Introduction to oscilloscopes

Triggering
10x probes
DC coupling vs AC coupling
X-Y mode
Triggering
Trigger source:
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ext/Ext 5
Line:
Trigger mode:
Normal: stops if cannot
detect trigger
Auto: keeps going even if
cannot detect trigger
Single: run/stop button
Trigger Slope:
Positive/negative: rising
or falling edge
0 2 4 6 8 10
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
Triggering
y = sin(t)+0.4cos(10t)
A
B
0 2 4 6 8 10
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
ch1
ext
The sync output of
function generator
provides a clean
square wave at the
same frequency as the
output
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
-40
-20
0
20
40
S
i
g
n
a
l
(
m
V
)
Time(mS)
(a)
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
0
1
2
3
4
S
i
g
n
a
l
(
m
V
)
Time(mS)
262,144 averages
initial slope
(b)
Importance of external trigger:
recovering signal from noise by averaging
Blue = a single trace
Red = 262144 averages
Coupling: DC vs AC
oscilloscope
oscilloscope
f
3db
= 1/2RC
DC coupled
AC coupled
Removes all DC information
To observe small AC on top of large DC
z
c
= 1/jC
Coupling: DC vs AC
DC coupled
AC coupled
-0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
Time(s )
v
o
l
t
a
g
e
(
V
)
-0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
Time(s )
v
o
l
t
a
g
e
(
V
)
10 Hz
80 Hz
Low frequency waveforms can be severely distorted by the high pass filter
V
ac
circuit oscilloscope
V
out
R
1
R
in
C
in
C
cable
30 pF/foot
V
ac
R
1
R
in
C
in
+ C
cable
Z
1
Z
2
Oscilloscope probes
For scope:
R
in
= 1 M
C
in
~ 20 pF
Z
1
and Z
2
are
frequency
dependent and
changes for
each circuit
= 0
V
ac
R
1
R
in
V
ac
R
1
C
in
+ C
cable
=
Example:
R
1
= 10k
C = 50 pF
f
3db
= 1/2RC
= 320 kHz
V
ac
R
1
R
in
C
in
+ C
cable
log(f)
dB
Oscilloscope impedance and stray capacitance can load the circuit
Low pass filter
The signal is distorted!
Advantages of 10x probe
1. Input impedance 10 times larger (reduce loading)
2. Frequency independent (almost, if tuned correctly)
Resistive part:
oscilloscope
9M
1M
C
stray
= C
cable
+ C
in
~50pF
For dc and low frequencies,
the 10x probe act as 10:1
divider.
Input resistance is 10x higher.
probe
V
ac
How to eliminate frequency dependence?
R
1
Add capacitor to probe
9M
1M
C
stray
~50pF
Consider the resistive and capacitive
parts separately
9M
1M
C
stray
~50pF
oscilloscope
probe
9M
1M
X
stray
9X
stray
X
stray
X
stray
+ 9X
stray
Both dividers are 1:10, independent of frequency
They give the same output voltage
1/j C
stray
1/j C
stray
+ 9/jC
stray
Remember
Quiz 1:
Both dividers give the same output voltage can join the output
9M
1M
X
stray
9X
stray
9M
1M
X
stray
9X
stray
C
stray
~50pF
C
probe
~ 50pF/9
= 5.6 pF
X
c
=1/jC
9M
1M
C
stray
~50pF
oscilloscope
probe
C
probe
~5.6pF
10x probe divides signal by
10. To display the actual
signal, we need to tell the
scope to multiply its
measurement by 10.
Tuning the probe
The oscilloscope provides a square wave output
on its front panel, labeled as probe adjust
A square wave can be Fourier decomposed into a
sum of many frequencies.
If the probe and scope attenuates all frequencies
by 10, we should get back a square wave.
Tune probe capacitance until the scope shows
a good square wave.
Display:
YT: displays Ch1 and/or Ch2 as a function of time
XY: displays Ch1 as a function of Ch 2
( )
( ) ) cos(
) cos(
2 2
1 1


=
=
t B t y
t A t x
Example:

1
=
2
,
1
=
2
y = B/A x

1
=
2
,
2
= 0,
1
=/2
( )
( ) ) sin(
) cos(
1
1
t B t y
t A t x

=
=
0 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 2 4 6 8 10
-2
-1
0
1
2
YT
YT
XY
XY
( )
( ) ) cos(
) cos(
2 2
1 1


=
=
t B t y
t A t x
Lissajous Curves
Checklist for oscilloscope operation
1. Make sure probe compensation is set to the correct
value (1x, 10x)
2. If you cannot get signal on screen, press autoscale
3. Check DC/AC coupling
4. Check trigger source