Design & Implementation of A Digital

Oscilloscope
This paper has been submitted to the department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering of
European University of Bangladesh in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

SUBMITTED BY:

Md. Hamimur Rahman ID: 160316088

Shamim Al Amin ID: 170216065
Arun tripura ID: 180115012
Md. Razu Mollah ID: 180115021

SUPERVISED BY:
Md. Abdur Rahman
Lecturer
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADESH

[January 2022]
i
 Letter of Transmittal

4th January, 2022

To,
The Supervisor
Department of EEE
European University of Bangladesh
Gabtoli, Dhaka-1216.

Subject: Submission of Project/Thesis/Internship report.

Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed the project report entitled Design & Implementation of A Digital
Oscilloscope. The study has been carried out in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

In carrying out the study, we have followed supervisor’s advice and collected required from
several text books, reference books, web sites and other sources. I/we think you will find it useful
and informative. We would be glad to furnish you further explanations or clarifications if
required.

Sincerely yours,

………………………….
Md. Hamimur Rahman
ID: 160316088

………………………….
Shamim Al Amin
ID: 170216065

………………………….
Arun tripura
ID: 180115012

………………………….
Md. Razu Mollah
ID: 180115021
ii
 Declaration

We do hereby solemnly declare that the work presented in this report entitled Design &
Implementation of A Digital Oscilloscope has been carried out by us and has not been
previously submitted to any other university, college or organization for an academic
qualification, certificate or diploma/degree.

We hereby warrant that the work that has been presented here does not breach any existing
copyright. We further undertake to indemnify the university against any loss or damage arising
from breach of the foregoing obligations.

Author/s

Md. Hamimur Rahman

Shamim Al Amin
Arun tripura
Md. Razu Mollah

iii
 EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADESH

Certificate

This is to certify that the report entitled Design & Implementation of A Digital Oscilloscope is
the valid record of the work done by Md. Hamimur Rahman, Shamim Al Amin, Arun tripura &
Md. Razu Mollah for partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of B.Sc. in Electrical
and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from European University of Bangladesh.

This work has been carried out under my guidance and is a bonafide record of valid works carried
out successfully.

Faculty Guide

___________________

Md. Abdur Rahman

Lecturer
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
European University of Bangladesh.

iv
 Acknowledgement

We would like to express our greatest gratitude to the people who helped and supported me/us
throughout this work. First and foremost, we would like to thank our honorable supervisor, Md.
Abdur Rahman, Lecturer, Department of EEE, for giving me/us enormous support, advices and
valued guidance concerning this thesis.

We are grateful to Prof. Md. Hazrat Ali, honorable Chairman, Department of EEE, Faculty of
Engineering, European University of Bangladesh (EUB) for his comments, encouragement and
support.

We are grateful to my/our respected coordinator Md. Saidur Rahman, Lecturer, Department of
EEE, Faculty of Engineering, European University of Bangladesh (EUB) for kindly agreeing to
examine my thesis.

Next, we would like to thank our family and friends for their valuable support to complete this
thesis.

Finally, we would like to express our heartiest gratefulness to Almighty Allah for His heavenly
blessings. Without his blessings it would not possible to complete our work successfully.

Thank you all

Author/s

v
 Executive Summary

The aim of this project is to understand and be able to use the basic function of an oscilloscope.
This includes the gain time base controls, triggering, AC-DC setting and voltage-time and
voltage-voltage modes. We should measure the amplitude and frequency periodic waveform and
determine the phase shift between two waveforms.

The result of this new development provides the output signal of different waveform which is
displayed on oscilloscope screen. We can move this signal left to right or right to left and up to
down or down to up as per our required. We should understand the experimental errors associated
with the use of our oscilloscope. This should give you a quick overview of the most important
features of the oscilloscope and the function generator as well as give you some practical
experience. The trainer will help you explore further if you want.

vi
 Table of Contents
Letter of Transmittal II
Declaration III
Certificate IV
Acknowledgement V
Executive Summery VI
Table of Figures IX

Chapter 1: Introduction 01-03

1.1 Introduction 02
1.2 Objectives 03

Chapter 2: Literature Review and Methodology 04-07

2.1 Literature Review 05

2.2 Methodology 06

Chapter 3: Hardware & Software Description 08-20

3.1 Introduction 09
3.2 Hardware Implementation 09
3.3 Probes 10
3.4 Types and Models 12
3.4.1 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope 12
3.4.2 Dual Beam Oscilloscope 13
3.4.3 Analog Storage oscilloscope 13
3.4.4 Digital Oscilloscope 13

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 3.4.5 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope 14
3.4.6 Mixed Domain Oscilloscope 14
3.4.7 Handheld Oscilloscope 15
3.5 Specifications 15
3.5.1 Bandwidth 15
3.5.2 Sample Rate 16
3.5.3 Memory Size/ Depth 17
3.5.4 Rise Time 18
3.5.5 Channels 19
3.5.6 Trigger 20

Chapter 4: System Design 21-30

4.1 Block Diagram 22

4.2 Working Procedure 24
4.2.1 Focus Control 24
4.2.2 Intensity Control 24
4.2.3 Astigmatism 24
4.2.4 Beam Finder 25
4.2.5 Graticule 25
4.2.6 Time Base Control 26
4.2.7 Hold off Control 26
4.2.8 Vertical Sensitivity, Coupling and Polarity control 27
4.2.9 Horizontal Sensitivity Control 27
4.2.10 Vertical Position Control 27
4.2.11 Horizontal Position Control 28
4.2.12 Dual Trace Control 28
4.2.13 Delayed Sweep Controls 29
4.2.14 Sweep Trigger Controls 29

viii
Chapter 5: Results 31-35

5.1 Application 32
5.2 Advantages 32
5.3 Disadvantages 32
5.4 Experimental Results 33

Chapter 6: Discussion and Conclusion 36-37

6.1 Discussion 37
6.2 Conclusion 37

References 38

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 List of Figures
Figure 3.1 Full Overview of Oscilloscope 09
Figure 3.2 Harmonic Relationship 12
Figure 3.3 Complex Signal 12
Figure 3.4 Digital Oscilloscope in Lab 13
Figure 3.5 Bandwidth 16
Figure 3.6 Sample Rate 17
Figure 3.7 Memory Depth 18
Figure 3.8 Rise Time 19
Figure 3.9 Channels 19
Figure 3.10 Trigger 20

