[1] An oscilloscope is a test tool showing the amplitude versus time. Voltage, phase and frequency may be accurately measured by an oscilloscope via its Graphic Display.
Though there are many different oscilloscope brands, the basic function of each are the same.
The front control panel has of the vertical channel (often 2 channels), horizontal time base and triggering.
etm: Latin: "Oscillo-" from "oscillare," means "to swing," relating to the concept to oscillate/vibrate electric signals + "-scope" from the Greek word "skopein," means "to look". So "oscilloscope" is an instrument visually showing oscillating signals.
[8]
Note: Some info maybe outdated. E.g. Some are taken from TBS1000C Series manual [7.1], such as the 'Menu section.'
[7]
A usual oscilloscope often has sections, probs, and channels.
Function generator
offset control
BNC side
[3.2], [7.1]
Note: These are mainly Tektronix oscilloscope' features.
The 'Cursor' button measures waveform automatically via 2 horizontal line moving up/down onscreen, to bracket a wave’s amplitude for voltage measurements, and 2 vertical lines move right/left for time measurements. A readout shows the voltage and time at their positions.
The 'Measure' button does many automatic measurements of a wave, to accurately show frequency, amplitude, and rise/fall times.
'Help' button explains on the oscilloscope's functions, controls, and features.
[7.1] (e: Pg 98) The 'Run/Stop' button stops the oscilloscope's assets or gets acquisition repeteadly (glows green) til it's tapped again.
acquisition: asset, addition, purchase
For 1 acquisition, tap 'Single.'
The 'magnifying glass 🔎' button zooms into a part of displayed waves.
The 'Save Recall' button saves saves screenshots, comma separated value files (CVS files), and oscilloscope info only to an USB and transfer it onto another device.
The 'Reset/Default Setup' button resets all settings/modes adjusted by the device's last user.
The 'Single' button shows 1 waveform and stops, freezing the display after capturing the first trigger event.
The 'Course/Courseware' button creates and controls lab instructions and exercises onscreen to teach by uploads.
The 'Function' button
Fig. 1
[7.1] (e: Pg 60) The 'Utility' button (Fig. 1) shows many features onscreen (language setting, calibration, configuration, enabling, used in processes like Signal Path Compensation (SPC), which corrects DC level inaccuracies in internal signal paths caused by temperatures.
The 'Autoset' button
The graphic display is a 8x10 division graticule screen, with a Center Vertical Graticule Line, a Center Horizontal Graticule Line and Percentage Markers.
graticule: a line network representing meridians and parallels, on which a map/plan can be drawn
Each division divides into 5 subgroup or 2 of a major division, shown on the center vertical/horizontal graticule line. The vertical graticule (Y axis, 8 divisions) often measures voltage and the horizontal graticule (X axis, 10 divisions) often measuring time.
Vertical division graticule has a value based on the settings of the vertical channel VOLTS/DIV dial setting and the horizontal division graticule has a value based on the TIME/DIV dial setting.
E.g. If the oscilloscope=s VOLTS/DIV is at 2 V/DIV and the TIME/DIV at 1 ms/DIV--each major vertical division is equivalent to 2 V and each major horizontal division is 1 ms.
With this setting, if we measure this sine wave, the amplitude is 6 V (vertical) and the period is 5 ms (horizontal).
Vpk = 3x2 = 6 V
Vpkpk = 6 DIV x 2 VOLT/DIV = 12 Vpp
Period = 5 ms
Frequency = 1/0.005s = 200 Hz
Channels ("CH1", "CH2" for Channel 1 and Channel 2 on screen) are independent input paths to connect signals to an oscilloscope, to let many simultaneous signals measureming.
Usual oscilloscopes have 2-4 channels (e.g., CH1, CH2).
Each channel has its own vertical controls (Volts/Div, coupling, position) and can be shown individually/combined (e.g., to compare signals or perform math operations like CH1 + CH2).
CH1 and CH2 are main input channels connectting and show electrical signals, for the oscilloscope to show 2 signals simultaneously, for comparison of waves. Each channel can be independently adjusted for vertical position, vertical scale, and other settings, for for fine-tuning of display.
