Light Oscilloscope Overview

　　The optical oscilloscope is a commonly used analog recorder, mainly used to record analog data. It converts the electrical signal input by the signal conditioner into an optical signal and records it on photosensitive paper or film, thereby obtaining a curve of the relationship between the test variable and time. The figure below shows the appearance of the SC-16 optical oscilloscope.

　　Figure SC-1 Appearance of Type 6 optical oscilloscope

　　The light oscilloscope works based on the magnetoelectric principle and records the measurement results in a photosensitive manner. There are three main recording methods: incandescent light fixation recording, ultraviolet light direct recording and incandescent light direct recording.

　　Incandescent light recording uses ordinary lighting as the light source to record the signal on film or photographic paper, and then develops and fixes it in a darkroom. Ultraviolet direct recording uses ultra-high pressure mercury lamps as the light source, and uses the ultraviolet light it produces to record the signal on ultraviolet photosensitive paper. After secondary exposure, the waveform is displayed. Incandescent direct recording uses high-efficiency incandescent lamps as the light source to record the signal on recording paper coated with special photosensitive emulsions. After secondary exposure, the waveform of the measured signal is displayed.

　　The optical oscilloscope has the following features.

　　① Since the optical oscilloscope adopts an optical amplification system, uses a high-quality magnetic system and a high-sensitivity vibrator, it can achieve high sensitivity.

　　② The natural frequency of a moving coil oscillator can reach tens of thousands of hertz, so the frequency of the recorded signal can reach several thousand hertz, which is more than ten times that of a pen recorder.

　　③ It can record multiple signals at the same time, the light will not interfere or collide with each other, cross-recording can be achieved, and the recording paper can be used to the maximum extent.

　　④ The adjustment process can obtain data in the form of curves, which is intuitive.

　　The shortcomings of optical oscilloscopes mainly include the following three aspects.

　　①The operating frequency is not wide enough.

　　②The recorded curve cannot be processed using digital analysis instruments or computers.

　　③Photosensitive recording paper is expensive and cannot be reused.