Scope / Multimeter
General Reference
44
Pulse
A signal with abrupt (fast) signal direction changes in
a positive or negative direction, with consistent level
and duration.
Pulse Period
One complete on and off cycle or time period.
Pulse Train
Collection of signal pulses traveling together.
Pulse Width (duration)
Measurement of a signals on time in a circuit that
pulses on and off. Specified in units of time.
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
A signal that continuously cycles on and off while the
on-time varies within each cycle.
RMS
The RMS (root mean square) value of alternating
currents and voltages is the effective current or
voltage applied, rather than the peak current or
voltage measurable. The AC RMS voltage value can
be defined as the equivalent DC voltage of the AC
voltage measured. RMS values are commonly used
in AC electrical measurement, as they are more
representative of DC measurements.
Sample Rate
Number of times (frequency) the scope/meter takes a
sample of the signal. Specified in mega samples per
second (MS/s).
Sampling
Process of obtaining a sequence of instantaneous
values for a signal at regular or intermittent intervals.
When a quantity of samples are collected the
operational status of the device is determined.
Screen Update Rate
How often the captured data is (updated) displayed
on the screen.
Signal
Detectable voltage, current, or magnetic field, by
which specific information is transmitted in an
electronic circuit or system.
Square Wave
A square or rectangular waveform (digital) which
alternately switches high to low (on/off) for specific
lengths of time, that has very fast rise and fall times.
Sweep Scale
The horizontal scale on the grid. Also referred to as
time scale or x axis.
Threshold
The threshold function automatically sets a trigger
and determines a threshold level in the middle of the
signal range (calculated from the Min and Max
measurements) to be used as a reference point to
calculate the measurement.
Trace
The actual visible line displayed on the scope screen.
Term / Abbreviation
Description
Trigger
A conditional function that initiates if and when a trace
is drawn on the screen.
Trigger Slope
The slope that a trigger source signal must reach
before the trigger circuit initiates a sweep
VAC
Volts Alternating Current
VDC
Volts Direct Current
Vertical Scale
The vertical scale on the grid or (y-axis) represents
what is being measured (voltage, amperage,
pressure etc.), and the unit of measurement it is being
measured in.
Volt
Unit of electric potential difference.
Voltage
Electromotive force or potential difference, expressed
in volts.
Voltage (inductive) Kick
A voltage, many times higher than the applied
voltage, produced by the collapsing magnetic field in
a coil when the current through it is abruptly
terminated.
Waveform
The graphic representation (form) of a signal over
time, which the trace displays on the screen.
Zero Base Line
Reference setting or 0% level of a graph scale.
Term / Abbreviation
Description