Figure 4.1 Block Diagram of the Proposed system 22

Figure 4.2 Digital Oscilloscope flow Diagram 23
Figure 4.3 Timebase Time/Base 26
Figure 4.4 Vertical Position 27
Figure 4.5 Horizontal Position 28
Figure 4.6 Dual Trace 28

Figure 5.1 Digital Signal 33

Figure 5.2 Analog Signal 33
Figure 5.3 AC Hum On Sound 34
Figure 5.4 Bad Filter On Sine 34
Figure 5.5 Dual Trace 34
Figure 5.6 Sum of Low frequency and High Frequency 35
Figure 5.7 Heterodyne 35

x
 Chapter 1

Introduction

11
1.1 Introduction

The digital storage oscilloscope is an instrument which gives the storage of a digital
waveform or the digital copy of the waveform. It allows us to store the signal or the
waveform in the digital format, and in the digital memory also it allows us to do the digital
signal processing techniques over that signal. The maximum frequency measured on the
digital signal oscilloscope depends upon two things they are: sampling rate of the scope
and the nature of the converter. The traces in DSO are bright, highly defined, and
displayed within seconds.

In An oscilloscope, previously called an oscillograph, and informally known as

a scope or o-scope, CRO (for cathode-ray oscilloscope), or DSO (for the more
modern digital storage oscilloscope), is a type of electronic test instrument that
graphically displays varying signal voltages, usually as a calibrated two-dimensional plot
of one or more signals as a function of time. The displayed waveform can then be
analyzed for properties such as amplitude, frequency, rise time, time interval, distortion,
and others. Originally, calculation of these values required manually measuring the
waveform against the scales built into the screen of the instrument. Modern digital
instruments may calculate and display these properties directly.

The oscilloscope can be adjusted so that repetitive signals can be displayed as persistent
waveforms on the screen. A storage oscilloscope can capture a single event and display
it continuously, so the user can observe events that would otherwise appear too briefly to
be seen directly.

Oscilloscopes are used in the sciences, medicine, engineering, automotive and the
telecommunications industry. General-purpose instruments are used for maintenance of
electronic equipment and laboratory work. Special-purpose oscilloscopes may be used to
analyze an automotive ignition system or to display the waveform of the heartbeat as
an electrocardiogram, for instance.

Early oscilloscopes used cathode ray tubes (CRTs) as their display element (hence they
were often referred to as CROs) and linear amplifiers for signal processing. Storage
oscilloscopes used special storage CRTs to maintain a steady display of a single brief
12
signal. CROs were later largely superseded by digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs)
with thin panel displays, fast analog-to-digital converters and digital signal processors.
DSOs without integrated displays (sometimes known as digitizers) are available at lower
cost and use a general-purpose computer to process and display waveforms.

1.2 Objectives
• Upon completion of this experiment, you should understand and be able to use the
basic functions of an oscilloscope. These include the gain and time base controls,
triggering, AC/DC setting and voltage-time (y-t) and voltage-voltage (x-y) modes.
• You should be able to measure the amplitude and frequency of a periodic
waveform and to determine the phase shift between two waveforms.
• You should also understand the experimental errors associated with the use of an
oscilloscope.

13
 Chapter 2

Literature Review & Methodology

14
2.1 Literature Review
The Braun tube was known in 1897, and in 1899 Jonathan Zenneck equipped it with beam-
forming plates and a magnetic field for sweeping the trace. Early cathode ray tubes had
been applied experimentally to laboratory measurements as early as the 1920s, but suffered
from poor stability of the vacuum and the cathode emitters. V. K. Zworykin described a
permanently sealed, high-vacuum cathode ray tube with a thermionic emitter in 1931. This
stable and reproducible component allowed General Radio to manufacture an oscilloscope
that was usable outside a laboratory setting. After World War II surplus electronic parts
became the basis for the revival of HealthKit Corporation, and a $50 oscilloscope kit made
from such parts proved its premiere market success. The Cathode ray Oscilloscope
(C.R.O.) is a powerful tool used both for displaying and measuring electrical signals –
frequently ones which are varying too rapidly to be measured with a meter. The heart of an
oscilloscope is a cathode ray tube, similar to that used in a television. Electrons are emitted
by a heated filament, then focused into a beam and accelerated by a high voltage until they
strike a phosphor screen, where they give up their kinetic energy and emit a spot of light.
Voltages applied to pairs of metal plates can deflect the beam either horizontally or
vertically, so moving the spot on the screen. The oscilloscope is sensitive to external
voltages, which are connected to internal amplifiers via sockets on the front panel. The
primary use of an oscilloscope is to display the variation of one or two signals with time.
The vertical axis then displays a voltage while the horizontal one shows time. The scale of
the two axes is set by the gain and time-base controls. In order to obtain a steady state
display for a repetitive signal, the time-base may be synchronized to one of the input
signals. This is achieved using the trigger controls. A second mode of operation is known
as x-y display in which the voltage applied to one input is displayed as a function of the
voltage applied to the second input. In 1897, Karl Ferdinand Brawn invented an
oscilloscope. We know about the cathode ray oscilloscope which is used for the display
and analysis of different types of waveforms of electronic signals in the electronics and
electrical circuits. The DSO is also one type of oscilloscope, used to display the waveform,
but the difference between CRO and DSO is that in DSO, the digital signal is converted
into analog and that analog signal will be displayed on the screen of the digital storage
oscilloscope. In the conventional CRO, there is no procedure for the storage of the

15
waveform but in DSO, there is a digital memory that is going to store the digital copy of
the waveform. A brief explanation about DSO is explained below.

