Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to detect a threshold-error of a multi-level signal-under-test. In one aspect of the disclosure, a digital test sequence may be used to produce the signal-under-test. In one aspect, the digital test sequence may be mapped to M binary reference sequences, wherein M is greater than one. In one aspect, each of the M binary reference sequences may be associated with a voltage threshold and a received signal may be bit-compared with each threshold. In one aspect, a threshold-error may be counted when a bit of a binary reference sequence does not match the corresponding bit-compare result. In one aspect, an instrument is provided that compares a received amplitude to a plurality of thresholds at one sample time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to detect a threshold-error of a multi-level signal-under-test. In one aspect of the disclosure, a digital test sequence may be used to produce the signal-under-test. In one aspect, the digital test sequence may be mapped to M binary reference sequences, wherein M is greater than one. In one aspect, each of the M binary reference sequences may be associated with a voltage threshold and a received signal may be bit-compared with each threshold. In one aspect, a threshold-error may be counted when a bit of a binary reference sequence does not match the corresponding bit-compare result. In one aspect, an instrument is provided that compares a received amplitude to a plurality of thresholds at one sample time.

Abstract: A method for providing energy to a building using utility-compatible distributed generation equipment. In accordance with the method, a building owner leases space in a building to an energy provider. The energy provider installs or has installed utility-compatible distributed generation equipment in the leased space at no capital cost to the building owner, wherein the distributed generation equipment is capable of providing electric energy or both electric and thermal energy to the building. The energy provider also installs or has installed a gas delivery system that is capable of delivering natural gas from a gas utility interface to the distributed generation equipment in a manner that meets the gas pressure and volume requirements of the distributed generation equipment. The building owner uses the energy provided by the distributed generation equipment on a first use basis.