Oscilloscopes For Beginners

With this course, you will learn how to use the oscilloscope through a series of experiments

What you'll learn

Understand the purpose of the oscilloscope.

Understand the basic controls of the oscilloscope.

Learn how to calibrate and use the probes so that a signal is transmitted to the oscilloscope with minimal distortion.

Learn how to use the automatic and manual trigger function to capture a variety of signal types.

Understand the differences and similarities between bench-top, portable and PC/USB oscilloscopes.

Understand what you can and cannot do with an oscilloscope.

Become familiar with the various kinds of waveforms that are typical in electronic circuits.

Understand how to keep your oscilloscope and yourself safe.

Learn how to use the oscilloscope automatic measurement and statistics functions.

Learn how to take manual measurements using the cursors.

Learn how to use cursors in manual, tracking and automatic mode.

Build-up your skill and confidence through a series of experimentations.

Requirements

Basic electronics, i.e. able to use simple passive components like resistors and capacitors in a breadboard circuit, and understand the meaning of units like Volt, Amperes, and Hz.

A working understanding of the Arduino Uno and the ESP32 as low-cost test signal generators, you should also be familiar with these platforms. We provide all circuit schematics and sketches in the course.

You will need an oscilloscope. If you already have one, you can use it to practice the course experiments. If you don’t, you can purchase an inexpensive PC/USB oscilloscope for less than $100.

To generate the test signals, we use an Arduino Uno and an ESP32, plus a few simple components like buttons, resistors, capacitors and a potentiometer. If you have completed Arduino Step by Step Getting Started and ESP32 For Busy People, you already have everything you need.

Description

UPDATED January 20, 2020, with a new section and experiment.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-Oscilloscopes are incredible: They can capture, display, and analyse an electrical input signal. They can automatically produce all kinds of measurements, like the period, rise time, width, duty cycle, max and min voltages, and lots more, and even decode communications protocols like RS232, and I2C.Are you working with electronics and are interested in using an oscilloscope to gain a better understanding of what is happening inside your circuits as they operate?Perhaps you already have an oscilloscope but are confused by all its buttons, knobs and menu options?Perhaps you are thinking of getting one but not sure if its worth it, or not sure what to look for?This course is dedicated to the oscilloscope, and it will help you answer these questions, plus lots more.It will teach you how to use the oscilloscope that you already have, or are planning to get.After the multimeter, the oscilloscope is the most useful test instrument for makers.Over the last few years, their prices have dropped by a lot, and it is now very common for students and hobbyists to be able to afford one. Today, budget scopes offer a full array of capabilities.You are probably familiar with the multimeter. This test instrument gives you a snapshot of what is happening in your circuit in a specific moment in time. For example, it will tell you that the voltage on a certain pin is 5.1 Volts.The multimeter works in a single dimension.The oscilloscope works in two dimensions.On its screen, it will plot the voltage of your test circuit over time. You can see how voltage changes over time, and get the measurements that describe various aspects of its operation. You can use this information to dive deep into the inner workings of your circuit.This is a course for people who are already familiar with basic electronics.To make the most from this course, you will need to have a working understanding of things like Volt, Hz and duty cycle.Because I use the Arduino and the ESP32 to create experiments based on which I demonstrate various features and capabilities of the oscilloscope, you should also have a basic understanding of those two technologies.In the course, first I’ll talk about the various aspects of an oscilloscope, such as the most important features, functions, and controls.Second, I’ll help you get comfortable with your oscilloscope, calibrate it and get it ready for use.And third, I’ll show you how to use the oscilloscope by guiding you through multiple experiments. Each experiment is an opportunity to learn and practice several new workflows and operations. This third part, the experimental, consists the bulk of the course.So I invite you to enrol in this course right now, and learn how to use your oscilloscope.You can also have a look at the free lectures for more information about the objectives and structure of this course.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 01.10 What you should know about this course

Lecture 2 01.20 Software you will need

Lecture 3 01.30 Hardware you will need

Lecture 4 01.40 How to get the most out of this course

Section 2: What is the oscilloscope?

