Unit 6 – The Oscilloscope

Measurements and Instrumentation (I3622CI)

Course Coordinator: Dr. Frans S. Shafuda

Reference Material: Measurement and Instrumentation (Alan Morris and Reza Langari)
Oscilloscope

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Introduction

❖ Definition
• Oscilloscopes are versatile instruments used for signal measurement, capable of
displaying electrical signal variations.

• Types of Oscilloscopes:
1. Analog Oscilloscopes (Low-cost, used in education) – becoming obsolete.

2. Digital Oscilloscopes (Commonly used in professional settings)

➢Digital storage oscilloscopes
➢Digital phosphor oscilloscopes
➢Digital sampling oscilloscopes

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Introduction

❖ Basic Function of an Oscilloscope

• Graphical Representation of Signals:

➢ Y-axis (vertical): Voltage of the measured signal.

➢ X-axis (horizontal): Time.

• Output Display:
• Displays the variation in the magnitude of the voltage over time, providing a visual
representation of signal behavior.

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Introduction

❖ Measurement Capabilities
• Range of Signals:
Able to measure both AC and DC voltage signals, useful in various applications,
particularly in fault finding and circuit testing.

• Additional Measurements:
➢ Frequency
➢ Phase of the signal
➢ Noise in the signal

• Example:
An oscilloscope can be used to check for interference in an AC signal in a circuit to
detect the presence of unwanted noise.
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Introduction

❖ Performance Range of Oscilloscopes

• High-End Models:
Measure frequencies up to 25 GHz, often used in high-frequency applications.

• Lower-End Models:
Measure signals up to 10 MHz, typically sufficient for basic test equipment.

• Key Feature:
High Input Impedance (1 MΩ): Prevents loading effects in most measurements,
ensuring accuracy without affecting the circuit being measured.

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Introduction

❖ Performance Range of Oscilloscopes

• High-End Models:
Measure frequencies up to 25 GHz, often used in high-frequency applications.

• Lower-End Models:
Measure signals up to 10 MHz, typically sufficient for basic test equipment.

• Key Feature:
High Input Impedance (1 MΩ): Prevents loading effects in most measurements,
ensuring accuracy without affecting the circuit being measured.

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Introduction

❖ Use as a Test Instrument

• Testing Unknown Signals:
Oscilloscopes are particularly useful when signal frequency and magnitude are
unknown, allowing for real-time visualization of voltage changes.

• Example:
In a diagnostic setting, an oscilloscope might be used to track the output of a power
supply unit to ensure voltage stability under different loads.

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Introduction

❖ Accuracy and Inaccuracy of Oscilloscopes

• Time Base and Protection:
Rotary switches adjust the time base of the oscilloscope easily, and protection
circuitry prevents damage from high voltages applied in the wrong range.
• Accuracy Range:
Best Instruments: ±1% of the reading.
Lower-Cost Instruments: Inaccuracy can be up to ±5%.
• Application:
Most useful where approximate measurements are sufficient, not in high-precision
tasks.

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Introduction
❖ Key Specifications: Bandwidth
• Definition of Bandwidth:
Bandwidth refers to the range of
frequencies over which the oscilloscope
amplifier gain is within 3 dB of its peak
value.
➢ -3 dB Point: Gain is 0.707 times its
maximum value at this point, as shown in
the graph.
• Amplifier Coupling:
The oscilloscope's amplifier is usually direct-coupled, meaning it amplifies both DC and
low-frequency AC signals equally.
• Bandwidth Usage:
Oscilloscopes are typically used to measure frequencies well within their bandwidth
limit for better accuracy.
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Analogue Oscilloscopes
❖Introduction to Cathode Ray Oscilloscopes (CRO):
• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT):
The fundamental component of an analogue oscilloscope is the cathode ray tube,
which gives it the name "Cathode Ray Oscilloscope."
Transition to Digital Oscilloscopes:
Today, digital oscilloscopes have largely replaced analogue models in professional use.
However, inexpensive analogue models are still common in educational settings like
schools and universities due to their low cost.

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Analogue Oscilloscopes
❖Analogue Oscilloscope in our laboratory: ISO-TECH ISR 2102

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Analogue Oscilloscopes
❖Working Principle of Cathode Ray Tube
• Electrons Emission: The cathode in a CRT consists of a heated filament coated with
barium and strontium oxides. It emits a stream of electrons.
• Focusing of Electrons: The electrons are focused into a beam and directed onto a
fluorescent screen by an electrostatic focusing system consisting of metal discs and
cylinders at varying potentials.
• Controls:
Focus Control: Adjusts the focusing
mechanism, improving the sharpness of
the display.
Intensity Control: Varies the cathode
heater current, changing the brightness of
the displayed signal.
.
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Analogue Oscilloscopes
❖Working Principle of Cathode Ray Tube
• Electrons Emission: The cathode in a CRT consists of a heated filament coated with
barium and strontium oxides. It emits a stream of electrons.
• Focusing of Electrons: The electrons are focused into a beam and directed onto a
fluorescent screen by an electrostatic focusing system consisting of metal discs and
cylinders at varying potentials.
• Controls:
➢Focus Control: Adjusts the focusing
mechanism, improving the sharpness of
the display.
➢Intensity Control: Varies the cathode
heater current, changing the brightness
of the displayed signal.

