A STEP BEYOND THE BASICS

6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips

Introduction
There is a lot of information out there covering oscilloscope basics. If you
search for topics like triggering basics, why probing matters, how to scale
correctly, etc., you are bound to find a plethora of helpful resources. On the
other hand, there is also a lot of deep-dive application-specific content to
learn from.

What about the stuff in-between? There are several other, somewhat
advanced oscilloscope capabilities that typically aren’t brought to light.

In this eBook, you’ll learn about advanced functions that will help you gain
even more insight into your designs, regardless of your industry or application.
These capabilities can be found on all InfiniiVision oscilloscopes, including the
new 1000 X-Series scopes. Test more efficiently by understanding how to:

1. Find hidden errors using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)

2. Simulate math operations before implementing

3. Characterize device outputs with Bode plots

4. Connect and control oscilloscopes remotely

5. Gain a new perspective with horizontal modes

6. Analyze samples differently using acquisition modes

If you think you need to take a step back

and start out with the introductory version
of this eBook, download 6 Essential Tips
for Getting the Most Out of Your
Oscilloscope to learn the basics.
Contents
A Step Beyond the Basics
6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips

TIP 1 TIP 2 TIP 3 TIP 4

Hidden errors Simulate math Characterize device Connect and control

using a Fast Fourier operations before outputs with Bode plots oscilloscopes remotely
Transform (FFT) implementing Go to Tip 3 > Go to Tip 4 >

Go to Tip 1 > Go to Tip 2 >

TIP 5 TIP 6 SUMMARY

Gain a new perspective Analyze samples

with horizontal modes differently using
Go to Tip 5 > acquisition modes
Go to Tip 6 >
 TIP 1

Find Hidden Errors Using

a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 1
Find Hidden Errors Using an FFT
A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is perhaps the most popular oscilloscope math
transform. So much so, that it gets its own button on most of our oscilloscopes,
and even its own section in this eBook. The reason this capability is so prevalent is
because it gives you an entirely new look into your signal – the frequency domain.

The FFT is something you historically would need an RF instrument to analyze, but
is a common functionality built into modern oscilloscopes.

An FFT analyzes frequency components and potential glitches that you may not be
able to see in the standard oscilloscope time domain.

With an FFT, you can view the frequency vs. power of the various components that
make up your signal.

WATCH NOW

Learn more about what an FFT is, why

it matters so much, and how to set one
up in this episode of Scopes University.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 5

 TIP 2

Simulate Math Operations

Before Implementing

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 2
Simulate Operations
Before Implementing
Measuring a signal as it exists is important, but what if you want to modify a
signal? It is often far too expensive and time consuming to do this on your actual
device. You only want to implement a design change if absolutely necessary.
Math operations are the perfect way to simulate a design change or predict an
output before you actually change anything on your device.

Math operations can be used in many different circumstances. A couple

examples are:

• To see what would happen after two signals were passed through a
differential amplifier
• To analyze the response of your device if a low pass filter were added to
the circuit

READ MORE
Gain a deeper understanding of math operations and
advanced measurements in this blog.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 7

 TIP 3

Characterize Device
Outputs with Bode Plots

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 3
Characterize Device
Outputs with Bode Plots
When you are testing devices where the output depends on the input, it is
critical to analyze how it responds to signals of various input frequencies and
amplitudes. This is especially important for devices like passive filters, amplifiers,
switch mode power supplies, audio systems, etc. If you don’t perform this
analysis, your device may end up failing under certain input conditions. That’s not
something you want your customer to find!

Frequency response analysis on Keysight InfiniiVision oscilloscopes use a Bode plot

to display the gain and phase of your system. You will quickly see if there are any
unusual spikes in the gain or phase. Unwanted spikes would indicate that your design
malfunctions when certain frequencies are input. This is something that could require a
redesign, so be sure to start performing this analysis early on in the process.

WATCH NOW

Learn how to easily set up this analysis on the instrument

and read the resulting plot in this episode of Scopes University.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 9

 TIP 4

Connect and Control

Oscilloscopes Remotely

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 4
Connect Remotely
Connecting to an oscilloscope remotely is just as easy as plugging in a keyboard and
bringing up a website. LAN connectivity is a high-demand function that can be used
to monitor instruments, control them remotely, or automate tests.

No matter if you’re working in education labs, the design bench, or the

manufacturing floor, LAN can improve your processes. It changes when and where
you can work. Connect remotely with LAN connectivity to enable multi-engineer
access. This allows students and coworkers to share equipment and work on
projects from anywhere, ultimately saving budget.

Not only can you send remote commands to the instrument via LAN, but you can
also completely control the instrument on a PC with the actual instrument screen and
simulated hard key controls (see below).

Additionally, you can easily connect to PC software applications, like BenchVue. This
lets you quickly develop custom automated tests using TestFlow, capture and log
measurement data, and export results for offline analysis.

Try the BenchVue software

for free, and be sure to verify
whether your prospective
instrument has a LAN connection.

