Display Of Waveform Patents (Class 702/67)
  • Patent number: 6587812
    Abstract: The condition of each of machines on dispersed lines can be quantitatively grasped before an error occurs, without going to the machine installation site, so that the efficiency of machine fault diagnosis can be improved. One server terminal for diagnosis is provided for each factory at the use side. As clients for this server terminal, a press controller, a workpiece conveyor control motion controller, and a line production management computer are connected through an Ethernet. The server terminal is connected via modem and telephone line to a diagnosis terminal with a modem which is installed at the maker side. The operating condition of a press is measured and recorded as continuous time-series waveform data, using an analog input card. The recorded waveform data is processed to be graphically displayed on the diagnosis terminal, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukiyoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 6584435
    Abstract: An LED-based spectrophotometer uses a reconstruction algorithm, based on the spectral characteristics of the illumination source and the color sensing system, to convert integrated multiple illuminant measurements from a non-fully illuminant populated color sensor into a fully populated spectral curve using a reference database. The reference database contains training samples that indicate reflectance spectra and their corresponding LED sensor output. A dynamic, Karhunen-Loeve-based (DKL) spectral reconstruction algorithm, used to reconstruct spectra, gives greater importance to the data from the training samples in the neighborhood of the color sample under measurement. This is done using linear operators and basis vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lingappa K. Mestha, Sohail A. Dianat
  • Patent number: 6567760
    Abstract: An electro-optic sampling oscilloscope (or EOS oscilloscope) uses an electro-optic probe containing an electro-optic crystal, which is placed under effect of an electric field caused by a measured signal. Laser pulses are supplied to the electro-optic crystal wherein they are subjected to polarization. Then, measurement data representative of a waveform of the measured signal are produced in response to polarization states of the laser pulses and are stored in a measurement data storage. A user can select specific measurement data by using a list of files of multiple measurement data which is displayed on a screen. Then, the EOS oscilloscope displays an outline waveform which is created based on a reduced number of sample points extracted from the selected measurement data. Comments and/or measurement conditions can be stored in the measurement data storage in relation to the measurement data, so that they are adequately displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignees: Ando Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kikuchi, Nobuaki Takeuchi, Yoshiki Yanagisawa, Nobukazu Banjo, Yoshio Endou, Mitsuru Shinagawa, Tadao Nagatsuma, Junzo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20030083833
    Abstract: An eye diagram analyzer equips each SUT data and clock signal input channel with individually variable delays in their respective paths. For a range of signal delay of n-many SUT clock cycles, the SUT clock signal delay might be set at about n/2. For each data channel there is specified a point in time relative to an instance of the delayed clock signal (data signal delay) and a voltage threshold. The specified combination (data signal delay, threshold and which channel) is a location on an eye diagram, although the trace may or may not ever go through that location. A counter counts the number of SUT clock cycles used as instances of the reference for the eye diagram, and another counter counts the number of times the specified combination of conditions was met (“hits”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Richard A. Nygaard
  • Publication number: 20030078747
    Abstract: An electronic test system with a test results view filter that enables the user to filter the test results of a test program according to their particular datapoint value status. The test results view filter is preferably comprised of graphical elements representing a plurality of test results view filter option buttons grouped together in said test results view filter. Each test result view filter option button is capable of filtering an entire test program for their respective datapoint value status and displaying said filtered datapoint value status. The test results view filter option buttons are selected from the group consisting of: all datapoint value status, failed datapoint value status, marginal datapoint value status, and selected datapoint value status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher K. Sutton
  • Patent number: 6546345
    Abstract: A system and method of measuring extinction ratio and deterministic jitter of an optical transceiver. The measurement system includes a computing node and an oscilloscope coupled to the computing node. The oscilloscope is also coupled to the optical transceiver. The oscilloscope is configured to capture a waveform of a predetermined data pattern transmitted by the optical transceiver. The oscilloscope is configured to capture the waveform in a non-persistent mode using waveform averaging. The oscilloscope is also configured to perform measurements on the waveform. The computing node is configured to program the oscilloscope to perform the measurements on the waveform. The computing node is also configured to calculate an extinction ratio and to compare the extinction ratio to an acceptable standard. The computing node is also configured to calculate a deterministic jitter value of the optical transceiver in response to the extinction ratio being within the acceptable standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ali Ghiasi