The vertical channel controls the signal input path and its associated controls governing how the signal's voltage amplitude shows on screen.
It has the vertical controls, the probe attenuation, and the input connector (BNC/SMA).
The probe attenuation matches the probe setting (e.g., 1× or 10×) to ensure accurate voltage measurements.
The input connector is a physical port where you connect the probe (e.g., CH1, CH2).
Vertical control
The Volts/Div input connects to a vertical deflection amplifier. The vertical deflection amplifier' soutput connects to the vertical deflection of the CRT=s (cathode ray tube=s) electron beam.
The position knob moves the waveform up/down onscreen.
Bandwidth limit filters high-frequency noise (e.g., 20MHz limit).
The amplifier calibrates to get accurate measurement (as the VOLTS/DIV calibration control is set to calibrate). The VOLTS/DIV CAL switch must be in calibrated position to measure voltage.
Varying the VOLTS/DIV switch varies the amplifier's gain.
The 'M' "Math" button circled in red
Amplifier The amplifier has a 3 position switch coupling the true input signal to the vertical amplifier: AC, GND and DC.
The GND position disconnects the vertical deflection amplifier from the input connector
and connects the vertical deflection amplifier=s input to ground. This is very useful to find a 0 Voltage reference point on the graphic display.
The DC (direct connection) position applies the input signal directly to the vertical deflection amplifiers. Any signal on this input will cause the vertical deflection amplifiers to move the electron beam. This position displays ALL signals.
The AC (attached capacitor) position uses the input signal to the vertical deflection amplifier via a capacitor. The capacitor blocks out all DC (current) voltages from reaching the amplifier. To measure a small superimposed changing voltage on a big DC voltage, AC couple positions removes the DC offset and so we can change the Volts/Div setting to enlarge the changing voltage for more accurate reads.
At time it's hard to measure a pkpk value of a signal the displayed trace may be fairly thick.
In this diagram for the correct method of measuring a peak to peak signal. It's crucial to measure from the top-of-trace to the top-of-trace or from the bottom-of-trace to the bottom-of-trace.
https://brightspace.algonquincollege.com/d2l/le/content/790077/viewContent/11657185/View
Horizontal Time Bas
The TIME/DIV control sets the time it takes to move the electron beam from the left to
right of the CRT tube. The TIME/DIV control provides the sawtooth voltage that feeds
the horizontal sweep generator. The higher the voltage, the
further right the electron
beam will be to the right of the screen. If the TIME/DIV was set to 1 ms/DIV, it will take
10 division x 1ms/DIV = 10 ms to draw from the left side of the graphic display to the
right side. In other words, 10 ms of the input si
gnal will be shown before the electron
beam returns to the left side to be redrawn. If the TIME/DIV was set to .5 ms/DIV, only
5 ms of the waveform will be drawn on the display. The time it takes to move from left
to right of the CRT tube is called the h
orizontal sweep speed.
When you are using two channels of a dual trace oscilloscope, you can use the CHOP or
ALTERNATE mode. In the ALTERNATE mode, CH1 will be display on the CRT
during one horizontal sweep and then CH2 will be display on the next horizo
ntal sweep.
This will alternate continuously between the 2 channels. This mode is more useful on
faster sweep speeds (greater than .5 ms)
The CHOP mode is rapidly switch between the two channels. It will display part of CH1
and then a part of CH2. The
speed that the oscilloscope
>
chops = the signal depends on the make and model of the oscilloscope (a typical speed of 300 kHz) This mode is best used if the horizontal sweep speed is slow.
a Tektronix oscilloscope's 3 sections
[2] Sections are controls groups managing their own part of an oscilloscope’s operation.
Any oscilloscope has 3 sections: its vertical, horizontal, and trigger section.
The vertical section (Y-axis controls) controls the amplitude (voltage) of a shown signal.
Its functions are:
Volts/Div (voltage per division) adjusts signal scaling (e.g., 1V/div, 5V/div).
Position moves the waveform up/down on the screen.
[4.3], [7] Coupling (AC/DC/GND):
DC coupling shows the whole input signal (AC + DC components).
AC coupling blocks the signal's DC component, centering the waveform at 0 V, showing only AC variations.
