Abstract: A probing adapter for Ball-Grid-Array packages has an elongate body with a centrally disposed slotted region formed therein containing a slider that is movable within the slotted region. An electrically conductive plunger is attached to the slider and electrically coupled to an electrical contact exposed outside of the probe body. An electrode extends from the plunger and through an aperture formed in one end of the probe body to expose a hooked-shaped contact for making electrical contact with a solder ball contact of the ball grid assay package.

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.

Abstract: A measurement probe includes a sacrificial assembly fixture as part of the probe head. The probe head has probing contact at one end thereof and a transmission cable extending from the other end thereof and includes a housing having interior surfaces with the probing contact disposed in one end of the housing and the transmission cable extending from the other end. A substrate is disposed within the housing and is electrically connected to the probing contact and the transmission cable. An alignment fixture has a base with deformable ribs formed on one surface thereof and opposing sidewalls extending from the base opposite the surface with the deformable ribs. Each sidewall has an interior surface with a channel formed therein at the exposed ends of the sidewalls for engaging the substrate.

Abstract: A simplified user interface for an electronic test and measurement device comprises an arrangement of a segmented LCD device and a plurality of keys used to implement a softkey system, in combination with a single AMPs input connector and a rotary selector having only a single position for each basic kind of parameter to be measured. The segmented LCD device includes, at each location adjacent to a key, a plurality of segments representing a vertically-arranged list of functions to be controlled. In one embodiment of the invention, the housing of the electronic test and measurement device is fabricated to have finger-like projections overlaying a portion of the LCD screen for creating the appearance of the continuation of displayed LCD softkey separation lines.

Abstract: A luminance component extractor coupled to a source of a composite video signal including a luminance component. A sampler, coupled to the video signal source, produces samples representing a frame the video signal. A memory maintains minimum and maximum values of each sample in the frame of the video signal. A non-linear low pass filter, responsive to the minimum and maximum values, generates samples representing the luminance component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparently embedding data into a video signal modulates a particular carrier frequency with a randomized pattern representing the data. The randomized pattern may be a combination of the data with the output from a pseudo-random binary sequence generator, or the data may be converted first into a bi-orthogonal pattern selected from among a plurality of such patterns and then randomized. The resulting modulated carrier frequency is then amplitude modulated based upon a human visual model so that the modulated carrier frequency amplitude is greater in areas of high image complexity and lower in areas of low image complexity. The subliminal data represented by the modulated carrier frequency is added to the video signal.

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.

Abstract: An inter-processor data transfer management system uses an interface circuit to decouple a requesting processor from a responding processor so that the requesting processor does not need to wait for the responding processor after transmitting a data transfer request. The data transfer request is stored in an interface circuit between the processors. The interface circuit arbitrates for the responding processor bus, and completes the data transfer when granted access by the responding processor. For read sequences the requesting processor receives a data word from the interface circuit as the data transfer request is stored in the interface circuit. The first data word received by the requesting processor during a read operation is ignored, and the last data transfer request during a read operation has a dummy address.

Abstract: A method for characterizing events in acquired time domain reflectometry data from a metallic cable under test uses an edge or event detector for generating an array where positive array elements represent a positive leading edge of an event and negative array elements represent a negative leading edge of an event. Predominantly contiguous groups of positive and negative array elements are identified for defining regions, and elbow points and peak-valley points are determined for the regions having location and amplitude values corresponding to one of the waveform data points. The height for the event is determined as a function of the elbow point and the peak-valley point, and elbow point representing the location of the event and the event height are stored.

Abstract: A probe adapter for coupling probe tip contacts of a electrical measurement probe to leads of a surface mounted integrated circuit IC device has an insulating housing from which extend first and second flexible electrically conductive leads having a pitch geometry compatible with the leads of the IC device. First and second electrical contacts, respectively coupled to the first and second flexible electrically conductive leads, are disposed in the housing and have a pitch geometry compatible with the probe tip contacts of the electrical measurement probe.