  • Patent number: 6502046
    Abstract: A method of measuring impedance is based on carrier function Laplace transform. The measurement includes detecting a response signal from a device under test, to which signal an excitation such as a pulse, interrupt or constant load is applied. Resulting data is fitted to a carrier function, selected so as to be capable of providing a good fit and for which an analytical Laplace transform is known, in order to obtain parameters of such function providing best fit. Obtained parameters are further substituted into the analytical expression of Laplace transform of carrier function which is used to calculate a frequency dependent impedance function in the Laplace domain. The resulting impedance function is used for calculating the impedance spectrum in a frequency domain and for calculating the measurement error of the frequency domain impedance spectrum using the standard deviations of the parameters, obtained during fitting of time-domain data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Korea Kumbo Petrochemical Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Chul-Oh Yoon, Yevgen Barsukov, Jong-Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20020198671
    Abstract: In order to display the amplitude distortions of a transmission channel, the amplitude distribution of a measurement signal of a known amplitude distribution is measured at the output of the transmission channel. Based on a given multitude of amplitude measured values that are measured and digitized in succession, the frequency of occurrence of the amplitude distribution is then determined and displayed in adjacently connected amplitude windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Christoph Balz, Wolfgang Feicht
  • Patent number: 6473701
    Abstract: A digital storage oscilloscope includes a source of two or more input signals and a display device. An alternate triggering mechanism includes a selector for selecting one of the input signals. A trigger circuit is responsive to the selected input signal, and generates a trigger signal when a trigger condition is satisfied. A raster signal generator includes a plurality of waveform memories each associated with a respective input signal and responsive to the trigger signal for storing data representing the selected input signal in the waveform memory associated with the selected input signal. The raster signal generator generates a raster image signal representing the selected input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Tallman, Kenneth R. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 6473700
    Abstract: In a logic analyzer or similar binary signal-analyzing instrument, hardware circuitry, such as an ASIC, or other dedicated hardware, is used to perform waveform compression and summarization more rapidly than it could be done by software alone. The hardware is used to perform the compression of the data and to summarize its behavior for visual display. In one embodiment, the hardware starts from a given memory address and compares current timestamp values with final timestamp values to determine the length of the timeslice. Within the timeslice, all of the data is compared to determine whether it remains the same throughout the timeslice or whether it changes. The same approach can be used on violation data, such as glitches and setup and hold violations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Holaday, Ken N. Nguyen, Glenn R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6470285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for rejecting signals exhibiting pulse pile-up and devices incorporating the method and/or apparatus. A pulse sensor senses pulses and an analog-to-digital converter digitizes the sensed pulses into discrete ADC values over a plurality of time slices. The digitized pulses are stored in a FIFO memory for processing by a classification processor. The processor qualifies the pulse and marks its first time slice. The processor includes accumulators that calculate parameters from various regions of the pulse. The calculated parameters are compared to criteria from identical regions of known, non-piled pulses. Pulses whose calculated parameters meet the criteria are accepted and stored in one memory location, and pulses whose calculated parameter do not meet the criteria are rejected and stored in another memory location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Analyser Systems AG
    Inventor: Thomas L. Atwell
  • Patent number: 6463390
    Abstract: Integrated software tone generator is made up of software of a software tone generator driver and software of a plurality of modules, such as a tone generator module, registered in the driver for executing generation and/or processing of a waveform. A property sheet is displayed as a setting screen to make various settings for the integrated software tone generator via respective windows. In the property sheet, there are displayed a tab for selecting a common setting mode and tabs for individually selecting one of individual modules, and a dialog box corresponding to one of the tabs which is selected by a user's click operation is opened and displayed. When the dialog box for the common setting is opened, there is displayed a menu of predetermined common setting items shareable by the plurality of modules, and settings are made for the common setting items by a user doing a desired input to the menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Miyamori, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 6460000
