While "div oscilloscope" isn't a specific category or type of oscilloscope, the term "div" is fundamental to how oscilloscopes operate and how you interpret the waveform displayed on the screen. 'Div' stands for 'division', referring to the grid lines that make up the graticule on the oscilloscope display. These divisions are crucial for measuring the voltage and time characteristics of an electrical signal.
The most common uses of 'div' are in the Volts/Div and Time/Div settings, which control the scaling of the signal on the vertical (voltage) and horizontal (time) axes, respectively.
Volts/Div Control: Vertical Sensitivity
The Volts/Div control is one of the most important settings when using an oscilloscope. As stated in the reference:
The volts/div control on an oscilloscope adjusts the vertical sensitivity of the display. It determines how much voltage each vertical division on the screen represents.
Here's a breakdown of what this means:
- Vertical Axis: The vertical axis of the oscilloscope screen represents voltage.
- Graticule Divisions: The screen is marked with horizontal grid lines, creating vertical divisions.
- Scaling: The Volts/Div setting determines the voltage scale for these vertical divisions. If the setting is 1 Volt/Div, then each vertical division on the graticule represents 1 volt of the signal. If the setting is 100 mV/Div, each vertical division represents 0.1 volts.
- Sensitivity: A lower Volts/Div setting increases the vertical sensitivity, meaning a smaller voltage change will cause the waveform to move more divisions up or down on the screen. This allows you to see smaller details in the voltage signal. A higher setting decreases sensitivity, allowing you to view larger voltage swings.
How it Works:
Let's say the Volts/Div knob is set to 2V. If your waveform extends vertically over 3 divisions from the center line, the peak voltage is approximately 3 divisions * 2V/division = 6 Volts.
Time/Div Control: Horizontal Scale (Sweep Speed)
Equally important is the Time/Div control.
- Horizontal Axis: The horizontal axis represents time.
- Graticule Divisions: Vertical grid lines create horizontal divisions across the screen.
- Scaling: The Time/Div setting determines the time scale for these horizontal divisions. If the setting is 1 ms/Div, each horizontal division represents 1 millisecond of time. If it's 1 µs/Div, each division represents 1 microsecond.
- Sweep Speed: This setting essentially controls how quickly the oscilloscope "sweeps" across the signal from left to right. A lower Time/Div setting (faster sweep) lets you see finer details of a signal over a shorter period. A higher Time/Div setting (slower sweep) lets you view more cycles of a repetitive signal or a longer duration event.
How it Works:
Suppose the Time/Div knob is set to 5µs. If one full cycle of your waveform spans horizontally across 4 divisions, the period of the waveform is approximately 4 divisions * 5µs/division = 20 µs. The frequency would then be 1 / Period = 1 / 20µs = 50 kHz.
Practical Importance of 'Div' Settings
Understanding and correctly setting the Volts/Div and Time/Div controls is fundamental to accurately using an oscilloscope.
- Proper Scaling: Settings must be adjusted so that the waveform is visible on the screen and fills a reasonable portion of the display without being clipped (going off the top or bottom) or being too small to see details.
- Measurement: The number of divisions the waveform covers vertically or horizontally, multiplied by the corresponding Volts/Div or Time/Div setting, gives you the voltage or time value.
- Signal Analysis: By changing these settings, you can zoom in on specific parts of a waveform (using lower Time/Div) or adjust the amplitude view to analyze voltage levels accurately (using appropriate Volts/Div).
In summary, 'div' refers to the divisions on the oscilloscope screen graticule, and the Volts/Div and Time/Div controls use these divisions as units of measurement for voltage and time, enabling you to scale and analyze electrical signals.
| Control | Axis | Controls | Unit Represented by One Division | Primary Measurement Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volts/Div | Vertical | Vertical Sensitivity | Volts (V, mV, µV) | Amplitude, Peak Voltage, etc. |
| Time/Div | Horizontal | Horizontal Scale/Speed | Seconds (s, ms, µs, ns) | Period, Frequency, Pulse Width, etc. |
Understanding these controls is key to making accurate measurements with an oscilloscope.
