Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for generating telemetric impulsional response fingerprints for an electronic system. The system operates by first determining a steady-state response of the electronic system under specified initial conditions. Next, the system introduces a sudden impulse step change to a parameter of the electronic system and then measures the dynamic response of the electronic system to the sudden impulse step change. The system then generates a multiparametric representation from the steady-state response and the dynamic response wherein the multiparametric representation simultaneously displays the steady-state response and the dynamic response.

Abstract: A system that facilitates reducing uncertainty in a quantized signal. During operation, the system measures a quantized output signal from a sensor. Next, the system obtains an initial value for an uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal. The system then margins the quantized output signal high by introducing a controlled increase in the mean of the quantized output signal to produce a high-margined quantized output signal. Next, the system measures the high-margined quantized output signal from the sensor. The system then uses information obtained from the high-margined quantized output signal to reduce the uncertainty interval for the quantized output signal.

Abstract: A system that detects the onset of hard disk drive failure. During operation, the system measures vibrations from the hard disk drive to produce one or more vibration signals. Next, the system generates a vibration signature for the hard disk drive from the measured vibration signals. The system then determines if the vibration signature indicates the onset of hard disk failure by comparing the vibration signature with a reference vibration signature for the hard disk drive. If so, the system generates a warning or takes a remedial action.