Sampling refers to the process of converting a part of an input signal into various discrete electrical values for purposes of storage, processing and/or display. The extent of every sampled point is similar to the input signal’s amplitude at the exact time the signal is sampled. Sampling is just like taking snapshots. A single snapshot […]
Oscilloscope Descriptions
The oscilloscope’s acquisition modes
The acquisition modes of an oscilloscope control how waveform points are generated from sample points, which refer to the digital values taken directly from the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The difference in time between the sample points is known as the sample interval. The stored digital values in the oscilloscope’s memory, waveform points are displayed to […]
Oscilloscope Measurement Techniques
There are various ways of taking measurements using the oscilloscope. One of the most basic oscilloscope measurement techniques is voltage measurement. Voltage refers to the sum of electrical potential found between two points within a circuit. One of these two points is usually ground (zero volts). It can be measured from peak-to-peak, starting from the […]
How to operate the oscilloscope
To operate an oscilloscope the user must learn how to ground the oscilloscope and set its controls. The user must also learn how to calibrate the oscilloscope as well as connect and compensate its probes. To ground the oscilloscope means connecting it to an electrically neutral reference point. This can be achieved by connecting the […]
Important specifications of oscilloscope probe
Since oscilloscope probe is a vital addition to an oscilloscope, knowing its basic specifications are necessary to ensure that it will meet the requirements of the intended application. One of the most important specifications is accuracy, which is the probe’s attenuation of the signal such as that of a 10X probe. Relying on the accuracy […]
Types of oscilloscope probes
As a fault finding tool for electronics repair, oscilloscope permits users to view the waveforms on the different parts of a circuit. To achieve this, an oscilloscope probe is needed to connect the oscilloscope to the required points. There are two basic types of oscilloscope probes — the active probes and the passive probes. Aside […]
Important oscilloscope specification
When purchasing an oscilloscope, a buyer has to consider various oscilloscope specifications in order to meet his needs for a particular requirement. One significant oscilloscope specification is related to the waveform’s speed and determined by the oscilloscope’s bandwidth. It was discovered that the ability of the oscilloscope to display the waveforms accurately declines with the […]
Types of waves in an oscilloscope
An oscilloscope displays several types of waves, which can be classified into sine waves, square and rectangular waves, step and pulse shapes, sawtooth and triangle waves, synchronous and asynchronous signals, periodic and non-periodic signals, and complex waves. The basic wave shape, sine wave features harmonious mathematical properties similar to the sine shape studied in trigonometry […]
Oscilloscope’s horizontal-axis measurement fundamentals
Horizontal-axis measurements of an oscilloscope consist of analyzing the applied signal’s horizontal time axis and include measurements such as Rise Time, Frequency and Period. Although the result is usually expressed in time, it can also be in radians, ratio or in Hertz. The resolution of the horizontal-axis is restricted by the onboard clock’s sample rate, […]
The trigger function of an oscilloscope
An oscilloscope’s trigger function is important to achieve clear signal characterization, as it synchronizes the horizontal sweep of the oscilloscope to the proper point of the signal. The trigger control enables users to stabilize repetitive waveforms as well as capture single-shot waveforms. By repeatedly displaying similar portion of the input signal, the trigger makes repetitive […]