A Digital Oscilloscope is must have test equipment if you want to analyze an electrical signal. No Electrical/Electronic Lab is complete without it. It can help you analyze and detect various anomalies in an electrical signal. In this post we will discuss what is a Digital Oscilloscope, What are its functions (and uses) and various sections of a Digital Oscilloscope.

What is Digital Oscilloscope

A ‘Digital Oscilloscope‘  is an electronic test equipment which is used to measure and compare a signal graph with respect to time. Further, it is one of the commonly used as well as  Multipurpose Test Equipment to test even latest of Electronic-circuits. This test equipment provides graphical representation and analytical information about the signal amplitude (Voltage/Current/Power etc.) as time’s function. This is very useful in analyzing the condition and performance of the circuit/equipment.

Its functions does not end here only. You can use this test equipment for measuring many other things too. It may also be used to measure clock-frequency, duty-cycle of a pulse width modulated signal, the propagation-delay, and signal’s rise/fall time etc. In addition, this test equipment can even carry out the task of alerting yourself whenever a glitch is observed in your logical and bouncy switches.

Uses of Digital Oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is used for finding :

1. Signal-frequency
2. Signal-amplitude (both DC and AC voltages)
3. Phase-difference between 02 signals
4. Wave-form analytics such as :-

• • Pulse-width
  • Pulse’s Fall-time
  • Pulse’s Over-rising
  • Pulse’s rise-time

Various Sections of Digital Oscilloscope

Here, we are taking Digital Oscilloscope model Tektronix TDS3034B as example for our convenience. This Tektronix oscilloscope contains four I/P channels. Its various controls are in six fundamentals groupings:

1.  Vertical Group – Digital Oscilloscope

It manages perpendicular placement of various traces. Furthermore, it can also control the choice of traces to display its scales.

2.  Horizontal Group

It manages the time-scale and its spot on the display scale.

3.  Trigger Group

As the name suggests, it manages the trigger. Useful in alignment in a repetitive signal in horizontal position.

4.  Acquire Group – Digital Oscilloscope

This section helps in managing the process of acquiring a sample for analysis. Also, It consists of a ‘Auto set’ push button that functions on the basis of its preset settings. This button also helps in automatic selection of other settings to display best available wave-form. If you ask me, I will say that it is the most handy button of the entire equipment.

5.  Miscellaneous Group

In this grouping, there is a bunch of unmarked buttons which is located at topmost part of Control-panel. These unmarked buttons manages some controls that have very sophisticated functions and does not have to do anything with the waveform display.

6.  Basic-Selector-Button

As the name indicates, this section provides basic selection and is available at the right-side & bottom-side of the display.

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