Abstract: Unusual waveforms are defined in terms of how many “new” pixels are affected by the process of rasterizing them. New pixels can be those not yet affected by the rasterization of any waveform in the current set of acquisitions, or to be those that have had higher values in their raster memory location but have now been decayed to below a defined value. Once detected, such waveforms can be re-rasterized with extra intensity or into a different color by using a reserved range of values of those storable in the raster memory. Alternatively, the special region of values can be used as a counter/timer to maintain the pixels associated with unusual waveforms at a brightest intensity value, or in the color equivalent, for an extended period of time. User input can be used to affect the definition of “new” pixels and to control the special persistence given to unusual waveforms. Unusual waveforms can also be saved in long term memory.

Abstract: An audio signal fader control system has a control console including a motorized fader control. Signals from the console are transmitted over a transmission path to a host computer system. The control console and host computer system incorporate timing means such that when the audio signal is played back, the fader control is moved ahead of time by a predetermined amount so that inertia delay in the fader control and transmission path delays are overcome.

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.

Abstract: A retractable connector mechanism for a signal connector has a recessed tub housing with a signal connector carrier rotatably fixed within the housing. The retractable connector mechanism rotates from the stored position in the housing to an angled positioned extending out of the housing. A biased carrier latch is attached to the signal connector carrier and is biased by a spring to rotate to a locked position. The biased carrier latch has a cam surface that travels on first and second guide surfaces within the housing such that rotating the signal connector carrier from the stored position to the angled position causes the cam surface to travel on the first guide surface and the biased carrier latch to rotate to a locked position on the second guide surface to latch the signal connector carrier in the angled position.

Abstract: A strain relief and pull-strength termination with controlled impedance for a transmission cable has a carrier with a flat portion for accepting one end of the cable and tabs extending from the flat portion. The cable is secured to the flat portion via soldering of the shielding conductor to the flat portion or by glueing. A housing having tabs formed therein receives the carrier. The tabs in the housing are bent down to engage the carrier tabs to provide strain relief and cable-pull strength.

Abstract: The cover sheet of a PALC display panel is spaced from the ribs of the channel member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transit modulator for jittering a signal (Uin) comprising a memory (3), a clock generator (2) connected to said memory (3) and generating a jitter free input clock (T) as well as a further clock generator (5) connected to said memory (3) and generating a jittered output clock (Tj). It is the object of the invention to provide a transit modulator which allows any kind of signals and thus also non-binary digital signals to be jittered. This object is accomplished according to the invention by a transit modulator in which an A/D converter (1) is pre-connected and a D/A converter (4) is post-connected to said memory (3).

Abstract: A delta-sigma modulator includes an integrator which includes an integrating amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal. A pole of a first single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch is coupled to a first electrode of an input capacitor, while a first throw of the first SPDT switch is coupled to an input signal source, and a second throw is coupled to a source of reference potential (ground). A pole of a second SPDT switch is coupled to a second electrode of the capacitor, while a first throw of the second SPDT switch is coupled to the input terminal of the integrating amplifier. A feedback signal generator has an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the integrating amplifier, and an output terminal directly coupled to a second throw of the second SPDT switch.

Abstract: An electronic instrument with a housing having a front surface and a rear surface. A user interface is located on the front surface. A movable handle having a grip portion is connected to the housing and is movable between a first carrying position in which at least a portion of the grip is forward of the rear surface and a first stabilizing position in which at least a portion of the grip is rearward of the rear surface. The handle may movable to other stabilizing positions, and the housing may include a front prop to provide additional stability and alternative viewing angles.

Abstract: A measuring device for the interface of a transmission link with full-duplex transmission in two-wire common band operation includes a device for simulating the interface that allows the signal in the near-to-far direction on the transmission link to be separated from the return signal. To precisely perform jitter measurements on the interface of the transmission link during ongoing transmission using a conventional jitter measuring instrument, the measuring device has a differentiator followed by a comparator connected between a subtractor and the jitter measuring instrument.