Abstract: An electronically variable analog delay line including at least one segment with an electronically variable inductance. The at least one segment includes a signal path, a ground return path, and a plurality of switches configured to vary the inductance of the segment.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a test and measurement instrument and associated methods for acquiring and stitching wide overlapped non-uniform frequency bands so that a user specified band can be efficiently displayed and analyzed. The test and measurement instrument includes a user interface to receive the user specified frequency span. Acquisition circuitry acquires one or more predefined frequency bands having non-uniform overlapping frequency ranges. A frequency band processing section can decimate the acquired frequency bands, mask the acquired frequency bands, and stitch the masked frequency bands together. A display section displays the user specified frequency span using the stitched frequency bands. Due to the overlap configuration of the wide non-uniform bands, any user specified span between 50 kHz and 6 GHz, or thereabout, can be covered by two bands.

Abstract: A method, device and system for method of optimizing a feature of a communication network prior to implementing a future service is provided. A plurality of network nodes in the communication network is assigned to a network cluster. At least one value for a respective key performance indicator (KPI) for data exchanged between the network nodes in the network cluster is determined, where the data is associated with a first communication service. And a need for an optimization of a feature of the communication network in response to the value for the KPI being outside of a range, prior to implementation of a second communication service is determined.

Abstract: Method and devices are described for visually detecting anomalies in non-repetitive signals. One device may take the form of an oscilloscope capable of displaying segments of a complete waveform record that includes non-periodic triggering events. The segments may be displayed vertically and horizontally offset from one another to aid in the visual detection of anomalies within the record. Decayed or aged segments of a waveform may also be simultaneously displayed.

Abstract: A method for measuring a quality parameter, such as luminance uniformity, of a video display, according to some embodiments of the present invention, includes providing a plurality of pattern images to be displayed sequentially on the video display, measuring the amount of light produced by each pattern image using a wide-angle light sensor, and calculating the video display quality parameter using the measured light values corresponding to each displayed pattern. Each pattern used in accordance with this method is derived from an orthogonal matrix, resulting in each pattern having a high average brightness, thereby eliminating the need to use a narrow-angle, spot light meter, and instead allowing measurements to be made using a simple, wide-angle, incident-light or reflected-light photometer. This method is compliant with the relevant SMPTE measurement standard for measuring luminance uniformity. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for practicing this method.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and method of switching waveform display styles includes acquiring an electrical signal, storing peak detect data samples from the electrical signal to one or more memory devices, storing filtered data samples or unfiltered data from the electrical signal, automatically switching to a first waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a first mode when a user selects the unfiltered data, and automatically switching to a second waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a second mode when the user selects the filtered data samples.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument, including a splitter configured to split an input signal having a particular bandwidth into a plurality of split signals, each split signal including substantially the entire bandwidth of the input signal, a plurality of harmonic mixers, each harmonic mixer configured to mix an associated split signal of the plurality of split signals with an associated harmonic signal to generate an associated mixed signal, a plurality of digitizers, each digitizer configured to digitize a mixed signal of an associated harmonic mixer of the plurality of harmonic mixers, and a linear time-periodic filter configured to receive the digitized mixed signal from each of the digitizers and output a time-interleaved signal. A first-order harmonic of at least one harmonic signal associated with the harmonic mixers is different from a sample rate of at least one of the digitizers.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator of a test and measurement system. The electro-optic modulator includes a first electrode, a second electrode with identical electrical characteristics as the first electrode and an optical waveguide between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode present a balanced load to a device under test.

Abstract: A system and method synchronizes multi-AWG system, where such systems are of a type having a master arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), one or more slave AWGs, and a sync hub having a sync controller and sync phase detector. The method operates by receiving at the sync hub a divided down clock (SystemRefClock) signal from a master arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). The method then derives a clock signal (SystemClock) from the SystemRefClock signal received from the master AWG and outputs the SystemClock signal to the master AWG and to the one or more slave AWGs Finally, the SystemClock signal is used to clock a synchronous trigger for the master AWG and one or more slave AWGs to play a waveform. In one aspect, the synchronous trigger includes AlignmentFiducial and Run signals to effect trigger and play commands.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument includes a display having a time domain graticule and a frequency domain graticule. A processor is configured to sample an input signal to generate a time domain waveform for display in the time domain graticule. The processor is also configured to generate a frequency domain waveform for display in the frequency domain graticule, the frequency domain waveform being correlated to a selected time period of the time domain graticule. The processor is also configured to generate a spectrum time indicator configured to graphically illustrate a location and the selected time period of the time domain graticule with respect to the frequency domain waveform.

