The Oscilloscope Watch
The Oscilloscope Watch has all the features of a modern watch (time, calendar, alarm, etc…) combined with all the features of the popular Xprotolab (Oscilloscope, Waveform Generator, Logic Analyzer, Protocol Sniffer, Frequency Counter). The Xprotolab has been featured in several other online magazines, such as Hack a Day. and Elektor.
Here are some pictures from the first prototype:
The Oscilloscope Watch is unique
Hackable
With access to the hardware design, users can write their own applications. The brain of the device is a powerful 8-bit XMEGA microcontroller, easy to program in C or assembly.
Battery Life
Special attention has been given to extend the battery life of the device. When the Oscilloscope is not used, the analog section is turned off, so the estimated battery life will be over 30 days on each charge.
When using the oscilloscope, the battery will last about 12 hours.
These are initial estimates, and could be different if the battery capacity is changed to reduce the size of the watch.
Enclosure
The enclosure will be made out of plastic. Although the current prototype looks kind of big, it is not much bigger than a regular sports watch, but reduction of the size will be one of the goals of the project.
Probes
The probes is one challenging aspect of the design. The oscilloscope can’t be truly wearable/portable if not accompanied by the probes.There are a few solutions for this problem:
1) Carry small probes in a keychain.
2) Make a wristband made out of the probe cables.
3) Use the probes as the watch straps.
The keychain is the most feasible option, I’m thinking of maybe a small case, or perhaps a retractable cable, similar to those used with tiny USB mouses. Options 2 and 3 could also be considered if backers are interested.
A special BNC adapter will also be designed that will plug in the 9 pin header, this will allow to use standard probes.
Display
The original Xprotolab uses an OLED display, which has nice features like high contrast, and fast refresh rates. But if battery life is critical, then OLED is not the best choice. The Oscilloscope Watch will use a 1.28″ e-paper display which combines fast refresh rate and great contrast, with a very low power consumption.
For more detail: The amazing Oscilloscope Watch
About The Author
Ibrar Ayyub
I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.
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