AC Measurements Summary Notes

 

Oscilloscope	Bode Plotter	Frequency Counter

 

Summary of Concepts Discussed

n An oscilloscope provides the following information about a circuit

 

        ð Frequency of the signal

        ð Duration of the signal

        ð Phase relationships between signal waveforms

        ð Shape of the signal's waveform

        ð Amplitude of the signal

 

Nature moves in the form of a sine wave, be it an ocean wave, earthquake, sonic boom, explosion, sound through air, or the natural frequency of a body in motion. Energy, vibrating particles and other invisible forces pervade our physical universe. Even light – part particle, part wave – has a fundamental frequency, which can be observed as color.

Sensors can convert these forces into electrical signals that you can observe and study with an oscilloscope. Oscilloscopes enable scientists, engineers, technicians, educators and others to “see” events that change over time.

 

Oscilloscopes are indispensable tools for anyone designing, manufacturing or repairing electronic equipment. In today’s fast-paced world, engineers need the best tools available to solve their measurement challenges quickly and accurately. As the eyes of the engineer, oscilloscopes are the key to meeting today’s demanding measurement challenges. 

 

The usefulness of an oscilloscope is not limited to the world of electronics. With the proper transducer, an oscilloscope can measure all kinds of phenomena. A transducer is a device that creates an electrical signal in response to physical stimuli, such as sound, mechanical stress, pressure, light, or heat. A microphone is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal.

 

Oscilloscopes are used by everyone from physicists to television repair technicians. An automotive engineer uses an oscilloscope to measure engine vibrations. A medical researcher uses an oscilloscope to measure brain waves.

 

n A frequency counter measures frequency by comparing an unknown frequency to a known frequency

 

n A bode plotter produces a graph of a circuit frequency response.