tuning
Trigger tick Signal presence confirmation
Threshold alarm Voltage/current limit crossed

Audio as Measurement Tool

Mode Audio Behavior Use Case
Continuity (pitch ~ resistance) Lower R = higher pitch Trace wires through harness by ear
Null/peak tuning Pitch rises approaching target Trim pots, antenna tuning, bridge balancing
Threshold alarm Silent until limit crossed Monitor a rail while probing elsewhere
Auto-hold feedback Rising tone, firm beep on lock Eyes-free measurement

UX / Software

Feature Description Complexity
Quick presets Save/recall complete scope configurations Easy
Annotated screenshots Add text notes before saving Medium
Undo History of setting changes, step back Easy-Medium
Auto-label Recognize signal type, suggest settings Medium-Hard
QR code on screenshots Embed QR linking to downloadable waveform data Medium
Built-in reference library Annotated reference images for common signals Easy
Teach mode Real-time explanations of what the scope is doing Medium

Industry Modules

Module System Architecture

Each module is a JSON file stored on the device filesystem. One firmware, infinite modules — adding a new test is just adding a JSON file.

2:/Modules/
  hvac/         compressor_current.json, capacitor_test.json, ...
  auto/         compression_test.json, injector_analysis.json, ...
  audio/        frequency_response.json, speaker_impedance.json, ...
  solar/        iv_curve.json, inverter_thd.json, ...
  marine/       nmea0183_decode.json, nmea2000_decode.json, ...
  ham/          antenna_analyzer.json, harmonic_check.json, ...
  education/    rc_circuit.json, sound_waves.json, ...

JSON Procedure Format

{
  "name": "Compressor Current Analysis",
  "category": "HVAC",
  "version": "1.0",
  "setup": {
    "mode": "oscilloscope",
    "ch1": {"label": "Compressor Current", "probe": "current_clamp", "probe_ratio": "10A/V", "volts_div": "2V"},
    "timebase": "200ms",
    "trigger": {"source": "ch1", "mode": "single", "edge": "rising", "level": "5A"}
  },
  "measurements": [
    {"id": "inrush_peak", "type": "peak_max", "window_ms": [0, 500], "unit": "A", "label": "Locked Rotor Amps"},
    {"id": "running_rms", "type": "rms", "window_ms": [2000, 8000], "unit": "A", "label": "Running Load Amps"}
  ],
  "pass_fail": [
    {"measurement": "lra_ratio", "max": 6.0, "fail_message": "LRA/RLA ratio too high — possible mechanical binding"}
  ],
  "instructions": [
    {"step": 1, "text": "Clamp current probe around compressor COMMON wire"},
    {"step": 2, "text": "Ensure compressor is OFF and thermostat is calling"},
    {"step": 3, "text": "Press RUN, then enable compressor contactor"}
  ],
  "knowledge_base": {
    "normal": "Scroll compressors: LRA 4-5x RLA, start time < 200ms.",
    "high_lra": "Excessive LRA suggests mechanical binding or low voltage."
  }
}

Why This Architecture Wins

  1. One firmware, infinite modules — no recompilation to add a test
  2. Community contributed — an HVAC tech writes a module, shares it
  3. Trade-specific language — "Locked Rotor Amps" not "Peak Current"
  4. Guided procedures — step-by-step with images, like having a mentor
  5. Pass/fail — green/red against industry standards
  6. Reference waveforms — "this is what good looks like"

Automotive

Test How it works Why it matters
CAN bus waveform analysis Signal quality, termination, dominant/recessive levels Easy first step into auto diagnostics
OBD-II PID decode Translate CAN PIDs to human-readable (RPM, temp, speed) Universal vehicle data
Relative compression test Current clamp starter analysis, cylinder bar graph Normally a $500+ tool
Injector analysis Pulse width, duty cycle, timing diagram Common diagnostic procedure
Ignition waveform Primary/secondary analysis, burn time Classic scope diagnostic
Guided diagnostic tests JSON procedure files with auto-setup and pass/fail PicoScope-style workflow

HVAC / Refrigeration

~400,000 US technicians. Currently buy Fieldpiece, Testo, and Fluke meters ($200-600).

Test How it works Why it matters
Compressor current analysis Current clamp, capture startup surge + running current Reveals bad valves, slugging, bearing wear
Capacitor tester Signal gen excites cap, scope measures response. ESR + leakage. HVAC capacitors fail constantly
ECM/X13 motor analysis Capture PWM from variable-speed blower motor Diagnose ECM motor speed issues
VFD output quality Scope the output of mini-split inverter Bad VFD = motor overheating
Flame rectification Measure uA DC from flame sensor 1-6uA = flame present, below 1uA = dirty sensor
Superheat/subcooling calc Thermocouple + pressure transducer The #1 refrigeration measurement

Solar / Renewable Energy

Test How it works Why it matters
Inverter output THD FFT analysis of grid-tie inverter AC output High THD = grid code violation
MPPT efficiency CH1 = panel voltage, CH2 = current clamp. Graph power. Verify MPPT is finding max power
I-V curve tracer Variable electronic load + V/I measurement at each point Detect cell degradation. Worth $1000+ dedicated.
Battery charge profiling Long-term log of voltage and current over charge cycle Detect bad cells, charger malfunction

Audio / Music

Test How it works Why it matters
Frequency response (Bode plot) Signal gen sweeps audio band, scope measures output See exact frequency response curve
Speaker impedance curve Sweep frequency, measure impedance at each point Find Fs, Qts, Thiele-Small parameters
THD+N measurement Pure sine through device under test, measure distortion Standard audio quality metric
Tube amp bias meter Measure cathode/plate current of each output tube Under/over-biased tubes sound bad and die early
Pickup winding analyzer Signal gen excites guitar pickup, scope measures response Characterize resonant frequency, Q factor

Ham Radio

The 50MHz bandwidth covers all of HF (160m through 10m) and the 6m band — where most homebrew and antenna work happens.

