Talk:History of the oscilloscope

Citations

Now that we've got the citation format converted to the arcane and scary Harvard format, no-one will ever add a reference again. Hey usuability team, how about making references and citations easier instead of moving aruond the tabs on the screen? --Wtshymanski (talk) 19:23, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Agreed. I'll start helping to the extent that I can. I personally prefer a citation which links (where possible) to the exact referenced page, with a minimum of redirection. Wildbear (talk) 20:15, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Different manufacturers

Are the different manifacturers represented reasonably equally? Tektronics seems very prominent, also in the main Oscilloscope page, and this may be for a good reason? Perhaps getting a list of oscilloscope manifacturers/models eventually would improve the situation. (example list) http://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/oscilloscope-64971.html 88.159.69.195 (talk) 15:19, 5 June 2011 (UTC)

I feel like they definitely aren't represented equally. It makes it seem like Tektronix is the only contributor when there are definitely two other big competitors who shaped oscilloscope history. I'm going to take a stab at making this page as well as the main oscilloscope page more balanced over the next few weeks. I'm also going to try to clean up some of the grammar. Let me know if you have any input. Lea-garv (talk) 15:00, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Tektronix is prominent in oscilloscope history because of the staggaring variety and specificity of the equipment. Very few of their CRTs have published data about the voltages they take or their ratings because they were made as replacements for scopes and other equipment... a large number of these complex CRTs of multvarious designs (multi-trace, different voltages, phosphors, shapes, sizes and frequency ratings) ended up going surplus in to places like (formerly) Nortex Electronics in Fort Worth Texas (closed 2007) the Black Hole in Los Alamos New Mexico (closed) and other places domestically in the US. They produced all their own components from what I understand, or otherwise used highly customized specifications. The instruments are renowned for being very precise. As for the tone of the article it might be advisable to solicit input from an expert (former employee or engineer) as to the nature of the differences in the equipment but a large part of this is probably psychological association on the part of some who might first identify or recognize tektronix as a brand of oscilloscope before any other brand. A poll may support this, but my comments are speculation.RotogenRay (talk) 07:10, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

This article is very important (the oscilloscope is still arguably the most powerful diagnostic tool for practicing electronics engineers) but it is seriously flawed. There is no mention of any manufacturers other than Textronix. As a proud owner of a rather splendid Cossor oscilloscope (which predated Tektronix), I find this quite galling. There are MANY other manufacturers who have contributed to the oscilloscope's development. There should be a proper timeline connecting the early (pre-1900) developments such as that of Jules Lissajous (in 1857), with the CRT-based designs of Textronix and ALL the other manufacturers who have made significant contributions to the development of "modern" oscilloscopes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Steve.beet (talk • contribs) 21:01, 15 March 2017 (UTC)‎

Trigger

"Oscilloscopes became a much more useful tool in 1946 when Howard Vollum and Jack Murdock invented the triggered-sweep oscilloscope, Tektronix Model 511. Howard Vollum had first seen such 'scopes in Germany."

So, Vollum and Murdock are NOT the inventors of triggered scope, but German engineers are. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.27.226.53 (talk) 20:33, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

And? Cite it and write it. --Wtshymanski (talk) 20:35, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

The CRT illustration

Sorry, folks, but the illustration is more like a cartoon than a representative image. Shapes and proportions are unrealistic.

Worst of all, extremely few 'scopes used magnetic focus. There was no need to! Focus coils are relatively costly, heavy, and consume power. 'Scope CRTs were universally focused electrostatically.

[Decades ago, I vaguely recall a mention of a large-screen classroom 'scope with magnetic deflection, and probably focus, but its deflection amplifiers were narrow-band, probably a few tens of kHz at best. However, this was obscure (if it even existed!) and not made in any quantity.]

The shape of the envelope (bulb) is, well, almost goofy. Sorry. The neck of a real CRT is a fairly long cylinder, and the main bulb is either a narrow cone or like an ogive. What's shown is severely foreshortened. A typical 'scope CRT would have a length of three or four screen diameters.

Deflection plates are not grouped as shown. Plate pairs for one axis are a different distance from the "base" relative to the other pair.

A 'scope CRT's electron gun is understood to include the focusing structure and the deflection plates. What's shown is much too simple. Nikevich 01:58, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

Nikevich 01:58, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

Also, what's with the EHT lead on the side of the tube? Isn't that just for colour CRTs (i.e. TVs with shadow masks, not scopes) or for radar displays, both needing higher voltages?

A friend has an ancient Tektronix dual beam mainframe scope with magnetic focus. He used to used it as a fan heater for warming up his attic workshop. Andy Dingley (talk) 02:09, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:

• Handheld Oscilloscope SHS800.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 15:31, 19 March 2019 (UTC)

Please add year/decades

Please add year/decades in each of the following sections:

• Oscilloscope_history#Hand-drawn_oscillograms
• Oscilloscope_history#Automatic_paper-drawn_oscillograph
• Oscilloscope_history#Photographic_oscillograph

• Sbmeirow • Talk • 08:32, 8 January 2021 (UTC)