Experiment 2

Oscilloscope and Function Generator

I. Purpose
A. Familiar with how to use the oscilloscope.

B. Familiar with how to use the function generator.

II. Principle Description

A. Oscilloscope:

The oscilloscope is mainly used to measure voltage or current by specific probes and display the
acquired time-domain waveforms on the screen. In addition to the direct measurement results, the
measured waveforms can also be mathematically manipulated, such as: addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division, et al.

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(1) Introduction of the panel and the functions:

1. The waveform captured by the probes as well as the mathematically treated results will be
displayed on the screen.
2. The knob functions like the up/down keys. It is useful for larger range adjustment.
3. These function selection buttons are used to selection some advanced functions associated
with the oscilloscope measurement, such as the selection of automatic measurement
(Measure), marking of the horizontal/vertical axes (Cursor) ....
Among them, the “Measure” function provides:
➢ Peak-to-peak, maximum and minimum values
➢ Average value
➢ RMS value
➢ Frequency, period
➢ Positive pulse-width, negative pulse-width
➢ Rise time, fall time
➢ Phase difference
Oscilloscopes are used to find the instantaneous voltage or current results over time.
Therefore, some calculation results about magnitude or time period are required. If “Measure”
function is to be applied:
Press “Measure” > select “Display All” in the bottom menu > select the signal source in the
right menu. Then the results of voltage and time related measurements will be displayed on
the screen.
※Note: When using Measure function, the whole waveform (peak-peak) must be within the
oscilloscope screen and more cycle numbers is preferred. This is because Measure utilizes the
waveform within the oscilloscope screen for related calculations. For example, as the average
value is to be calculated, if there are only few cycles (like one or two) appear within the
oscilloscope screen, the average value of the waveform may not be adequate to represent the
whole signal.
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4. Adjust the measured waveform.
(a) “Autoset” will automatically adjusts the input signal at the best view position of the panel.
The following parameters will be adjusted:
 Vertical scale
 Horizontal scale
 Trigger source channel
There are two operation modes for the auto setting function: Fit Screen mode and AC
priority mode.
 Fit Screen mode: Adjusts the waveform to the optimal ratio, including all DC
components (offset)
 AC priority mode: The waveform is scaled to display after removing DC components.
(b) “Run/Stop” is to resume/pause the waveform capturing and screen refreshing.
(c) “Single” means waveform will be captured immediately as triggering condition is
satisfied; however, it will capture waveforms only once and then the screen is standstill.
This function is useful to catch waveforms with some special and seldom happening
condition, e.g. abnormal voltage overshoot.
5. The left-side knob is to adjust the horizontal position of the waveform. The right-side knob
adjusts the duration time of each horizontal grid of the screen; therefore, the total recorded
waveform length changed accordingly.
“Zoom” is to zoom in on a specific area.
6. These are used to adjust the setting of vertical axis for each channel. The upper knob adjusts
the vertical position of the waveform; the lower knob adjusts the magnitude of each vertical
grid. “Math” is to select any two measured waveforms to perform selected mathematical
operations. Push either one of the channel buttons can initialize the setting of probe
multiplication ratio, coupling mode, etc.
Coupling mode:
 DC: The complete components are included in the waveform (i.e. the waveform contains
DC and AC components)
 AC: Inside the oscilloscope, a coupling capacitor will be included in the signal processing
path, so that the DC component of the waveform is eliminated (remember that DC
signal cannot flow through a capacitor), therefore only the AC component will be
displayed on the oscilloscope (AC component definitely means that its average is 0).
 GND: Grounding the channel; therefore, a horizontal line lies on zero level would be
observed, which indicates that there is no any non-zero signal at all. You can check
whether the zero waveform really stays at 0V through GND coupling mode. This
mode can be used to check normality of the oscilloscope channel.

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 7. Trigger setting
“Level” is to adjust the trigger level. When the signal level of the selected trigger source
reaches the selected trigger level, the oscilloscope starts to capture the waveform.
Trigger mode:
 Auto Trigger: When the trigger condition is not satisfied, the oscilloscope will
automatically generate a trigger signal, so that the waveform display can be continuously
refreshed. However, it is very likely that the waveform will and then further set the trigger
condition more accurately.
 Normal Trigger: The waveform on the screen will be updated only when the waveform
meets the trigger condition; otherwise remains displaying the previous screen frame. This
is usually used to capture signals with high repetitiveness.
 Single Trigger: Simply imagine that, this is a kind of “Normal Trigger”, but only trigger
once. As explained earlier, the screen will be frozen afterwards.
 Trigger conditions:
A commonly employed condition is “Edge Trigger”. This is a voltage induced trigger
condition, if the signal exceeds/drops beyond, the trigger level, it will be triggered. There is
positive edge, negative edge, unlimited (including both positive and negative edges).
8. Probe calibration output: This channel will generate output of 1 kHz, 5 V square wave. (By
code, probe should be Calibrated before usage).
9. Measuring probe is connected here.
10. USB plug (for inserting USB flash drives) Procedures to save data into USB drives:
Utility ＞ Hardcopy Menu ＞ Function ＞ Save Image/Save All ＞ InkSaver ＞ On/Off ＞ Insert USB
flash drive＞Save data by Hardcopy
(2) Display in XY mode: (Refer to GDS-2000A Series User's Manual)
The Lissajous curve or transfer function characteristics of the circuit can be sketched. This
mode can be used to measure the characteristic curves of output to input voltages.

