LAB 1-BASIC OSCILLOSCOPE OPERATION

Figure 1: Tektronix Oscilloscope

Helpful Material

User Manual Scope (Find it on D2L)

What Is an Oscilloscope?

An oscilloscope is a fundamental test instrument that visually represents voltage waveforms as they

evolve over time. Following the multimeter, it is one of the most acquired instruments for individuals engaged

in electronic circuit work, available in several versatile configurations.

Figure 2: Measurement with an Oscilloscope

While a multimeter provides the capability to measure parameters such as voltage, current, resistance,

and capacitance at a specific point in time, an oscilloscope enables you to capture and analyze voltage

variations over a period.

Specifications

Bandwidth

The most critical specification for an oscilloscope is its bandwidth. This parameter dictates the highest

frequency of a signal that the instrument can capture and analyze. As a signal's frequency approaches the
maximum limit of the oscilloscope, its accuracy diminishes. Therefore, the bandwidth of the oscilloscope

establishes the upper threshold for the frequency of signals it can effectively capture and analyze.

Bandwidth, measured in Hertz, is defined as the

frequency at which the amplitude of a sine wave
input is reduced by 3 dB, equivalent to an
attenuation of 70.7% of the true signal value.
According to the 'rule of 5,' you can estimate
bandwidth by multiplying the frequency of
interest by 5.
Figure 3: Bandwidth

To determine the appropriate bandwidth for your oscilloscope, apply the "rule of 5": Identify the

highest frequency in the test signal you intend to measure, and then multiply it by 5. For instance, if you are

dealing with a maximum clock speed of 20MHz, you would require an oscilloscope with a rating of at least

100MHz. For I2C communications between the microcontroller Teensy and a sensor, the typical frequency is

around 100KHz. This means that an oscilloscope with a bandwidth of 20MHz or 50MHz is more than capable

of managing most signals you are likely to encounter in our lab measurements.

Sample rate

Another crucial specification for an oscilloscope is its sample rate, denoting the number of samples the

oscilloscope can capture each second. Naturally, a higher sample rate is advantageous, but it comes with trade-

offs. Achieving higher sample rates necessitates more extensive and faster memory for storage, as well as

swifter electronics and processors for data capture and processing. Consequently, these factors contribute to an

increased cost for the instrument.

 The sample rate, measured in samples per
second, indicates the quantity of measurements
an oscilloscope can perform within one second.
According to the '2.5 rules,' you can estimate the
sample rate by multiplying the frequency of
interest by 2.5

Figure 4: Sample rate

The sample rate is the number of samples that the oscilloscope can capture per second.

As with the bandwidth and other technical decisions we are often called to make, we need to choose an

instrument with a sample rate that is good enough for our purposes.

A rule of thumb is to multiply the highest frequency you are likely to encounter in your work with the

oscilloscope, and multiply by 2.5. For example, if you want to work with an I2C signal at 100KHz, multiplying

this frequency by 2.5 will give you a sample rate of 250,000 samples per second. Most digital oscilloscopes

these days can easily manage this.

Record Length

Very closely related to the oscilloscope sample rate is its record length. In Tektronix oscilloscopes, a

"waveform record" or "record length" refers to the number of data points the oscilloscope can capture and store

for a single waveform. For example, if an oscilloscope has a record length of 2500 points, it means that it can

capture and store 2500 individual data points from the input signal.

A larger record length allows for a more detailed representation of the waveform, as it captures more

points along the signal. This can be particularly important when you're trying to analyze fast-changing signals

or capture fine details.

The concepts of record length, or memory depth, and sample rate are closely intertwined. As the sample

rate increases, the oscilloscope requires a larger memory to accurately capture events that occur within a

specific unit of time.

 For instance, if you intend to record a waveform's changes over the course of 1 second, a sample rate of

1000 samples per second would necessitate a memory depth of 1000 points to accommodate all the samples.

Conversely, if your oscilloscope operates at double the speed, sampling at 2000 samples per second, a memory

depth of 2000 points would be needed for a comprehensive recording of the 1-second event.

Modern oscilloscopes intelligently adjust the sample rate based on the chosen time scale, ensuring that

the available memory is effectively utilized to capture waveforms at the desired level of detail.

Rise time

The Rise Time of an oscilloscope characterizes its capacity to swiftly detect and record signals with

rapid transitions. This attribute becomes crucial, especially when dealing with square waves featuring

extremely sharp edges. For instance, a square wave may ascend from 0V to 5V within mere nanoseconds.

Figure 5: Rise Time

The Rise Time of an oscilloscope signifies its proficiency in discerning and recording swiftly

transitioning signals. This capability is crucial for accurately representing waveforms with rapid changes.

To illustrate, my oscilloscope boasts a rise time of 5 nanoseconds, indicating it can precisely detect

changes as fast as 5 nanoseconds. This ensures a high level of detail in capturing rapidly evolving signals.
Basic Features

Oscilloscopes serve to visually represent the evolution of an electrical signal over time, with voltage

plotted on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. A range of controls is available to fine-tune the

graph, ensuring the user obtains the most accurate measurement. Below, we will explore some of these

essential features.

