Using X-Y Mode

An instruction guide for the HP 54602B Oscilloscope

Written by Elliott Wood

Table of Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1

The Oscilloscope ......................................................................................................................... 1

X-Y Mode Measurements................................................................................................................ 2

Device Setup................................................................................................................................ 2

Voltage Gain ................................................................................................................................ 2

Phase Shift................................................................................................................................... 3

Frequency Calibration.................................................................................................................. 4

Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................... 7

X-Y Plot Is Not Stable .................................................................................................................. 7

Lissajous Plot Is Spinning Too Quickly........................................................................................ 7

Lissajous Plots Are Not Symmetric.............................................................................................. 7

Appendix A – Phase Shift Examples ............................................................................................A-1

Appendix B – Calibration Examples .............................................................................................B-1

Using X-Y Mode The Oscilloscope

Introduction
The Oscilloscope
The oscilloscope is one of the most common instruments found in a laboratory today. Its
prevalence is due to its ability to measure periodic waveforms of all kinds, giving it applications
in fields ranging from electronics to mechanics to acoustics.

Most people recognize an oscilloscope by the characteristic sinusoidal waveform plotted

against time on its screen. This standard display is useful for determining characteristics of a
single waveform such as frequency and amplitude, or for measuring timing in electronic
circuits. However, most are unaware that an extremely useful mode exists for comparing two
sinusoidal signals. This mode, known to experienced oscilloscope users as the X-Y mode,
helps to calibrate signals in reference to another and can also be used to measure the gain
and phase shift of linear two-port networks. This guide will instruct the reader in using X-Y
mode to measure and compare two sinusoidal signals using the Hewlett Packard 54602B
Oscilloscope, shown below in Figure I-1.

Figure I-1. HP54602B Oscilloscope

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Using X-Y Mode Device Setup

X-Y Mode Measurements

Device Setup
Before the HP 54602B Oscilloscope can be used to compare two signals, its
inputs must be properly connected. To begin, turn on the oscilloscope and Main i
Delayed
press the button labeled “Main/Display” (located under the “Horizontal”
controls section on the right side). This will bring up a menu of soft-keys on
the bottom of the screen. Press the soft key under “XY” to switch the
oscilloscope to X-Y mode.
XY
Next, two sinusoidal signals should be connected to the oscilloscope. For
voltage gain and phase shift measurements, the input voltage (vi) of the
linear two-port network you are measuring should be connected to Channel 1, and the
network’s output signal (vo) should be connected to Channel 2. For frequency calibration, the
reference frequency should be connected to Channel 1, and the signal to be calibrated should
be connected to Channel 2. A summary of these connections is shown below in Table 1-1.

TIP: Make sure your signals are both properly connected to a common ground.

Table 1-1. Signal Connections for Different Measurements

Channel One Channel Two

Voltage Gain
Vin Vout
Phase Shift

Frequency Calibration Reference Calibration

Voltage Gain
The voltage gain of a linear two-port network is the ratio of the output voltage vo to the input
voltage vi. This is easily measured in X-Y Mode. Since the x-axis represents the voltage of
the input signal, and the y-axis represents the voltage of the output signal, the voltage gain is
simply the ratio of the maximum points in each direction. This is pictured in Figure 2-1. In the
figure, vi,max is about 1.05 Volts and vo,max is about 0.7 Volts. Therefore the voltage gain for this
circuit is 0.7 / 1.05, or 0.667.

Steps to measure voltage gain

1. Measure the maximum value of the plot on the x-axis as vi,max.
2. Measure the maximum value of the plot on the y-axis as vo,max.
3. Calculate the voltage gain in decibels with Equation 2-1.

 vo, max 
Gain = 20 ⋅ log  (Eq. 2-1)
 vi, max 

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Using X-Y Mode

Figure 2-1. Measurement of Voltage Gain in X-Y Mode

Phase Shift
The phase shift of a linear two-port network is defined as the phase difference between vi and
vo. The X-Y mode can be used to measure this shift. The input signal (vi) and output signal
(vo) of the circuit can be connected to the oscilloscope to precisely measure phase shift.