2.2 Methodology
An analog oscilloscope is typically divided into four sections: the display, vertical controls,
horizontal controls and trigger controls. The display is usually a CRT with horizontal and
vertical reference lines called the graticule. CRT displays also have controls for focus,
intensity, and beam finder.

The vertical section controls the amplitude of the displayed signal. This section has a volts-
per-division (Volts/Div) selector knob, an AC/DC/Ground selector switch, and the vertical
(primary) input for the instrument. Additionally, this section is typically equipped with the
vertical beam position knob.

The horizontal section controls the time base or "sweep" of the instrument. The primary
control is the Seconds-per-Division (Sec/Div) selector switch. Also included is a horizontal
input for plotting dual X-Y axis signals. The horizontal beam position knob is generally
located in this section.

The trigger section controls the start event of the sweep. The trigger can be set to
automatically restart after each sweep, or can be configured to respond to an internal or
external event. The principal controls of this section are the source and coupling selector
switches, and an external trigger input (EXT Input) and level adjustment.

In addition to the basic instrument, most oscilloscopes are supplied with a probe. The probe
connects to any input on the instrument and typically has a resistor of ten times the
oscilloscope's input impedance. This results in a .1 (-10X) attenuation factor; this helps to
isolate the capacitive load presented by the probe cable from the signal being measured.
Some probes have a switch allowing the operator to bypass the resistor when appropriate.

Most modern oscilloscopes are lightweight, portable instruments compact enough for a
single person to carry. In addition to portable units, the market offers a number of miniature
battery-powered instruments for field service applications. Laboratory grade oscilloscopes,

16
especially older units that use vacuum tubes, are generally bench-top devices or are
mounted on dedicated carts. Special-purpose oscilloscopes may be rack-mounted or
permanently mounted into a custom instrument housing.

17
 Chapter 3

Hardware and Software Description

18
3.1 Introduction
A digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) is an oscilloscope which stores and analyses the
input signal digitally rather than using analog techniques. It is now the most common type
of oscilloscope in use because of the advanced trigger, storage, display and measurement
features which it typically provides.

The input analogue signal is sampled and then converted into a digital record of the
amplitude of the signal at each sample time. The sampling frequency should be not less
than the Nyquist rate to avoid aliasing. These digital values are then turned back into an
analogue signal for display on a cathode ray tube (CRT), or transformed as needed for the
various possible types of output—liquid crystal display, chart recorder, plotter or network
interface.

Digital storage oscilloscope costs vary widely; bench-top self-contained instruments

(complete with displays) start at US$300 or even less, with high-performance models
selling for tens of thousands of dollars. Small, pocket-size models, limited in function,

3.2 Hardware Implementation

Figure 3.1: Full Overview of Oscilloscope

The signal to be measured is fed to one of the input connectors, which is usually a coaxial connector
such as a BNC or UHF type. Binding posts or banana plugs may be used for lower frequencies. If

19
the signal source has its own coaxial connector, then a simple coaxial cable is used; otherwise, a
specialized cable called a "scope probe", supplied with the oscilloscope, is used. In general, for
routine use, an open wire test lead for connecting to the point being observed is not satisfactory,
and a probe is generally necessary. General-purpose oscilloscopes usually present an input
impedance of 1 megohm in parallel with a small but known capacitance such as 20 picofarads. This
allows the use of standard oscilloscope probes. Scopes for use with very high frequencies may have
50-ohm inputs. These must be either connected directly to a 50-ohm signal source or used with
Z0 or active probes.

Less-frequently-used inputs include one (or two) for triggering the sweep, horizontal
deflection for X-Y mode displays, and trace brightening/darkening, sometimes
called z'-axis inputs.

3.3 Probes:
Open wire test leads (flying leads) are likely to pick up interference, so they are not suitable
for low level signals. Furthermore, the leads have a high inductance, so they are not suitable
for high frequencies. Using a shielded cable (i.e., coaxial cable) is better for low level
signals. Coaxial cable also has lower inductance, but it has higher capacitance: a typical
50-ohm cable has about 90 pF per meter. Consequently, a one-meter direct (1X) coaxial
probe loads a circuit with a capacitance of about 110 pF and a resistance of 1 megohm.

To minimize loading, attenuator probes (e.g., 10X probes) are used. A typical probe uses a
9 megohm series resistor shunted by a low-value capacitor to make an RC compensated
divider with the cable capacitance and scope input. The RC time constants are adjusted to
match. For example, the 9 megohm series resistor is shunted by a 12.2 pF capacitor for a
time constant of 110 microseconds. The cable capacitance of 90 pF in parallel with the
scope input of 20 pF and 1 megohm (total capacitance 110 pF) also gives a time constant
of 110 microseconds. In practice, there is an adjustment so the operator can precisely match
the low frequency time constant (called compensating the probe). Matching the time
constants makes the attenuation independent of frequency. At low frequencies (where the
resistance of R is much less than the reactance of C), the circuit looks like a resistive
divider; at high frequencies (resistance much greater than reactance), the circuit looks like
a capacitive divider.

The result is a frequency compensated probe for modest frequencies. It presents a load of
about 10 megohms shunted by 12 pF. Such a probe is an improvement, but does not work
well when the time scale shrinks to several cable transit times or less (transit time is
typically 5 ns). In that time frame, the cable looks like its characteristic impedance, and
reflections from the transmission line mismatch at the scope input and the probe causes
ringing. The modern scope probe uses lossy low capacitance transmission lines and
sophisticated frequency shaping networks to make the 10X probe perform well at several

20
hundred megahertz. Consequently, there are other adjustments for completing the
compensation.

