Oscilloscope User's Guide - Essay Example

.24 Appendices…………………………………………………………………..25 Abstract This is a user guide for an oscilloscope, an electronic instrument used to observe constantly variable signals from electric charges. It entails first part which is introduction containing the different types of oscilloscope like; cathode ray oscilloscope as called the analog, digital storage oscilloscope, dual beam oscilloscope, analog storage oscilloscope and mixed domain oscilloscope. Introduction also highlights brief history of the oscilloscope.

There the graphics and symbol section which discusses the various parts of the oscilloscope including; probes, input, time base controls, vertical amplifiers, front panel controls, and the hold off control. In the written analysis and statement, the tests; compliance test, production test and commissioning tests are discussed. Outcome of tests are explained. In this document pictures have been used to create a more realistic image of what an oscilloscope looks like. There is a concluding statement which discusses further the reports from the test and finally giving a concluding recommendation.

Other parts of this document include the glossary; a list some terms which preferably user ought to have known, and appendices which include some information which may be of importance to the user of this manual. Introduction An oscilloscope is an electronic instrument or tester which is used in the observation and reading of a constantly varying electrical signals like voltages and current. (Witte, 2002) The observations and the readings are made from a series of potential differences; voltage drops which are displayed in a two dimensional graphs which entails axes y (vertical rise) and x (horizontal change).

Electrical signals like sounds always cause a change in electrical potentials over time thus inducing or are converted to voltages. The created signals (voltages) are displayed in this graphs; forming a constantly repeated and periodic patterns. Since the signals are often repeated they always appear as a steady picture. In most cases, oscilloscopes have been used to capture sample of non-repeating wave forms. For this to be used to derive a meaningful information, the capture of the wave forms have to be done for some period of time (specified) and be stored to show a steady display of the captured segment.

This enhances the exact observation of the wave shape of a signal which is electrically created, for example signals from sound wave. For proper observation, these instruments; oscilloscopes are as a rule calibrated. (Lee,2004) From such calibrated devices, voltages and time can be easily read by human eye with a lot of ease. The calibrations are done in such a way to allow for the measurement of the peak voltages of the wave form under study, frequency of the induced signals, rise time for the full amplitude, time taken between consecutive pulses and the timing of the signals which are related to