Experiment No.

: 1
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Aim:

To study the Digital Storage Oscilloscope and perform

i. Addition of two signals
ii. Subtraction of two signals
iii.FFT of a signal.

Apparatus: Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO).

Function Generator.
Connecting wires.

Theory:

A standard oscilloscope displays the changes in a voltage over time, as the

display is continuously updated with the current state of the input signal. A
standard oscilloscope is of limited use for non-repeating signals or for observing
signal glitches.
A storage scope is more useful as it captures and stores the signal. Which can
then be displayed to the user. Because the screen is not continuously refreshed
with the current state of the signal the scope can be used to analyse nonrepeating signals and signal glitches.
A Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) uses digital memory to store a waveform.
In order to do this the incoming signal must first be digitized, once this is
complete the data in the memory can be continuously replayed through a digital
to analogue converter and displayed on a CRT. Unlike analogue storage scopes
the captured waveform does not decay over time.
The speed and length of the recording are parameters that limit the type of
signals that can be analysed by a DSO. The memory capacity of a DSO
determines the maximum length of a recording for a given sample rate.

The analog signal being monitored is fed into a pre amplifier, which changes
its amplitude so that it falls within the input range of the Analogue to Digital
Converter (ADC) and the trigger detector. When the resulting voltage crosses
a threshold set by the user the trigger unit signals the device to start recording.
The ADC samples the output of the pre amp at regular intervals and the digital
output from the ADC is then stored in consecutive locations in the memory.
When the memory is full the recording is stopped.
The Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) continuously scans through the
recording producing a repeating analogue signal representing the contents of the
memory, which is sent to the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) for display. This is
required because the CRT image will fade away if not continuously refreshed.
If changes in the input voltage re-triggers the DSO then the memory is
overwritten with a new recording unless the user puts the system into HOLD
mode, Hold mode allows the user to analyse the signal trace for as long he/she
requires.
As the number of samples in any recording is determined by the size of the
memory, changing the sample frequency of the ADCs enables the user to alter
the length of the recording.
Let us now focus on the main processes and functions involved in the use of
DSO:
A. Triggering
Trigger determines when oscilloscope starts acquiring the data and display
waveform. Trigger source operations helps to find and select signal which
is to be used as trigger by the oscilloscope. Oscilloscope mainly provide
triggers like
i. Edge Trigger
ii. Video Trigger
iii. Pulse width Trigger
Most modern DSOs have additional trigger modes that allow the user to
make better use of the available storage space. One of the most important of
these is the Pre- Trigger mode, which allows the user to capture events that
occur before the trigger pulse. This is achieved by the DSO continuously
recording the analog signal until the trigger pulse is detected. This leaves
data from before the trigger point still in the memory.
Trigger Coupling option helps us to determine which part of the signal will
pass to trigger circuit and helps attaining a stable display of waveform.
Horizontal position control establishes time between trigger and screen
centre. Slope position determines whether the oscilloscope find trigger point
on rising or falling edge of signal.
B. Signal Acquisition
The pre amplifier, ADC and the memory form the signal acquisition block
of the Digital Storage Oscilloscope.

Digital Storage Oscilloscope has three signal acquisition modes:

i. Sample: In this mode, oscilloscope samples signal in evenly spaced
intervals to construct the required waveforms.
ii. Peak Detect: In this mode, oscilloscope finds the highest and lowest
values of input signal over each sample interval and uses these
values to display waveform
iii. Average: In this mode, oscilloscope acquires several waveforms,
takes their average and displays the resultant on screen.
C. Setting up Oscilloscope
i. Autoset: This function obtains stable waveforms and it automatically
adjusts vertical scale and horizontal scale. It adjusts trigger setting
too.
ii. Saving a Setup: Oscilloscope saves current setup if one waits 5
seconds after the last change before powering off the oscilloscope.
Using option like SAVE/RECALL menu, one can perform saving
up to 10 different setups.
iii. Recalling a Setup: Oscilloscope can recall last setup before the
oscilloscope the powered off, any saved setups or default setups.
D. FFT function of DSO
The Math FFT function of DSO converts time domain signal y(t) into its
frequency spectrum. Various uses of frequency spectrum are:
i. Analyse harmonics in power lines.
ii. Measure harmonic content and distortion in systems.
iii. Characterize noise in DC power supplies.
iv. Test impulse response of filters and systems.
v. Analyse vibration.

Procedure:
1. Turn ON the entire assembly of DSO and function generators.
2. Apply two different waveforms to DSO and select the required operation
using MATH menu.
3. Observe the addition and subtraction of the two signal by adjusting position
of input signal vertically.
4. Now apply only one signal to DSO and select FFT from MATH menu.
5. Select proper window type and observe the FFT of input signal on the
screen.

Observation:
1. Inputs for addition and subtraction waveforms:
Wave

Amplitude(Vpp)

Frequency

CH1
CH2

Resultant of Addition and Subtraction:

Operation

Wave

Amplitude(Vpp)

Frequency

CH1 + CH2
CH1 - CH2

2. FFT
Input wave:
Frequency:
Amplitude:
Window

FFT Output (dB)

Conclusion: Thus, we have studied the Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) and various
mathematically related operations with it such as Addition, Subtraction and
FFT of input signal were performed and results were observed.