Lecture 5 02.05 Introduction to section 2

Lecture 6 02.10 An introduction to oscilloscopes

Lecture 7 02.50 The basic functions of an oscilloscope

Lecture 8 02.60 The basic controls of an oscilloscope

Lecture 9 02.80 An overview of oscilloscope probes

Lecture 10 02.90 An overview of waveforms

Lecture 11 02.100 Basic precautions to avoid damage and injury

Section 3: Getting comfortable with your oscilloscope

Lecture 12 03.01 Introduction to section 3

Lecture 13 03.05 How to connect the probes

Lecture 14 03.10 How to calibrate (compensate) the probes

Lecture 15 03.15 How to calibrate the oscilloscope

Lecture 16 03.40 What is input coupling?

Lecture 17 03.50 Get started with automatic triggering

Lecture 18 03.85 Cursor basics

Lecture 19 03.90 How to manually label your channels

Lecture 20 03.110 Quick demo of a USB oscilloscope

Lecture 21 03.120 Zoolark quick demo (standalone)

Lecture 22 Beware: my Rigol probes have a 10:1 attenuation

Section 4: Measure an RC circuit

Lecture 23 04.10 Experiment 1: Introduction

Lecture 24 04.20 Experiment 1: Setup the oscilloscope

Lecture 25 04.30 Experiment 1: Setup the trigger

Lecture 26 04.40 Experiment 1: How to use the automatic edge trigger

Lecture 27 04.50 Experiment 1: Measure waveform attributes

Lecture 28 04.60 Experiment 1: How to use the manual cursors

Lecture 29 04.70 Experiment 1: How to use the automatic cursors

Lecture 30 04.80 Experiment 1: How to use cursor tracking

Lecture 31 04.90 RC circuit experiment with the USB oscilloscope

Section 5: Button press and response

Lecture 32 05.10 Experiment 2: Introduction

Lecture 33 05.20 Experiment 2: Review the Arduino circuit and sketch

Lecture 34 05.30 Experiment 2: How to connect the probes

Lecture 35 05.40 Experiment 2: Setup the trigger

Lecture 36 05.50 Experiment 2: Measure waveform attributes

Lecture 37 05.70 Experiment 2: Repeat the experiment with a USB oscilloscope

Section 6: "See" ultrasounds using the Ultrasonic sensor

Lecture 38 06.10 Experiment 3: Introduction

Lecture 39 06.20 Experiment 3: Review the Arduino circuit and sketch

Lecture 40 06.30 Experiment 3: Connect the probes and see the signal "live"

Lecture 41 06.40 Experiment 3: Setup the trigger

Lecture 42 06.50 Experiment 3: Measure waveform attributes

Section 7: Measure a PWM signal

Lecture 43 07.10 Experiment 4: Introduction

Lecture 44 07.20 Experiment 4: Review the Arduino circuit and sketch

Lecture 45 07.30 Experiment 4: Setup the probes and trigger

Lecture 46 07.50 Experiment 4: Measure waveform attributes

Section 8: Servo motor control signal

Lecture 47 08.10 Experiment 5: Introduction

Lecture 48 08.20 Experiment 5: Review the Arduino circuit and sketch

Lecture 49 08.30 Experiment 5: Setup the probes and trigger

Lecture 50 08.50 Experiment 5: Measure waveform attributes

Section 9: Measure waveforms created by an ESP32

Lecture 51 09.10 Experiment 6: Introduction

Lecture 52 09.20 Experiment 6: Review the Arduino circuit and sketch

Lecture 53 09.30 Experiment 6: Setup the probe and trigger

Lecture 54 09.40 Experiment 6: Sine waveform measurements

Lecture 55 09.50 Experiment 6: Triangular waveform measurements

Lecture 56 09.60 Experiment 6: Sawtooth waveform measurements

Lecture 57 09.70 Experiment 6: Square waveform measurements

Lecture 58 09.80 Experiment 6: Decaying waveform measurements

Lecture 59 09.90 Experiment 6: Runt waveform measurements

Lecture 60 09.110 Stephan's ESP32 Waveform Generator

Lecture 61 09.120 Zoolark demo standalone mode

Lecture 62 09.130 Zoolark demo PC mode

Section 10: Lissajous figures

Lecture 63 Introduction to Lissajous figures

Lecture 64 Lissajous figures demonstration

Lecture 65 The Game of Life plot by Stephane

Section 11: In conclusion…

Lecture 66 Congratulations

Lecture 67 Bonus Lecture

People who are ready to ready to move beyond their multimeter.,People who are ready to dig deeper and understand what is going on in their circuits over time.,People who want to understand what is an oscilloscope and how it works before they purchase one.,People who already have an oscilloscope but are not sure how to use it.