A ‘Digital Oscilloscope‘ is an electronic test equipment which is used to measure and compare a signal graph with respect to time. 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 analysing the condition and performance of the circuit/equipment.
Wait. 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, 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. What more you want??
Functions of Digital oscilloscope.
An oscilloscope can be utilised for finding :
- Signal-frequency
- Signal-amplitude ( for both DC and AC voltages)
- Phase-difference between 02 signals
- Wave-form analytics such as :-
- Pulse-width
- Pulse’s Fall-time
- Pulse’s Over-rising
- Pulse’s rise-time
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 may be divided in six fundamentals groupings:
1. Vertical-group –
It manages perpendicular placement of various traces. It can also control the choice of traces to be displayed and 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. It is used to align a repetitive signal in horizontal position.
4. Acquire group–
It manages the process by which a sample is to be acquired. It consists of a ‘Autoset’ pushbutton, which on the basis of its preset settings, does the automatic selection of other settings so that the best available wave-form can be displayed. 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. It 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, it is used for basic selection and is located at the right-side & bottom-side of the display.