    Abstract: A measurement data display apparatus is provided which has an input section, a display, and a control section. The display displays a main screen showing fundamental measurement data of a measured object. In addition, responsive to an operation of a first key of the input section, the control section pops up on the main screen a secondary screen which simultaneously includes a plurality of large item menus relating to additional measurement data of the measured object, and a plurality of small item menus corresponding to each of the plurality of large item menus. Each of the plurality of small item menus are displayed at a position corresponding to each of a plurality of function keys of the input section, and the plurality of large item menus are enabled to be selected by operating a second key of the input section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Nakayama, Takashi Oshimi, Shigeo Hori, Masaaki Tamakoshi
  • Patent number: 6459997
    Abstract: A method of event analysis in an intelligent electronic device is presented. The intelligent electronic device includes a microprocessor and associated memories. An algorithm (program) stored in a memory of the intelligent electronic device analyzes events of an electrical distribution system at the intelligent electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bo L. Andersen
  • Patent number: 6453250
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of missing pulses from a repetitive pulse train including signal detection circuits for capturing the rising and/or falling edges of an input signal, time-stamping the captured edges, calculating the maximum and minimum instantaneous frequency over a specified time period, and displaying such frequency values. Instantaneous frequency values between any two adjacent edges are calculated based upon the time-stamps of the edges. The instantaneous frequency values in a specified time period are then sorted to find the minimum and maximum frequency values for that time period. These instantaneous frequency values are displayed in the form of a histogram evidencing the occurrence or lack of occurrence of missing pulses from the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Snap On Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Claes Georg Andersson, Bradley R. Lewis, Charles N. Villa
  • Publication number: 20020128786
    Abstract: A pulse management system for use by an operator that automatically performs measurements on a subset of pulses of an acquired signal stored in an acquisition memory, and generates an accessible data structure that stores characteristics of the chosen subset of acquired signal pulses, including pulse measurement results. The system searches the data structure for pulses of the acquired signal that satisfy operator-provided search criteria. In addition, the operator can sort the selected pulses in any desired manner by specifying a desired sort criteria. The system displays selected pulses along with the associated measurement results, and enables the operator to advance through the selected pulses in any manner desired to display different pulses together or separately along with the associated pulse measurement results. A method for analyzing pulses of an acquired signal is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Jay A. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6446015
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus that generates a waveform consisting of an arbitrary number of frequency sweeps combined from adding and subtracting mini frequency sweeps. Optimization routines determine the best combination order of frequency sweep to minimize or maximize design criteria such as aerodynamic surface deflection or maximum command rate of the wave form. The invention allows for arbitrary output timing, or commands per second issued for the desired waveform, arbitrary starting and ending frequencies and amplitudes, arbitrary number of frequency sweep components, arbitrary frequency sweep exponent, arbitrary amplitude sweep exponent, and arbitrary waveform length. For a given frequency range and sweep exponent, amplitude range and sweep exponent, desired total waveform time and number of frequency sweep components, the algorithm can determine the optimum arrangement of the components to minimize the maximum amplitude or rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Bryan D. Duke
  • Publication number: 20020120414
    Abstract: A signal analyzer has a display with two regions. In a first region there is displayed a first waveform representing a signal. The first waveform is shown in two dimensions. One dimension represents signal amplitude and one dimension represents signal frequency. In a second region is displayed a second waveform. The second waveform represents a subset of data points of the first waveform. The second waveform also is shown in two dimensions. One dimension represents signal amplitude and one dimension represents signal frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Stanley Edward Jaffe
  • Patent number: 6442741
    Abstract: Relevant logic cells and waveforms of a circuit are automatically identified, traced and displayed by using conventional simulation, schematic viewing and waveform viewing tools. The input and output waveforms to and from each logic cell and a transition and a transition time point of each waveform are derived. The output waveform and a selected transition time point identify a predictive input waveform and its transition time, which cause the output signal transition at the selected transition time point. The predictive input signal is the output signal of a preceding, predictive logic cell, thereby identifying the preceding predictive logic cell. Repetitions of this procedure are performed with each new identified predictive logic cell to automatically derive a series or logic cone of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Richard T. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6421620
