Abstract: Method and apparatus for launching a coaxial cable onto a circuit board is described. In an example, a circuit board includes a front edge and a major surface. The major surface includes a recessed portion open to the front edge, the recessed portion being defined by a stop surface, opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface. A plurality of conductive pads is disposed on the major surface. A conductive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface. The recessed portion is adapted to receive a multiple conductor ribbon cable to provide thereby low-profile communication of the multiple conductor ribbon cable and the circuit board. The multiple conductor ribbon cable having a plurality of first conductors and a plurality of second conductors respectively associated with the plurality of first conductors. The plurality of conductive pads are adapted to receive respective first conductors of the multiple conductor ribbon cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing high power dissipation peaks across a switching device. The method and apparatus include processing voltage waveform data associated with a switching device to determine switching edge and slope parameters for each of a plurality of switching cycles, and identifying those portions of the voltage waveform data associated with switch state transition portions of the plurality of switching cycles. For a plurality of the identified switch state transition portions, respective peak power levels are calculated using portions of the voltage waveform data temporally corresponding to the plurality of identified switch state transitions, and portions of current waveform data associated with the switching device temporally corresponding to the plurality of identified switch state transitions.

Abstract: A method for identifying spectral impulses applies a window filter to an acquired waveform to produce a filtered waveform, and performs an FFT function on the filtered waveform to produce a spectrum of bins. An estimating window is located on the spectrum and centered on a target bin. Bins adjacent to the target bin are excluded and the remaining bins are used to form a noise estimate. The estimate is compared to the target bin and if the result exceeds a threshold value, a spectral impulse is identified.

Abstract: A display of code power levels and relationships of multiple spreading factor orthogonal codes in a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal has a first code graph of code domain power (CDP) for all the codes at the largest code spreading factor that includes all codes at all spreading factors plotted in a linear code indexing order and a second graph of CDP where the codes are plotted in bit-reversed order to group together the sub-codes of each code of lower spreading factor. Markers on each graph are tied together such that movement of one marker on one graph to a particular code value causes the other marker on the other graph to move to the corresponding code value. The sub-codes related to a particular code bar in the graphs indicated by the markers may be differentiated by using grey scale or color variations.

Abstract: An instrument includes a probe providing a single signal path for conveying a signal from a circuit under test to the instrument. A receiver circuit within the instrument divides the path into an analog path and a digital path. The digital path includes a comparator for determining the logic state of the signal and producing a digital representation of the signal under test. The analog path includes a multiplexer to selectively couple one of a plurality of analog input signals to an output terminal for viewing on an oscilloscope. Preferably, the probe head includes a buffer amplifier to reduce loading on the circuit under test and to increase bandwidth of the signals conveyed along the test cable to the instrument. An electrically trimmable resistor is employed to terminate the transmission line of the test cable in its characteristic impedance in order to reduce reflections and maintain transmission bandwidth.

Abstract: A serial data cursor for extracting content from an analog waveform representing a serial digital data stream has a horizontal length equal to a “word-time” as determined by parameters of a protocol for the serial digital data stream and a clock recovered from the serial digital data stream. The serial data cursor delimits a portion of the analog waveform, which is then decoded into human readable form, such as binary, octal, hexadecimal, alpha-numeric or the like. A trigger may be generated from a specific parameter of the protocol, such as a frame start, so that the serial data cursor initially highlights a first data word of a frame of the serial digital data stream. Alternatively the decoded portion of the analog waveform may be compared to the specific parameter, and the serial data cursor incremented by a “bit-time” until the specific parameter is found in the serial digital data stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rasterizing a digital sample stream by producing histograms for each of a plurality of time slices forming a display frame. Time slice histograms for at least one display frame are stored in a circular memory buffer and provided to a display raster for display. The first time slice displayed optionally comprises that time slice temporally associated with a trigger condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manually installing a surface mount connector having at least one ground bar on printed circuit board (PCB). The method and apparatus include inserting a ground bar along a length of a channel of an installation tool, where the channel is sized to receive the ground bar such that a portion of the ground bar extends from the channel. Both the ground bar and installation tool are disposed over a particular area of the PCB, and the tool is used to align the ground bar. The exposed portion of the ground bar is then soldered to the PCB, and the tool is used to repeat the method for the remaining unsoldered portions of the ground bar. The connector is then installed over the soldered ground bar.

