Mixed-domain oscilloscopes and mixed-signal oscilloscopes differ significantly in how they display waveforms. Both are useful because they permit users to simultaneously view different electrical aspects of equipment under investigation. The MDO displays a single signal simultaneously in the time and frequency domains, demonstrating how they change together. The MSO displays two different signals in the […]
FAQ
Working with optical fiber
Optical fiber is actually a waveguide for light and operates in accordance with a principle known as total internal reflection. In contrast to electrical conduction, there is low loss and signals can be conveyed over considerable distances without amplification. Total internal reflection happens when a propagated wave strikes the boundary between two dissimilar materials, provided […]
Understanding and debugging antenna designs
Any conductive body functions intentionally or otherwise as an antenna in the presence of an oscillating electromagnetic field. This radiation excites free electrons in the conductor, and if a load is connected, a small but measurable current will flow in that load. By the same token, if oscillating voltage is applied to a conductor, it […]
Understanding oscilloscope bandwidth enhancement techniques
Data communication rates have soared in recent years and there is every reason to believe that this trend will accelerate. Information speeds that were less than 1 Gb/sec have surpassed 10 Gb/sec. Optical communication is greater than 100 Gb/sec, with 1 Tb/sec down the road. RF wireless communications is in the mid-gigahertz range, and RF […]
Mask and limit testing on oscilloscopes
Mask testing is used in production facilities for screening and quality control of components and electronic equipment and also for debugging and troubleshooting. It is quick and efficient and lets users identify harmful anomalous behavior that arises in one or a billion waveforms. It involves setting limits of acceptability on signals at the outputs of […]
Basics of active and differential scope probes
By far the most used oscilloscope probes are the passive 10:1 attenuation probe. It is appropriate when the frequency of the signal under investigation is less than 600 MHz. Impedance matching from the probe tip to channel input port is critical. A mismatch gives rise to reflections, collisions and loss of data. At dc to […]
LXI or LAN extensions basics for instrumentation and SCPI
Keysight Technologies conceived of LAN Extensions for Instrumentation (LXI) in 2005 as a way to enable test and measurement interfaces using web servers in conjunction with Ethernet. LXI is used extensively in connecting computers and electronic test equipment, particularly oscilloscopes. Local Area Network (LAN)-enabled instruments can connect to a computer, using as a medium the […]
Working with the PicoScope PC-based oscilloscope
A PC-based oscilloscope, or USB oscilloscope as it is also known, has a lot going for it. For one thing, it costs substantially less than a bench model with equivalent specifications, given that most users already own the major component. The PC or Mac provides the processing and display parts of the equation. (The computer, […]
Working with waveforms in mixed-domain oscilloscopes
Waveform generators generally contain a library of common waveforms, which can be individually accessed and displayed by running a BNC cable to an active analog channel input in an oscilloscope. Most oscilloscopes have, available as an option, an internal arbitrary function generator (AFG), which permits the user to create an endless variety of waveforms and […]
Digital phosphor oscilloscopes, persistence, and eye patterns
The digital phosphor oscilloscope takes its name from the old analog phosphor scope, but the resemblance is superficial. It was difficult to see the trace on the CRT screen in an analog scope because the electron beam dissipated instantly. To solve this problem, early engineers came up with the idea of coating the inner surface […]