    Abstract: A processing system and method is used to process acoustic and non-acoustic test data acquired from a number of data collectors. The post-processing system and method is implemented as software and hardware capable of running on a PC. The processing system interfaces with a data acquisition (DAQ) system that acquires calibration signals and test data from the data collectors at a test facility. The processing system uses the calibration signals to determine calibration factors representing the relationship between the test data and the appropriate engineering units. The processing system processes the acoustic and non-acoustic test data, applies the appropriate calibrations factors, and plots the acoustic and non-acoustic test data as a function of time to generate run-time plots. Data values are stored and plotted against calculated baseline curves to generate envelope or baseline plots of the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Dominik A. Kotlow
  • Patent number: 6418386
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for analyzing high and low values in a period waveform in a manner that is applicable and accurate for both pulse-shaped waveforms and non-pulse-shaped waveforms. In an example implementation, a processor is adapted to generate a waveform histogram of the signal with weighted data samples, and to determine from the waveform histogram the high and low values in the waveform. Other aspects of the invention involve various manners in obtaining the weighted data samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ho Wai Wong-Lam, Mark Douglas Naley
  • Patent number: 6407756
    Abstract: Provided is a graphical user interface for a logic analyzer that allows for simplified clock configuration selection. The graphical user interface consolidates all clock selection functions onto a single screen, allowing for ease of understanding and navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David N Sontag, Jeffrey Erickson Roeca, Frank D Simon
  • Patent number: 6396517
    Abstract: An integrated trigger function display system and methodology for trigger definition development in a signal measurement system having a graphical user interface. The system contemporaneously displays one or more trigger function names and an associated trigger function descriptor describing a trigger function identified by the associated trigger function name. The trigger name is displayed in a trigger name display region of a display window that concurrently displays a plurality of trigger function names. The descriptor is displayed in a trigger descriptor region of the display window so as to be visually-associated by the operator. A trigger definition is comprised of one or more trigger functions. Each trigger function is a graphical representation of an one or more underlying trigger primitives. A trigger primitive is a computer program statement that is translated into a form suitable for controlling the signal measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas James Beck, Clarence Keith Griggs, Jeffrey Erickson Roeca, Jeffrey John Haeffele, Mason Bradfield Samuels
  • Patent number: 6344735
    Abstract: A power spectrum waveform is obtained by logarithmically amplifying a signal received by a frequency-sweep operation, detecting the amplified output of each frequency sweep, converting the detected output into a digital signal value in decibels, and converting this digital signal value into an antilogarithmic power value in watts for each display point within the width of the frequency sweep. Upon completion of the frequency sweep operation, the power values which have been converted into antilogarithmic values for each frequency sweep are averaged for each display point, the average power values are converted into logarithmic values, and the logarithmic values are displayed as a spectrum display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Yoshino, Yoshiaki Miyamae
  • Patent number: 6320577
    Abstract: A real-time annotation system and methodology for annotating measurement waveforms in a signal measurement system that includes a graphical user interface for displaying waveforms and measurement results on a signal measurement system display. Generally, the annotation system enables an operator to generate a graphical annotation label containing any desired data, and to graphically position the annotation label at any desired location on the measurement display, enabling the operator to positionally associate the graphical annotation label with a desired waveform or waveform feature displayed on the graphical user interface. The annotation system is constructed and arranged to enable an operator to graphically generate an annotation label containing operator-generated information and to graphically alter the position of the annotation label such that the annotation label is positionally associated with a desired feature of a waveform displayed on the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay A. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6311138
    Abstract: A method for presenting information and a digital storage oscilloscope are disclosed in which primary measurements of a signal are performed and displayed. Parameters are also derived for the signal based upon the primary measurement data. These derived parameters are then also displayed as a function of time on the display, preferably with a common time axis. This enables the oscilloscope operator to correlate features found by reference to the derived parameters directly to the primary measurements of the signal. Moreover, since the data from the primary measurements are stored in the oscilloscope, multi parameter calculation and parameter recalculation can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: LeCroy, S.A.
