Lissajous gures

Lab 1: Introduction to Instrumentation

ECE 209: Circuits and Electronics Laboratory
A Lissajous (LEE-suh-zhoo) gure is a parametric plot of the harmonic system
_
x(t) = A
x
sin(
x
t + ),
y(t) = A
y
sin(
y
t + + )
(i.e., y(x) = A
y
sin
_
y
x
_
arcsin(
x
Ax
)
_
+
_
where |x| A
x
).
yt
In our case, we plot an input x(t) and output y(t) of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system. Because complex
exponentials are eigenfunctions of LTI systems and sinusoids are sums of complex exponentials, the output
frequency will match the input frequency (i.e.,
x
=
y
= = 2f). Our LTI system (i.e., the phase-shifter
circuit) is an all-pass lter, and so it ensures that A
y
= A
x
= A. So we are consider the simpler system
_
x(t) = Asin(2ft + ),
y(t) = Asin(2ft + + )
(i.e., y(x) = Asin
_
arcsin(
x
A
)
_
. .
xy graph has no dependence on .
where |x| A), (1)
and we use a Lissajous gure to nd the phase shift . We obtain the Lissajous gure with the oscilloscope
in its XY mode with the input of our system tied to the X channel and the output tied to the Y channel.
At each instant, the scope plots a dot with the input X sample as the horizontal coordinate and the output
Y sample as the vertical coordinate. Because the dots persist on the screen for a short time, their ghosts
form a Lissajous gure on the screen. To see the rotation direction, we can slow down the input frequency.
I II
III IV
x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t

4
)
| {z }
=45

4
5
x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t)
| {z }
=0

(in phase)
= 0

x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t

2
)
| {z }
=90

(in quadrature)

9
0

x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t
3
4
)
| {z }
=135

1
3
5

x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t )
| {z }
=180

(inverted)
= 180

x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t
5
4
)
| {z }
=225

2
2
5
x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t
3
2
)
| {z }
=270

(in quadrature)

2
7
0

x(t)
y(t)
(
x(t) = sin(2t)
y(t) = sin(2t
7
4
)
| {z }
=315

3
1
5

I n c r e a
s
i
n
g
p
h
a
s
e
s
h
i
f
t
Negative slope (II & III) Positive slope (I & IV)
C
l
o
c
k
w
i
s
e
(
I
&
I
I
)
C
o
u
n
t
e
r
c
l
o
c
k
w
i
s
e
(
I
I
I
&
I
V
)
L
T
I
L
i
s
s
a
j
o
u
s

g
u
r
e
s
a
r
e
o
v
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w
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f
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f
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Document from http://www.tedpavlic.com/teaching/osu/ece209/. Source code at http://hg.tedpavlic.com/ece209/.

Copyright c 20072009 by Theodore P. Pavlic
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Page 1 of 2
ECE 209 [Lab 1: Introduction to Instrumentation] Lissajous gures
So if we know both the angle of the major axis of the Lissajous curve and the direction of the curves
rotation, then we can determine the quadrant of the phase shift . That is,
_

_
= 0

if line with positive slope

0

> > 90

if counter clockwise and positive slope

= 90

if counter clockwise circle

90

> > 180

if counter clockwise and negative slope

= 180

if line with negative slope

180

> > 270

if clockwise and negative slope

= 270

if clockwise circle
270

> > 360

if clockwise and positive slope

(2)
where we consider only negative because physical systems are casual and will only contribute delay. When
= 0

, the input and output are said to be in phase. Alternatively, when = 180

, the input and

output are inverted copies of each other and are said to be out of phase or simply inverted. In the other
two cases, when = 90

or = 270

, the input and output are said to be in quadrature (i.e., they

are a quarter wavelength away from being in phase). Quadrature motion is perfectly circular and has a wide
range of applications throughout engineering.
Finding phase shift from measurements: To determine the precise phase shift from measurements,
we must use Equation (1). If we know the sinusoidal amplitude A and a measurement (x(t
0
), y(t
0
)) from
time t
0
, then we can use x(t
0
) to solve for 2ft
0
+ , and then we can use y(t
0
) to solve for . That is,
= arcsin
_
x(t
0
)
A
_
arcsin
_
y(t
0
)
A
_
. (3)
Because each arcsin can match as many as two angles in any 360

range, there are four possible one

for each of the four quadrants. So we use Equation (2) to pick the correct out of the four.
Simple method for the laboratory: The following procedure helps prevent measurement errors from
nonzero DC oset. If a measurement at time t
0
has x(t
0
) = 0, then Equation (3) becomes = arcsin(0)
arcsin(y(t
0
)/A). This case corresponds to nding the point where the Lissajous gure intersects with the
vertical axis.
A
A
(0, y(t
0
))
(0, y(t
0
))
2y(t
0
)
Y oscilloscope channel
X oscilloscope channel 2A
A A
Your calculator gives
you the principal Arcsin.
Let Arcsin
_
2y(t0)
2A
_
.
Then 0

90

, and
=
_

_
360

+ (Q-I), or
180

(Q-II), or
180

+ (Q-III), or
(Q-IV).
(note: in this example, it must
be that is in quadrant
II or III because the major
axis has a negative slope)
1. Use X cursors and X position knob to horizontally center the Lissajous gure on the on-screen axes.
2. Use Y cursors to measure the distance (i.e., Y ) between two intersection points (i.e., nd 2y(t
0
)).
3. Use Y cursors to measure the maximum vertical span (i.e., 2A).
4. Let Arcsin( 2y(t
0
)/(2A) ) and choose {, 180

+, 180

, 360

+} using Equation (2).

Our phase-shifting circuit delays by no more than 180

, and so is in quadrant III or IV. Further,

the major axis in this example has a negative slope, and so is quadrant III (i.e., = 180

+).
Copyright c 20072009 by Theodore P. Pavlic
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Page 2 of 2