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#1 2007-03-27 7:02 am
'Scope Art
Been playing with my $49 oscilloscope (God bless ebay), playing with X-Y mode.
Basically you feed one waveform (such as a sinewave) in Channel 1, and another waveform (another sine, triangle or square wave) in Channel 2, then combine them (using ADD) as you adjust each frequency in very small increments.
It really does create some amazing moving images (not your average Lissajous figure-8 type images, more like animated abstract paintings).
I used a cheap Elenco 1mhz function generator in one channel using sine and triangle waves (depending on the desired effect) and an RF signal generator in the other channel using a pure CW sine wave.
These still images don't really do them justice-you should try it for yourself and watch the incredible motion that the scope creates.
So here's a basic sinewave...
and here's a sinewave combined with other waveforms using X-Y mode:
Last edited by ivanjs (2007-03-27 7:08 am)
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#2 2007-03-27 7:28 am
Re: 'Scope Art
Cool. Now create a screensaver that replicates the effect!
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#3 2007-03-27 8:06 am
Re: 'Scope Art
jeff-o wrote:
Cool. Now create a screensaver that replicates the effect!
That would be cool. In the meantime, I have them set up as OSX's screensaver with slow dissolves-not quite as nice as a "real" screensaver, but works for now.
I'm going to borrow my friend's dv camera to shoot some movies of the motion (I have a Mac Book Pro with built-in iSight, but not sure if the quality would be good enough?).
Here's another 2:
Last edited by ivanjs (2007-03-27 8:07 am)
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#4 2007-03-27 8:13 am
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16033
Re: 'Scope Art
I've always wanted a scope. Is there software that will simulate/emulate one?
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#5 2007-03-27 9:02 am
Re: 'Scope Art
They're called Lissajous figures. Google that and a ton of software will present itself.
,xtG
.tsooJ
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#6 2007-03-27 9:12 am
- benightedbastard
- Cheap and Juicy!
- From: Western Australia
- Registered: 1999-06-03
- Posts: 28733
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#7 2007-03-27 9:14 am
Re: 'Scope Art
user wrote:
I've always wanted a scope. Is there software that will simulate/emulate one?
Yes, but you need a card that plugs into a PCI slot. It's all very expensive and doesn't work as well, you'd be better off buying a $50 scope from eBay.
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#9 2007-03-27 9:52 am
Re: 'Scope Art
jeff-o wrote:
user wrote:
I've always wanted a scope. Is there software that will simulate/emulate one?
Yes, but you need a card that plugs into a PCI slot. It's all very expensive and doesn't work as well, you'd be better off buying a $50 scope from eBay.
Yeah, that's what I ended up doing-I looked into card-based scopes and even software ones (they were mostly available for PCs, but not so much for Mac, especially for a MacBook Pro), but I'm a "like to hear the click when I turn the knobs" kind of guy, so I got a real 35mhz scope on ebay for less than $50. For professional electronics work, you'd probably want a minimum of 100mhz scope, but for my hobby-level interest in electronics, this scope works great.
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#11 2007-03-27 12:40 pm
Re: 'Scope Art
Alien wrote:
Psah.
I'd have killed for a 20 MHz 'scope, back in my electronics student days.
,xtG
.tsooJ
I've been drooling over a spectrum analyzer, but I figure I'd have to take 6 full-time jobs, donate my kidneys to science, sell my first-born, receive the Nobel for solving world hunger then sell the medal on ebay, become a MVP professional basketball player, hock my guitars and walk on water just to get a decent one.
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#12 2007-03-27 12:53 pm
Re: 'Scope Art
ivanjs wrote:
Alien wrote:
Psah.
I'd have killed for a 20 MHz 'scope, back in my electronics student days.
,xtG
.tsooJI've been drooling over a spectrum analyzer, but I figure I'd have to take 6 full-time jobs, donate my kidneys to science, sell my first-born, receive the Nobel for solving world hunger then sell the medal on ebay, become a MVP professional basketball player, hock my guitars and walk on water just to get a decent one.
What do you need a spectrum analyzer for???
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
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#13 2007-03-27 3:02 pm
Re: 'Scope Art
jeff-o wrote:
What do you need a spectrum analyzer for???
Some engineer friends of mine gave me a lengthy demonstration at work (TV station) of a spectrum analyzer looking at TV and commercial radio signals, showing me its usefulness.
Of course, as only an electronics hobbyist, I do't really need a spectrum analyzer, but I also don't really need my function generator, an oscilloscope, an RF signal generator, a benchtop power supply, LCR meters, etc., but they've come in quite handy for my hobby interests so far. 
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#14 2007-03-27 3:07 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16033
Re: 'Scope Art
benightedbastard wrote:
Where's the itunes plugin?
TechRTA™ Visual Plug-in for Apple's iTunes
Bet you thought that was just a joke you made.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#15 2007-03-27 5:44 pm
Re: 'Scope Art
Neat, but that's technically not X Y mode, it is one AC signal riding on another AC signal. X Y mode always makes circles, squares, ellipses, or lines. But O'h well.
ivanjs, it isn't necessary to spend a fortune on a dedicated spectrum analyzer, the newer digital O' scopes have FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) that performs spectral analysis.
As far as why have to one, to view the harmonic (i.e. frequency) content of complex (non sine) waves. Math features rule.
Back on topic/ that might make some interesting pictures.
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