Probes with 10:1 attenuation are by far the most common; for large signals (and slightly-
less capacitive loading), 100:1 probe may be used. There are also probes that contain
switches to select 10:1 or direct (1:1) ratios, but the latter setting has significant capacitance
(tens of pF) at the probe tip, because the whole cable's capacitance is then directly
connected.

Most oscilloscopes provide for probe attenuation factors, displaying the effective
sensitivity at the probe tip. Historically, some auto-sensing circuitry used indicator lamps
behind translucent windows in the panel to illuminate different parts of the sensitivity scale.
To do so, the probe connectors (modified BNCs) had an extra contact to define the probe's
attenuation. (A certain value of resistor, connected to ground, "encodes" the attenuation.)
Because probes wear out, and because the auto-sensing circuitry is not compatible between
different oscilloscopes makes, auto-sensing probe scaling is not foolproof. Likewise,
manually setting the probe attenuation is prone to user error. Setting the probe scaling
incorrectly is a common error, and throws the reading off by a factor of 10.

Special high voltage probes form compensated attenuators with the oscilloscope input.
These have a large probe body, and some require partly filling a canister surrounding the
series resistor with volatile liquid fluorocarbon to displace air. The oscilloscope end has a
box with several waveform-trimming adjustments. For safety, a barrier disc keeps the user's
fingers away from the point being examined. Maximum voltage is in the low tens of kV.
(Observing a high voltage ramp can create a staircase waveform with steps at different
points every repetition, until the probe tip is in contact. Until then, a tiny arc charges the
probe tip, and its capacitance holds the voltage (open circuit). As the voltage continues to
climb, another tiny arc charges the tip further.)

There are also current probes, with cores that surround the conductor carrying current to
be examined. One type has a hole for the conductor, and requires that the wire be passed
through the hole for semi-permanent or permanent mounting. However, other types, used
for temporary testing, have a two-part core that can be clamped around a wire. Inside the
probe, a coil wound around the core provides a current into an appropriate load, and the
voltage across that load is proportional to current. This type of probe only senses AC.

A more-sophisticated probe includes a magnetic flux sensor (Hall effect sensor) in the
magnetic circuit. The probe connects to an amplifier, which feeds (low frequency) current
into the coil to cancel the sensed field; the magnitude of the current provides the low-
frequency part of the current waveform, right down to DC. The coil still picks up high
frequencies. There is a combining network akin to a loudspeaker crossover.

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3.4 Types and models
The following section is a brief summary of various types and models available. For a
detailed discussion, refer to the other article.

3.4.1 Cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO)

Figure 3.2 Harmonic Relationship

Example of an analog oscilloscope Lissajous figure, showing a harmonic relationship of 1

horizontal oscillation cycle to 3 vertical oscillation cycles

Figure 3.3: Complex Signal

For analog television, an analog oscilloscope can be used as a vectors cope to analyze
complex signal properties, such as this display of SMPTE color bars.

The earliest and simplest type of oscilloscope consisted of a cathode ray tube, a
vertical amplifier, a time base, a horizontal amplifier and a power supply. These are now
called "analog" scopes to distinguish them from the "digital" scopes that became common
in the 1990s and later.

Analog scopes do not necessarily include a calibrated reference grid for size measurement
of waves, and they may not display waves in the traditional sense of a line segment
sweeping from left to right. Instead, they could be used for signal analysis by feeding a
reference signal into one axis and the signal to measure into the other axis. For an
oscillating reference and measurement signal, this results in a complex looping pattern

22
referred to as a Lissajous curve. The shape of the curve can be interpreted to identify
properties of the measurement signal in relation to the reference signal, and is useful across
a wide range of oscillation frequencies.

3.4.2 Dual-beam oscilloscope

The dual-beam analog oscilloscope can display two signals simultaneously. A special dual-
beam CRT generates and deflects two separate beams. Multi-trace analog oscilloscopes
can simulate a dual-beam display with chop and alternate sweeps—but those features do
not provide simultaneous displays. (Real time digital oscilloscopes offer the same benefits
of a dual-beam oscilloscope, but they do not require a dual-beam display.) The
disadvantages of the dual trace oscilloscope are that it cannot switch quickly between
traces, and cannot capture two fast transient events. A dual beam oscilloscope avoids those
problems.

3.4.3 Analog storage oscilloscope

Trace storage is an extra feature available on some analog scopes; they used direct-view
storage CRTs. Storage allows a trace pattern that normally would decay in a fraction of a
second to remain on the screen for several minutes or longer. An electrical circuit can then
be deliberately activated to store and erase the trace on the screen.

3.4.4 Digital oscilloscopes

Figure 3.4: Digital Oscilloscope in Lab

Digital 4-channel oscilloscope monitoring a boost converter

While analog devices use continually varying voltages, digital devices use numbers that
correspond to samples of the voltage. In the case of digital oscilloscopes, an analog-to-
digital converter (ADC) changes the measured voltages into digital information.

23
The digital storage oscilloscope, or DSO for short, is the standard type of oscilloscope
today for the majority of industrial applications, and thanks to the low costs of entry-level
oscilloscopes even for hobbyists. It replaces the electrostatic storage method in analog
storage scopes with digital memory, which stores sample data as long as required without
degradation and displays it without the brightness issues of storage-type CRTs. It also
allows complex processing of the signal by high-speed digital signal processing circuits.

A standard DSO is limited to capturing signals with a bandwidth of less than half the
sampling rate of the ADC (called the Nyquist limit). There is a variation of the DSO called
the digital sampling oscilloscope which can exceed this limit for certain types of signals,
such as high-speed communications signals, where the waveform consists of repeating
pulses. This type of DSO deliberately samples at a much lower frequency than the Nyquist
limit and then uses signal processing to reconstruct a composite view of a typical pulse.

