What is the difference between the Auto and Normal trigger modes on InfiniiVision oscilloscopes?

In auto trigger mode, the trigger will be forced if the specified conditions are not met. In normal trigger mode, the trigger will never be forced and a trigger will only occur if the specified conditions are met.

At the top of the screen on your oscilloscope you will see an icon that will say 1 of 4 things: Auto (not flashing), Auto? (flashing), Trig’d (not flashing), or Trig’d? (flashing). In auto trigger mode, you will see one of the Auto icons and in normal trigger mode, you will see one of the Trig’d icons.

• Auto (not flashing) – this tells you that your trigger condition is being met
• Auto? (flashing) – this tells you that your trigger condition is NOT being met and your trigger is being forced
• Trig’d (not flashing) – this tells you that your trigger condition is being met
• Trig’d? (flashing) – this tells you that your trigger condition is NOT being met and your screen therefore won’t have any waveform displayed at all

Auto trigger mode is typically used when you don’t know what your signal will look like and therefore just want to capture everything, regardless of whether or not your trigger condition was met. You will want to use normal trigger mode when you only want to acquire specific events specified by the trigger settings. When you use the Single button, your oscilloscope will temporarily be set to normal trigger mode, to avoid an automatic force trigger.

Learn more about Keysight Oscilloscopes