We acknowledge not everyone visiting ezProbe to purchase our high quality oscilloscope probes has an electrical engineering degree. In fact, certain specification's terms can have rather complex definitions.
With that in mind, we've created a glossary of commonly used oscilloscope probe terms. After all, our motto is buying oscilloscope probes made easy!
Any difference from the norm; in probing this is related to the flat tops and bases of waveforms or pulses.
Aberrations in observed signals can be caused by the circuit conditions of the signal source, and/or injected upon a signal by a measurement system.
Aberrations are specified as a percentage deviation from a flat response.
A probe incorporating transistors or other active devices as part of the probe’s signal conditioning network to further minimize circuit loading.
Signal amplitude reduction.
Example: x10 attenuation reduces an observed signal to one tenth of its actual level; therefore using a x10 probe setting would attenuate a 100 volt peak-to-peak signal to 10 volts peak-to-peak for viewing on an oscilloscope’s 2 or 5 volt/cm scale by producing effectively a 20 or 50 volt/cm scale.
The continuous band of frequencies that a network or circuit passes without diminishing power more than 5% of the signals flat top or base.
Matching, through user adjustment, the input capacitance of your probe to your measuring device. Every brand or style of oscilloscope is manufactured with a different input capacitance.
When connecting a 10X for the first time it must be compensated to match the capacitance of your scope. If the probe is not properly compensated, the amplitude, as well as the wave shape of the signal being tested can be distorted. Instructions for making this adjustment are included with all our new probes.
To reduce the rating of a measurement system based on operating variables.
Example: amplitude measurement accuracy is derated based on the frequency of the signal being observed.
Providing a return path for current.
ezTip: For proper level measurements, allow the source current a return path by attaching the probe's ground lead to the circuit ground (or common).
Periodic non-sinusoidal waveforms contain frequency components made up of the waveform’s fundamental frequency and frequencies that are multiples (1x, 2x, 3x, ...) of that fundamental frequency.
These multiples are the harmonic frequencies; the second harmonic of a waveform has a frequency that is twice that of the fundamental, the third harmonic frequency is three times the fundamental, and so on.
Impeding (slowing down) AC signal flow. Impedance is expressed in Ohms (Ω) and consists of a resistive component (R) and a reactive component (X) that can be either capacitive (XC) or inductive (XL), if these reactive components are equal they cancel, leaving only a resistive component.
The impedance across a signal source; an open circuit would have no load.
Drawing current from a signal source by applying an impedance. The lower the impedance the more current is drawn away from the source.
ezTip: On a 10x setting, when added to the 1 megaohm (1M) input resistance of an oscilloscope, the probe tip will have a total 10 megohm (10M) resistance to ground, minimizing possible circuit loading. Maximize impedance to minimize the loading of the circuit under test.
A probe with no active components, consisting of a network equivalent of only static resistive, inductive, or capacitive elements.
An expression of the time-related positions of waveforms or waveform components relative to a reference point or waveform.
Power supplied to the probe from a probe amplifier or even the circuit under test.
Typically active probes require external power to prevent circuit under test loading.
A non-resistive component of an impedance element that reacts to an AC signal by restricting its current flow based on the signals frequency. Either capacitive (XC) or inductive (XL), if these reactive components are equal they cancel, leaving only a resistive component.
Digital information displayed on an oscilloscope screen providing waveform scaling information, or even frequency measurement results in some modern digital oscilloscope systems.
A specialty BNC probe connector with a built-in spring loaded shorting pin that facilitates the proper translation of digital information displayed on an oscilloscopes with actuator features.
ezTip: To activate your oscilloscopes x10 readout factor insert 12k between the outer activation ring of the scope’s BNC input connector and ground. For x100 readout factor use 6k. Without an outer ring BNC connection, or greater than 15k, your readout defaults to x1.
The resulting oscillations of circuit resonation. Example: The damped sinusoidal variations seen on pulses are referred to as ringing.
ezTip: With probing, longer ground leads create a higher ringing susceptibility and subsequent poorer quality signal display as the test signal frequency rises. The convenience of longer grounding leads are OK for lower frequency applications; however, we recommend, and supply, 6 inch ground leads and BNC tip adapters with all our probe sets designed for bandwidths higher than 100MHz.
On the rising transition of a pulse, rise time is the time it takes the pulse to rise from the 10% amplitude level to the 90% amplitude level.
A grounded conductive sheet of metal between a circuit and external noise sources. This shielding material intercepts noise signals and conducts them away from the circuit.
The ratio of signal amplitude to noise amplitude, expressed in dB as: SNR = 20 log (Vsignal / Vnoise)
Signal voltage or current supply.
The impedance (Z) seen when looking back into a source.
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