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY

6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 11

 TIP 5

Gain a New Perspective

with Horizontal Modes

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 5
Gain a New Perspective
with Horizontal Modes
Viewing your signals from a different perspective lets you visualize how your device
will respond under various circumstances. There are three different “horizontal
modes” that give you unique perspectives of your signal. Each mode has a different
purpose and situation where it’ll be useful:

XY mode

XY mode, sometimes called a Lissajous plot, is a very common horizontal mode.

Instead of plotting your waveform as a function of amplitude (typically voltage) vs.
time, you can plot the amplitude of channel 1 vs. the amplitude of channel 2. This
lets you analyze waveforms as voltage vs. voltage, voltage vs. current, or even flow
vs. pressure.

There are some common uses for this mode:

• To analyze the voltage vs. current of semiconductor devices

• On a manufacturing floor, XY test patterns quickly tell the engineer if a device
suffered a manufacturing error
• To characterize the frequency and phase relationship between two signals.
A circle would mean the signals are 90° out of phase. The oval you see to the
right indicates a 45° phase shift.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 13

ROLL MODE
This mode operates like a strip-chart. It is used when working with very low-
frequency waveforms, sometimes as low as a few Hz or less. With frequencies
this low, there isn’t always time to wait and record the entire waveform, especially
if you are debugging by applying signals that could change the output you see on
screen. It’s necessary to see how the signal changes over time instead of waiting
for the scope to plot one capture at a time. At slow time-per division settings, some
oscilloscopes automatically switch to roll mode.

This mode is helpful when analyzing duty cycle, the relationship between two signals
over time, drift in a DC line, switching behaviors in a power supply, etc. Keep in mind,
this mode is untriggered and only used to visually see change in the waveform, not
to make detailed measurements.

ZOOM MODE
Zoom mode is pretty straightforward. It’s used when you want to zoom in and
analyze a small portion of a really long capture. In this mode, you can perform
measurements and math operations just within that zoomed in window (a technique
known as gating).

LEARN MORE

Check out a measurement example of how to set up and

XY mode measurement on your InfiniiVision oscilloscope.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 14

 TIP 6

Analyze Samples Differently

using Acquisition Modes

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY
TIP 6
Analyze Samples Differently
Using Acquisition Modes READ MORE
To be sure you aren’t missing anything in your analysis, it’s important to understand
your signals’ strengths and weaknesses using various acquisition modes. Try analyzing your signal with various sample rate settings.
Acquisition modes basically vary your oscilloscope’s sampling method to analyze Learn more about how each of these acquisition modes
different signal characteristics. can help you in this article.

Normal Averaging High resolution Segmented

The most commonly used mode This mode captures multiple waveforms Another averaging mode. However, A unique mode that is used specifically
for day-to-day measurements. This and averages them together. This is instead of waveform-to-waveform to capture pulses, rare events,
acquires samples at a specified sample great for measuring periodic signals averaging, this performs point-to-point or infrequent glitches. Memory
rate and displays all of them on screen like a clock, or anything with a stable averaging. This allows you to capture is wasted when you capture the
at each trigger event. This is the safest trigger. It is mainly used to hide glitches and aperiodic signals while still downtime between infrequent events
mode to use because there are no transient noise or glitches to see the reducing some of the random noise in the normal acquisition mode. With
major caveats to it. true, underlying signal. However, this riding on the signal. segmented memory, you’re able to cut
mode should not be used for general that time out and focus on the portions
debugging for that exact reason, only of the signal you want to analyze with
to get a glance at your true signal. even more detail.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 16

Summary
Your everyday debugging oscilloscope has a few advanced functions that
you may not have thought to use before. Now that you have the resources to
learn about each of those capabilities in detail, hopefully they will help deepen
your analysis. Looking at your signal in a completely different way could reveal
something that you never knew was there.

Try to expand your testing to gain more insight, and don’t forget about each of
these functions when you start your debugging:

• Math operations, especially FFT

• Frequency response analysis with a Bode plot
• LAN connectivity
• Horizontal modes

• Acquisition modes

Beyond these capabilities, there are many additional ways to use your
oscilloscope to increase your design insight. Learn about the more advanced
options and applications available in the Scopes University video series.

LEARN MORE
About the more advanced options and applications
available in the Scopes University video series.

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6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 17

GET MEASUREMENTS YOU CAN COUNT ON
Measure with confidence to create designs that will change the future.
The 1000 X-Series leverages the same, proven technology we use in our
higher-end InfiniiVision family, giving you professional-level measurements you
can trust. Now you can get even more functionality with capabilities like 4-wire
SPI decode and remote connection via LAN. Get the performance you need to
make measurements you can count on.

Check out the new 1000 X-Series scopes, along with more resources that can
help take your testing to the next level.

Need more bandwidth and advanced applications? Check out the 2000
X-Series and 3000T X-Series oscilloscopes.

FFT MATH OPERATIONS BODE PLOTS CONNECT REMOTELY HORIZONTAL MODES ACQUISITION MODES SUMMARY

6 Advanced Oscilloscope Tips. A Step Beyond the Basics | 18

Information is subject to change without notice. | 5992-3519EN © Keysight Technologies, 2019 | Published in USA, June 5, 2019 | keysight.com