A METHOD OF DISPLAYING PULSE REPETITION FREQUENCY JITTER

A method of plotting the instantaneous period of a pulse train on an oscilloscope was devised that provides a continuous record of pulse spacing at high repetition frequencies. The tec ni ue is useful in the study of the distribution of pulse spacing in pulse modulators in which purposeful jitter is introduced. The oscilloscope trace is triggered by alternate pulses of the pulse train to be analyzed, and the intervening pulses are used to intensify the trace at the time of their occurrence. The vertical position of the trace is varied linearly at a relatively slow rate in order to separate each intensified spot from the preceding spots. In the resulting display, time between pulses is measured on the horizontal trace, and progressing time along the pulse train is measured vertically. Author