Selective averaging in an oscilloscope

Selective averaging in an oscilloscope



Selective averaging in an oscilloscope

Common of particular sign elements

Typically, you solely need to analyze these sign elements that meet sure standards or happen at sure occasions inside an acquisition. This isn’t too troublesome for a single acquisition, however what if you wish to get hold of the typical of these chosen measurement occasions? Right here is the place seemingly unrelated options of the oscilloscope can work collectively to get the specified information.

Contemplate an utility the place a tool produces periodic RF pulse bursts, as proven in Determine 1.

Determine 1 The system underneath take a look at produces periodic RF pulse bursts; the take a look at purpose is to amass and common bursts with particular amplitudes. Supply Arthur Pini

The purpose of the take a look at is to amass and common solely these bursts with a selected amplitude. On this case, these with a nominal worth of 300 millivolts (mV) peak-to-peak. This desired measurement will be achieved utilizing the oscilloscope’s Go/Fail testing functionality to qualify the sign. Go/Fail testing permits the consumer to check the waveform primarily based on parametric measurements, like amplitude, and cross or fail the measured waveform primarily based on it assembly preset limits. Alternatively, it may be examined by evaluating the waveform to a masks template to find out if the waveform is inside or outdoors of the masks. Based mostly on the take a look at outcomes, many actions will be taken, from stopping the acquisition, storing the acquired waveform to reminiscence or file, sounding an audible alarm, or emitting a pulse.

Selective averaging makes use of Go/Fail testing to isolate the specified pulse bursts primarily based on their amplitude or conformance to a masks template. Indicators assembly the Go/Fail standards are saved in inner reminiscence. The averager is about to make use of that storage reminiscence as its supply in order that certified alerts transferred to the reminiscence are added to the typical.

Organising Go/Fail testing

Testing is predicated on the peak-to-peak amplitude, which makes use of measurement parameter P1. The measurement setup accepts or passes a pulse burst having a nominal peak-to-peak amplitude of 300 mV inside a variety of ±50 mV of nominal. The take a look at limits are arrange in take a look at situation Q1 (Determine 2).

Determine 2 The preliminary setup to seize and common solely pulses with amplitudes of 300 ± 50 mV. Supply: Arthur Pini

The oscilloscope’s timebase is about to seize particular person pulse bursts, on this case, 100 ns per division. That is vital as solely particular person bursts needs to be added to the typical. A single burst has been acquired, and its peak-to-peak amplitude is 334 mV, as learn in parameter P1. The Go/Fail take a look at setup Q1 exams for the sign amplitude inside ±50 mV of the nominal 300 mV amplitude. These limits are user-adjustable to amass pulse bursts of any amplitude.

A single acquisition is made, buying a 338 mV pulse, which seems within the high show grid. This meets the Go/Fail take a look at standards, and the sign is saved in reminiscence M1 (Determine 3).

Determine 3 Buying a sign that meets the acceptance standards provides a duplicate of the sign in reminiscence M1 (heart grid) and provides it to the averager contents (decrease grid). Supply: Arthur Pini

The reminiscence contents are added to the typical, displaying a waveform rely of 1. The Actions tab of the Go/Fail setup exhibits that if the acquired sign passes the acceptance standards, it’s transferred into reminiscence. The waveform retailer operation (i.e., what hint is saved in what reminiscence) is about up individually within the Save Waveform operation underneath the File pulldown menu.

What occurs if the acquired pulse doesn’t meet the take a look at standards? That is proven in Determine 4.

Determine 4 Buying a 247 mV burst ends in a failed Q1 situation. On this case, the sign will not be saved to M1 and isn’t added to the typical. Supply Arthur Pini

The acquired waveform has a peak-to-peak amplitude of 247 mV, outdoors the take a look at restrict. This ends in a failure of the Q1 take a look at (proven in pink). The take a look at motion doesn’t happen, and the low amplitude sign will not be added to the typical.

Utilizing masks templates

Selective averaging will also be primarily based on masks testing. Masks will be created primarily based on an acquired waveform, or customized masks will be created utilizing software program utilities from the oscilloscope producer and downloaded to the oscilloscope. This instance makes use of a masks primarily based on the acquired sign (Determine 5).

Determine 5 A masks, primarily based on the nominal amplitude sign, is created within the oscilloscope. The acquired sign passes if all waveform samples are throughout the masks. Supply Arthur Pini

The masks is created by including incremental variations each horizontally and vertically concerning the supply waveform. All factors should be contained in the masks for the acquired sign to cross. As within the earlier case, if the sign passes, it’s saved in reminiscence and added to the typical (Determine 6).

Determine 6 If the acquired sign is totally contained in the masks, it’s transferred to reminiscence M1 and added to the typical. Supply Arthur Pini

If the acquired sign has factors outdoors the masks, the take a look at fails, and the sign will not be transferred to reminiscence or the typical (Determine 7).

Determine 7 An instance of a masks take a look at failure with the circled factors outdoors the masks. This waveform will not be added to the typical. Supply Arthur Pini

Selective averaging with a gating sign

This method will also be utilized to alerts on a multiplexed bus with a gating sign, resembling a chip choose, obtainable (Determine 8). 

Determine 8 Go/Fail testing will be employed to pick solely these alerts which are time-coincident with a gating sign, resembling a chip choose sign. Supply: Arthur Pini

The gating sign or chip choose is acquired on a separate acquisition channel. Within the instance, channel 3 (C3) was used. The gating sign is constructive when the specified sign is on the market. So as to add solely these alerts that coincide with the gating sign, cross/fail testing verifies the presence of a constructive gating sign. Testing that the utmost worth of C3 is larger than 100 mV verifies that the gate sign is in a excessive state, and the take a look at is handed. The oscilloscope is about to retailer C1 in reminiscence M1 underneath a handed situation, which is added to the typical (Determine 9).

Determine 9 The typical primarily based on waveforms coincident with the gate constructive gate sign state. Supply: Arthur Pini

Isolating take a look at alerts

If the segments of the analyzed sign are shut collectively and can’t be separated utilizing the usual timebase (1,2,5 step) scales, a horizontal (zoom) growth of the acquired sign can be utilized to pick the specified sign section half. The variable zoom scale offers very advantageous horizontal steps. The zoom hint can be utilized as a substitute of the acquired channel, and the typical supply is the zoom hint.

Selective averaging

Selective averaging, primarily based on Go/Fail testing, is an instance of linked options in an oscilloscope that complement one another and supply the consumer a broader vary of measurements. Averaging was the chosen evaluation instrument, nevertheless it may have been changed with the quick Fourier rework (FFT) or a histogram. The oscilloscope used on this instance was a Teledyne LeCroy HDO 6034B.

Arthur Pini is a technical assist specialist and electrical engineer with over 50 years of expertise in electronics take a look at and measurement.

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