Feature Description Complexity
Antenna analyzer SWR sweep with resistive bridge ($2 in parts) Medium
SWR plot Graph SWR vs frequency to find resonant point Medium
Smith chart display Plot impedance (R + jX vs frequency) Medium-Hard
Harmonic analysis (FFT) Check for harmonics violating FCC regs Medium
Two-tone IMD test Two audio tones into SSB transmitter, view IMD Medium
Crystal characterization Exact frequency, motional parameters, Q factor Medium-Hard
Filter alignment (Bode plot) Sweep through bandpass filter, see response in real-time Medium

Why hams would love this: NanoVNA ($50-100), antenna analyzer ($200+), spectrum analyzer ($300+) — if a $70 scope does all three, that's compelling. Open-source aligns perfectly with ham radio's DIY culture.

3D Printing / CNC / Maker

Test How it works Why it matters
Stepper current analysis Current clamp on phase wire Diagnose skipped steps, resonance
TMC driver UART decode Decode traffic to Trinamic drivers Verify driver configuration
Input shaper resonance Accelerometer tap test Find resonant frequencies for Klipper
Servo/ESC tester PWM at 50Hz, adjustable 1-2ms pulse Test servos without Arduino

Marine Electronics

Test How it works Why it matters
NMEA 0183 decode UART decode of RS-422 (4800/38400 baud) Standard marine GPS/depth/wind protocol
NMEA 2000 decode CAN bus with marine PGN lookup tables Modern marine network
Stray current detection AC/DC voltage between hull and water ground Stray current destroys props and shafts

Electric Vehicle

Test How it works Why it matters
J1772 pilot signal Decode 1kHz PWM on EV charging plug Diagnose charging failures
CCS/CHAdeMO CAN decode CAN bus of DC fast charge communication Debug fast charging negotiation
BMS CAN decode Individual cell voltages, temperatures, SOC Battery health monitoring

Industrial Maintenance

Test How it works Why it matters
Motor current signature analysis FFT of motor current reveals mechanical problems Bearing wear, rotor bars, air gap — without stopping motor. Dedicated MCSA tools cost $2,000-10,000.
4-20mA loop test Signal gen sources 4-20mA current Verify pressure/temperature/level transmitters
VFD diagnostics 3-phase output waveform, carrier frequency Check voltage imbalance, switching noise
Power quality Mains voltage FFT, calculate THD LED drivers and VFDs inject harmonics

Small Engine / Outdoor Power

~100,000+ US repair shops. Most work with just a multimeter.

Test How it works Why it matters
Ignition coil output Primary coil waveform during cranking No-spark, weak spark, intermittent misfire
Charging system (stator) AC output from magneto/alternator stator Missing phases = shorted windings
Kill switch / safety interlock Verify kill circuit opens/closes cleanly Blade-brake-clutch, seat switch fail constantly
Governor hunting Log RPM from ignition pulse frequency over time Diagnose governor surge/hunt

Motorcycle / Powersports

Test How it works Why it matters
Stator AC output Scope all 3 phases #1 charging failure on motorcycles
CDI ignition timing Trigger coil + CDI output simultaneously CDI boxes fail silently
TPS sweep Monitor TPS voltage through full throttle range Dead spots cause hesitation

Appliance Repair / White Goods

~150,000 US techs. Industry shifting to inverter-driven, electronically-controlled appliances that need scope-level diagnostics.

Test How it works Why it matters
Inverter motor diagnostics Current clamp on motor phases Samsung/LG front-loaders use inverter motors
Control board relay outputs Scope relay driver signals Determine if board or load is bad
Door lock motor current Capture lock actuator current waveform Partial failures visible only on scope

Generator / Backup Power

Test How it works Why it matters
Output voltage quality Scope AC output, measure THD via FFT High THD damages sensitive electronics
Frequency stability Track output frequency under varying load Governors that hunt show up immediately
Transfer switch timing Scope utility and generator feeds simultaneously Measure blackout window during transfer

Welding

Test How it works Why it matters
Arc voltage/current waveform Capture welding arc (with isolation) Reveals arc stability, spatter tendency
Pulse waveform verification Scope pulse MIG/TIG output Verify pulse parameters match programmed settings

Education

Feature How it works
Physics lab mode Guided experiments: sound waves, pendulum timing, RC transients
Component identifier Probe unknown component, auto-identify type and value
Waveform math tutorial Interactive Fourier synthesis demonstration
Circuit simulator companion Match real measurements with textbook predictions

Target Audiences by Market Size

Industry US Workforce Current Tool Cost Our Advantage
Automotive ~750,000 $200-2,000 scopes PicoScope features at 1/10 the price
HVAC/R ~400,000 $200-600 meters Scope + motor analysis on a meter budget
Ham radio ~750,000 licensees $50-300 analyzers Antenna + harmonic + receiver in one
Industrial ~500,000 maintenance techs $2,000-10,000 MCSA tools Motor analysis at 1/100 the price
Solar ~250,000 (growing) $300-1,000 analyzers I-V curve + inverter analysis
Appliance repair ~150,000 $200-400 meters Inverter motor + control board diagnostics
Small engine ~100,000 shops + millions DIY $100-300 ignition testers Coil + stator + governor in one tool
Audio ~100,000 pro + millions hobbyist $200-500 audio analyzers Bode plot + THD + speaker impedance
Education Millions of students $200-500 lab scopes Guided labs + component ID