Digital Discovery

The Digilent Digital Discovery is a high-speed digital logic analyzer and pattern generator optimized for debugging fast digital interfaces, FPGA I/O, and high-speed serial buses. It provides 24 high-speed logic inputs (DIN0-23) plus 16 digital I/O lines (DIO24-39) for 40 digital channels in total. With 800 MS/s sampling on up to 8 channels (or 200 MS/s on all 24 inputs), it captures timing detail on signals that lower-cost analyzers miss — critical for debugging SPI at 50+ MHz, QSPI flash interfaces, and parallel bus timing margins. Part of Digilent’s Discovery family of USB multi-instruments, it uses the same WaveForms software platform that runs across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Logic Analyzer and Pattern Generator Features

Feature	Specification
Logic Analyzer Channels	24 high-speed inputs (DIN0-23) + 16 DIO (DIO24-39), 40 total
Max Sample Rate	800 MS/s (up to 8 ch) / 200 MS/s (all 24 inputs)
Buffer Depth	256 Mbit
Pattern Generator	16 channels, up to 100 MS/s
I/O Voltage	Selectable 1.2V to 3.3V
Protocol Decode	SPI, I2C, UART, custom
Triggers	Edge, pulse width, protocol, custom
Scripting	WaveForms SDK (JavaScript, Python)
Cross-Platform	Windows, macOS, Linux

The integrated 16-channel pattern generator at 100 MS/s provides stimulus for testing digital inputs, simulating bus traffic, and exercising state machines without additional equipment. Selectable I/O voltage from 1.2V to 3.3V accommodates modern low-voltage digital logic directly, while WaveForms delivers protocol decoding, timing measurements, custom trigger conditions, and scripting automation.

Watch the Digital Discovery introduction

Digilent’s instruments are designed to turn a computer into a multi-instrument circuit analysis tool without the physical constraints of a traditional lab — the Digital Discovery fills the gap between general-purpose logic analyzers and expensive dedicated protocol exercisers for FPGA verification, digital interface bring-up, and production test fixture development. The combination of high-speed capture and pattern generation in a single instrument is particularly valuable for FPGA engineers who need to both observe bus behavior and stimulate interfaces during verification, eliminating the need for a separate logic analyzer and pattern generator on the bench. GSAS Micro Systems provides the Digital Discovery as part of the Digilent Discovery ecosystem, with guidance on selecting between the Analog Discovery 3 (mixed-signal) and Digital Discovery (high-speed digital) for each team’s specific application requirements.