Abstract: A measurement probe has a spring loaded probe assembly and a pressure sensor disposed in a housing. The pressure sensor forms an electrical switch for passing an activation signal to a EOS/ESD protection module in response to axial movement of the housing relative to the probe assembly. A first compressive element produces a first pre-loaded compressive force and an increasing compressive force on the probe assembly and a second compressive element produces a second pre-loaded compressive force and an increasing compressive force on the probe assembly subsequent to the first increasing compressive force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively providing bandwidth extension and channel matching for acquired signals under test (SUT). The method and apparatus includes a signal acquisition device for acquiring a signal under test (SUT) and generating therefrom a stream of acquired samples, where the signal acquisition device having associated with it a first bandwidth defining a nominal pass band. At least one digital filter imparts a gain equalization function to the acquired SUT samples within a spectral region including and extending beyond the nominal passband. A controller generates a display signal suitable for use by a display device, where the display signal representing waveform imagery associated with the gain equalized SUT.

Abstract: An optically pumped micro-cavity laser has an optical gain cavity and an optical resonant cavity. The optical gain cavity has a gain medium disposed that generates an optical output in response to an optical pump signal. The optical resonant cavity has an electro-optic material in which is disposed an electrode structure with first and second apertures disposed generally parallel to an optical signal propagating within the electro-optic material. Electrically conductive material is disposed within the apertures coupling an electrical signal to the optical cavity. Optically reflective material is disposed on the opposing surfaces of the micro-cavity laser and between the optical gain cavity and the optical resonant cavity.

Abstract: A realtime power mask trigger generator for an instrument that acquires data in response to a trigger signal integrates power amplitudes over a defined bandwidth within a frequency spectrum for an input signal to produce an average signal power, and compares the average signal power with a specified reference power level for the defined bandwidth. Violation of the reference power level by the average signal power generates the trigger signal for acquiring data from the input signal about the trigger event by the instrument. The frequency spectrum may be divided into more than one defined frequency bandwidth, and each defined frequency bandwidth may have its own specified reference power level. The defined frequency bandwidths and associated reference power levels define a realtime power mask trigger.

Abstract: A logic analyzer according to the subject invention includes a disassembler for disassembling object code. The disassembler automates the process of locating op-code addresses by utilizing information derived from an object file corresponding to the code whose execution is being disassembled. The object file includes addresses for the starting location of op-codes corresponding to individual source code lines. When the disassembler cannot determine the correct starting location for an op-code, it uses information from the object file to obtain the address of an op-code within a specified range of interest.

Abstract: A differential measurement probe has a ground clip system for electrically coupling outer shielding conductors of differential probing tips together. In one embodiment, the probing tips independently move vertically relative to each other with the ground clip system secured to each of the outer shielding conductors of the probing tips. In a further embodiment, the probing tips move both vertically and horizontally and the ground clip system has a spring wire member that is secured to the probe. The spring wire member is formed with various sections having various angles to each other that allows one section to slidably engage one of the outer shielding conductors on one of the probing tips and another section to slidably engage the outer shielding conductor of the other probing tip.

Abstract: A modular rack-mounting system has a rigid, lightweight frame forming a central compartment within which a sleeve is configured to fit, the sleeve having a ventilation configuration to conform with the cooling requirements of an instrument to be inserted within the sleeve. A flat, steel spring is mounted on the side of the frame so that a button extends through a hole in the side to engage a corresponding hole in the side of the sleeve when the sleeve is inserted into the compartment. For a half-rack mount a central rib is included in the frame to divide the central compartment into two compartments, the sleeve being configured to fit into either of the two compartments. Buttons on steel springs are mounted on opposing sides of the central rib to engage the corresponding holes in the sleeves when the sleeve is inserted into either compartment. To release and exchange the sleeves, the buttons at the interior of the sleeves are pushed to allow the sleeves to be removed.

Abstract: A variable attenuation signal acquisition probing system and voltage measurement system uses an optical cavity to acquire a signal under test. The probing system has an optical transmitter and receiver that are coupled to the optical cavity via an optical transmission system. The optical cavity has an electrode structure having apertures formed in the optical cavity that are parallel to propagation path of the optical signal within the cavity. A modulated optical signal is generated by the optical cavity in response to the signal under test creating an electro-magnetic field distribution in electro-optic material in the optical cavity that overlaps the optical path of the optical signal propagating in the optical cavity which varies the index of refraction of electro-optic material in the optical path. Changes in the polarization state of the optical signal attenuates the magnitude of the output electrical signal of the optical receiver.

Abstract: An instrumentation receiver architecture for processing an RF signal has a dual-IF channel architecture, a low-band IF channel and a high-band IF channel, and a tunable oscillator, such as a yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) tunable oscillator (YTO), a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a bank of VCOs and the like, providing a different mixing frequency range to each channel, generally a higher frequency range to the high-band IF channel than to the low-band IF channel. At the input to the high-band IF channel is a bank of preselection filters for selecting a frequency band from the RF signal for processing by the high-band IF channel. A switch selects the output from one of the low-band and high-band IF channels for further processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing presentation of multi-domain measurements using actual or quasi 3-D representation. The synchronization between data streams acquired in different measurement domains is performed by using timestamps, a common trigger event, or a common clock, or a combination of any or all of them. In this way, for example, a transient anomaly in the RF spectrum of a communications signal may be correlated with, and displayed with, a related corrupted data communications packet.

