Experiment6

Oscilloscope
LaboratoryPractical
ET 3O4B

Objective: Leam the basictheory of operationof a typical oscilloscope.Also learn

the correct proceduresfor using the instrument to make measurementsin
the laboratory.

Discussion

The oscilloscopeis a valuabletool for both designand troubleshooting.Knowledge of

the instrument'stheory of operationaids in the correctapplicationof the instrumentin the
laboratory. This knowledgewill lead to correctmeasurements and the safeuse of the
instrument.

The oscilloscopeis a device for displayingrepetitiveeventsin terms of a voltage on the

vertical axis and time on the horizontalaxis. Any responsethat can be convertedto a
time varying electricsignalcanbe displayedon the oscilloscope.The most commonuse
of the instrumentin electrical/electronicdesignis to display time varying waves.

Figure I shows a block diagramof a typical oscilloscope'sinternalcircuits.

Vcrtrcal
S w i tchi ng
C i rcui ts

Figure l. Block Diagramof TypicalOscilloscope.

Signalsenterthe oscilloscopethrough the channel I and 2 inputs. The vertical

preamplifiers are accurate,wide-band amplifiers connectedto a voltage divider attenuator
network. The incoming signals are routed through the input coupling switch to the
preamplifier/attenuator.At this point, a portion of the signal is divertedto the Sweep

Spring2002 scope04b.doc
Generatorby the trigger circuits. The vertical signal is then senton the delay line. The
delay line providesa shorttime delay so the leadingedgeof the desiredsignal can be
viewed. From the delay circuit, the vertical signal is routedto the vertical amplifier. The
vertical amplifier providesa voltageto the platesinside the C.R.T. that direct the electron
beamvertically onto the face of the scope.

The heart of the horizontaldeflectioncircuit is the sweepgenerator.The sweepgenerator

producesa ramp wave that is synchronizedto the input channelsby the trigger circuit.
The time basecontrol determinesthe time requiredfor the ramp wave to reachits
maximum value,which controlsthe time it takesfor the C.R.T.traceto traversethe scope
face. The sweepgeneratordrives the horizontaldeflectionamplifiers. Theseamplifiers
connectto platesinsidethe C.R.T. that direct the electronbeamhorizontally onto the face
ofthe scope.

The high voltagepower supply suppliesthe potentialthat producesthe electronbeam in

the C.R.T. The low voltagepower supply powersall other sub-circuitsin the instrument.

Procedure

Referto the oscilloscopeoperatinginstructionsprovidedin the lab and answerthe

followingquestions.

l.) What is the maximum vertical resolutionof the scope'svertical input in terms of
voltage?
2.) What is the maximum horizontalresolutionof the scope'stime base(seconds)?
3.) When setto the maximumhorizontalresolution,how long doesit take for the
electronbeamto travelacrossthe l0 divisionsof the C.R.T. screen?
4.) What is the verticalfrequencyresponseof the oscilloscopein the directcoupled
mode?
s.) When the LeaderLBO-5825scopeis usedto measurea 10 volt peak-to-peak
signalat35 MHz it measures 3.5 divisionsat2Yldl. What,if anything,is
wrong with the instrument?
6 .) A squarewave is beingviewedusinga scopethat hasa attenuatorprobe(10x).
The traceat low frequenciesis shown in Figure 2. What may be wrong with the
test setup?

time

Figure2. Question6 Waveform.

Spring2002 scope04b.doc
7.) The LBO-5825 scopeis being usedby two peopleat the sametime. Each person
is using one of the vertical inputs and the oscilloscopeis set for dual trace
operation. Unfortunately, only one channel will stay synchronized.What is the
problem and how can the triggeringbe changedto eliminate it.
8.) What would be a good use of the LINE position of the TRIGGER SOURCE
switch?
9.) It is determinedthat the focus and beam rotation controlsneedadjustingon the
scope.
a.) Where are thesecontrols located?
b.) Can they be adjustedwithout removing the cabinetfrom the scope?
c.) What is the function of eachcontrol?
10.) Build the circuit below and measurethe phaseangle betweenthe sourcevoltage
and the resistorvoltage. Use a 10 kO potentiometerif the correctresistoris not
available.

Output

1oVp-p

t=2kHz

I l.) Describethe procedureusedto measurethe phasedifferencebetweenthe two ac

signalsin 10.)
12.) Describewhat must be doneto the scopeto measurethe voltage acrossthe
capacitorin the circuit above.

Spring2002 scope04b.doc
 Name
ET 304B Lab
AnswerSheet

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

s.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

9a.)

b.)

c.)

10.) Phaseangle: degrees

scope04b.doc
Spring2002
 Name
ET 3048 Lab
Answer Sheet

I 1.)

13.)

scope04b.doc
Spring2002