    Inventor: Martin T. Miller
  • Patent number: 6301547
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically acquiring and storing a waveform measurement using a measuring instrument having a video display, such as an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer, is disclosed. According to the invention, an operator first instructs the measuring instrument to automatically measure a probed waveform one or more times and to automatically store at least one selected sample set representing each probed waveform measurement. Thereafter, the operator is not required to interact with the measuring instrument during a measurement or series of measurements. Once measurement acquisition and storage is automatically completed, the measuring instrument alerts the operator by providing at least one indication for each selected sample set stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmie D Felps
  • Patent number: 6292761
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results are provided. Test results are transformed into respective unitized values and then graphically displayed with a unitized reference range. An analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values may be determined and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: William Franklin Hancock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6278268
    Abstract: A scale control method provides fine scale control in a measurement instrument and also provides scale control spanning wide adjustment ranges. The method detects the presence of the user input to a control sensor and establishes an acceleration factor for the input based on a rate at which events are generated by the control sensor. The acceleration factor modifies a defined scale step size that has a correspondence to the events generated by the control sensor. The defined scale step size, as modified by the acceleration factor, is added to a prior scale to establish a present scale. The present scale and prior scale are used to select a detent value from a series of detent values and to determine if a detent is applicable. When a detent is applicable, the present scale is set to the selected detent value and control of the scale parameters is then determined by this detent value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley E. Jaffe
  • Patent number: 6263301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing simulation results involves identifying distinct transactions in a group of simulation results so that the simulation results can be stored and viewed on a transaction basis instead of as a single continuous block of simulation results. A transaction is defined as a specific sequence of transitions on a selection or grouping of signals over a period of time where the signal activity has some higher level operational meaning. Simulation results are recorded on a transaction basis by storing standard simulation results information along with transaction-specific data elements, including the name of the transaction, the start time of the transaction, the end time of the transaction, and the interface on which the transaction takes place. Additional transaction-specific data elements may include parent and child relationships and predecessor and successor relationships between transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Cox, James M. Gallo, Mark Glasser
  • Publication number: 20010001849
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically acquiring and storing a waveform measurement using a measuring instrument having a video display, such as an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer, is disclosed. According to the invention, an operator first instructs the measuring instrument to automatically measure a probed waveform one or more times and to automatically store at least one selected sample set representing each probed waveform measurement. Thereafter, the operator is not required to interact with the measuring instrument during a measurement or series of measurements. Once measurement acquisition and storage is automatically completed, the measuring instrument alerts the operator by providing at least one indication for each selected sample set stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventor: JIMMIE D. FELPS
  • Publication number: 20010001850
    Abstract: A method for presenting information and a digital storage oscilloscope are disclosed in which primary measurements of a signal are performed and displayed. Parameters are also derived for the signal based upon the primary measurement data. These derived parameters are then also displayed as a function of time on the display, preferably with a common time axis. This enables the oscilloscope operator to correlate features found by reference to the derived parameters directly to the primary measurements of the signal. Moreover, since the data from the primary measurements are stored in the oscilloscope, multi parameter calculation and parameter recalculation can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Applicant: LeCroy, S.A.
    Inventor: Martin T. Miller
  • Publication number: 20010001137
    Abstract: A signal scaling system and methodology for use in a signal measurement system such as a digital or analog oscilloscope, logic analyzer, network analyzer, spectrum analyzer or waveform generator that has a graphical user interface which controls a waveform display region on a display device. The signal scaling system determines one or more displayed waveform scaling parameters to cause portions of selected displayed waveforms appearing within a rescaling rectangle to occupy a predetermined portion of the waveform display region other than the resealing rectangle. For each of the selected displayed waveforms, the scaling parameters may include horizontal scaling, horizontal offset, vertical scaling and vertical offset. Preferably, the predetermined portion of the waveform display region comprises the entire waveform display region and the selected displayed waveforms include all waveforms at least partially within the resealing rectangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: May 10, 2001
    Inventor: Jay A. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6199023
    Abstract: A method for removing spurious signals in a process of motor current signature analysis of an electric motor (24 or 33) includes creating an electronic model of the motor, acquiring simultaneous measurements of voltage and current at the motor, applying the voltage measurement to the motor model and determining an equivalent current produced in the motor model by the applied voltage, subtracting the equivalent current from the current measurement to produce a corrected motor current, and processing the corrected motor current through motor current signature analysis. For an ac motor (33), the method includes extracting signals corresponding to the fundamental excitation frequency from the voltage measurement to produce an interfering voltage, processing the interfering voltage through the motor model to produce a corresponding spurious current signal, and subtracting the spurious current signal from the measured current to produce the corrected motor current signal for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Geneal Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerald Burt Kliman
  • Patent number: 6195080
    Abstract: A new oscilloscope design improves the processing of acquired voltage-versus-time data through the efficient high speed acquisition and rasterization of such data into a form that includes multiple-bits-per-pixel intensity information. The multi-bit-per-pixel variable intensity rasterizer is optimized for maximum throughput and most efficient use of memory bandwidth. In the presence of faltering trigger rates, rasterization interruption provides a high probability of capturing the data associated with the slow triggers. Circuitry is provided to compensate for acquisition time and amplitude non-linearities. Many-bits-per-pixel intensity information is mapped into a fewer-bits-per-pixel format by a controllable transfer function that provides multiple viewing capabilities for the operator. Another mode of operation emphasizes infrequent events over commonly occurring ones using variations in brightness or color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric P. Etheridge
  • Patent number: 6195617
    Abstract: A method for presenting information and a digital storage oscilloscope are disclosed in which primary measurements of a signal are performed and displayed. Parameters are also derived for the signal based upon the primary measurement data. These derived parameters are then also displayed as a function of time on the display, preferably with a common time axis. This enables the oscilloscope operator to correlate features found by reference to the derived parameters directly to the primary measurements of the signal. Moreover, since the data from the primary measurements are stored in the oscilloscope, multi parameter calculation and parameter recalculation can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: LeCroy, S.A.
