This app "mimics" the operation of the oscilloscope used in the lab classes - in Simulation Mode, and enables to access the lab oscilloscopes for signal acquisition and remote control from any location - in Acquisition & Control Mode. Work through each guided script below, tick off the steps as you complete them, and track your progress as you go.
This experiment uses the simulator to visualize a sinusoidal input signal generated by the signal generator on the oscilloscope, in order to become familiar with the use of these two pieces of equipment — including the Trigger controls:
- Turn on the oscilloscope - using the ON button - and select the Simulation mode - Simulation mode;
- Turn on Channel 1 - button CH1, which will turn on with a yellow background: CH1 - the waveform of CH1 will appear on the screen with a yellow trace
- Click on the input of Channel 1 (CH1) - the BNC type jack on the bottom front panel (a window with several options for the signal source will appear) and select the option Signal Generator (the interface window of the signal generator should appear);
- Without closing the signal generator window, click on the Measure button at the top of the oscilloscope;
- Click on the f2 button (on the function bar on the right side of the oscilloscope screen) until the volt type indicates the option Vrms (root mean square voltage);
- Configure the signal generator for a sinusoidal signal with a frequency of 200 Hz
- the RANGE Hz selector (multiplicative factor) should be in the 1K position
- adjust the frequency until the indicator located in the lower right corner of the oscilloscope screen shows 200 Hz, as follows:
- place the mouse cursor over the FREQUENCY button (round), which allows for progressive frequency adjustment (on the left)
- click the right mouse button to decrease the frequency value of the input signal; (the left mouse button allows for increasing the frequency);
- Set the effective voltage generated to 3 V (approximately). To do this:
- click the left/right mouse button on the AMPLITUDE button (which allows for adjusting the input signal amplitude)
- refer to the Vrms indicator in the lateral menu of the oscilloscope screen;
- Configure the vertical amplification command (VOLTS/DIV) of Channel 1 to 2 V/div;
- Using the TIME/DIV command (time base - horizontal system), select the following sweep speeds and, for each of them, execute the following instruction: 1 ms/div; 500 µs/div and 250 µs/div.
- Vary the Trigger Level:
- use the rotary LEVEL knob located in the TRIGGER section (on the right of the panel);
- left-click on the knob to simulate rotation in one direction (changing the reference voltage level step by step), or right-click to rotate it in the opposite direction;
- at the end of this step, leave the Trigger Level at 200 mV;
- Change the Trigger Slope to observe its effect on the starting point of the waveform:
- press the MENU button located in the TRIGGER section (below the LEVEL knob);
- in the side menu that appears on screen, press the F5 button (Slope / Coupling);
- then press the F1 button (Slope) to toggle between the Rising and Falling edge;
- leave the setting on Rising.
Laboratory-only experiment: Physical acquisition and remote device control are not available on this public simulation website.
This experiment uses the Acquisition & Control mode to remotely view and control the real oscilloscopes on the workbench, capturing their calibration waveforms.
Note: This lab script must be carried out in the laboratory.
Pre-conditions:
- The physical oscilloscopes must be ON and connected to the PC-server via USB.
- You must connect CH1 of both oscilloscopes to their respective calibration signals on the physical workbench.
- Turn on the oscilloscope (virtual interface) - using the ON button - and select the mode - Acquisition + Control Mode;
- Select which physical oscilloscope you want to view and control first, using the selector that appears on screen when entering this mode - DEVICE.
- Turn on the channels by pressing the CH1 and CH2 buttons on the virtual interface.
- Remotely change the scales, adjusting the VOLTS/DIV -> 500 mV and TIME/DIV -> 250 µs/div commands on the simulator to view the waveform:
- Repeat the same procedure for the second oscilloscope on the workbench (selecting the new port via the DEVICE selector, activating the channels, and adjusting the scales).
This experiment introduces XY mode, in which the oscilloscope plots one channel against the other instead of against time, allowing the visualization of Lissajous figures:
- Turn on the oscilloscope - using the ON button - and select the Simulation mode - Simulation mode;
- Turn on Channel 1 - button CH1, which will turn on with a yellow background: CH1 - the waveform of CH1 will appear on the screen with a yellow trace
- Click on the input of Channel 1 (CH1) - the BNC type jack on the bottom front panel (a window with several options for the signal source will appear) and select the option Custom Wave (a calculator-style interface should appear on the screen);
- Click on the Advanced button, in the top right corner, to expand the calculator interface;
- Generate a sine wave by clicking the Sine button;
- Turn on Channel 2 - button CH2, which will turn on with a blue background: CH2 - the waveform of CH2 will appear on the screen with a blue trace
- Click on the input of Channel 2 (CH2) and select the option Signal Generator (the interface window of the signal generator should appear);
- Change the scale of both channels to 500 mV on the respective VOLTS/DIV button for each channel;
- Using the 'TIME/DIV' command (time base - horizontal system), select a sweep speed of 250 µs/div;
- Now click on the HORI MENU button and then on the XY button (F5); a Lissajous figure should appear at the center of the screen (like an ellipse, circle, or straight line);
- Repeat the previous procedure for the following phase-shift values: 45º, 90º and 180º;
- Note: to change the phase, go to the parameters panel in Custom Wave's Advanced mode and, in the Phase field, enter the desired value in the text box; then press PLOT.
This guide introduces the Custom Wave tool, which lets you define and visualize your own mathematical waveforms directly on the oscilloscope.
1. Accessing the Tool
- Turn on the oscilloscope (using the ON button) and select Simulation mode.
- Turn on Channel 1 by pressing the CH1 button.
- Click on the analog input of Channel 1 (the BNC connector on the bottom front panel).
- In the "CH1 Input" menu that appears, select the Custom Wave option. The calculator interface will appear immediately.
2. Using Simple Mode
In Simple Mode, you have a text field for direct input of the mathematical equation, represented as f(t).
- Use the interactive panel to build the equation. It includes arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /), trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan), as well as mathematical constants.
- For help writing the formula, click the ? HELP button at the bottom. It opens a Help Panel detailing the correct variable syntax and ready-to-use example equations - simply click the desired equation in the menu and it will appear automatically in the text field.
- Build a test equation. For example, try creating a cosine signal: cos(2*pi*1000*t).
- After entering the equation, press the green ▶ PLOT button. The waveform is generated and displayed immediately on the oscilloscope screen.
- Adjust the scale (VOLTS/DIV) and time base (TIME/DIV) on the oscilloscope to properly view the generated wave.
3. Using Advanced Mode
Advanced Mode expands the tool's capabilities by adding a side panel dedicated to wave parameters - useful for adjusting signal characteristics dynamically, without having to rewrite the equation manually.
- With the Custom Wave window open, click the blue ADVANCED button in the top right corner. The interface will expand to show new controls.
- In the new Wave Parameters section, choose one of the available base waveforms (SINE, COSINE, SQUARE, SAW, TRI) to preload a base equation.
- Try moving the sliders. Through these controls, you can manipulate the following parameters in real time:
- Amplitude
- Frequency
- DC Offset
- Phase
- Watch the oscilloscope screen and the equation text box closely: the adjustments made on the sliders are automatically translated into the equation and immediately reflected in the waveform shown on the simulator screen.