AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Electronics and Communications Eng. Dept.

Analog Circuits (1)

ECE 312

Experiment (E1)
Oscilloscopes

Compiled by: Eng. Kamal Khalil

Eng. George Albert

Student Name Section No. Group No.

Experiment Attendance Date Report Code Exp. Mark

Instructor Signature

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EXPERIMENT E1
Oscilloscopes: Operation and Applications

1. Objective:

This experiment aims at:

1. Helping students to understand the basic theory behind the
operation of the Cathode Ray oscilloscope.
2. Helping students to be familiar with two of the most essential
instruments (Cathode Ray Oscilloscope and Function Generator).
3. Applying that knowledge in some practical measurements using
CRO and function generator.

2. List of Components:

Equipment
 Function generator.
 Dual trace oscilloscope (CRO)
Required Components
Model Quantity
Bread board 1
Resistor 10 kΩ 1
Capacitor 2.2 nF 1
Wires

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3. Theory

Refer to lectures.

4. Procedure

Time for some fun!!! So let’s begin with some practice. You must have now
a function generator, oscilloscope with its probes, that we will use to measure
the frequency response of a RC circuit. To accomplish our mission, we will
have three parts:
1. Calibrating the oscilloscope
2. Calibrating the function generator (In fact, the oscilloscope and the function
generator don’t need to be calibrated; however, the previous parts will
mainly target enhance your skills using the function generator and the
oscilloscope).
3. Measuring the frequency response of the RC circuit.

4.1. Calibrating the oscilloscope

Each oscilloscope has a calibrated output. This output is generally used to
calibrate the oscilloscope and to know the error in its reading. However, in this
experiment, we will use it to make sure that we can use the oscilloscope
correctly and to know the error “we” make in our reading
1. Start with nothing plugged into the oscilloscope.
2. Turn on the oscilloscope and wait about 30 sec. Use the vertical and
horizontal POSITION knobs as necessary to bring the trace to the center of
the screen.
3. Adjust the trace intensity and focus that the trace is easily visible.
4. Connect the CAL tab to channel 1 using the scope probe.

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 Y position X position

Maximum
measurable
Input
frequency
Channels Volt/div CAL tab Time/div
Figure 1: Oscilloscope front panel

5. Adjust the VOLTS/DIV and TIME/DIV controls to get a clear trace.

6. Measure the frequency and the amplitude of the calibration signal from the
oscilloscope reading.
Amplitude
Period =
(peak to peak)
#squares*scale
(V)
Frequency
f (KHz)

7. Congratulations, now we were able to read the calibrating signal.

4.2. Calibrating the function generator

In this part, we will try to learn how to use the function generator and to
measure its output directly on the CRO. Later, the output of the function
generator will be the input of other circuits, so it’s important to make sure we
can correctly use it.

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 Output signal Range of output
shape frequency

Amplitude (Reduce output Numeric pad to write

Offset voltage 10 times when pulled) frequency value

Output signal Reduce output

Range of output
shape voltage 10 times
frequency

Frequency Offset Output

knob Channel

Figure 2: Function generator front panel

1. Connect the function generator to channel 1 input of the scope.

2. Turn the generator on and make sure that the OFFSET is not pulled.
3. Choose the range of frequencies you want to generate using the push
buttons. (If you are using another version of function generators consult your
TA.)
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4. Determine the exact frequency using the frequency knob.
5. Sketch the pattern. Start with an input frequency of 500 hertz (Hz).(don’t
forget to write down the Volt/div and time/div scales)

V (mV)

0 Tperiod 2 Tperiod
time
6. Calculate the frequency of the sine wave as done in part 1.

f (generator) T (period) f (calculated)

(Hz) (sec) (Hz)
500
1200

7. Adjust frequency to 500 Hz.

8. Change the waveform generated by the function generator to drawn square
wave and then to saw tooth by pushing the corresponding button in the
function generator. Draw shapes of both waveforms indicating the Time/Div
and Volt/Div

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 V (mV)

0 Tperiod 2 Tperiod
time
V (mV)

0 Tperiod 2 Tperiod
time
9. Change the waveform generated back to sinusoidal.
[Link] the vertical coupling setting in the CRO to DC.
[Link] the offset knob and adjust the offset of the signal generated by the
function generator using the offset knob in the function generator. What
happens to signal on the CRO? Why? Draw the new waveform displayed on
the screen.

