Oscilloscope / Waveform Generator

Overview:
The purpose of this lab is to introduce students to the basic tools used by engineers and
technicians in analyzing electronic equipment: the function generator, the analog
oscilloscope, and the digital oscilloscope. The oscilloscope is a tool commonly used by
engineers and technicians to analyze and troubleshoot electronic systems. In addition, real
signals, such as those which carry voice or data, can be very complex and difficult to
analyze. The function generator is a device used to generate an electronic signal with
specific known characteristics, thereby enabling an engineer or technician to test and
examine a circuit.

During this lab, the student will use the function generator to generate a number of signals
and to analyze those signals using either of the ‘oscilloscopes’. The student will become
familiar with the basic waveforms -- sine, square, and triangle waves -- and the components
of the waveforms -- amplitude, period, and frequency. At the conclusion of this lab the
student should feel comfortable using the function generator and the oscilloscopes.

Objectives:
● Be able to generate a simple signal from the waveform generator and view it on the
oscilloscope

Components needed:
Lab instruments only.
D2L has links to videos and copies of the manuals.

Equipment Overview:
The Function Generator produces periodic waveforms such as square waves, sine waves,
sawtooth waves and so on.

The primary controls are:

Waveforms
Frequency
Amplitude
Offset

Find the vertical row of buttons in the center for waveform, parameters, ..etc.
Pressing the waveform button lets you select the type of waveform using the buttons under the
screen. For this lab we are only using the square wave and the sine wave

The parameters button brings up the menu where you can change frequency, amplitude, offset
and phase. We won’t be changing phase.

Press the frequency button. You can change the frequency by turning the control knob or by
entering a value using the numeric keyboard and then selecting a unit (Hz, kHz, MHz, …etc).
This is frequency and not period.

Go back to the amplitude button and press it. The amplitude is the voltage from the top of the
waveform cycle to the bottom of the waveform cycle. This is also known as peak to peak
voltage. Looking at the figure below, the peak to peak amplitude is 2*A. If the waveform offset
is zero, an amplitude setting of 5 Vpp (pp=peak to peak) means the waveform goes from 0 to 2.5
on the positive half cycle and 0 to -2.5 on the negative half cycle. 5 Vpp = 2.5 – (-2.5) = 5 Vpp
If you look at the above picture, the waveform is centered about the time axis. This is called
zero offset. An offset is a DC voltage added to or subtracted from the waveform. This is
controlled by the offset parameter. If you look closely at the display while adjusting it you’ll
notice the center line moving up or down.

Here is a picture of different offset cases:

There’s one last important piece of information, the display at the top left.

Normally it should just read Square, ON, 50ohms or Sine, On, 50 ohms

If it says “OFF” and there is text below, like “linear sweep…”, the function generator is not
configured correctly or is not producing a signal. If it says “OFF”, push the channel button just
above the BNC connector and find the menu item for ouput on/off. The 50 ohm output
impedance can be changed from the channel menu as well.

Finally the BNC connector is what provides the signal to your circuit or the scope. The alligator
clip is for ground and the output is the red test clip.

The Oscilloscope is used for viewing signals.

Review this tutorial:

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-use-an-oscilloscope/all
Then this 16 minute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJD7uVz0vho

The main controls that you will use are the ones in the center for vertical (the volts/div and the
position) and the horizontal (sec/div and position). We will only be using channel 1 in this lab.

In case you missed it in the above video and tutorial, the screen is divided into grid squares. On
the vertical each grid square corresponds to the volts/div setting. If volts/div is set to ‘1’ then
each grid line represents 1V. The horizontal grid marks correspond to the time setting, sec/div.

Lab Procedure:
Values are to be recorded in the lab notebook

Step 1
Function Generator Setup:
• Turn on the function generator.
• Select a Sine wave.
• Set frequency to 1.0 kHz.
• Set the amplitude knob to 5Vpp.
• Set the offset to 0V

• Connect the test clip of the generator cable to the test clip of the oscilloscope probe attached to
the channel 1 input and connect the two black alligator clips together.

Analog Oscilloscope Setup:

• Turn on the power to the oscilloscope.
• Press the CH1 yellow button
• Find the menu item on the screen marked “Coupling”. Press the button next to that until you
see the Ground value
 • Turn the vertical CH1position knob until the horizontal line matches up with the center
horizonal grid line on the screen. This center line will be your 0V or ground position.
• Press the button again until you see the coupling value become “DC”.
• Now turn the volts/div knob until you see the top and the bottom of the waveform. If you
don’t see a clear sine wave go to the next step.
• Now adjust the horizontal sec/div knob until you see a complete waveform cycle (or two or
three) on the screen. You may have to go back and forth between the volts/div and the secs/div
knobs until you get a clear picture.
• If you don’t see a stable signal, adjust the level knob under the trigger section on the right.
You should see a tiny arrow on the right of the screen move and up and down as you adjust the
knob. At some point you should see a stable picture of the waveform.

