Software customization to provide digital oscilloscope with enhanced period measurement features

The paper tackles the problem of signal period measurements by means of oscilloscopes. At first the performance of two last generation scopes implementing a zero-crossing algorithm is evaluated. Then, after a brief resume of alternative measurement techniques, a solution to enhance the period measurement capability of scopes is proposed and implemented in the Lecroy WaveMaster 8120A software. Finally, the results of tests carried out on different signal waveforms are reported and analyzed.