    Inventor: Martin T. Miller
  • Patent number: 6191571
    Abstract: A measuring device and method use a spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer comprises a display screen controlled by a processor on which a spectrum of an input signal is displayed in a frequency region on a half portion of the display screen and a noise level at a frequency associated with the input signal is displayed in a time region on another half portion of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Fukui, Kouichi Yamashita, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Osamu Aoyama, Takashi Kosuge, Yoshiaki Miyamae, Toshiharu Kasahara, Hiroaki Takaoku
  • Patent number: 6188966
    Abstract: A method of connecting displayed samples of a signal, where the samples are obtained by sequential or random repetitive sampling. Three example embodiments are presented. In a first embodiment, the system decides whether or not to connect to the next consecutive sample, based on the outcome of comparison of the magnitude of the slope to a slew rate threshold. In the second embodiment, the system looks ahead (or behind) up to M samples to see if any samples represent valid slew rates, and connects to the first sample representing a valid slew rate. In the third embodiment, the system looks ahead (or behind) M samples and connects to the sample in the next M samples that represents the smallest valid slew rate. In each embodiment, if no sample represents a valid slew rate, no connection is drawn. In the second and third example embodiments, by looking ahead (or behind) M samples, the system can potentially resolve a waveform with up to M phases and can accommodate trigger placement uncertainty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies
    Inventors: Daniel P. Timm, Matthew S. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 6178359
    Abstract: An electronic instrument with a housing defining a module chamber. An electronic module is removably retained within the chamber and includes indicia such as text or a distinctive color on a selected surface of the module. The housing has a window aperture into the chamber, so that the module indicia are visible through the window to permit identification of the presence and identity of the module, even when the instrument is powered off. The module contains electronic circuitry that connects to electronic contacts of the instrument in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Dobyns
  • Patent number: 6167350
    Abstract: A method for selecting a range of an information signal comprises the steps of detecting the area in which the information signal is specified among a plurality of range-specifying areas displayed on a display device and selecting the information signal range in a unit of the information signal determined in accordance with the range-specifying area in which the specification is executed. The unit of information signal to be selected is different according to which area is selected, so that at least two units of information signal are available for selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Hiramatsu, Toshiyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6140960
    Abstract: A hologram observation method capable of accurately estimating a three-dimensional wave source distribution even when a wave source is close to a hologram observation plane. The hologram observation is performed according to a two-frequency hologram observation method to reconstruct a hologram image. A three-dimensional wave source position is obtained from the reconstructed hologram image, a virtual unit wave source is disposed at the obtained wave source position and an observed wave is synthesized. A hologram image obtained from the synthesized observed wave is reconstructed, and a wave source intensity obtained from the measured hologram image is divided by a wave source intensity at the hologram image obtained from the synthesized observed wave, thereby obtaining a true complex amplitude of the wave source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kitayoshi
  • Patent number: 6111400
    Abstract: A digital oscilloscope automatically selects as the initial instance of a waveform parameter to be measured the instance that is both visible in the displayed trace and closest to the trigger reference point. Such a manner of automatic selection allows a greater amount of panning and zooming while the 'scope is subsequently stopped, without causing a different instance to become the measured instance, and also reduces confusion about continuity of measurement while the display is altered with the 'scope is still running. This automatically selected choice can still be overridden, if desired, by a manual selection. A further refinement is to, once an instance is automatically selected, retain it as the selected instance as long as it remains visible as part of a modified displayed trace, even if it would not otherwise become the selected initial instance if the measurement activity were first initiated with that modified trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies
    Inventors: John Angus Foster, Michael L. Beyers
  • Patent number: 6101454
    Abstract: This invention transforms a single sub-nanosecond event into a repetitive event, which then can be used as input to a conventional high bandwidth digital sampling oscilloscope by utilizing a delay line switched to form a closed loop provided with a gain. The single event, as a single pulse of a series of repetitive pulses, is allowed to enter and circulate around the loop where it is amplified and periodically read out to a readout device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Dieter R. Lohrmann
  • Patent number: 6098028
