OSCILLOSCOPE TECHNOLOGY

AND OSCILLOSCOPE PROBES

REPORTERS: PATOPATIN
PEPITO
 Oscilloscope
• An oscilloscope is a laboratory
instrument commonly used to
display and analyze the waveform of
electronic signals. In effect, the
device draws a graph of the
instantaneous signal voltage as a
function of time.
The graph on an oscilloscope can reveal important
information:
• Voltage and current signals when
operating as intended.
• Signal anomalies.
• Calculated frequency of an oscillating
signal and any variations in frequency.
• Whether a signal includes noise and
changes to the noise.
Electrical signal is made by a
transducer that converts the signal
from its original form to a waveform
expressed as a current (I) or a voltage
(V), or an electromagnetic waveform,
for example, an optical signal or radio
transmission.
 Electrical Signals
• DC Signals are usually characterized by
their voltage.
• AC Signals are characterized by their:
– Shape
– Frequency (Cycles Per Second)
– Period (Seconds Per Cycle)
– Amplitude
 Electrical Signals: D.C. Signal
• A direct current or D.C. signal is one that
only flows in a single direction.
• Typical Sources
– Batteries
– Agilent Power Supply in the ECE labs
5
Y=VOLTAGE (volts)

What is the value at 5 Seconds?

2.5 20 Seconds?

X=TIME (seconds)
-2.5 5 10 15 20

-5

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 Electrical Signal: A.C. Signal
5
Y=VOLTAGE (volts)
2.5

X=TIME (seconds)
-2.5 5 10 15 20

-5

• A.C. or Alternating Current signals are ones that change direction

over time.
• As time increases our voltage fluctuates up and down.
• Typical Sources
– Function Generators
– Electrical Outlets in Buildings
• So at time=2.5s, what is the voltage?
– And again at 10seconds?...15 seconds?

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 What is the purpose of an
oscilloscope?
The purpose of an oscilloscope is to measure a voltage
that changes with time and show it in a graphical
format
1) Here is the oscilloscope in
our lab
-Notice the X-Y axes
2) Here is our alternating voltage
signal from before

3) If we measure our signal with the

scope, it would look like this!

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What are the major components?
• Display Screen
– Displays an input
signal with respect
to time.
• Control Panel
– Adjusts how the
input signal is
displayed.

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 Oscilloscope: Input Channels
• How do we get the voltage into the scope?
• This area is broken into two parts
– Left Half for Channel 1 (X)
– Right Half for Channel 2 (Y)
• In the center is a switch that determines which channel will serve
as the input to the scope: 1, 2, Dual or Add.
• Why would we want more than 1 channel?

Channel 1 Channel 2

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 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
• Most scopes use 10 graticules from left to
right on the display.
• Setting the time base means setting how
much time will be displayed in each block.
• A block is commonly referred to as a division.
• DC coupling is the most used position on a
scope because it allows the scope to display
alternating current (AC) voltage signals and
direct current (DC) voltage signals present in
the circuit.
• The AC part of the signal will ride on top of the
DC component.
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
AC Coupling
• When the AC coupling position is selected, a
capacitor is placed into the meter lead circuit,
which effectively blocks all DC voltage signals
but allows the AC portion of the signal to pass
and be displayed.
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Pulse Trains
• A DC voltage that turns on and off in a series
of pulses is called a pulse train.
• Pulse trains differ from an AC signal in that
they do not go below zero.
• An alternating voltage goes above and below
zero voltage.
OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Pulse Trains

FIGURE 9-4 A pulse train in any

electrical signal that turns on
and off, or goes high and low
in a series of pulses. Igniter
and fuel injector pulses are
examples of a pulse train
signal. (Courtesy of Fluke
Corporation)
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Frequency
• Frequency is the number of cycles per second
measured in hertz.
• Engine RPM signal is an example of a signal
that can occur at various frequencies.
• At low engine speed, the ignition pulses occur
fewer times per second (lower frequency)
than when the engine is operated at higher
engine speeds (RPM).
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Duty Cycle
• Duty cycle refers to the percentage of on-time of the
signal during one complete cycle.

FIGURE 9-5 (a) A scope representation of a complete cycle showing both on-time
and off-time. (b) A meter display indicating the on-time duty cycle in percent (%).
Note the trigger and negative () symbol. This indicates that the meter started to
record the percentage of on time when the voltage dropped (start of on-time).
(Courtesy of Fluke Corporation)
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Pulse Width
• The pulse width is a
measure of the actual on-
time measured in
milliseconds.
• Fuel injectors are usually
controlled by varying the
pulse width.

FIGURE 9-6 Most automotive computer

systems control the device by opening
and closing the ground to the
component. (Courtesy of Fluke
Corporation)
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
External Trigger
– An external trigger is when the trace starts when
a signal is received from another (external) source.
Trigger Level
– The trigger level must be set to start the display.
Trigger Slope
– The trigger slope is the voltage direction that a
waveform must have in order to start the display.
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID

FIGURE 9-7 (a) A symbol for a positive trigger—a trigger occurs

at a rising (positive) edge of the signal (waveform). (b) A symbol
for a negative trigger—trigger occurs at a falling (negative) edge
of the signal (waveform).
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Using Scope Leads

• Most scopes, both analog and digital, normally

use the same test leads.
• These leads usually attach to the scope
through a BNC connector, a miniature
standard coaxial cable connector.
• BNC is an international standard that is used in
the electronics industry.
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Measuring Battery Voltage with a Scope

• One of the easiest things to measure and

observe on a scope is battery voltage.
• A lower voltage can be observed on the scope
display as the engine is started and a higher
voltage should be displayed after the engine
starts.
 OSCILLOSCOPE DISPLAY GRID
Measuring Battery Voltage with a Scope

FIGURE 9-8 Battery voltage is

represented by a flat horizontal
line. In this example, the engine
was started and the battery
voltage dropped to about 10 V
as shown on the left side of the
scope display. When the engine
started, the generator
(alternator) started to charge
the battery and the voltage is
shown as climbing. (Courtesy of
Fluke Corporation)
 GRAPHING MULTIMETER
• A graphing multimeter,
abbreviated GMM, is a cross
between a digital meter and a
digital storage oscilloscope.
• A graphing multimeter
displays the voltage levels on
a display and a digital readout.

