We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a USB Oscilloscope?

By Lisa Smegal
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 16,698
Share

A USB oscilloscope is an oscilloscope that runs off of the USB drive of a computer system. An oscilloscope is a machine that is used to measure electrical signals. As it measures and detects the signals, it creates a graph showing the user how these electrical signals vary over a course of time. With an oscilloscope, many things can be discovered about a particular electrical signal, including but not limited to the frequency of a particular oscillating signal, the voltage values and time of a signal, and how much of a particular signal is alternating current or direct current. Unlike other standard oscilloscopes that require an electrical outlet to perform, a USB oscilloscope gets its power through the USB power hub on a desktop or laptop computer.

Oscilloscopes are used in a variety of professions. From electricians to nuclear physicists, the oscilloscope is one of the most frequently used and versatile machines in a number of areas. In the past, users were limited in their ability to use an oscilloscope in certain situations due to the lack of a power source that is required for the machine to run. Modern advancements in technology however, have made it possible to make oscilloscopes more portable by creating a USB power source for them to run off of.

This makes the USB oscilloscope beneficial in a number of ways. Not only is it easier to use the machine in more locations because it can be powered from the USB port on laptop computers which can run from a battery source, but the information can also be more easily recorded. The USB attachment to the computer generally means information obtained by the oscilloscope can be downloaded directly to the computer.

Another benefit of the USB oscilloscope is that most of the products on the market use the computer screen to display the data that is being gathered by the instrument. Additionally, since the data is transferred quickly to the computer, it makes it much easier for any data obtained from the oscilloscope to be transferred between multiple users. This makes it extremely beneficial and efficient for those professionals who are in the field and need to send information quickly to associates in other locations.

USB oscilloscopes come in a variety of models. There are very basic models, used for general purposes, and more complex and precise models, which provide more power and detail. This makes the USB oscilloscope ideal for many different professions, from simple manufacturing jobs to more complex tasks that include research and development.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-usb-oscilloscope.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.