On the planet of engineering, precision is paramount. Whether or not it’s performing high quality assurance on cutting-edge electronics or debugging advanced methods, the accuracy of measurements could make or break a mission. That is the place the idea of vertical accuracy in oscilloscopes turns into essential, it refers to how intently the voltage readings match the precise voltage of the sign being measured. Attaining a excessive vertical accuracy relies on two components: the variety of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) bits and the noise flooring of the oscilloscope.

The function of ADC bits

The horizontal axis of an oscilloscope represents the time base (seconds per division or s/div), whereas the vertical axis exhibits the voltage (volts per division or V/div). Vertical accuracy is about how precisely the oscilloscope shows the voltage of the sign, which is important for visible illustration and exact measurements. The nearer the voltage studying on the oscilloscope display is to the precise sign voltage, the upper the vertical accuracy.

To realize the optimum studying, engineers want oscilloscopes with the best variety of ADC bits and the bottom noise flooring. Increased ADC bits present extra vertical decision, resulting in extra exact sign visualization, whereas a decrease noise flooring minimizes the oscilloscope’s influence on the sign. This mixture ensures the oscilloscope supplies probably the most correct illustration of the sign, minimizing any distortion or noise that would have an effect on the measurements.

To have a look at this in additional element, an oscilloscope with an 8-bit ADC can encode an analog enter into 256 distinctive ranges of conversion (2⁸ = 256). Every further bit doubles the variety of ranges of conversion. Subsequently, 9 bits present 512 ranges (2⁹ = 512), 10 bits present 1,024 ranges (2¹⁰ = 1,024), and so forth.

Oscilloscopes with a 14-bit ADC can encode the analog enter into 16,384 ranges (2¹⁴ = 16,384), which is 4x the decision of a median 12-bit ADC oscilloscope and 64 occasions the decision of an 8-bit ADC. This increased decision permits the oscilloscope to seize finer particulars of the sign, offering a extra correct illustration.

Now think about how this is applicable to an oscilloscope with a vertical setting of 100 mV per division and eight vertical divisions. The oscilloscope’s full display equals 800 mV (100 mV/div * 8 divisions). With an 8-bit ADC, the total display (800 mV) is split into 256 ranges, leading to a decision of three.125 mV per stage. As compared, a 14-bit ADC divides the identical 800 mV into 16,384 ranges, reaching a decision of 48.8 µV per stage. This vital improve in decision permits engineers to detect and measure a lot smaller adjustments within the sign, as proven in Determine 1.

Determine 1 Because the variety of ADC bits will increase, so does the variety of ranges of conversion. This ends in the next vertical decision that allows engineers to measure a lot smaller adjustments within the sign. Supply: Keysight

The significance of a low noise flooring

Whereas a excessive variety of ADC bits is important for vertical accuracy, it’s not the one issue. The noise flooring of the oscilloscope additionally performs a important function. This refers back to the intrinsic noise generated by the oscilloscope itself, which might intervene with the sign being measured, resulting in inaccurate readings.

All digital gadgets, together with oscilloscopes, generate some stage of noise. Nevertheless, the objective is to attenuate this as a lot as potential. A decrease noise flooring implies that the oscilloscope has much less influence on the sign, leading to extra correct measurements. Moreover, you received’t be capable of see sign element smaller than the noise of the oscilloscope. That is particularly vital when measuring very small voltages, the place even a small quantity of noise can considerably distort the readings.

For instance, Determine 2 exhibits an oscilloscope measuring a 53 mV sign. At 2 mV/div, this oscilloscope has a noise flooring of lower than 50 mV_RMS. Utilizing this oscilloscope, you possibly can seize the very small 53 mV sign as a result of the noise flooring is low sufficient. This sign could be misplaced within the noise flooring of different general-purpose oscilloscopes that are likely to exceed 100 mV_RMS.

Determine 2 An oscilloscope with a noise flooring of <50 mV_RMS captures a small 53 mV sign that’s misplaced within the noise flooring of different general-purpose oscilloscopes. Supply: Keysight

Combining excessive ADC bits and low noise flooring

The mixture of a excessive variety of ADC bits and a low noise flooring ends in the best vertical accuracy. This ensures that the oscilloscope supplies probably the most correct illustration of the sign, permitting engineers to make exact measurements and keep away from expensive errors.

As an illustration, an oscilloscope that would characteristic a 14-bit ADC and a noise flooring of lower than 50 µV_RMS at 2 mV/div and a 1 GHz bandwidth on a 50-Ω enter would supply distinctive vertical accuracy, enabling engineers to detect even the smallest adjustments within the sign. This distinction can influence an engineer’s capability to achieve perception, perceive, debug and characterize designs. As well as, inaccurate outcomes from an oscilloscope can improve danger within the improvement cycle occasions, manufacturing high quality and probably the elements chosen. Engineers want to have the ability to depend on instruments and know-how that can give them the very best insights and accuracy.

Attaining a excessive vertical accuracy

It’s important to acknowledge that not all oscilloscopes are made equal. Engineers must go for the best ADC bit, mixed with a low noise flooring, to realize the best vertical accuracy. This mixture ensures the oscilloscope precisely represents the sign, minimizing any distortion or noise that would have an effect on the measurements. Excessive vertical accuracy is important for exact measurements, decreasing errors, and saving time and assets. By investing in oscilloscopes with excessive vertical accuracy, engineers can belief their measurements, resulting in extra environment friendly debugging.

Michelle Tate is presently a Product Advertising Supervisor at Keysight Applied sciences for InfiniiVision Oscilloscopes.  She beforehand labored within the semiconductor trade with Texas Devices’ wi-fi connectivity and brushless-DC motor drivers and obtained her Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from The College of Texas at Austin.

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• make higher measurements along with your oscilloscope or digitizer
• Oscilloscope cursors complement different measurement instruments
• FFTs and oscilloscopes: A sensible information

The put up Not all oscilloscopes are made equal: Why ADC and low noise flooring matter appeared first on EDN.

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