Basic instruments: Oscilloscopes

This chapter analyzes one of the most common instruments in use in laboratories or fieldwork. It presents some history showing the characteristics of analog and digital oscilloscopes and how they have evolved through decades. The chapter also presents a brief description of the different waveforms one may find in normal engineering work. It describes different waveform characteristics and how to measure them using oscilloscopes. By describing their building blocks it is easy to understand limitations of each type of oscilloscope. The chapter gives a general idea of how to use oscilloscopes by explaining each of the most common controls found in their front panels. It shows the performance characteristics of oscilloscopes and how they can affect the measurements performed with them. The chapter outlines different types of probes available and their characteristics to be able to use the correct one for each different application.