Abstract: A method of indicating and manipulating a zoom region of a waveform being displayed includes a zoom region indicator. The zoom region indicator has an associated marker that spans the zoom region but is never less than a minimum span to allow ease of identifying or locating the zoom region on the displayed waveform. Manipulating the associated marker with a pointer device causes the zoom region to move accordingly along the displayed waveform. The portion of the displayed waveform that is within the zoom region is displayed as a zoomed waveform on the display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enabling the analog and digital triggering of a signal analysis device such as a Logic Analyzer, wherein separate analog and digital signal paths provide separate analog and digital processing of an input test signal for enabling the triggering of a signal analysis device upon analog and digital signal conditions.

Abstract: An oscilloscope performs an in-circuit measurement of voltage across, and current through, a core winding of an inductor, and derives the actual B and H values with n number of turns, receives data indicative of the magnetic length of the circuit, and plots the B_H curve. The oscilloscope then derives the value of Saturation flux density (Bsat), Remnant flux density (Br), Permeability (?), and Coercivity (Hc) from this B-H plot. Characterizing the operating region of the magnetic component while it operates in a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) under test, provides information concerning the stability of the power supply that was heretofore unavailable.

Abstract: A signal acquisition probing system uses an optical cavity to acquire a signal under test. The probing system has an optical transmitter and receiver that are coupled to the optical cavity via an optical transmission system. The optical cavity has an electrode structure having apertures formed in the optical cavity that are parallel to propagation path of the optical signal within the cavity. A modulated optical signal is generated by the optical cavity in response to the signal under test creating an electro-magnetic field distribution in electro-optic material in the optical cavity that overlaps the optical path of the optical signal propagating in the optical cavity which varies the index of refraction of electro-optic material in the optical path. The signal acquisition probing system is connected to a measurement instrument to form a voltage measurement system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a plurality of demux processors propagates respective received sample streams to adjacent demux processors via an inter-demux bus; and wherein a final one of the plurality of demux processors propagates all of the respective received sample streams toward a next processing element such as a multi-drop bus (MDB) or system processor within a data acquisition device.

Abstract: A variable persistence waveform database is generated by defining a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) time-ordered queue buffer for maintaining a selected number of waveform records. Digital data samples of a measurement signal are acquired and stored in a plurality of waveform records in the FIFO time-ordered queue buffer. Counts of the digital data samples for the plurality of waveform records are accumulated in a waveform database. Upon filling FIFO time-ordered queue buffer with waveform records, the digital data samples of the oldest acquired waveform record are subtracted from the accumulated counts of the waveform database and deleted from the FIFO time-ordered queue buffer and the digital data samples of the newest acquired waveform record are stored in the FIFO time-ordered queue buffer and added to the accumulated counts in the waveform database.

Abstract: An enhancement filter for an oscilloscope is disclosed wherein the enhancement filter may be initially calibrated for one or more channels and/or for one or more attenuation settings such as 50 mV per division, 100 mV per division, and/or 200 mV per division, for example. In one embodiment, a desired filter response is selected to have a modified Gaussian type filter function having an at least approximately linear phase response, wherein the transfer function of the desired filter response comprises a step response that is be stored in the oscilloscope to be used as a part of calibration system of the oscilloscope.

Abstract: A status ribbon to display a signal characteristic for multiple channels/codes within a region of interest has a plurality of stripes. A value for each stripe is represented by a trait of the stripe, such as color or brightness. The trait may represent a range of a signal parameter or may represent a pass/caution/fail value for the signal parameter, or may represent code activity. A window may be used to select a subset of channels/codes for additional detail, the additional detail being displayed textually adjacent the status ribbon. Also a subsidiary status ribbon may be displayed for channels/codes where each stripe of the primary status ribbon represents more than one channel/code, each stripe in the subsidiary status ribbon representing a single channel/code.

Abstract: A system is described for collecting data records which have been correlated to subscriber, or end user, access network, core network, transport network, and application service information, referred to as end user correlated data records and utilizing those records in a wireless or wireline network to identify and address correctable conditions in a network, such as a wireless or wireline network. The system includes at least one probe in the network which is able to monitor network activity and provide detailed data records on that activity. These data records are sent to a mediation device that correlates those data records with subscriber and/or location data, to create the end user correlated data records. An intelligent application services device takes the end user correlated data records and examines the records to determine if there are any correctable conditions in the network or the end user devices.

Abstract: A word recognizer for providing a channel-to-channel compare for an input digital signal divides channels of the input digital signal into equal-width input signal channel paths. One input signal channel path serves as a reference value for comparison with the other input signal channel path to produce the channel-to-channel compare.