GND coupling disconnects the input signal to show where 0 V is onscreen.
Horizontal section (X-axis controls) controls the display's timebase (sweep speed).
Its controls are:
Time/Div (time per division) sets horizontal scaling (e.g., 1ms/div, 1µs/div).
Its position shifts the waveform left/right.
Trigger holdoff stops retriggering in a set time.
Trigger section stabilizes repetitive waveforms by synchronizing the sweep to a specific event.
Its control are:
The trigger level sets the voltage threshold for triggering.
The trigger slope (rising/falling edge) selects ifthe scope triggers on an upward or downward signal edge.
Trigger source (internal/external):
Internal uses the input signal for triggering.
External uses a separate trigger signal.
Trigger modes (auto/normal/single):
Auto shows a waveform even without a trigger (may be unstable).
Normal only shows a waveform if triggered (cleaner for noisy signals).
Single: Captures one waveform and stops (for transient events).
On digital oscilloscopes
Display/UI: LCD screen with touch/menu controls.
Measurements/Cursors: Automated tools for voltage, time, and frequency.
Connectivity: USB, LAN, or Wi-Fi for data export.
[1.1], [3.1], [4], [6] A probe is a device connectting an electrical equipment to a device under test (DUT).
A 10x oscilloscope probe's primary reduces the signal amplitude by a factor of 10 and increase the input impedance to the device under test (DUT), allows for accurate high-voltage signals measurement without overloading the oscilloscope's input. Additionally, 10x probes typically have a wider bandwidth than 1x probes, making them suitable for measuring high-frequency signals.
[6]
An oscilloscope probe connects a test point/signal source to an oscilloscope to show signals, crucial as they also have active components to enhance signal measurement and accuracy.
Probe voltage scales
The 'slide switch tool' has a slide switching between 1x and 10x must match the same 2 scales on the oscilloscope.
If not, select it via the Multiselector probe and turn to the right scale.
A digital (modern) oscilloscope (DSO) converts analog signals to digital via an ADC (analog-to-digital converter), shown on an LCD/LED screen.
Unlike CROs, they have slight delay due to digitization and processing, but can capture, save, and replay waveforms.
They many more features, like cursors, frequency conversions and storage unlike basic CROs.
A Tektronix oscilloscope
Tektronix oscilloscope
[2]
Practice tip Press the Default Setup button on
the oscilloscope before we using it to set it to the factory settings.
If the last user put it an odd setting, it puts the probes in the x10 setting on its own.
If we're on the x10 scope probe, no changes needed.
If we use the BNC to alligator leads, change the setting
to x1.
[2] An analog oscilloscope or cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) uses a cathode-ray tube (CRT) to show signals instantly. It's best for basic waveform observation, high-frequency analog signals. Unlike DSO's, they can't store waveforms (purely real-time) and are easier to use.
Pros:
Simple, fast response for high-frequency signals.
No aliasing issues (since it's purely analog).
Cons:
Limited features (no storage, measurements, or digital processing).
Bulky due to CRT technology.
Digital storage oscilloscopes (DSO) converts analog signals to digital, stores them in memory, and displays them on an LCD.
Pros:
AC
GND
DC
[7.1] (e: Pg 193) A front-panel menu button shows the menu list to use, appearing on the right. Select a menu item by tapping on the physical button next to it.
If the side menu item opens another more, the 'Multipurpose' knob selects that item and push the knob when highlighted to select it (Fig. 3).
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
The bottom 'On/Off' button to close messages/menu/item.
[1] Wikipedia
[1.1] Test probe
[1.3] Tektronix
[2] Analog vs. Digital Oscilloscope | Keysight Buying Guide - Keysight
[4] Oscilloscope Tutorial Pt 1 - YT
[4.4] Oscilloscope operation AC DC GND coupling
[5] Oscilloscope basic controls, buttons and switches - TechExplorations
[6] mi007-60-mhz-oscilloscope-probe-users-guide.pdf - Pic Technology
[7] MSO/DPO2000, MSO/DPO3000, and MSO/DPO4000 Series Oscilloscope Demo 2 Board Instruction Manual (PDF)