FIGURE 9-9 A typical graphing multimeter.

TRIGGERING
Telling the Oscilloscope when to
capture information.
 Triggering
• Electric signals change much faster than we
can observe.
• To view a meaningful version of the signal, we
must tell the Oscilloscope when to refresh the
display.
• We accomplish this by setting a Triggering
Level.

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 Triggering

Without Triggering With Triggering

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 Triggering
• We want to tell the oscilliscope when it is the
best time for it to “refresh” the display
• In our wave below, we tell the scope to
“trigger” or ‘capture’ the signal when it is
going upward AND hits 2.0Volts
SO, ‘trigger’ condition is:
When we’re

Going up!

AND

When at 2.0 Volts on our waveform!

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• When selecting a probe for your o-scope,
it's best to check the o-scope's manual to
see what kind of probe it recommends. If
your manual is nowhere to be found
(which is often the case in the real
world), then go to your oscilloscope
manufacturer's website for
recommendations.
 The following information should also be considered when choosing
probes:

• Ensure the probe's input connector

matches the connector on your scope.
– Most oscilloscopes have BNC-type
connectors; SMA is another possibility.
See Figures 1 and 2 below.
• Choose a probe whose input resistance and
capacitance match the input resistance and
capacitance of your scope. Typically, it is
desired for the probe to have the least
influence on the circuit that is being measured
—this is referred to as the loading effect.
Resistance and capacitance matching is critical
for guaranteeing proper signal transfer and
signal accuracy.
• Most modern scopes allow you to choose
either 50 Ω or 1 MΩ input resistance. For
general-purpose testing, a 1 MΩ input is
commonly used. A 50 Ω input resistance is
used for high-speed signals (think
microwaves), propagation delays in logic
circuits, and circuit-board impedance testing.
Unlike a scope's standard input resistance of either 1
MΩ or 50 Ω, a scope's input capacitance can vary
depending on the scope's bandwidth and other
design features. With that said, a common input
capacitance for many 1 MΩ scopes is 20pF. However,
this value can range from 5pF up to 100pF. The best
approach, for matching a probe with a scope, is to
first choose a probe whose capacitance is within the
range of your scope and then fine-tune the probe's
capacitance by adjusting its compensation network
using the probe's trimmer capacitor, if possible. This
process is known as compensating your probe.
Oscilloscope probe types
oscilloscope probes, or scope probes, can be
categorised into a number of different types:
• Active
• passive
• 1X
• 10X
• 100X

Each type being suitable for a number of

different applications.
Oscilloscope probes may be
categorized into two main types, and
they can fall into one of two main
areas:

• Passive oscilloscope probes

• Active oscilloscope probes
 Passive oscilloscope probes
This type of probe is the one that is in
most widespread use. It only includes
passive elements and may provide 1:1,
i.e. straight through connectivity from
the point under test, to the scope
input. Other types may provide a
defined degree of attenuation.
 Active oscilloscope probes
As indicated by the name, this type of scope
probe has active components incorporated
within the probe itself. This enables greater
levels of functionality and higher levels of
performance to be attained. However they
are much more expensive and normally
reserved for more exacting or specialist
requirements.
 Scope probes are generally classified
according to the level of attenuation of the
signal they provide.
• 1X scope probes   The most basic form of
oscilloscope probe, or scope probe, is what is often
termed the 1X probe. It is so called because this
type of scope probe does not attenuate the
incoming voltage as many other probes do. It
consists of a connector to interface to the
oscilloscope (generally a BNC connector), and a
length of coax which is connected to the probe
itself. This comprises a mechanical clip arrangement
so that the probe can be attached to the
appropriate test point, and an earth or ground clip
to be attached to the appropriate ground point on
the circuit under test.
The 1X probes are suitable for many
low frequency applications. They
typically offer the same input
impedance of the oscilloscope which
is normally 1 M Ohm. However for
applications where better accuracy
is needed and as frequencies start to
rise, other test probes are needed.
10X scope probes   To enable better accuracy to be
achieved higher levels of impedance are required. To
achieve this attenuators are built into the end of the
probe that connects with the circuit under test. The
most common type of probe with a built in attenuator
gives an attenuation of ten, and it is known as a 10X
oscilloscope probe. The attenuation enables the
impedance presented to the circuit under test to be
increased by a factor of ten, and this enables more
accurate measurements to be made. In particular the
level of capacitance seen by the circuit is reduced and
this is reduces the high frequency loading of the circuit
by the probe.
100X scope probes   Although they are not as
common as the 1X and 10X scope probes, 100X
probes and other values including 20X and
1000X are also available. These oscilloscope
probes tend to be used very high voltages need
to be monitored and a high degree of
attenuation is required or if very low levels of
loading are needed.
 These probes are not
common and tend to be
quite specialized. If they
were used for normal
applications, the 100X
attenuation would result in
very small signal levels
being presented to the input
of the oscilloscope and as a