To measure phase shift, first configure the HP 54602B Oscilloscope as described in the
Device Setup section, using the connections listed for phase shift measurement. The display
on the oscilloscope will show a circle or oval pattern. Assume that v1(t) and v2(t) are the two
signals input into the oscilloscope. Then:

v1(t) = sin(ωt) (Eq. 3-1)

v2(t) = sin(ωt + φ) (Eq. 3-2)

In Eq. 2, φ is the angular phase shift. This value can be measured using X-Y mode on the
oscilloscope. Given the circle or oval display, let A be the peak in the Y direction, and let B be
the point at which the plot intersects the Y-axis. Then:

B = A sin(φ) (Eq. 3-3)

φ = sin-1(B/A) (Eq. 3-4)

This is demonstrated in Figure 3-1 below.

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Using X-Y Mode Frequency Calibration

Figure 3-1. Measurement of Phase Shift in X-Y Mode

In this plot, A is measured to be 750mV and B is measured to be 530mV. Using Eq. 3-4, φ is
then calculated as 45°. This indicates a 45° phase shift between v1(t) and v2(t).

Steps to calculate phase shift

1. Measure A, the maximum value in the y-direction of the plot.
2. Measure B, the intersection of the plot on the positive y-axis.
3. Take the inverse sine of B divided by A. This is the phase shift.

If B intersects the Y-axis at the origin (in the case of an apparent line), then the phase shift is
either zero or 180°. A positively sloping line intersecting at the origin indicates a phase shift of
zero. A negatively sloping line intersecting at the origin indicates a phase shift of 180°, or an
inverted signal. Finally as the plot begins to look more like a circle, then B approaches A. In
this case the phase shift approaches 90° as sin-1(B/A) approaches sin-1(1). Examples of these
conditions are included in Appendix A.

Frequency Calibration
Suppose a signal is required that is exactly twice the frequency of another. While a pure
sinusoid signal near 60Hz may be easily accessible from a given source, what if a signal at
twice that frequency is required? A signal generator could be set to output a signal at 120Hz,
but this may not be precise enough if the source is actually 59.995Hz. How can a signal that
is an exact multiple of another be obtained?

The X-Y mode of an oscilloscope can calibrate a signal to an exact rational multiple of a
reference signal. First, configure the HP 54602B to the state described in the Device Setup
section, using the connections listed for frequency calibration.

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Using X-Y Mode Frequency Calibration

Lissajous figures will be used to calibrate the frequency of a signal on channel two to a
multiple of the frequency of the signal on channel one. A Lissajous figure is a series of
connected horizontal and vertical loops. When these loops stabilize (stop rotating), the
frequency of the calibrated signal is an exact rational multiple of the frequency of the reference
signal.

For example, the Lissajous plot shown in Figure 4-1 shows the case in which the frequency of
the calibrated (fcal) signal exactly matches that of the reference signal (fref).

Figure 4-1. Lissajous Plot for fcal = fref

TIP: If the loops are rotating or moving, the signals are not stabilized and therefore
need a small adjustment to the frequency for precise calibration.

For more complex multiples, the number of loops can be counted. In the general case, the
ratio of fcal to fref can be calculated as the ratio between the number of horizontal loops to the
number of vertical loops. More specifically, suppose a box was drawn tangent to the loops of
the Lissajous plot. The number of vertical loops is the number of times the plot would touch
the top of the box. The number of horizontal loops is the number of times the plot would touch
the left side of the box. Figure 4-3 demonstrates this.

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Using X-Y Mode Frequency Calibration

Figure 4-2. Lissajous Plot for fcal = 3/2 · fref

In Figure 4-3 above, the loops touch the top of the box three times and the side of the box
twice. Therefore, the ratio of fcal to fref is 3 to 2. In this example, if fref is 60Hz, then fcal is 90Hz.

Steps to find the frequency given a reference signal

1. Stabilize the Lissajous plot by fine-tuning the frequency fcal.
2. Draw a box tangent to the loops of the plot.
3. Count A, the number of times the loops touch the top of the box.
4. Count B, the number of times the loops touch the left side of the box.
5. Divide A by B, and multiply by the reference frequency. This is the calibrated
frequency.