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 Refer to Digital Storage Oscilloscope GDS-2000A Series User's Manual:

https://www.gwinstek.com/zh-TW/products/downloadSeriesDownNew/867/95

B. Function generator:

A function generator can generate triangular, square, or sine waves. It is also possible to include
DC offset in the output waveform, or adjust the duty cycle of the waveform.

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(1) Output waveform setting indication area

(2) Setting buttons, from top to bottom:
1. “FUNC”: for output waveform type:
 Sine wave
 Triangular wave: If duty cycle is 50%, a triangular waveform is produced; while duty
cycle of 0% or 100%, forms a sawtooth waveform.

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  Square wave

2. Signal frequency: Key in the required frequency and punch the frequency unit (Depending on
whether you want Hz, or kHz) button, then the setting is completed.

3. AMPL: Set the amplitude of output signal. Key in the amplitude, and to select the amplitude
type (Peak-to-peak, or RMS), then the setting is completed. (The maximum amplitude can be
up to 20Vp-p)

4. OFST: DC offset of the output signal.

5. Duty: The ratio of high-level interval over signal period. Adjust the Duty knob to adjust the
duty cycle of the waveform.
For triangular waveform, adjust the “Duty” can turn the waveform into a sawtooth wave;
while for square waveform, adjust the “Duty” change the duty cycle of the waveform.

(3) Keypad
(4) Main output plug
(5) Output button: When the parameter setting is finished, click this key to output the signal.

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 Refer to Arbitrary Function Generator AFG-2000 Series USER MANUAL

http://www.phys.uconn.edu/~eyler/phys3150/R/Instek%20AFG-21xx%20user%20manual.pdf

III. Experimental Steps

A. Waveform observation of the function generator
(1) Connect the output of the function generator to the oscilloscope

(2) Adjust the output setting of the function generator

(3) Obtain the following function generator output waveforms shown on the oscilloscope by
taking photos. (The waveform usually can be more clearly analyzed if the waveform is
displayed in 2 to 3 cycles in the screen, and the whole waveform is vertically displayed in 6
DIVs)

1. Square wave: with frequency of 100 kHz, Vp-p: 5 V, Duty: 30%, OFFSET: 0 V Vertical
axis scale __1___ V/DIV, Horizontal axis scale ____5___ μs/ DIV.

2. Sine wave with frequency of 50 kHz, Vp-p: 4 V, OFFSET: 2 V Vertical axis scale ___1__
V/DIV, Horizontal axis scale ____5___ μs/ DIV.

3. As follows, set OFFSET to: - 2 V. What about the waveform? Vertical axis scale ____1__
V/DIV, Timebase scale ___5____ μs/ DIV.

4. Set the oscilloscope to AC coupling. What happens to the waveform? Vertical axis scale
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 ____1___V/DIV, Horizontal axis scale___5___ μs/ DIV.

5. Please describe how the waveform changes after setting AC coupling on the oscilloscope:

_The___X-axis___on___the___oscilloscope___moves___3.75μs__to__the___right.___
6. Triangular wave with frequency of 60 kHz, Vrms: 1 V, Duty: 50% Vertical axis scale
___0.25___ V/DIV, Horizontal axis scale ____5___ μs/ DIV.

7. Triangle wave with frequency of 60 kHz,Vp-p: 5 V, Regulate Duty: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%,
100%.

B. Wheatstone bridge measurements

Figure.1
(1) Connect the circuit elements (resistors) as shown in Figure 1, RL = 15 kΩ, R2 = 5 kΩ, R3
= 5 kΩ, R4 = 10 kΩ, Rx = 50 kΩ.
(2) Prepare function generator and select sine wave with frequency of 1 kHz and amplitude of
Vp-p=10 V, connect the function generator CH1 probe to A, D points
(3) Connect the oscilloscope CH1 probe to B, C points.
(4) Fine tune with the vertical/horizontal position knobs to make the waveform shown in the
middle of the screen.
(5) Set the timebase knob to 200 μs/DIV, click on the “CH1” button then at the bottom of
screen will appear a menu. Click on the button next to the menu to set the CH1 channel as
AC coupling.

(6) A sine waveform is shown on the screen, change the frequency of the signal and also adjust
the vertical and horizontal scale knobs of the oscilloscope so that a waveform appears on

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 the screen. Adjust the variable resistor so that RX = 10 kΩ, and record the results in Table
1.

Table 1

Frequency of
1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz
function generator

Oscilloscope
1 V/DIV 1 V/DIV 1 V/ DIV
Vertical scale

Oscilloscope time base

200 μs/ DIV 20 μs/ DIV 2 μs/ DIV
scale

Vp-p value How

Many grids occupied
3 2 2
By the vertical peak-
to-peak waveform

How many vertical

Grids are the peak- 2.5 1 2
to-peak value

Period T
1ms 100μs 10μs

How many

Horizontal grids are 5 5 5

a period

(7) Adjust the RX so that the waveform no longer appears, why would this happen? Please write
down your opinion, or derive it from the formula.

_Refer__to__formula__of__the__Wheatstone__bridge,__Rx/R3=R2/

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R3,__Rx__should__be____2.5kΩ.__However___the___circuit___at___node__C__and__node

__D__are__short__circuit__due__to___it___has___grounded__and__fail__the__form__of__

Wheatstone__bridge.________In__summary,__we__cannot__find__the__accurate__answer__d

ue__to__we___cannot______make___the___value___of___Rx___approach___to___0.______

_____________________________________________________________________________

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