Abstract: A high bandwidth solder-less lead may be connected to an electrical device having land patterns so that signals on the device may be more easily measured through the lead. The lead includes an attachment mechanism to mount the lead on the device, a microspring housing and at least one microspring. The microspring connects one of the particular land patterns on the device to the lead where it may be easier to couple to a measurement device than to the electrical device itself. The lead may be coupled to a flexible electrical conduit to make attaching to the testing device even easier. In other versions, a uniform connector may be temporarily attached to the solder-less lead to test the device. Then the connector may be disconnected from the first lead and connected to another lead to test another area of the device.

Abstract: A stereoscopic video temporal frame offset measurement system uses an improved signature curve generator to generate a robust signature curve for each of the left and right image sequences of a stereo video signal. The resulting signature curves are cross-correlated over a specified correlation range to generate cross-correlation coefficients. The cross-correlation coefficients are compared to a high threshold, and a temporal frame offset is generated and displayed for each cross-correlation coefficient that exceeds the high threshold. Each new temporal frame offset result is highlighted when displayed, otherwise the last result is displayed in a background fashion.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a test and measurement instrument. The accessory includes an input to receive a signal from a device under test, a calibration unit configured to apply a calibration or compensation signal internal to the accessory, and an output to output the signal from the device under test or the calibration or compensation signal to a test and measurement instrument.

Abstract: Rising and falling edges captured by a digital acquisition device appear to chatter on the X-axis by two or more sampling bin boundaries as live acquisition continually updates. This leads to a confusing display of limited usefulness. Averaging of multiple edges eliminates chatter while at the same time increases timing accuracy of the edges beyond the abilities of the base acquisition system. An object of the invention is to display a waveform for an averaged digital signal converted from an analog signal received by a signal processing instrument. A plurality of data acquisitions is stored in memory, and for each data acquisition, a number of rising and falling edges are identified. Each rising and falling edge is counted in each data acquisition. From these counted edges, an average waveform is calculated from the plurality of data acquisitions. The average waveform is displayed as an improved representation of the digital signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) limiting device for a coaxial transmission line can include an outer housing or shielding, a ground portion positioned within the outer housing, a center pin positioned within the ground portion, and a beam lead device—such as a Schottky diode or other diode—positioned between the ground portion and the center pin and electrically coupled between the ground portion and the center pin. The ESD limiting device may also include one or more spring members mounted on the ground portion to provide elasticity to the device to maintain signal transmission and grounding within the coaxial transmission line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement instrument that includes a signal input structured to receive a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal under test and a demodulator structured to extract a digital signal from the received modulated RF signal. The extracted digital signal has a measurable parameter. The instrument also includes a display controller structured to display the extracted demodulated signal at one of at least two different intensities based on the measured parameter of the digital signal. In other embodiments the signal need not be an RF signal. Methods of operation are also described.

Abstract: An assembly suitable for housing electronic components can include a top shield and a bottom shield, the bottom shield having a conductive outer cover, a wall section, and a laminating portion between the conductive outer cover and the wall section. The laminating portion may include laminating material. A printed circuit board (PCB) may be positioned between the top shield and the bottom shield.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument including a splitter configured to split an input signal having a particular bandwidth into a plurality of split signals, each split signal including substantially the entire bandwidth of the input signal; a plurality of harmonic mixers, each harmonic mixer configured to mix an associated split signal of the plurality of split signals with an associated harmonic signal to generate an associated mixed signal; and a plurality of digitizers, each digitizer configured to digitize a mixed signal of an associated harmonic mixer of the plurality of harmonic mixers. A first-order harmonic of at least one harmonic signal associated with the harmonic mixers is different from an effective sample rate of at least one of the digitizers.

Abstract: A computer system to group a data set is provided, in which the computer system includes a memory configured to store instructions and a processor disposed in communication with the memory. The processor upon execution of the instructions is configured to access a data set including a plurality of data elements and associate the plurality of data elements with a plurality of data groups. The data set is assignable to a plurality of bins that are grouped differently than the plurality of data groups, wherein assignment of the data set to the plurality of bins is performed by accessing the plurality of data groups without accessing the data set or the plurality of data elements.