Use the grid squares to verify that you are seeing a 1 kHz sine wave with 5Vpp. Draw a sketch
of this in your notebook. Your sketch should include values for amplitude in volts and period in
seconds (or fractions of seconds). Record the following:

• (1.1) What is the setting on the Volts/Div control knob? _______ volts/div
• (1.2) How many vertical divisions from peak-to-peak? _______ div
• (1.3) What is the peak to peak voltage (Vpp)? Vpp = _______ volts/div *
_______ div = _______ volts
• (1.4) What is the setting on the Sec/Div control knob? _______ ___ seconds/div
• (1.2) How many horizontal divisions from positive going crossing to positive
going crossing? _______ div
• (1.5) What is the period of the signal (T)? T = _______ seconds/div * _______
div = _______ ___ seconds
• (1.6) What is the frequency of the signal (f)? _______ ___ hertz
• (1.7) Draw the displayed signal on Graph 1 (cut and paste into your notebook or
just use the grids in your notebook). Be neat, to scale, and concise. Be sure to note
the (scale) V/div and Sec/div settings.
Step 2
• Generate a square wave between 5 and 10 kHz with an amplitude setting of 10 Vpp.
• Adjust the V/div and Sec/div settings to maximize the display of the signal on the CRT. Make
sure you show the signal from peak-to-peak and at least one full cycle (period) of the signal.

• (2.1) What is the setting on the Volts/Div control knob? _______ volts/div
• (2.2) How many vertical divisions from peak-to-peak? _______ div
• (2.3) What is the peak to peak voltage (Vpp)? Vpp = _______ volts/div *
_______ div = _______ volts
• (2.4) What is the setting on the Sec/Div control knob? _______ ___ seconds/div
• (2.2) How many horizontal divisions from positive going crossing to positive
going crossing? _______ div
• (2.5) What is the period of the signal (T)? T = _______ sec/div * _______ div =
_______ ___ seconds
• (2.6) What is the frequency of the signal (f)? _______ ___ hertz.
• (2.7) Draw the displayed signal on Graph as you did in the previous step. Be neat,
to scale, and concise. Be sure to note the (scale) V/div and Sec/div settings.

Step 3
• Keep the square wave from step2
• Adjust the offset on the function generator to add +5 volts to the waveform
• The function generator can’t instantly change from 0 to 10 volts instantly. There is a rise time.
• Rise time is defined as the time it takes to go from 10% to 90% of the final stable value
• There is also an “overshoot” where the voltage of the waveform rises above it’s final stable
value.
• Using the horizontal position and horizontal secs/div knobs, adjust both so you can see just one
rising edge on the screen. You’ll have to keep “zooming” in by decreasing the secs/div setting.
If the edge goes off the screen, turn the position knob to get it centered again.
• Use the cursors to measure the rising edge time and the voltage overshoot.

This is from the scope manual. Our scope has only one cursor knob and you have to use the
buttons to the right of the screen to select which cursor to adjust with the one knob.

Measuring Rise Time

After measuring the pulse width, you decide that you need to check the rise time of the
pulse. Typically, you measure rise time between the 10% and 90% levels of the
waveform. To measure the rise time, follow these steps:
1. Turn the SEC/DIV knob to display the rising edge of the Waveform
2. Turn the VOLTS/DIV and VERTICAL POSITION knobs to set the waveform amplitude to
about five divisions.
3. Push the CH 1 MENU button to see the CH1 Menu if it is not displayed.
4. Push the Volts/Div option button and select Fine.
5. Turn the VOLTS/DIV knob to set the waveform amplitude to exactly five divisions.
6. Turn the VERTICAL POSITION knob to center the waveform; position the baseline of
the waveform 2.5 divisions below the center graticule.
7. Push the CURSOR button to see the Cursor Menu.
8. Push the Type option button and select Time.
9. Turn the CURSOR 1 knob to place the cursor at the point where the waveform crosses
the second graticule line below center screen. This is the 10% level of the waveform.
10. Turn the CURSOR 2 knob to place the second cursor at the point where the
waveform crosses the second graticule line above center screen. This is the 90% level of
the waveform.
11. The Delta readout in the Cursor Menu is the rise time of the waveform.
• (3.1) What is the setting on the Volts/Div control knob? _______ volts/div
• (3.2) What is the 10% to 90% rise time? _______
• (3.3) What is the final stable voltage? _______ volts
• (3.4) What is the setting on the Sec/Div control knob? _______ ___ seconds/div
• (3.5) What is the overshoot as a percentage of the final stable voltage value?
______
• (3.6) Draw the displayed signal on Graph as you did in the previous step. Be neat,
to scale, and concise. Be sure to note the (scale) V/div and Sec/div settings.

Step 4
There is an app on the lab PCs to record the Oscilloscope screen. For this first time it’s
important that you hand sketch the waveforms in your notebook to get an understanding of the
grid system and how to read the screen manually.

For any of the steps 1 to 3, use the computer app to grab the screen and print it out to include in
your notebook. For future labs, you can sketch waveforms by hand or print them out.

Instructor Check
- Step 1 values and waveform sketch
- Step 2 values and waveform sketch
- Step 3 values and waveform sketch
- Screen Capture printout