Oscilloscope : Functions & Basics

Electrical engineering and electronics has two classic instruments since the beginning of history of the two engineering sciences – oscilloscope and function generator. Oscilloscope is an electronic visualization instrument for graphic representation of the electrical signals which can vary over time. Oscilloscope presents the values ​​of the electrical signals in the form of coordinates in a screen, in which the X (horizontal) axis usually represents times and the Y (vertical) axis represents the variable – usually in the form of a voltage versus time graph. The image obtained is called an oscillogram. Oscilloscopes often classified according to their internal operation and can be analog and digital. Many advanced DIY works use oscilloscopes and it is practical to know basics about them. Users can study to note the amplitude, frequency, and overall shape of the signal. It demands a good experience to learn how to operate Oscilloscope’s full advantage. The main characteristic of a digital oscilloscope is the sampling rate.

Oscilloscope : Functions & Basics

At present, the analog oscilloscopes are being displaced to a large extent by the digital oscilloscopes. Digitals are able to transfer the output to a computer or LCD screen. In the digital oscilloscope the signal is digitized by an analogue digital converter. As usually, digital have additional capabilities, such as pre-triggering for the visualization of short duration events, or saving a oscillogram apart from transferring data to a PC. Most digital of the oscilloscopes today used are based on Field Programmable Gate Array control, which is the controller element of the device’s high-speed analog to digital converter and other internal circuitry, such as memory, buffers etc. All oscilloscopes has some common basic features. There is a screen to display the signal as trace. The screen usually has a graticule on it. Most basic use of the screen is to display the signals in a voltage versus time graph. There are two or more signal input ports or channels and one external trigger input. There are lot of controls related to the input signals. The amount of amplification which will be applied to the signal can be controlled with a knob. Of course there is control of time.

Oscilloscope DIY Kits

Exactly like thinking about DIY bench power supply from ATX, for DIY and hobbyist works there are kits available to have own oscilloscope at 10% price of costly unit. Most importantly, DIY oscilloscope has the possibility to upgrade with single board computers like Raspberry Pi within the housing.