Oscilloskopet

Oscilloskopet, known in English as the oscilloscope, is a test instrument that displays voltage as a function of time, allowing engineers to inspect the shape, amplitude, frequency, and timing of electrical signals.

A probe connects to a circuit, feeding a vertical deflection signal while the horizontal deflection is time-based, with a trigger system that stabilizes repeating waveforms for clearer viewing. The instrument relies on a display device, historically a cathode-ray tube, to render the waveform on screen.

There are analog oscilloscopes that directly display the signal on a display and digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) that sample, store, and process waveforms. Modern instruments are often mixed-signal, combining a digital core with analog front ends, and many are portable or laptop-based.

Key capabilities include multiple channels, vertical and horizontal controls, and cursors for measuring amplitude and time. Common measurements include peak-to-peak voltage, maximum and minimum values, frequency, rise time, and jitter. Many models offer mathematical operations, on-screen measurement readouts, and optional Fourier transform (FFT) analysis for spectral content.

Typical uses include electronics design, circuit debugging, manufacturing testing, and education. The oscilloscope has its origins in early cathode-ray tube instruments, with digital storage and advanced features becoming standard in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, making it a central tool in understanding and validating electronic signals.