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Cursor measurements
D.E.V.I.C.E. is an encyclopedia of terms used by manufacturers of test and measurement equipment. T&M Atlantic created this service to better explain the functionality of instruments it offers, and to highlight the latest developments in the world of measurement equipment. We are using such tools as animation to bring words and pictures to life and to create not just an understanding but also an appreciation for technology that goes into the design of every instrument.
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“Cursor measurements” is the mode in which an oscilloscope determines the cursors positions on Y- or X-axes and calculates the difference between these cursors positions.
Y-cursors are displayed as horizontal lines and used for the measurement of vertical parameters. They are usually used for the measurement of amplitude parameters (voltage).
X-cursors are displayed as vertical lines and used for the measurement of horizontal parameters. They are usually used for the measurement of time, phase and frequency parameters.
Cursor measurements function has three modes: Manual, Track and Auto.
1. Manual. In this mode the cursors are displayed as two parallel lines. These cursor lines can be moved along the oscillogram to choose the voltage ranges under measurement:
or time intervals (phase, frequency):
The measured values will be displayed (usually in frames)
In the picture below you can see a manual setting of the cursor to measure the signal swing
The next picture shows the manual cursor setting to measure positive pulse duration
2. Track. In this mode the cursors are displayed in the form of two crossed lines. Cursor crossline fixes its position on the signal line automatically. The cursors can be moved in the horizontal direction along the line of the signal oscillogram by turning of the multifunctional knob.
The oscilloscope shows the values of the measured positions in the separate frame on the display.
In the picture below you can see automatic measurement of two signal levels in the track mode with the help of horizontal cursors A and B when the vertical cursors are fixed for the changing frequency signal.
The next animated picture shows automatic time measurement in the track mode between the vertical cursors set to measure the signal cycle when its frequency changes.
3. Auto. This mode can be seen only when the automatic measurement mode is on. The oscilloscope will automatically display, with the help of cursors, the ways of the measurement of certain parameters.
For example:
which points the oscilloscope measures frequency at
the way it measures the signal voltage range.
The picture below shows automatic signal swing measurement between the horizontal cursors:
The next picture shows automatic time measurement between the vertical cursors set to measure the signal cycle when its frequency changes
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