Introduction

Oscilloscope block diagram

Front panel controls Application

INTRODUCTION

Cathode-ray oscilloscope
Electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities

Oscilloscopes contain a vacuum tube(- a vacuum tube in which a hot cathode emits a beam of electrons that pass through a high voltage anode and are focused or deflected before hitting a phosphorescent screen) with a cathode (negative electrode) at one end to emit electrons and an anode (positive electrode) to accelerate them so they move rapidly down the tube to the screen.

The tube also contains electrodes to deflect the electron beam up/down and left/right.

The electrons are called cathode rays because they are emitted by the cathode and this gives the oscilloscope its full name of cathode ray oscilloscope or CRO

Use Of An Oscilloscope
1. measurement of A.C. signals. So essentially the oscilloscope can be used to make quantitative and qualitative measurements. 2. For example if we are looking at an incoming sine wave, from the CRO one can assess the signal amplitude, frequency and quality.

3. Some may argue that the best solution to the problem of measuring a D.C. signal would be to use a DMM, this is true in most cases, but if the purity of the D.C signal is an important factor a CRO would also be useful to check for any A.C ripple in the signal. 4. In general the biggest use for the Oscilloscope

is for the accurate

Oscilloscope Block Diagram

Front panel controls

Focus control
This control adjusts CRT focus to obtain the sharpest, most-detailed trace. In practice, focus needs to be adjusted slightly when observing quite-different signals, which means that it needs to be an external control.

 Intensity control
This adjusts trace brightness. Slow traces on CRT oscilloscopes need less, and fast ones, especially if not often repeated, require more.

 Dual-trace controls
Dual-trace oscilloscopes have a mode switch to select either channel alone, both channels, or (in some)\ an X-Y display, which uses the second channel for X deflection.

Time base generator

The TIME/DIV control determines the horizontal scale of the graph which appears on the oscilloscope screen.

The VOLTS/DIV controls determine the vertical scale of the graph drawn on the oscilloscope screen. Check that VOLTS/DIV 1 is set at 1 V/DIV and that the adjacent controls are set correctly.

 Horizontal Position
X-POS moves the whole trace from side to side

Vertical Position
This knob controls the vertical position of the trace. You will find it very convenient when you are setting or reading voltages.

Beam finder
If you do not find a trace, push this button. The screen will display what quadrant the trace is in.

AC - DC - Gnd

Selects desired coupling for incoming signal, or grounds amp input. DC couples signal directly to amp. AC connects via a capacitor. (Blocks DC) Gnd = no signal. Gnd connects Y input to 0 volts. Checks position of 0v on screen.

Bandwidth
A 10MHz CRO does not mean it will correctly measure signals at 10MHz.
Vertical Amps are not so wide-band as to amplify all signals. 10MHz is the 3dB point. A 10MHz signal of 1v will measure 0.707v on the screen.

APPLICATIONS OF CRO
Voltmeter Display of waveforms

Measurement of short time intervals

Measurement of frequency

Voltmeter
CRO can be used to measure potential differences and to see how they vary.
We can determine the maximum value (max voltage) of the signal and peak to peak voltage when you observe the signal on an oscilloscope. The oscilloscope can show the shape (form) of the signal while Avometer doesnt.

Display of Waveforms
We can display waveforms by using CRO.

As we apply ac voltage to y- input of CRO , then waveform is displayed on screen, depending on the shape of applied wave.
This waveform is displayed with respect to time.

Measurement of Short Time Intervals

WE can measure a very small time interval, e.g. measurement of sound speed in a metal rod by using CRO.

Measurement of Frequency
We can measure the frequency of an unknown signal using CRO. Initially, the unknown frequency signal is applied to the vertical inputs of CRO. Horizontal sweep is turned on and the display appearing is on the screen is adjusted by the varying different control knobs provided on the front panel of CRO.

After obtaining the display of good deflection, count the number of horizontal division for a complete cycle.
From the counted horizontal divisions, the time period is computed as, T=m*n where, m=no. of division in one cycle n=setting of time base = Time/division From the measured time period of the signal , the unknown frequency is calculated as, f=1/T

References:Wikipedia Google-Image search