3.4.5 Mixed-signal oscilloscopes

A mixed-signal oscilloscope (or MSO) has two kinds of inputs, a small number of analog
channels (typically two or four), and a larger number of digital channels (typically sixteen).
It provides the ability to accurately time-correlate analog and digital channels, thus offering
a distinct advantage over a separate oscilloscope and logic analyser. Typically, digital
channels may be grouped and displayed as a bus with each bus value displayed at the
bottom of the display in hex or binary. On most MSOs, the trigger can be set across both
analog and digital channels.

3.4.6 Mixed-domain oscilloscopes

A mixed-domain oscilloscope (MDO) is an oscilloscope that comes with an additional RF

input which is solely used for dedicated FFT-based spectrum analyzer functionality. Often,
this RF input offers a higher bandwidth than the conventional analog input channels. This
is in contrast to the FFT functionality of conventional digital oscilloscopes which use the
normal analog inputs. Some MDOs allow time-correlation of events in the time domain
(like a specific serial data package) with events happening in the frequency domain (like
RF transmissions).

24
3.4.7 Handheld oscilloscopes

Handheld oscilloscopes are useful for many test and field service applications. Today, a
hand-held oscilloscope is usually a digital sampling oscilloscope, using a liquid
crystal display.

Many hand-held and bench oscilloscopes have the ground reference voltage common to all
input channels. If more than one measurement channel is used at the same time, all the
input signals must have the same voltage reference, and the shared default reference is the
"earth". If there is no differential preamplifier or external signal isolator, this traditional
desktop oscilloscope is not suitable for floating measurements. (Occasionally an
oscilloscope user breaks the ground pin in the power supply cord of a bench-top
oscilloscope in an attempt to isolate the signal common from the earth ground. This practice
is unreliable since the entire stray capacitance of the instrument cabinet connects into the
circuit. It is also a hazard to break a safety ground connection, and instruction manuals
strongly advise against it.)

Some models of oscilloscope have isolated inputs, where the signal reference level
terminals are not connected together. Each input channel can be used to make a "floating"
measurement with an independent signal reference level. Measurements can be made
without tying one side of the oscilloscope input to the circuit signal common or ground
reference.

3.5 Specifications
With this article, you will learn the meaning of the most important specifications of an
oscilloscope in a simple and practical way.
The technical specifications of an oscilloscope can easily fill several pages in table format.
Similar to when you are looking for a new car or a new computer, you should focus on
what is important first, because the details matter a lot less. Your objective is to find an
oscilloscope that fits your budget, and allows you to measure the things that you want to
measure. Oscilloscope specifications can be daunting.

3.5.1 Bandwidth
Probably the most important specification of an oscilloscope is its bandwidth. The
bandwidth of the scope governs the maximum frequency of the signal that it can capture
and analyze.

25
As the frequency of the signal gets closer to the maximum frequency that the oscilloscope
can work with, its accuracy drops.

Figure 3.5: Bandwidth

The bandwidth of the scope governs the maximum frequency of the signal that it can
capture and analyze. To figure out what bandwidth your oscilloscope should be, use the
rule of 5:"figure out what is the highest frequency in a test signal you’d like to measure,
and multiply it by 5."That’s your oscilloscope bandwidth. For example, if you want to work
with an at its’ maximum 20MhZ clock speed, you will need an oscilloscope that is rated at
100MhZ. Beware though that this is the Arduino internal clock speed. If you want to work
with Arduino PWM signals, then their frequency is just 490 Hz. Or if you want to work
with I2C communications between an Arduino and a sensor, you will typically work at
100KHz. So, you can see that even at 20Mhz or 50Mhz of bandwidth, your oscilloscope is
perfectly capable to work with most of the kind of signals you are likely to encounter.
3.5.2 Sample rate
The next important specification of an oscilloscope is its sample rate. The sample rate is
the number of samples that the oscilloscope is capable of capturing per second. Obviously,
the more, the better. But higher sample rates require more and faster memory to store, and
faster electronics and processor to capture and process, driving up the price of the
instrument.

26
 Figure 3.6: Sample Rate
The sample rate is the number of samples that the oscilloscope is capable of capturing per
second.
As with the bandwidth and other technical decisions we are often called to make, we need
to choose an instrument with a sample rate that is good enough for our purposes.
A rule of thumb is to multiply the highest frequency you are likely to encounter in your
work with the oscilloscope, and multiply by 2.5.
For example, if you want to work with an I2C signal at 100KHz, multiplying this frequency
by 2.5 will give you a sample rate of 250,000 samples per second. Most digital
oscilloscopes these days can easily handle this.

3.5.3 Memory size/depth

Very closely related to the oscilloscope sample rate is its memory size. As the oscilloscope
samples the signal from the test circuit, it stores the waveform data in its memory.
Manufacturers report the memory size of their oscilloscopes using the term “memory
depth”, and instead of using the regular byte unit, they use the “points” unit.
An oscilloscope that is quoted to have a memory depth of 54 Mpts can record a total of 54
million samples in its memory. This is divided among the input channels. So, if your
oscilloscope has a memory depth of 54 million points, and you are recording on two
channels, then each channel will have a memory depth of 54/2 = 28 million points.

27
 Figure 3.7: Memory Depth
Manufacturers report the memory size of their oscilloscopes using the term “memory
depth”, and instead of using the regular byte unit, they use the “points” unit.
Of course, memory depth and sample rate go hand in hand. As the sample rate increases,
the oscilloscope will need a larger memory to be able to record events that take place within
a unit of time.
This about this: Say you want to record a waveform as it changes within 1 second. If your
sample rate is 1000 samples per second, then you will need a memory with depth of 1000
points to store all samples. But if your oscilloscope is double as fast and can sample at 2000
samples per second, then you will need a memory depth of 2000 sample to do a full
recording for the 1 second event.
Because of the close relation between the sample rate and the memory depth, modern
oscilloscopes will automatically manage the sample rate depending on the time scale you
have chosen so that the available memory is always filled.
3.5.4 Rise time
The Rise time of an oscilloscope describes the ability of the instrument to detect and
capture rapidly rising and falling signals. This is particularly important when we work with
square waves that have very sharp edges. A square wave can rise from 0V to 5V within
nanoseconds.