Figure 6: The Display

On the display of the oscilloscope, there is a grid that the signals will be overlaid on. This grid can be used to

measure both the horizontal and vertical axes of the signals. As seen in the picture above, the size of each

division (each square) on the grid is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

The first two numbers correspond to the size of each vertical division (in volts), with both channels being able

to independently select a division size (in this case it is 2V/div for CH1 and 500mV/div for CH 2).

The third number represents the seconds per division, and this will be the same for both channels. In this case,

each division corresponds to 250 microseconds.

The Channels
 Figure 7: The Channels

These scopes come equipped with two channels each, however other scopes can have any number of

channels that the design allows for. Each channel can view a signal independently from the other, and this can

be used to compare two points in the circuit at once.

These scopes are equipped with two channels each, although the design of other scopes may allow for a

different number of channels. Each channel operates independently, allowing you to view a signal separately

from the other channel. This capability is useful for comparing two points in the circuit simultaneously.

To activate a channel and view a signal on it, you need to connect the channel to the circuit using a

probe. Depending on which channel you are using, you may also need to press the corresponding button

labeled "CH 1 MENU" for channel 1 or "CH 2 MENU" for channel 2.

Within the channel menus, you'll find several options that can affect signal quality. You can select

between AC and DC coupling for coupling options. DC coupling displays both AC and DC components of a

signal, while AC coupling removes the DC component. Each of these options has its own applications

depending on the situation. You can also toggle the "Volts/Div" setting between coarse and fine, which

determines the size of increases or decreases when adjusting the Volt/Div knob.

Important note: The ground terminals for each channel are internally connected. When using both

channels for measurements, it's crucial to ensure that the ground clips are connected to the same point in the

circuit. Failure to do so can result in a circuit short. To simplify this, you can initially connect the probes of a

channel in the opposite orientation and then use the MATH or CHANNEL menus to invert the channel as

needed.
Probes

Figure 8: A Standard Probe

Probes serve to establish a connection between the oscilloscope and the circuit being measured.

Standard oscilloscope probes comprise a sharp tip that can be hooked onto the circuit by retracting the plastic

head, along with a ground clip which is used to shorten the distance between the tip and electrical ground.

For obtaining precise measurements and reducing capacitive loading, an attenuated probe may be

necessary. In our lab, the probes are equipped with a switch to toggle between 1X and 10X modes, with 10X

denoting the attenuated setting. In the case of 10X probes, there is an internal series resistance that acts as a

voltage divider with the internal impedance of the scope, maintaining a ratio of 10:1. Most probes have a

9MΩ resistor for attenuating, which, when combined with a standard 1MΩ input impedance on a scope, creates

a 1/10 voltage divider.

 Figure 9: A Standard Probe

Attenuating probes have a large resistance intentionally built-in and shunted by a small capacitor, which

helps to minimize the effect that a long cable might have on loading your circuit. In series with the INPUT

IMPEDANCE of a scope, this attenuated probe will create a voltage divider between your signal and the scope

input.

Figure 10: A Standard Probe

Important note: Our scopes feature an option in the CH 1 and CH 2 menus to indicate whether the

probe is in 1X or 10X mode. Failing to set this correctly could result in measurements being scaled incorrectly

by a factor of 10.
 Adjacent to the channel terminals, you'll find two loops sticking out that are labeled “PROBE COMP.”

These output a square wave with a known voltage and frequency, which can be employed for probe testing.

Connect the probe tip to the upper metal piece, and the ground clip to the lower one. Then, activate the

channel, and you should observe a square wave displayed. Adjustments can be made to the scope settings to

achieve the desired level of precision.

Active probes are powered devices, requiring a separate power source. They have the capability to

amplify or pre-process your signal before it reaches the oscilloscope. Although most probes are tailored for

voltage measurements, there are specialized probes designed for AC or DC current measurement. Notably,

current probes possess a distinctive feature—they typically clamp around a wire without direct contact with the

circuit.

Vertical Controls

Figure 11: The Vertical Controls

The vertical controls for each channel encompass two knobs: a position knob and a VOLTS/DIV knob.

The position knob enables you to adjust the vertical placement of the signal on the screen. You can locate the

zero-reference point (0V) by identifying a small arrow on the left side of the screen, accompanied by a number
corresponding to the channel. This reference point will track the signal as you manipulate the vertical position

knob.

The VOLTS/DIV (volts per division) knob serves to modify the vertical scaling factor of the grid. To

increase the volts per division, turn the knob counterclockwise, causing the signal on the screen to appear to

contract. Conversely, to decrease the volts per division, turn the knob clockwise, making the signal seem to

expand.

Triggering

Figure 12: The Trigger Controls

The trigger function is crucial as it instructs the scope on which parts of the signal to

commence measurements, particularly with periodic signals, ensuring a stable waveform display. Without

proper triggering, the waveform tends to be erratic and nearly impossible to obtain accurate measurements

from.
 Figure 13: Waveform Without proper triggering.

