TRANSDUCER AND INSTRUMENTATION

SPECIAL OSCILLOSCOPES

DUAL BEAM CRO

The dual trace CRO has 1 cathode ray gun, an electronic switch which switches between two signals to a
singe vertical amplifier. Dual Beam CRO uses two completely separate beams of electrons, two sets of
vertical deflection plates (VDP) and a single set of Horizontal Deflection plate (HDP). Only one beam can be
synchronized at a time since sweep is same for both the signals i.e. common time base is used for both the
beams. Therefore, signals must have same frequency or must be related harmonically in order to obtain
both beams locked on CRT screen.

DUAL TRACE CRO

Dual Trace Oscilloscope has a single electron gun whose beam is split into two by an electronic switch. There
are 2 controls, one for focus and another for intensity. Two signals are displayed simultaneously. Signals
pass through identical vertical channels or vertical amplifiers. Each channel has its own calibrated input
attenuator and positioning control so that amplitude of each signal can be adjusted independently.

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A mode control switch enables electronic switch to operate in two modes. When the switch is in alternate
mode both signals are fed alternatively to vertical amplifier. Electronic switch alternatively connects to
channel A and channel B and adds a different DC component to each signal. This DC component directs the
beam alternatively to upper or lower part of the screen. Switching takes place at the start of each sweep of
sweep generator. Switching rate is synchronized with sweep rate so that CRT spots traces the channel A on
one sweep and channel B on the other sweep.

Sweep trigger is available from both channels A and B and trigger pick off takes place before electronic
switch. This arrangement maintains correct phase relationship between signals A and B.

When switch is in chop mode electronic switch is free running at a rate of 100-500KHZ entirely independent
of sweep generator. Switch successively connects small segments of A and B waveforms to main vertical
amplifier at a relatively fast chopping rate of 500KHz.

IF chopping rate is slow then the continuity of the display is lost. Hence it would be better to use in
alternative mode. In XY mode of display sweep generator is disconnected and Channel B is connected to
horizontal amplifier. Since both pre-amplifiers are identical and have same delay time accurate XY
measurements can be made.

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ANALOG STORAGE OSCILLOSCOPE

A mesh storage CRT uses a dielectric material deposited on storage mesh as storage target. This mesh is
placed between deflection plates and standard phosphor target in CRT. Writing beam i.e. focussed electron
beam of standard CRT charges the dielectric material positively when it. Storage target is then bombarded
with low velocity electrons from flood guns and positively charged areas of the target allow these electrons
to pass through the standard phosphor target and thereby reproduce stored image on the screen. Thus,
storage mesh has both storage target and phosphor display target. It is used to display VF. A mesh storage
CRT contains dielectric material deposited on storage mesh, a collector mesh, flood gun and a collimator in
addition to all elements in a CRT. The storage target, a thin deposition of dielectric material such as
Magnesium Fluoride on storage mesh makes use of the property of secondary emission. Writing guns etches
a positively charged pattern on the storage mesh or target by knocking off secondary emission electrons.
Due to excellent dielectric property of MgF positively charged pattern remains exactly where it was
deposited. to make the pattern visible flood gun is switched ON. Collimator electrode is used adjust the path
of the electrons. Most of the electrons are stopped and collected by the collector mesh. Only electron near
the positive charge are pulled to storage target with sufficient force to hit the phosphor screen. CRT now
displays and continues to display as long as flood guns are operated. To erase the pattern on the storage,
mesh a negative voltage is applied to neutralize the stored positive charge.

SAMPLING OSCILLOSCOPE

An ordinary oscilloscope has a bandwidth of 10MHz. HF performance can be improved by means of sampling
the input waveform and reconstructing its shape from the sample. Shape of the waveform is reconstructed

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by joining the sample levels together. Sampling frequency may be as low as 1/10th of the input signal
frequency. 1000 samples are required to reconstruct the original waveform.

Input waveform is applied to sampling gate. Input signal is sampled when ever a sampling pulse opens the
sampling gate. Sampling must be synchronized with input signal frequency. Signal is di=delayed in vertical
amplifier allowing horizontal sweeps to be initiated by input signal. At beginning of each sampling cycle
trigger pulse activates an oscillator and a linear ramp voltage is generated. This is applied to voltage
comparator which compares ramp voltage to staircase generator. If two voltages are equal in amplitude
staircase advances one step and sampling pulse is created which opens the sampling gate for sampling of
input signal. Resolution of the final image depends upon the size of the staircase generator. Size of staircase
is inversely proportional to resolution.

SPECTRUM ANALYZER

Instrument providing frequency domain view is called Spectrum Analyzer. A spectrum analyser provides a
calibrated graphical display with frequency on horizontal axis and amplitude(voltage) on vertical axis.

Spectrum analyser provide a display of spectrum frequency over a given frequency band. Spectrum
Analysers use either a parallel filter bank or swept frequency technique.

In parallel bank analyser frequency range is covered by a series of filters whose frequencies and bandwidth
are selected so that they overlap each other.

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Spectrum Analyzer using Swept Receiver

Sawtooth generator provides sawtooth voltage which drives the horizontal axis element of scope. Sawtooth
voltage is frequency controlled element of the voltage tuned oscillator. As oscillator sweeps from fmin to fmax
of its frequency band at a linear recurring rate it beats with frequency component of input signal and
produce an IF whenever a frequency component is met during its sweep. The frequency component and
voltage tuned oscillator frequency beats together to produce IF. The IF corresponding to component is
amplified and directed if necessary and then applied to vertical plates of CRO producing a display of
amplitude versus frequency.

Spectrums produced if the input wave is single toned AM

TEST WAVEFORM SEEN ON ORDINARY CRO

DISPLAY ON SPECTRUM CRO

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 TEST WAVEFORM AS SEEN ON X AND Y AXIS

One of principal applications of spectrum analysers have been in the study of RF Spectrum produced in
microwave instruments. In microwave instruments horizontal axis can display 2-3GHZ for broad survey and
narrow as 30KHz for a highly magnified view of any small portion of spectrum.

Input signal is fed into a mixer which is driven by a local oscillator. The oscillator is linearly tuneable
electrically. Mixer provides two signals at its output that are proportional in amplitude to input signal but of
frequencies which are sum and difference of input signal and local oscillator frequency. IF amplifier is tuned
to narrow band around 2GHz since local oscillator is tuned over frequency range of 2-3GHz, only inputs that
are separated from local oscillator frequency by 2GHz will be converted into IF frequency band which passes
through IF frequency amplifier, gets rectified and produce vertical deflection on CRT. It is observed that as
sawtooth signal sweeps local oscillator also sweeps linearly from 2-3GHz. Tuning of spectrum analyser is a
swept receiver which sweeps linearly from 0 to 1 GHz. Sawtooth scanning signal is applied to horizontal
plates of CRT to form frequency axis.

Spectrum analysers are widely used in RADARS, Oceanography and bio medical fields.

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