ANS 3- Operating Principles of an Oscilloscope:

An oscilloscope is a vital instrument in electronics that visually displays voltage signals as a two-
dimensional graph on its screen. It helps engineers and technicians analyze and troubleshoot
electrical circuits by providing a real-time representation of signals. The operating principles of an
oscilloscope can be summarized as follows:

1. Input Signal: The oscilloscope takes an electrical input signal through a probe or a BNC (Bayonet
Neill-Concelman) connector. The signal may be AC or DC and is usually a voltage waveform.

2. Signal Amplification: The input signal is first amplified to a suitable level to ensure that it can be
accurately displayed on the screen. The amplitude of the signal can be adjusted using the vertical
controls.

3. Timebase Control: The timebase control adjusts the horizontal sweep speed, determining how
quickly the oscilloscope traces the waveform across the screen. This control sets the time per division
on the horizontal axis.

4. Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT): In analog oscilloscopes, a CRT is used to create the visual display. In
digital oscilloscopes, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a display screen generate the image.

5. Deflection Plates: The CRT or DAC utilizes deflection plates to move the electron beam horizontally
and vertically across the screen to draw the waveform.

6. Triggering: Triggering is a crucial feature that synchronizes the waveform display. It ensures that
the waveform is displayed consistently, allowing you to observe repetitive signals. The trigger control
determines when the sweep begins.

7. Horizontal and Vertical Controls: These controls adjust the scaling and positioning of the waveform
on the screen. The horizontal control adjusts the timebase, while the vertical control scales the
amplitude.

Various Controls on an Oscilloscope:

Oscilloscopes come with a variety of controls that allow users to adjust and analyze the displayed
signals. Here are some of the key controls:

1. Vertical Controls:

- Volts/Division (V/Div): Sets the vertical scale to measure amplitude.

- Position: Adjusts the vertical position of the waveform on the screen.

- AC/DC Coupling: Selects between AC or DC coupling to remove or retain the DC component of the
signal.

2. Horizontal Controls:

- Time/Division (s/Div): Sets the horizontal scale to measure time.

- Position: Adjusts the horizontal position of the waveform on the screen.

- Trigger Control: Sets the trigger mode, source, and level for synchronization.

3. Trigger Controls:
 - Trigger Level: Sets the voltage level at which the trigger occurs.

- Trigger Slope: Specifies whether the trigger occurs on the rising or falling edge of the signal.

- Trigger Source: Chooses the signal channel that triggers the display.

4. Cursor Controls:

- Cursor Measurement: Allows measurement of time intervals, voltage differences, and other
waveform parameters using cursors on the screen.

Step-by-Step Guide to Measure Frequency and Amplitude:

Let's now discuss how to measure the frequency and amplitude of a given AC signal using an
oscilloscope:

Frequency Measurement:

1. Connect the Signal: Connect the AC signal source to the oscilloscope's input channel using a
suitable probe or cable.

2. Set Up the Oscilloscope:

- Power on the oscilloscope and allow it to warm up.

- Set the vertical and horizontal controls to appropriate settings. Start with the default settings, and
adjust as needed for proper scaling and positioning of the waveform on the screen.

3. Trigger Configuration:

- Set the trigger source to the input channel where the AC signal is connected.

- Adjust the trigger level and slope settings to capture a stable waveform.

4. Frequency Measurement:

- Count the number of cycles (waveform periods) displayed on the screen between two vertical
gridlines or divisions.

- Use the timebase control to determine the time per division (s/Div) on the horizontal axis.

- Calculate the frequency (f) using the formula:

f=T/1

Where T is the period of one cycle (measured in seconds).

5. Display Frequency: Display the calculated frequency on the oscilloscope screen or record it for
analysis.

Amplitude Measurement:

1. Connect the Signal: Ensure that the AC signal source is still connected to the oscilloscope's input
channel.
2. Set Up the Oscilloscope:

- Make sure the vertical and horizontal controls are appropriately set up as per the previous steps.

3. Amplitude Measurement:

- Position the waveform on the screen such that its peak-to-peak value spans multiple horizontal
gridlines or divisions.

- Use the volts/division setting on the vertical control to determine the voltage per division (V/Div)
on the vertical axis.

4. Calculate Amplitude:

- Count the number of vertical divisions between the highest and lowest points of the waveform.

- Multiply this count by the voltage per division setting to calculate the peak-to-peak voltage (Vpp).

- Divide Vpp by 2 to obtain the amplitude (Vamp) if the signal is symmetrical.

5. Display Amplitude: Display the calculated amplitude on the oscilloscope screen or record it for
analysis.

In conclusion, oscilloscopes are indispensable tools for analyzing AC signals in electronics.

Understanding their operating principles and controls, along with the step-by-step guide for
frequency and amplitude measurement, is essential for accurately capturing and interpreting
waveforms in electronic instrumentation.