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 V (mV)

0 Tperiod 2 Tperiod
time
[Link] the value of the offset.
V=…….. Volt
[Link] the vertical coupling setting in the CRO to AC.
[Link] happens to the signal? Draw the new waveform. Then set the setting
back to DC.
[Link] signal on the CRO is most probably stable and hence we don’t need to
change the triggering source or level. However, to get acquainted to this
skill, we will try to change the triggering level and source.
Adjust the level of triggering level knob (As mentioned before, this changes
the amplitude at which the CRO is triggered and begins drawing).What
changes happen to the displayed signal?
(You can take a picture with the description)
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………

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 Triggering
Y position
level knob

Vertical External Trigger

coupling trigger input source

Figure 3: Oscilloscope front panel (continued)

4.3. Measuring the response of a RC circuit

In this part, we will use the skills we learned to practically measure the
famous frequency response curves for a RC circuit. We will use the
breadboard, resistance and capacitor to build RC circuit.

Figure 4: Output amplitude with frequency

1. Read and also measure the values of R and C.
R=.......
C=.......

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2. Set the function generator to produce a 10 V peak to peak sine wave. Do not
change the amplitude of this signal during the experiment.
3. Set up the RC circuit on the breadboard as shown in the circuit diagram.
4. Use the function generator to apply a 10 V peak to peak sine wave signal to the
input.
5. Use the dual trace oscilloscope to look at both V in and V out. Be sure that one
of the oscilloscope probes ground and the function generator ground are
connected to the circuit’s ground.

Figure 5: RC circuit
6. For the frequencies between shown in the table below measure the peak-to-
peak amplitude of V out. Check often to see that V in remains roughly at the
set value and that VOLTS/DIV dials are in their calibrated positions.
7. From your measurements determine the ratio
Vo Vo peaktopeak
H ( j )  
Vi Vi peaktopeak
and compute this ratio by using the formula
1
H ( j ) 
2 , where
 
1  
 c 
1
c 
RC
1
f (Hz) Vo |H(j)|= H ( j )  2
/c   
(=2pf) (Volt) Vo/Vin 1  
 c 
700
7,000
70,000

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 Amplitude

Frequency

8. For each listed frequency, measure the phase shift angle with proper sign as
shown in the diagram below.

 T 
9. The phase shift angle in degrees is      360
o

 T 
[Link] the phase shift angle for each frequency.
VIN=……. …….. c = …….

f (Hz)
/c
T T    tan 1 ( )
(=2pf) (ms) (ms) c
700
7,000
70,000

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 Amplitude

Phase

Congratulations!!! Now you can correctly use both function generator and
CRO to characterize circuits.

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5. References

[1] “Electronic Measurements” ,[Link], [Link]

[Link], 1st Edition.

6. Reports

Code Name Deliverables

LPF with 1. Construct the following circuit using the simulator, C
square = 150nf,
wave input R = x k

Ax

2. Change the source frequency from 20Hz to 200 KHz.

Take snapshots of the output and input voltages for 20Hz,
200Hz, 2KHz, 20KHz and 200KHz
3. Plot the maximum amplitude versus the frequency.
4. Replace the sinusoidal source with a square wave
generator and repeat steps 1 and 2. What happens to the
square wave shape while increasing frequency?
LPF with 1. Construct the following circuit using the simulator, C
triangular = x nf,
wave input R=1k

Bx

2. Change the source frequency from 20Hz to 100 KHz.

Take snapshots for 20Hz, 200Hz, 2KHz, 20KHz and
100KHz
3. Plot the maximum amplitude versus the frequency.
4. Replace the sinusoidal source with a triangular wave
generator and repeat steps 1 and 2.

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Cx HPF with 1. Construct the following circuit using the simulator. C
square = 150nf,
wave input R = x k

2. Change the source frequency from 20Hz to 100 KHz.

Take snapshots of the output and input voltages for 20Hz,
200Hz, 2KHz, 20KHz and 100KHz
3. Plot the maximum amplitude versus the frequency.
4. Replace the sinusoidal source with a square wave
generator and repeat steps 1 and 2. What happens to the
square wave shape while increasing frequency?
Dx HPF with 1. Construct the following circuit using the simulator, C
triangular = xnf,
wave R = 1k
input

2. Change the source frequency from 20Hz to 100 KHz.

Take snapshots of the output and input voltages for 20Hz,
200Hz, 2KHz, 20KHz and 100KHz
3. Plot the maximum amplitude versus the frequency.
4. Replace the sinusoidal source with a triangular wave
generator and repeat steps 1 and 2.

7. Revision Sheet

Edit Date Page Editor Approved by

Version 1 11/10/2014 Eng. Kamal Khalil Prof. Mohamed
Eng. George Albert Dessouky
Version 2 13/09/2015 Eng. George Albert Prof. Mohamed
Dessouky

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