28
 Figure 3.8: Rise Time
The Rise time of an oscilloscope describes the ability of the instrument to detect and
capture rapidly rising and falling signals.
For the oscilloscope to be able to display the waveform of such signal precisely, it must be
able to detect such rapid changes.
For example, my oscilloscope has a rise time of 5 nano seconds, which means that the
fastest rise time it can detect is 5 nano seconds.

3.5.5 Channels
Oscilloscopes typically offer 2 or 4 channels.
Each channel has a separate connector where you can attach a probe, and through this probe
to monitor a signal.

Figure 3.9: Channels

Each channel has a separate connector where you can attach a probe, and through this probe
to monitor a signal.
An oscilloscope with 2 channels allows you to work with two signals at the same time, and
decode data that flow in up to two wires (such as UART serial and I2C).
29
An oscilloscope with 4 channels allows you to work with up to four signals at the same
time, and decode data that flow in up to four wires, such as SPI or a 4-bit parallel bus.
More channels can translate to a need for a larger memory depth and of course cost.

3.5.6 Trigger
The trigger of an oscilloscope is fundamental to its operation. The trigger is the mechanism
through which the oscilloscope can recognize a specific attribute of the input signal. Based
on this attribute, the oscilloscope can achieve synchronization.
You know that the oscilloscope is in synch when the graphical representation of the signal
on the screen is clear and stable.

Figure 3.10: Trigger

The trigger is the mechanism through which the oscilloscope can recognize a specific
attribute of the input signal.
At the very least, a digital oscilloscope should be able to recognize an edge, upslope or
down slope.
But in many cases, oscilloscopes can detect many different kinds of attributes of a signal.
For example, my oscilloscope can detect edges, pulses, and runts, among many others, all
of them configurable to very precise specifications. You will be spending a lot of time to
configure the trigger before each experiment in this course.

30
 Chapter 4

System Design

31
4.1 Block Diagram
In this chapter, we are going to explain the system design construction through hardware
and development of software. the block diagram of the digital storage oscilloscope consists
of an amplifier, digitizer, memory, analyzer circuitry. Waveform reconstruction, vertical
plates, horizontal plates, cathode ray tube (CRT), horizontal amplifier, time base circuitry,
trigger, and clock. The block diagram of the digital storage oscilloscope is shown in the
below figure.

Figure 4.1: Block diagram of the proposed system

The As seen in the above figure, at first digital storage oscilloscope digitizes the analog
input signal, then the analog input signal is amplified by amplifier if it has any weak signal.
After amplification, the signal is digitized by the digitizer and that digitized signal stores
in memory. The analyzer circuit process the digital signal after that the waveform is
reconstructed (again the digital signal is converted into an analog form) and then that signal
is applied to vertical plates of the cathode ray tube (CRT).
The cathode ray tube has two inputs they are vertical input and horizontal input. The
vertical input signal is the ‘Y’ axis and the horizontal input signal is the ‘X’ axis. The time
base circuit is triggered by the trigger and clock input signal, so it is going to generate the
time base signal which is a ramp signal. Then the ramp signal is amplified by the horizontal
amplifier, and this horizontal amplifier will provide input to the horizontal plate. On the
CRT screen, we will get the waveform of the input signal versus time.
The digitizing occurs by taking a sample of the input waveform at periodic intervals. At
the periodic time interval means, when half of the time cycle is completed then we are

32
taking the samples of the signal. The process of digitizing or sampling should follow the
sampling theorem. The sampling theorem says that the rate at which the samples are taken
should be greater than twice the highest frequency present in the input signal. When the
analog signal is not properly converted into digital then there occurs an aliasing effect.
When the analog signal is properly converted into digital then the resolution of the A/D
converter will be decreased. When the input signals stored in analog store registers can be
read out at a much slower rate by the A/D converter, then the digital output of the A/D
converter stored in the digital store, and it allows operation up to 100 mega samples per
second. This is the working principle of a digital storage oscilloscope.

Figure 4.2: Digital Oscilloscope flow Diagram

In A simplified block diagram of a digital storage oscilloscope is shown below. The input
circuitry of the DSO and probes used for the measurement are the same as the conventional
oscilloscopes. The input is attenuated and amplified with the input amplifiers as in any
oscilloscope. This is done to scale the input signal so that the dynamic range of the A/D
converter can be utilized maximally. Many DSOs can also operate in a conventional mode,
bypassing the digitizing and storing features. The output of the input amplifier drives the
trigger circuit that provides signal to the control logic. It is also sampled under the control

33
of the control logic. The sample and hold circuit take the sample and stores it as a charge
on a capacitor. Hence, the value of the signal is kept constant during the analog to digital
conversion. The analog to digital converter (A/D) generates a binary code related to the
magnitude of the sampled signal. The speed of the A/D converter is important and “flash”
converters are mostly used. The binary code from the A/D converter is stored in the
memory. The memory consists of a bank of random-access memory (RAM) integrated
circuits (ICs).

4.2 Working Procedure

4.2.1 Focus control
This control adjusts CRT focus to obtain the sharpest, most-detailed trace. In practice,
focus must be adjusted slightly when observing very different signals, so it must be an
external control. The control varies the voltage applied to a focusing anode within the CRT.
Flat-panel displays do not need this control.

4.2.2 Intensity control

This adjusts trace brightness. Slow traces on CRT oscilloscopes need less, and fast ones,
especially if not often repeated, require more brightness. On flat panels, however, trace
brightness is essentially independent of sweep speed, because the internal signal processing
effectively synthesizes the display from the digitized data.

