Oscillograph

An oscilloscope or oscillograph (Latin oscillare " rock " in Greek graphein "to write" ) was used for the display of the time course of electrical voltages. In contrast to analog oscilloscopes, an oscillograph record a time history of the signals and reflect not only a visual snapshot.

Since the end of the 20th century oscilloscopes have been largely replaced in electrical metrology by digital oscilloscopes, which have in addition to various recording function via signal evaluation and memory functions. In common usage, the terms oscillograph and oscilloscope are still sometimes used interchangeably.

Origin

The name probably derives from oscillograph particularly previously used mechanical method of recording with a pen recorder (short Schreiber, also high-speed recorder ). These are still used today. Here, ( a moving coil movement, for example) was, for example, the pointer of a measuring system is mounted a vigorous pen. Under the pen a writing medium is passed at a constant, but often selectable speed. The current pointer position is recorded on the media, the user obtains a plot or Wrote, in which the course of the measured quantity is recorded over time. The pointer can also be driven by an electric motor. The motor is then controlled with a potentiometric position transducer and a comparator.

Variants

In museums there are also writers for the temperature and the humidity. Even early flight recorder functioned in this way and recorded the altitude and the speed. The paper transport is usually geared motors or movements.

Schleifenoszillograph

For the record, or direct viewing of fast signals (approx. up to 3 kHz ) in the early 20th century were called Schleifenoszillographen used according to the principle of a galvanometer whose light pointer was deflected in time by rotating prism mirror and directed to a screen or a sheet film.