Abstract: A constant input impedance AC coupling circuit for a current probe measurement system has a resistive-capacitive network that includes a capacitor for coupling the current output signal of a current measurement probe to the low input impedance measurement instrument and the resistive terminating element disposed in the measurement instrument. The resistive-inductive network includes a resistor and a synthesized inductor having a high inductive value, large current carrying capacity and an L/R time constant equal to the RC time constant of the resistive capacitive network. The resistive-inductive network is coupled to the resistive-capacitive network and receives the current output signal from the current measurement probe for terminating DC and low frequency signal components of the current output signal below the low frequency cutoff of the resistive-capacitive network in the same low input impedance of the measurement instrument.

Abstract: A first method for rendering an eye diagram synchronized to a recovered clock and based on a single shot acquisition of a digital storage oscilloscope, acquires a waveform and measures the timing of its edges. It then estimates the symbol rate of the waveform and derives clock signals in accordance with the edge timing and the estimated symbol rate. The waveform data is then sliced into frames with respect to the derived clock signals, and the frames are partially overlapped and aligned to form an eye diagram. In a second embodiment of the invention, the frames are aligned, without being overlapped, to form an eye diagram.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) in which each DSO acquires a common signal under test (SUT) according to respective clock signals having common frequency parameters and respective phase parameters such that a plurality of acquisition records may be interleaved to produce a higher effective resolution acquisition record.

Abstract: A range recognizer applies acquired data to the inputs of a plurality of boundary comparators simultaneously, treating an entire range of values for the data as a single continuum which is partitioned by a series of internal boundaries that are monitonically increasing. Each boundary comparator compares the value of the data with its unique boundary value and provides the results to a single range encoder logic to generate a single binary word as an encoded result indicative of the comparison for the entire range. An upper boundary result of one boundary comparator is combined with a lower boundary result of an adjacent higher boundary comparator prior to input to the single range encoder logic. The result is a reduction In the number of output pins required on an integrated circuit (IC) for reporting the encoded result for a corresponding plurality of range recognizers.

Abstract: A jitter separation apparatus and method, based on spectrum analysis, separates deterministic jitter and random jitter using their spectral properties. Deterministic jitter is periodic and nature and exhibits a spectrum of impulses, whereas random jitter exhibits a broad, flat spectrum. A time domain histogram and a frequency domain histogram of the signal are investigated to obtain jitter components.

Abstract: A measurement test instrument voltage management system for an accessory device has a accessory device interface that provides a voltage to a memory device in the accessory device. A sensing signal is generated when the accessory device is connected to the interface that causes an interrupt signal to be coupled to a controller. The controller retrieves accessory device data stored in the device memory via the interface and determines if the connected accessory device is a valid device capable of being supported by the measurement test instrument and voltage power requirements for the accessory device. The controller generates an enable signal for a valid and supported device that is coupled to a voltage switching circuit. The voltage switching circuit generates at least a first output voltage based on the voltage power requirements that is coupled to the accessory device via the interface to provide power to the accessory device.

Abstract: A method of predicting subjective quality ratings of processed video from corresponding human vision model perceptual difference scores obtains perceptual difference scores for a “Worst” quality video training sequence and for a “Best” quality video training sequence. Corresponding subjective quality rating values are assigned to the perceptual difference scores as modified by any single-ended measures of impairments that may exist in the reference video training sequences from which the “Worst” and “Best” quality video training sequences are derived.

Abstract: A butt joined electronic assembly has first and second coplanar transmission structures that are independently aligned in a proximate abutting relationship. The coplanar transmission structures are formed on at least a first standoff dielectric substrate and on first and second electrical elements. The standoff dielectric substrate is positioned in an abutting relationship with one of the electrical elements. The standoff dielectric substrate and the first and second electrical elements are secured on respective independently positioned and mechanically joined first and second open end face carriers. The first and second coplanar transmission structures are electrically coupled together via substantially flat electrical conductors.