For more examples, three additional Lissajous plots are included in Appendix B.

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Using X-Y Mode Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting
X-Y Plot Is Not Stable
If the X-Y plot is moving during either voltage gain or phase shift measurements, then the
frequencies of vi and vo are not identical. First, make sure that both signals share a common
reference ground. Second, make sure that the frequency of either signal is not being altered
by some component in the circuit.

Lissajous Plot Is Spinning Too Quickly

If the Lissajous plot is spinning faster than can be read, then the frequency has not yet been
properly calibrated. This spinning condition is normal until an exact multiple of the reference
signal has been reached. Adjust the frequency of the signal being calibrated until the plot
slows to a stop, and then count the number of loops. If the desired frequency is not indicated,
repeat the procedure by adjusting to a different frequency at which the plot becomes
stationary.

Lissajous Plots Are Not Symmetric

Lissajous plots may not always be symmetric as those pictured in this guide. The images
given here are symmetric for clarity. However, this is not a requirement for an accurate
measurement. Symmetry is a function of phase shift, and the plots pictured in this guide all
have a phase shift of 90°. This is not necessary though, and loops may still be counted using
the method described. Only a stable, non-rotating set of loops is required for an accurate
measurement.

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Using X-Y Mode Appendix A – Phase Shift Examples

Appendix A – Phase Shift Examples

Figure A-1. Phase Shift of Zero

Figure A-2. Phase Shift of 180°

A-1
Using X-Y Mode Appendix A – Phase Shift Examples

Figure A-3. Phase Shift Approaching 90°

A-2
Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

Appendix B – Calibration Examples

The following Lissajous plots assume a reference frequency fref of 60Hz.

Figure B-1. Lissajous Plot for fcal = 2 · fref, or 120Hz.

Figure B-2. Lissajous Plot for fcal = 3 · fref, or 180Hz.

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Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

Figure B-3. Lissajous Plot for fcal = 5/2 · fref, or 150Hz.

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Figure 3 - Use of oscilloscope for phase measurements

The CRO may be used to measure phase shift in an electronic circuit, as shown in Fig. 3. An
oscillator is connected to the input of the circuit under test. The output of the circuit is
connected to the CRO vertical input, whereas the oscillator signal is connected directly to the
horizontal input. The phase-shift angle ϕ may be determined from the relation,

where B and A are measured as shown in the figure. For zero phase shift the ellipse will
become a straight line with a slope of 45° to the right; for 90° phase shift it will become a
circle; and for the 180° phase shift it will become a straight line with a slope of 45° to the left.

B-2
Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

Figure 4 - Lissajous figures for different phases.

The CRO offers a convenient means of comparing signal frequencies through the use of
Lissajous diagrams. Two frequencies are impressed on the CRO inputs, one on the horizontal
input and one on the vertical input. One of these frequencies may be a known frequency as
obtained from a variable frequency oscillator or signal generator. If the two input frequencies
are multiples of each other then the patterns that are displayed on the CRT screen are called
Lissajous diagrams. The frequency ratio is related to number of vertical and horizontal
maxima of the diagrams.
Some typical shapes for the Lissajous diagrams are shown in Fig. 4. It may be noted that
these shapes can vary somewhat depending on the phase relation between the input signals.
Oscilloscope traces may be recorded by various photographic methods, and several cameras
are manufactured especially for oscilloscope applications.

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Phase-shift measurements: The phase-shift between two signals can be determined by

two different methods. One-way is to use a Lissajous figure as shown in Figure 5. The
expression for phase-shift is _ = sin-1(a/b)
The second method requires a duel-trace oscilloscope (two Y- input channels). The
vertical positions of both traces MUST be EXACTLY the same. The greatest accuracy is
obtained when the distance between the horizontal crossover of the two signals is the
largest. This is controlled by the horizontal sweep setting. An example is shown in Figure
6. The expression for phase-shift is θ = 360o (t/T)

B-3
Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

B-4
Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

B-5
Using X-Y Mode Appendix B – Calibration Examples

B-6