    Abstract: A novel graphical user interface for test device applications which permits simultaneous display of system status and alarm information while supporting graphically based test device I/O and configuration. The present invention also includes a novel graphical representation I/O scheme whereby test device configuration is accomplished through intuitive manipulation of an image of the test device. The present invention also includes embedded menuing features and a "one button down" user input section which facilitates ease of operation of the system. The present invention may be advantageously applied to a test device designed to extract and process telecommunications signals such as DS1, DS3, SONET, and ATM communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Lightwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Zwan, Kenneth T. Myers
  • Patent number: 6073264
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a debug tool to provide a test vector to a device under test. The debug tool comprises: (1) a pattern generator unit coupled to the device under test to transmit the test vector to the device under test and to generate a master triggering signal; (2) a waveform acquisition unit coupled to the device under test to receive a first test output from the device under test, the first test output being generated by the device under test in response to the transmitted test vector; and (3) a trigger unit coupled to the pattern generator unit, the waveform acquisition unit, and the device under test to synchronize the pattern generator unit, the waveform acquisition unit, and the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark B. Nelson, Richard F. Clark, Ken R. Watrobski
  • Patent number: 6046595
    Abstract: The phase response of a network is measured at uniform frequency intervals. A linear regression analysis is performed on samples of the phase response measured at frequencies within an aperture centered on a group delay frequency to obtain an estimate of the group delay of the network at that frequency. The process is repeated for a sequence of group delay frequencies to determine a trace of the group delay of the network across a range of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Jay M. Wardle
  • Patent number: 6038516
    Abstract: A method for graphically displaying a menu for selection and viewing of the load related parameters of a load connected to an AC load control device, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring the load related parameters of the load connected to the AC load control device using a voltage shifter coupled to a sensor to bias the voltage above a ground potential by a predetermined voltage to produce a full-wave biased voltage signal; (b) displaying on a graphical display device a menu of a plurality of indicia representing the monitored load related parameters; (c) scrolling through each indicia on said menu; and (d) selecting an item from said menu thereby causing the load related parameters relating to the said indicia to appear on said graphical display device as a signal representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James O. Alexander, William A. King, David A. Leone
  • Patent number: 5978742
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally sampling electrical waveforms. A sampling circuit for sampling an electrical signal, a digitizing circuit for digitizing the samples produced by the sampling circuit and an acquisition memory for storing the samples are employed, the acquisition memory being partitioned into a plurality of frames. Each frame is triggered to store samples associated with a respective triggering event. After substantially all of the frames have been triggered, the contents of the acquisition memory are retrieved from the acquisition memory, filtered in an equalization filter and stored in a waveform memory for ultimate display as an ET record under software control. A plurality of digitizing circuits associated with respective inputs of a multi-channel digital sampling oscilloscope are interleaved to increase the sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Pickerd
  • Patent number: 5935187
    Abstract: An engine analyzer having a dual-trace digital oscilloscope includes a memory for storing a library of digitized waveform patterns, the patterns being stored together with identifying data for each pattern and lists of groups of patterns respectively corresponding to different vehicles and/or engines. The analyzer includes a user interface for inputting identifying information relating to the vehicle under test, a waveform acquisition module and a central processor for cooperation with the memory and the oscilloscope for acquiring, digitizing and storing an analog input waveform from the vehicle engine and displaying it on a first trace of the scope in accordance with selected display parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Trsar, Yosuf M. Taraki, Richard H. Shepherd, Tyrone J. Moritz, Mark H. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5929838
    Abstract: A digital acquisition system maximizes the number of points captured when a user issues a stop command, while maximizing the update rate during continuous operation. In essence, the present invention utilizes an optimum update rate (i.e., set so as to capture a minimum number of points), while operating in a continuous fashion. Upon receiving a stop command for the user, the present invention sets up to take a deep memory acquisition at a slower update rate (i.e., set so as to capture a maximum number of points). If a trigger is received within a predetermined period of time after the stop command is received, then a deep memory acquisition is taken, and the captured points are displayed to the user for viewing. If a trigger is not received within the predetermined period of time after the stop command is received, then the last acquisition taken at the optimum update rate remains displayed for viewing by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Stuart O. Hall