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Analogue Oscilloscopes
❖Deflection Plates in Cathode Ray Tube
• Deflection System: Two sets of deflector plates are mounted inside the cathode ray
tube at right angles to each other. These plates control the movement of the electron
beam across the screen.
• Horizontal and Vertical Plates:
➢ Horizontal Plates: Control the X-axis (time).
➢ Vertical Plates: Control the Y-axis (voltage).
• Signal Magnitude Calculation:
The magnitude of a signal applied to the
deflector plates is determined by the
deflection of the electron beam on the screen,
measured against a graticule (a cross-wire
grid) etched on the screen.

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Digital Oscilloscopes
❖Digital Storage Oscilloscope
• Basic Form of Digital
Oscilloscopes:
Digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs)
are the most fundamental type of
digital oscilloscope, yet they are
capable of performing waveform
processing and storing measured
signals. More info:
• Permanent Storage: • Old ones still used CRT
DSOs can store data permanently, • Stored signal redisplayed by first
allowing signals to be recorded and performing DAC.
analyzed at a later time. This makes • Newer ones use digital display
them ideal for detailed waveform
analysis and troubleshooting
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Digital Oscilloscopes
❖Other Types
• Digital Phosphor Oscilloscope: Is an advanced tool designed for high-performance
signal analysis (random signals e.g. glitches, noise etc.)
• Digital Sampling Oscilloscope: Much Higher bandwidth but lower measurement
voltages (excels in capturing and reconstructing high-frequency signals).
• Personal Computer-Based Oscilloscope: No built-in display, uses PC instead.
❖Digital Oscilloscopes (In General)
• Have ADC, microprocessor, memory and other DSP elements.
• Have output ports: for interfacing to PC and other devices (using USB or RS-232
protocol etc)
• Perform further signal analysis:
➢Maximum, minimum, peak-to-peak, rms, frequency etc analysis

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Digital Oscilloscopes
❖Digital Storage Oscilloscope in Our Lab: ISO-TECH IDS 710

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Key Features
• Has at least one channel.
• Consists of a display and controls and connection terminals.
• Vertical controls: Used to adjust the vertical (Y-axis) display of the signal on the
oscilloscope screen.
• Horizontal Controls: Used to adjust the horizontal (X-axis) display of the signal on
the oscilloscope screen.
• Trigger Controls: Allows synchronization of a repetitive waveform display with a
specific point in time.
• Display Controls: Allows customizing the appearance of the signal waveform on the
screen to facilitate analysis and measurement.
• Input terminals: Interfaces to signal through probes.

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Some of Display Controls
• Power switch
• Focus: Sharpness and clarity of the waveform.
• Intensity: Brightness and contrast of display.
• Rotation: Adjust the horizontal alignment of the waveform
• Beam (finder)
• XY Mode: Lissajous patterns and phase analysis.
• Persistence/Trace Storage
• Grid and Graticule Adjustment
• Screen Capture
• Save/Recall Settings

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Horizontal Control
• Time per Division (Time/Div)
➢Horizontal scale or timebase,
➢Sets time represented by each horizontal division
• Horizontal position
➢Moves the waveform left or right.

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Vertical Control
• Volts Per Division (Volts/Div):Vertical scale or sensitivity - volts represented by each
vertical division.
• Vertical Position: Moves the waveform up or down.

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Trigger Controls
• Allows synchronization of a repetitive waveform display with a
specific point in time.
• Trigger Source: Selects the input channel or signal source that
triggers the oscilloscope.
• Trigger Level (Trigger Voltage): Sets the voltage threshold at
which the oscilloscope triggers the display of the waveform.
• Trigger Slope: Selects trigger signal’s rising edge or falling or
edge or both as a trigger edge
• Trigger Mode: Determines the trigger behavior, such as auto-
trigger or single-trigger modes.
• Some trigger controls like trigger slope, mode, source are
accessed by pressing the menu button to bring up the trigger
settings menu on the screen.
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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Trigger Controls
• Coupling: Selects signal coupling type to amplifier.
➢ AC coupling – allows only AC component of the signal to pass through.
➢ DC coupling – allows both DC and AC components to pass through.
• Coupling is also accessed through Trigger Menu

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Oscilloscope Probes
• Oscilloscope probes are essential for connecting the oscilloscope to the circuit under
test, ensuring accurate signal measurement.
• Probes come with adjustable attenuation settings, usually either x1 or x10, which
influence the voltage level being measured.

BNC Connector

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Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Oscilloscope Probes
• What is Attenuation?
➢Attenuation refers to reducing the amplitude of
the signal being fed into the oscilloscope.
➢The purpose of attenuation is to prevent high-
voltage signals from damaging the oscilloscope
or causing inaccurate readings.
• Attenuation Settings: x1 Setting:
• No attenuation (direct signal reading).
• Full signal amplitude is sent to the
oscilloscope.
• Used when measuring low-voltage signals
where no attenuation is needed.
• x10 Setting: 27
Oscilloscopes Features and Controls
❖Oscilloscope Probes
• Attenuation Settings:
• x1 Setting:
➢ No attenuation (direct signal reading).
➢Full signal amplitude is sent to the oscilloscope.
➢Used when measuring low-voltage signals where
no attenuation is needed.
• x10 Setting:
➢ Attenuates (reduces) the signal by a factor of 10.
➢ Allows the oscilloscope to measure higher-
voltage signals without overloading.
➢Example: If the signal is 10 V, only 1 V
is sent to the oscilloscope.
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 TO DO: FIND YOUTUBE TUTORIAL VIDEOS ON THE OPERATION OF A
DIGITAL OSCILLOSCOPE AVAILABLE IN OUR LABORATORY OR ANY OTHER
MODELS
Sample video to watch: https://youtu.be/CzY2abWCVTY

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