4.2.3 Astigmatism
This control may instead be called "shape" or "spot shape". It adjusts the voltage on the
last CRT anode (immediately next to the Y deflection plates). For a circular spot, the final
anode must be at the same potential as both of the Y-plates (for a centered spot the Y-plate
voltages must be the same). If the anode is made more positive, the spot becomes elliptical
in the X-plane as the more negative Y-plates will repel the beam. If the anode is made more
negative, the spot becomes elliptical in the Y-plane as the more positive Y-plates will
attract the beam. This control may be absent from simpler oscilloscope designs or may
even be an internal control. It is not necessary with flat panel displays.

34
4.2.4 Beam finder
Modern oscilloscopes have direct-coupled deflection amplifiers, which means the trace
could be deflected off-screen. They also might have their beam blanked without the
operator knowing it. To help in restoring a visible display, the beam finder circuit overrides
any blanking and limits the beam deflected to the visible portion of the screen. Beam-finder
circuits often distort the trace while activated.

4.2.5 Graticule
The graticule is a grid of lines that serve as reference marks for measuring the displayed
trace. These markings, whether located directly on the screen or on a removable plastic
filter, usually consist of a 1 cm grid with closer tick marks (often at 2 mm) on the centre
vertical and horizontal axis. One expects to see ten major divisions across the screen; the
number of vertical major divisions varies. Comparing the grid markings with the waveform
permits one to measure both voltage (vertical axis) and time (horizontal axis). Frequency
can also be determined by measuring the waveform period and calculating its reciprocal.

On old and lower-cost CRT oscilloscopes the graticule is a sheet of plastic, often with light-
diffusing markings and concealed lamps at the edge of the graticule. The lamps had a
brightness control. Higher-cost instruments have the graticule marked on the inside face of
the CRT, to eliminate parallax errors; better ones also had adjustable edge illumination
with diffusing markings. (Diffusing markings appear bright.) Digital oscilloscopes,
however, generate the graticule markings on the display in the same way as the trace.
External graticules also protect the glass face of the CRT from accidental impact. Some
CRT oscilloscopes with internal graticules have an unmarked tinted sheet plastic light filter
to enhance trace contrast; this also serves to protect the faceplate of the CRT.
Accuracy and resolution of measurements using a graticule is relatively limited; better
instruments sometimes have movable bright markers on the trace. These permit internal
circuits to make more refined measurements.
Both calibrated vertical sensitivity and calibrated horizontal time are set in 1 – 2 – 5 –
10 steps. This leads, however, to some awkward interpretations of minor divisions.

35
Digital oscilloscopes generate the graticule digitally. The scale, spacing, etc., of the
graticule can therefore be varied, and accuracy of readings may be improved.

4.2.6 Time base controls

Figure 4.3: Time base Time/Division

Computer model of the impact of increasing the time base time/division
These select the horizontal speed of the CRT's spot as it creates the trace; this process is
commonly referred to as the sweep. In all but the least-costly modern oscilloscopes, the
sweep speed is selectable and calibrated in units of time per major graticule division. Quite
a wide range of sweep speeds is generally provided, from seconds to as fast as picoseconds
(in the fastest) per division. Usually, a continuously-variable control (often a knob in front
of the calibrated selector knob) offers uncalibrated speeds, typically slower than calibrated.
This control provides a range somewhat greater than the calibrated steps, making any speed
between the steps available.

4.2.7 Holdoff control

Some higher-end analog oscilloscopes have a holdoff control. This sets a time after a
trigger during which the sweep circuit cannot be triggered again. It helps provide a stable
display of a repetitive events in which some triggers would create confusing displays. It is
usually set to minimum, because a longer time decreases the number of sweeps per second,
resulting in a dimmer trace. See Holdoff for a more detailed description.
4.2.8 Vertical sensitivity, coupling, and polarity controls
To accommodate a wide range of input amplitudes, a switch selects calibrated sensitivity
of the vertical deflection. Another control, often in front of the calibrated selector knob,
offers a continuously variable sensitivity over a limited range from calibrated to less-
sensitive settings.

36
Often the observed signal is offset by a steady component, and only the changes are of
interest. An input coupling switch in the "AC" position connects a capacitor in series with
the input that blocks low-frequency signals and DC. However, when the signal has a fixed
offset of interest, or changes slowly, the user will usually prefer "DC" coupling, which
bypasses any such capacitor. Most oscilloscopes offer the DC input option. For
convenience, to see where zero volts input currently shows on the screen, many
oscilloscopes have a third switch position (usually labeled "GND" for ground) that
disconnects the input and grounds it. Often, in this case, the user centers the trace with the
vertical position control. Better oscilloscopes have a polarity selector. Normally, a positive
input moves the trace upward; the polarity selector offers an "inverting" option, in which a
positive-going signal deflects the trace downward.

4.2.9 Horizontal sensitivity control

This control is found only on more elaborate oscilloscopes; it offers adjustable sensitivity
for external horizontal inputs. It is only active when the instrument is in X-Y mode, i.e.,
the internal horizontal sweep is turned off.

4.2.10 Vertical position control

Figure 4.4: Vertical Position

Computer model of vertical position y offset varying in a sine wave
The vertical position control moves the whole displayed trace up and down. It is used to
set the no-input trace exactly on the center line of the graticule, but also permits offsetting
vertically by a limited amount. With direct coupling, adjustment of this control can
compensate for a limited DC component of an input.

37
4.2.11 Horizontal position control

Figure 4.5: Horizontal Position

Computer model of horizontal position control from x offset increasing. The horizontal
position control moves the display sidewise. It usually sets the left end of the trace at the
left edge of the graticule, but it can displace the whole trace when desired. This control
also moves the X-Y mode traces sidewise in some instruments, and can compensate for a
limited DC component as for vertical position.

4.2.12 Dual-trace controls

Figure 4.6: Dual-Trace

Dual-trace controls green trace = y = 30 sin (0.1t) + 0.5 teal trace = y = 30 sin (0.3t)
Each input channel usually has its own set of sensitivity, coupling, and position controls,
though some four-trace oscilloscopes have only minimal controls for their third and fourth
channels.
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. When both
channels are displayed, the type of channel switching can be selected on some
oscilloscopes; on others, the type depends upon time base setting. If manually selectable,
channel switching can be free-running (asynchronous), or between consecutive sweeps.

