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Glossary
AC - Alternating Current. A signal that continually
changes in potential going from a minimum to a
maximum voltage and back.
Aliasing - A form of under sampling of a digital
oscilloscope in which case the constructed waveform
displayed is in the form of a slower frequency of the
original input.
Amplitude –The magnitude of a quantity or strength
of a signal. In oscilloscopes, amplitude usually refers
to either voltage or power.
Averaging –A processing technique used by digital
oscilloscopes to reduce noise in a displayed signal.
Bandwidth –The frequency range, here limited by –
3 dB.
BNC - Bayonet Neill–Concelman connector; a type of
signal connector common in electronic
measurement production equipment, used to
transmit a signal on a cable.
Calibration –A process that adjusts offset and gain
of signal processing of the instrument.
dBm/ 50 - dB relative to 1 milli-watt referenced to a
50 Ω impedance.
dBm/ 600 - dB relative to 1 milli-watt referenced to
a 600 Ω impedance.
dBu - dB relative to 1 microvolt, regardless of
impedance.
dBV- dB relative to 1 Volt, regardless of impedance.
DC - Direct Current. The electrical voltage that is
constant like the output of batteries.
Division –Measurement markings on horizontal and
vertical axis of the oscilloscope.
Envelope –The outline of a signal’s highest and
lowest points acquired over many displayed
waveform repetitions.
Frequency –The frequency equals 1/period.
Ground –A voltage reference usually taken as a point
of zero electrical potential, or voltage.
Hertz (Hz) - The unit of frequency which is measured
by one cycle per second.
Marker - Horizontal or vertical visible displays that
can be placed across the display panel for
measurements or zoom-ins.
Noise - A variation in a signal that is (usually)
unwanted and conveys erroneous information.
Oscilloscope - A device which accepts an electrical
input, and represents the variations of the input as a
display on a display screen.
Peak –The maximum voltage level measured from a
zero reference point.
Peak-to-peak (Vp-p) –The voltage measured from
the maximum point of a signal to its minimum point.
Period –The amount of time it takes a wave to
complete one cycle. The period equals 1/frequency.
Probe –An oscilloscope input device, usually having
a pointed metal tip for making electrical contact with
a circuit element, a lead to connect to the circuit’s
ground reference, and a flexible cable for
transmitting the signal and ground to the
oscilloscope.
RBW (Resolution Bandwidth) –The factor that
determines bin size, or the smallest frequency that
can be resolved in the spectrum of a waveform.
Ringing –An undesired effect on a signal resulting
from oscillations of circuit resonation.
