using Test equipment
Electronic test equipment, shown in Figure 8-8, is used to generate signals and capture responses from electronic circuits. Using the test equipment can prove that an electronic circuit is operating properly or show that there are faults in the circuit that can be traced and repaired. Use of electronic test equipment is essential to any serious work on electronics circuits, devices, or systems. It is important to understand how each piece of test equipment operates.
When an electronics engineer designs and assembles an electronic circuit, many different types of electronic test equipment are used to test the circuit for proper operation. Some types of testing equipment can be simulated in a virtual environment. A virtual environment is a computer-simulated environment that is displayed on a computer monitor. The main advantage in using simulation tools for circuit design
is that the virtual environment lets the user test and evaluate the circuit without damaging test equipment or the circuit itself.
Some of the test equipment we discuss in this text- book are listed here: frequency counter, function generator, logic probes, multimeter, oscilloscope, power supply, signal generator, and virtual test equipment.
Usually, more complex test equipment is necessary when developing electronics circuits and systems than is needed during the production phase and testing or when troubleshooting existing electronics circuits and systems in the field.
Questions
1. What is electronics test equipment used for?
2. Where would electronics test equipment be used?
3. When would an electronics engineer use electronics test equipment?
4. What is a virtual environment?
5. What are some of the test equipment required for this textbook?