38
Some Philips dual-trace analog oscilloscopes had a fast analog multiplier, and provided a
display of the product of the input channels.
Multiple-trace oscilloscopes have a switch for each channel to enable or disable display of
the channel's trace.

4.2.13 Delayed-sweep controls

These include controls for the delayed-sweep time base, which is calibrated, and often also
variable. The slowest speed is several steps faster than the slowest main sweep speed,
though the fastest is generally the same. A calibrated multiturn delay time control offers
wide range, high resolution delay settings; it spans the full duration of the main sweep, and
its reading corresponds to graticule divisions (but with much finer precision). Its accuracy
is also superior to that of the display.
A switch selects display modes: Main sweep only, with a brightened region showing when
the delayed sweep is advancing, delayed sweep only, or (on some) a combination mode.
Good CRT oscilloscopes include a delayed-sweep intensity control, to allow for the
dimmer trace of a much-faster delayed sweep which nevertheless occurs only once per
main sweep. Such oscilloscopes also are likely to have a trace separation control for
multiplexed display of both the main and delayed sweeps together.

4.2.14 Sweep trigger controls

A switch selects the trigger source. It can be an external input, one of the vertical channels
of a dual or multiple-trace oscilloscope, or the AC line (mains) frequency. Another switch
enables or disables auto trigger mode, or selects single sweep, if provided in the
oscilloscope. Either a spring-return switch position or a pushbutton arm single sweep. A
trigger level control varies the voltage required to generate a trigger, and the slope switch
selects positive-going or negative-going polarity at the selected trigger level.

39
 Chapter 5

Results & Discussions

40
5.1 Experimental Results
In this part of this proposal we discuss about our project output results.

Figure 5.1: Digital Signal

Figure 5.2: Analog Signal

41
Figure 5.3: AC hum on sound

Figure 5.4: Bad Filter on sine

Figure 5.5: Dual Trace

42
Figure 5.6: Sum of low frequency and High frequency

Figure 5.7: Heterodyne

43
Chapter 6

Conclusion

44
6.1 Applications
The applications of the DSO are
• It checks faulty components in circuits
• Used in the medical field
• Used to measure capacitor, inductance, time interval between signals, frequency
and time period
• Used to observe transistors and diodes V-I characteristics
• Used to analyze TV waveforms
• Used in video and audio recording equipment’s
• Used in designing
• Used in the research field
• For comparison purpose, it displays 3D figure or multiple waveforms
• It is widely used an oscilloscope

6.2 Advantages
The advantages of the DSO are
• Portable
• Have the highest bandwidth
• The user interface is simple
• Speed is high

6.3 Disadvantages
The disadvantages of the DSO are
• Complex
• High cost

45
6.4 Conclusion
This paper elaborates the design and construction of a digital oscilloscope. This should
give us a quick overview of the most important features of the oscilloscope and the function
generator as well as give us some practical experience.

46
 REFERENCES
[1] How the Cathode Ray Oscillograph Is Used in Radio Servicing Archived 2013-05-24 at
the Wayback Machine, National Radio Institute (1943)

[2] "Cathode-Ray Oscillograph 274A Equipment DuMont Labs, Allen B" (in German).
Radiomuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-03-15.

[3] Jump up to: Kularatna, Nihal (2003), "Fundamentals of Oscilloscopes", Digital and
Analogue Instrumentation: Testing and Measurement, Institution of Engineering and
Technology, pp. 165–208, ISBN 978-0-85296-999-1

[4] Marton, L. (1980). "Ferdinand Braun: Forgotten Forefather". In Suesskind, Charles

(ed.). Advances in electronics and electron physics. 50. Academic Press. p. 252. ISBN 978-
0-12-014650-5. Archived from the original on 2014-05-03. occurs first in a pair of later
papers by Zenneck (1899a,b)

[5] The 20 picofarad value is typical for scope bandwidths around 100 MHz; for example, a
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see also Tektronix (1998, p. 503), "typical high Z 10X passive probe model".) Lower
bandwidth scopes used higher capacitances; the 1 MHz Tektronix 7A22 input impedance
is 1M and 47 pF. (Tektronix 1983, pp. 272–273) Higher bandwidth scopes use smaller
capacitances. The 500 MHz Tektronix TDS510A input impedance is 1M and 10 pF.
(Tektronix 1998, p. 78)

[6] Probes are designed for a specific input impedance. They have compensation adjustments
with a limited range, so they often cannot be used on different input impedances.

[7] Wedlock & Roberge (1969)

[8] Kobbe & Polits (1959)

[9] Tektronix (1983, p. 426); Tek claims 300 MHz resistive coax at 30 pF per meter; schematic
has 5 adjustments.

[10] Zeidlhack & White (1970)

[11] Jones, David. "Oscilloscope Trigger Holdoff Tutorial". EEVblog. Archived from the
original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2012.

[12] Nosowitz, Dan (2008-11-08). "'Tennis for Two', the World's First Graphical
Videogame". Retromodo. Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07.
Retrieved 2008-11-09.

[13] Jump up to:a b Webster, John G. (1999). The Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors
Handbook (illustrated ed.). Springer. pp. 37–24. ISBN 978-3540648307.

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[14] Spitzer, Frank; Howarth, Barry (1972), Principles of modern Instrumentation, New York:
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, p. 119 , ISBN 0-03-080208-3

[15] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02.
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[16] Jones, David. "DSO Tutorial". EEVblog. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013.
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[17] "Minimum Required Sample Rate for a 1-GHz Bandwidth

Oscilloscope" (PDF). keysight.com. Keysight Technologies. Archived (PDF) from the
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[18] Green, Leslie (June 21, 2001), "The alias theorems: practical undersampling for expert
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