What is Digital Storage Oscilloscope?

What is Digital Storage Oscilloscope?

Digital Storage Oscilloscope

A digital oscilloscope is an instrument that stores a digital copy of waveforms in memory and uses digital signal processing to analyze them. It captures and displays non-repetitive signals until reset. In a digital storage oscilloscope, signals are received, stored, and then displayed. The maximum frequency measured depends on the sampling rate and the type of converter, which can be analog or digital. The traces are bright, highly defined, and quickly displayed. The main advantage is that it can display both visual and numerical values from the stored traces.

The displayed trace on the flat panel can be magnified, and the brightness can be adjusted. Detailed analysis can be performed after acquisition as needed.

A small screen shows input voltage over time. It can also display three-dimensional figures or multiple waveforms for comparison. It can capture and store electronic events for future use. Digital oscilloscopes are widely used because of their advanced features like storage, display, fast trace rates, and wide bandwidth. Although costlier than analog oscilloscopes, they are very popular.

Analogue Storage Oscilloscope

The original storage oscilloscope had analog input stages that converted signals into digital format for storage in a cathode-ray tube. These signals were processed before being converted back to analog. The cathode-ray tube retained images on an electrode as a charge pattern, which then modulated electron rays to display the stored signal.

Digital Oscilloscope Technology

First the waveforms are conditioned by some analogue circuits then enter in the second stage which involves receiving the digital signals. To do so, samples have to pass through analogue to digital converter and output signals get recorded in digital memory at different interval of time. These recorded points together make a waveform. The set of points in a waveform show its length. The rate of samples defines the design of the oscilloscope. The recorded traces are then processed by the processing circuit and obtained traces are ready to display for visual assessment.

Uses of Digital Storage Oscilloscope

• Used for testing signal voltage in circuit debugging.

• Testing in manufacturing.

• Designing.

• Testing of signals voltage in radio broadcasting equipment.

• In the field of research.

• Audio and video recording equipment.