Supercon 2024: Using an Oscilloscope to Peek Below the Noise Floor
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Summary
When searching for a signal with an oscilloscope, a stronger signal is better, as it can be difficult to find within the noise floor.
However, a lock-in amplifier can help detect signals below the noise floor.
James Rowley and Mark Omo discussed how to use lock-in amplification to improve oscilloscopes when detecting signals at the 2024 Hackaday Superconference.
Rowley describes lock-in amplifiers as ‘ultra-narrow bandpass filters’ that can focus on a specific signal.
They can be used for a variety of applications, including detecting high and low electrical resistances, load cells and heart catheter location during medical operations.
Mark then explained how the DSP magic works, which requires the use of a reference signal, before the pair showed how to use the technique with a demonstration.
