Figure 1: Oscilloscope
An oscilloscope is an electronic measuring instrument that utilizes the characteristics of an electronic oscilloscope to convert alternating electrical signals, which are not directly observable by the human eye, into an image that is displayed on a fluorescent screen for measurement. It is an important instrument for observing the experimental phenomena of digital circuits, analyzing the problems in the experiment, and measuring the experimental results. Oscilloscopes are mainly composed of oscilloscope and power supply system, synchronization system, x-axis deflection system, y-axis deflection system, delayed scanning system, standard signal source.
Oscilloscopes main function is to observe and measure the waveform of the electrical signal, not only to observe the dynamic process of the electrical signal, but also to quantitatively measure a variety of parameters of the electrical signal . For example, the cycle amplitude, frequency, phase of alternating current. When testing pulse signals, the response is very fast and the waveform is clearly distinguishable. In addition to non-electrical signals can be converted to electrical signals, used to measure temperature, pressure, sound, heat, etc., so it is very versatile.
There are many types of oscilloscopes, which can be categorized into the following according to their uses and characteristics.
(1) general-purpose oscilloscopes: it is a broadband oscilloscope using a single beam oscilloscope, commonly a single time base single trace or dual trace oscilloscope.
(2) multi-trace oscilloscopes: also known as multi-line oscilloscopes, which can display more than two waveforms at the same time, and qualitatively and quantitatively compared and observed, and each waveform is generated by a separate electron beam.
(3) sampling oscilloscope: this oscilloscope uses sampling technology, the high-frequency signal analog conversion into low-frequency signals, and then use the principle of general-purpose oscilloscopes to display their waveforms.
(4) memory, storage oscilloscope: this oscilloscope not only has the function of general-purpose oscilloscopes, but also has the function of storing the signal waveform. Memory oscilloscope is in the ordinary oscilloscope on the increase of the trigger to record the electrical signal to achieve, memory time up to several days. Storage oscilloscope is the use of digital circuit storage technology to achieve the storage function, its storage time is unlimited.
(5) Specialized oscilloscopes: These oscilloscopes are oscilloscopes with special purposes, such as vector oscilloscopes, cardiac oscilloscopes and so on.