BodePlotter

Frequency Response (Bode Plot)

For installer downloads and source code, please visit our GitHub Pages site:
BodePlotter
You can also browse the latest releases on GitHub:
Releases

Table of Contents

  1. Features
  2. Example RC Band Pass Filter Circuit
  3. Screen shots of bodeplots
  4. Software Usage
  5. Command Line Options
  6. Recommended Display
  7. Oscilloscope Setup
  8. Install on Windows 11
  9. Install USB Driver for Windows 11
  10. Install the .deb Package on Mint Linux (22.1)
  11. Remove the .deb Package on Mint Linux (22.1)
  12. Build the .deb Package
  13. Windows Build Process
  14. Issues

Features

  1. Python Application with Briefcase:
    • Generate Bode-Plots.
    • Accumulate Peak FFT values.
    • Display oscilloscope.
    • Display X-Y mode or Lissajous patterns.
    • Current implementation uses the OWON HDS320S.
  2. OWON HDS320S Oscilloscope + Multi-Meter + Waveform Generator:
    • Bandwidth: 200 MHz, Sample Rate: 1 GS/s.
    • Sine Wave Generator: 0.1 Hz to 30 MHz.
    • Outputs 300 samples from the screen for both channels via SCPI.
  3. Additional Information:

Example RC Band Pass Filter Circuit

Lower Cutoff Frequency (f1)

f1 = 1 / (2 * π * R1 * C1)

Given:
R1 = 1.46 [kΩ] = 1460 [Ω]
C1 = 105.89 [nF] = 105.89 × 10^-9 [F]

f1 = 1 / (2 * π * 1460 * 105.89 × 10^-9) ≈ 1029.5 [Hz]

Upper Cutoff Frequency (f2)

f2 = 1 / (2 * π * R2 * C2)

Given:
R2 = 2.93 [kΩ] = 2930 [Ω]
C2 = 1.02 [nF] = 1.02 × 10^-9 [F]

f2 = 1 / (2 * π * 2930 * 1.02 × 10^-9) ≈ 53.254 [kHz]

TINA-TIV9 Simulation of the Circuit

The circuit was simulated using TINA-TIV9 software. Below is the visual representation of the circuit setup:

TINA-TIV9 Circuit Simulation

TINA-TIV9 Simulation Results

The simulation provided the following results, showcasing the circuit’s behavior:

TINA-TIV9 Simulation Results

Bode Plots Using OWON HDS320S

The Bode plots were generated using the OWON HDS320S oscilloscope in conjunction with the Bode-Plots Python application:

Bode Plots with OWON HDS320S

Screen shots of bodeplots

HDS320S Magnitude/Phase Bode Plotter window before Measurements or playback

HDS320S Magnitude/Phase Bode Plotter window Playback Dark Theme

HDS320S Magnitude/Phase Bode Plotter window Playback Light Theme

Watch the HDS320S Magnitude/Phase Bode Plotter window and MatPlotLib windows Video

Software Usage

  1. Launch the software via the command line (bodeplots) or from the menu.
  2. Verify oscilloscope settings and input desired parameters.
  3. Click Search and Setup Oscilloscope to initialize.
  4. Click Start Measurements (takes ~10 minutes).
  5. After completion, load the JSON log file for playback and analysis.

Command Line Options

usage: bodeplots [-h] [--plot-type {XY,MP,FFT,BODEPLOTTER}] 
                      [--start-decade START_DECADE] 
                      [--stop-decade STOP_DECADE] 
                      [--points-per-decade POINTS_PER_DECADE] 
                      [--base-port BASE_PORT]

BodePlots Application

options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  --plot-type {XY,MP,FFT,BODEPLOTTER}
                        Select the type of plot to display. Options: XY, MP, FFT, or BODEPLOTTER.
  --start-decade START_DECADE
                        Specify the starting decade for data processing.
  --stop-decade STOP_DECADE
                        Specify the ending decade for data processing.
  --points-per-decade POINTS_PER_DECADE
                        Specify the number of points per decade for the plot.
  --base-port BASE_PORT
                        Specify the first IP port for communication; subsequent ports (+1, +2) will be used automatically.
  1. 4K Display (4096x2160) preferred; minimum 1600x1200 resolution.
  2. VirtualBox with Mint Linux 22.1 works well.

Oscilloscope Setup

  1. Connect the oscilloscope to your PC using a USB cable (preferably with Ferrite Rings to reduce noise).
  2. Set HDS320S to default:
    • Press System → F3 (Default Setting) → Confirm.
  3. Connect probes:
    • CH1 (yellow lead) to circuit input.
    • CH2 (blue lead) to circuit output.
    • Gen Out to input ground.

Install on Windows 11

  1. Download Bode-Plots-0.0.2.msi and double-click it in File Explorer.
  2. Follow the installation prompts: Next → Next → Finish.
  3. Open “Bode” from the Windows Start menu.
  4. Adjust vertical height as needed.
  5. Install USB Driver for Windows 11 using Zadig.

