Digital Electronics: Principles, Devices and Applications

668 Digital ElectronicsFigure 16.10Benchtop digital multimeter. Reproduced with permission of Fluke Corporation.Solution(a) 399.9 V;(b) 3999 ;(c) 39.99 mA.16.7 OscilloscopeAfter the multimeter, the oscilloscope is the most commonly used item of electronic test equipment.Be it the electronics industry or a research laboratory, the oscilloscope is an indispensable test andmeasurement tool for an electronics engineer or technician. Most of us regard the oscilloscope as anitem of equipment that is used to see pulsed or repetitive waveforms. However, very few of us arefamiliar with the actual use of the multiplicity of front-panel controls on the oscilloscope and thepotential that lies behind the operation of each one of these controls.With the arrival of the digital storage oscilloscope (DSO), the functional potential of oscilloscopeshas greatly increased. The digital storage oscilloscope enjoys a number of advantages over its analoguecounterpart.16.7.1 Importance of Specifications and Front-Panel ControlsIt is very important to have a clear understanding of the performance specifications of oscilloscopes.The specification sheet supplied by the manufacturer contains scores of specifications. Each one ofthem is important in its own right and should not be ignored. Although some of them explain onlythe broad features of the equipment and do not play a significant role as far as measurements areconcerned, these are important when it is required to choose one for a given application. In fact, theperformance specifications of an oscilloscope and the operational features of its front-panel controlscannot be considered in isolation. One complements the other. Not only does the correct interpretationof specifications help in the selection of the right equipment for an intended application, theirappreciation is almost a prerequisite to a proper understanding of the functional potential of front-panelcontrols.