Table of Contents
What is an Oscilloscope?
An oscilloscope is a test equipment device that is used to test or diagnose electrical circuits by graphically displaying how the voltage changes over time [1]. Voltages, called signals, are usually represented on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, and such a representation allows for the circuit's behaviour to be tested [1]. There are two main types of oscilloscopes: analog and digital.
Analog Oscilloscope
- CRT displays are common [1]
- Waveform shown in original form [2]
- Less reliable than their digital counterparts
- Useful for applications where precision is not as important
- Generally lower cost
| An Analog Oscilloscope [2] |
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Digital Oscilloscope
- Uses LCD display [1]
- Converts the analog signal to a digital stream using an analog-to-digital convertor before displaying to the screen [2]
- Useful for measuring high frequency signals
- Recommended that an oscilloscope with a bandwidth of at least 5 times higher than the input waveform is used
- Usually more reliable than analog oscilloscopes
- Higher in cost
- Some forms include Handheld, PC-based, and Benchtop oscilloscopes
Selecting an Oscilloscope
Oscilloscope Applications
Oscilloscope Setup
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