Install USB Driver for Windows 11

  1. Download and Install Zadig
    Download zadig-2.9.exe to install the drivers for the OWON HDS320S.

  2. Allow Device Changes
    When prompted, allow Zadig to change Windows 11 device settings by clicking the Yes button.
    Allow Zadig to change Windows 11 device settings

  3. Allow Updates
    When prompted, allow Zadig to check for updates by clicking the Yes button.
    Allow Zadig to check for updates

  4. Detect USB Device
    Ensure your HDS320S is plugged in and powered on. Zadig should detect the USB device otherwise select from list.
    Zadig detects USB device

  5. Detect USB Device
    Correctly selected USB device will have USB ID 5345 1234.
    Zadig detects USB device

  6. Select the Correct Driver
    In the driver details, rename the device to OWON HDS320S. Then, use the drop-down arrow to select libusb-win32 (v1.4.0.0).
    Select libusb-win32 driver

  7. Install the Driver
    Click the Install Driver button and wait for the installation to complete.
    Install Driver

  8. Successful Installation
    Zadig should report that the driver was installed successfully.
    Driver installed successfully

Install the .deb Package on Mint Linux (22.1)

  1. Download: bodeplots_0.0.2-1~linuxmint-xia_amd64.deb.
  2. Open a terminal and run: 
    sudo apt install ./bodeplots_0.0.2-1~linuxmint-xia_amd64.deb

Remove the .deb Package on Mint Linux (22.1)

  1. Open a terminal and run: 
    sudo apt purge bodeplots

Build the .deb Package

  1. Use Live Mint (22.1) via VirtualBox or a local installation.
  2. Download: bodeplots-source-code.tgz.
  3. Follow these steps: 
    mkdir BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
mv ~/Downloads/bodeplots-source-code.tgz BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
cd BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
apt update
sudo apt install python3-virtualenv git
virtualenv bodeplotter -p python
source bodeplotter/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install briefcase numpy dearpygui matplotlib pyusb scipy screeninfo PyQt5
tar zpxvf bodeplots-source-code.tgz
cd bodeplots
rm -rf build/bodeplots
briefcase create
briefcase update -r
briefcase build
briefcase package

    Package file location: dist/bodeplots_0.0.2-1~linuxmint-xia_amd64.deb.

Windows Build Process

Environment Setup for Windows 11

  1. Install Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable:
  2. Install Git:
  3. Install Python and dependencies via PowerShell: 
    mkdir C:\BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
cd C:\BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
python # or https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-3132/
# https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.13.2/python-3.13.2-amd64.exe
python -m venv bodeplotter
.\bodeplotter\Scripts\activate
python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip
pip install briefcase numpy dearpygui matplotlib pyusb scipy screeninfo PyQt5
  4. Extract source code and build: bodeplots-source-code.tgz 
    cd C:\BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
.\bodeplotter\Scripts\activate
cd .\bodeplots
briefcase create windows app
briefcase update -r
briefcase update
briefcase build -v
briefcase run -u
briefcase package windows
  5. Packaged MSI: dist\Bode-Plots-0.0.2.msi.

Issues

  1. PhaseDiffProcessor Sign Issues
    The PhaseDiffProcessor may exhibit sign inconsistencies due to timing mismatches between channels.
    • Uses a weighted moving average with sign locking.
    • initial_evaluation_count is set to 5 and threshold is set to 15 (± degrees).
    • A forced sign adjustment is applied to the first 5 phase samples.

  2. DearPyGui Maximize Button
    The maximize button in DearPyGui does not function correctly due to fixed window size constraints.

  3. Matplotlib Performance on Windows 11
    On Windows 11, Matplotlib may struggle to keep pace at higher playback speeds.
    • If Matplotlib is selected, starting measurements or playing may take more than 15 seconds for additional windows load. You may want to click the Pause button until the windows are loaded after seeing the first data points.
    • Matplotlib windows support was added in version 0.0.2.
    • Matplotlib windows are not closed automatically before DearPyGui exits, leaving log and temporary files in the user’s TEMP directory.
    • Command Prompt: 
      explorer %TEMP%
    • PowerShell: 
      explorer $env:TEMP
    • A bug with briefcase.exe logging can cause Matplotlib to fail due to I/O handling issues. This happens because the Briefcase logging wrapper does not support handling multiple instances, and using Matplotlib within threads can make DearPyGui unstable.
    • Workaround:
      Using the console_app flag in pyproject.toml to open a blank console appears to disable logging, mitigating these issues. The advantage of the console is you can do ctrl+c to close all Bode-Plots windows. Recommend Stop first for active measurements or Play back. If you would like to hid the console recommend making a bode-plots.vbs. If issues running with Invalid character use Notepad++, go to Encoding -> Convert to ANSI and then save the file. 
      Set WshSell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshSell.Run "cmd /c bodeplots.exe", 0, True
Set WshSell = Nothing

      Without the console_app flag to get Matplotlib windows to open. (Allow spawned instances or more than on cocurrent instance.)

      cd C:\BodePlotter-ScopeFFT
.\bodeplotter\Scripts\activate
briefcase.exe -v
cd "$HOME\AppData\Local\Programs\Bode Plotter\Bode-Plots"
.\Bode-Plots.exe
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