Although there are various types of triggering methods available, for simplicity, we'll focus on edge

triggering. Within the trigger menu, you'll find multiple options, allowing you to select the trigger source, slope

type, and a few other parameters. In our case, we will consistently use the channel being measured as the

source. However, in more intricate scenarios, other channels or even external sources may be employed.

With edge triggering in place and the appropriate channel chosen, you can specify whether the trigger

occurs on a rising or falling slope. This means that when the signal exhibits the chosen slope, the oscilloscope

initiates recording.

The trigger level knob enables you to fine-tune the trigger level, which is indicated by the arrow on the

right side of the grid. If this arrow falls outside the highest or lowest points of the signal, it won't be able to

detect a trigger point.

By observing the arrow positioned at the top of the grid, the user can discern the exact point on the

waveform where the scope is triggering.

Measurements

You can obtain voltage and time measurements by counting the number of divisions and subsequently

multiplying it by the division scale. However, there are two alternative methods available for making

measurements on these scopes.

Figure 14: Using the MEASURE Button

The third method involves utilizing the CURSOR button. Once you've chosen the cursor type

("Voltage" for horizontal, "Time" for vertical), employ the two vertical position knobs to adjust the cursor

positions. Place the cursors at the desired points on the voltage or time scale you wish to measure, and then

retrieve the reading from the "Delta" indicator."

 Figure 15: Using the CURSOR Button

Other Functions

By utilizing the MATH MENU button, you can perform addition and subtraction operations on signals

from channels 1 and 2, with the outcome visualized on the grid.

In addition to this, you'll find other valuable buttons like the AUTOSET button. This feature

automatically adjusts division sizes to ensure clear visibility of multiple waveforms within the signal.

Additionally, the RUN/STOP button is a useful tool for freezing a single sample of the waveform on the

display, which can be particularly handy when working with signals that are challenging to trigger.

Activities

Functional Check

Perform this quick functional check to verify that your oscilloscope is operating correctly.

Step1
 Power on the oscilloscope

Push the DEFAULT SETUP button.

The default Probe option attenuation setting
is 10X.

Figure 16: Power on

Step2

Connect the probe tip and reference lead to

the PROBE COMP connectors.

Push the AUTOSET button.

Figure 16: Probe compensation

Step3

Check the shape of the displayed waveform.

Which waveform was displayed, a, b, or c?_____________

a b c

Step4
If you got the waveform a (overcompensated) or waveform b (undercompensated), Adjust the trimming cap on

the probe handle until you have a straight-edged square wave.

Period and Frequency Measurement

1) CONNECT the Scope with the frequency generator using a Double BNC connector cable.

2) Set the oscilloscope time base to 100s/DIV and the vertical sensitivity to 2V/DIV.

3) Adjust the frequency of the function generator to display a sine wave with a cycle length of exactly
8 divisions. (800s). (Press Frequency, so the frequency value is highlighted and use the knob on
generator to adjust it)

What frequency is required? (SHOW CALCS) ________________________________________

4) Set the Frequency generator to HIGH Z, then set the function generator amplitude to 8V peak-to-peak,

and re-check that your waveform is exactly 8 divisions long.

Note: High impedance matching ensures that the voltage you measure on the oscilloscope accurately

represents the voltage at the test point in your circuit. Low input impedance can lead to voltage division

and inaccuracies in your measurements.

4) On the oscilloscope, ensure that the waveform is centered around the horizontal axis.
5) How many θ degrees does each major horizontal division represent? _____________________degrees

6) Record the value of θ (degrees) for each value of t (time) in Table 1.

7) Determine the voltage at 100ms intervals and record in Table 1.

8) Using the equation for the instantaneous values on a sine wave, V= Vm sin θ , and calculate the
expected voltage at each time interval. (Vm = Measured peak voltage)

9) Calculate the percentage difference between the measured voltage and calculated voltage at each
time interval.

Calculated Value−Measured Value

% Difference= ×100 %
Calculated Value
MECH 339 18

10) Table 1
t (s) θ (degrees) Measured Voltage (V) Calculated Voltage (V) % Difference
0 0 0 0 0

100 45 8 8.12 0.0012

200 90 10 10 0

300 135 6 6.06 0.0006

400 180 0 0 0

500 225 -7 -7.07 0.009

600 270 -10 -10 0

700 315 -7 -7.07 0.009

800 360 0 0 0

11) Is there good agreement between the

measured and calculated instantaneous voltages? Yes No

12) Determine the bandwidth, sample rate,

record length, and rise time specifications of the oscilloscope utilized in the

lab? For reference, please consult the uploaded oscilloscope manual on D2L.

Bandwidth; 1.21khz*5=6khz

Sample Rate; 3khz

Record length; 100 sample/second

Rise time; 240.3us

13) Before leaving the lab, make sure to have your instructor check and sign

off on your results.

14) After completing your work, remember to unplug all equipment.

Additionally, ensure your work area is clean of any accumulated paper, trash, or
marks, as points may be deducted for inadequate housekeeping.