CRO Practical SPTG

Introduction to
oscilloscope
Introduction to oscilloscope/ Signal Processing
Aim: To study cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) and perform basic operation using
CRO.
Objective:
To become familiar with the operation of a cathode-ray oscilloscope, and to
use it to measure frequencies and voltages.
To Calibrate CRO using time/div and volts/div controls to measure
frequencies and voltages.
To study Lissajous patterns in XY mode.
Apparatus:
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope or Digital Storage Oscilloscope, function generator,
BNC cables and impedance matching connectors.
Information about CRO:
The cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) is a common laboratory instrument that

provides accurate time and aplitude measurements of voltage signals over a wide range of
frequencies. Its reliability, stability, and ease of operation make it suitable as a general
purpose laboratory instrument. The heart of the CRO is a cathode-ray tube shown
schematically in Fig. 1.
The cathode ray is a

beam of electrons which are
emitted by the heated cathode
(negative electrode) and
accelerated toward the
fluorescent screen. The
assembly of the cathode,
intensity grid, focus grid, and
accelerating anode (positive
electrode) is called an electron
gun. Its purpose is to generate
the electron beam and control
its intensity and focus. Between the electron gun and the fluorescent screen there are two
pair of metal plates - one oriented to provide horizontal deflection of the beam and one
pair oriented to give vertical deflection to the beam. These plates are thus referred to as
the horizontal and vertical deflection plates. The combination of these two deflections
allows the beam to reach any portion of the fluorescent screen. Wherever the electron
beam hits the screen, the phosphor is excited and light is emitted from that point. This
conversion of electron energy into light allows us to write with points or lines of light on
an otherwise darkened screen.
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope is generally used to study the i/p signal by producing
visible patterns, or graphs, on a phosphorescent screen. The graphs plot the relationships
between two or more variables, with the horizontal axis normally being a function of time
and the vertical axis usually a function of the voltage generated by the input signal to the
oscilloscope. Because almost any physical phenomenon can be converted into a
corresponding electric voltage through the use of a transducer, the oscilloscope is a
versatile tool in all forms of physical investigation. The German physicist Ferdinand
Braun developed the first cathode-ray oscilloscope in 1897.
Procedure:
1. Apply known frequency and amplitude to the channel of a CRO. Set one position
of time/div and volts/div controls. Measure it by calculating no. of horizontal
and no. of vertical division. If applied waveform doesn’t match with measured
waveform, we need to calibrate it. Calibrate by rotating central calibration
control until measured value becomes true.
2. Digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) has fixed calibration. Calibration is not
required at user level. Just press ‘Auto Set’ button in DSO to get proper output
after applying waveform.
3. Apply unknown frequency and amplitude to the channel of a CRO. Set one
position of time/div and volts/div controls. Measure it by calculating no. of
horizontal and no. of vertical division.
4. Apply different type of waveform (Sine, Square, Triangular, etc) using function
generator. Measure f and V for each case and observe variations.
5. Apply two different waves to CRO at channel-1 and channel-2. Set CRO in ‘Dual’
mode and see two waveforms simultaneously.
6. Set CRO in XY mode and see Lissajous pattern. Draw Lissajous pattern in
observation table.
Observation Table:
1. Measurement Of frequency (f) and Voltage (V)

No. of No. of
Time/Div Volts/Div
Horizontal Frequency vertical Volt
Position Position
Div Div
2. Lissajous Pattern
Input to Input to Visible pattern in XY mode
channel-1 channel-2
Calculation:
Frequency
Move the main sweep time/div dial until you have only a few complete cycles
across the CRO face in the horizontal direction. Measure the distance from one
peak to the next on the scale on the CRO face.
That gives the period T of the AC signal;
Frequency is then f = 1/T.
Thus if the dial is set for a sweep time of 10 ms/div, and you measure exactly 1
large division between two consecutive peaks of the signal, then
T = 10 ms/div x 1 div = 10 ms
and
f = 1/T =1/(10 x 10-3 s)= 100 Hz
Amplitude
Move the main Volts/div dial until you have only a good visibility of waveform
amplitude and its peak to peak value. Measure the distance from ground to peak
or peak to peak on the scale on the CRO face.
That gives the amplitude of the AC signal;
Thus if the dial is set for a sweep time of 0.5 V/div, and you measure exactly 4
large division from ground to peak (or 8 division peak to peak) on the scale on
the CRO face then
V = 0.5 V/div x 4 div = 2V peak Value (or V = 0.5 V/div x 8 div = 4V peak to peak)
Conclusion:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________.

CRO Practical SPTG

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CRO Practical SPTG

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CRO Practical SPTG

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Introduction to

Information about CRO:

The cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) is a common laboratory instrument that

The cathode ray is a

1. Measurement Of frequency (f) and Voltage (V)

You might also like