Abstract: A min/max time stamp for a multimeter provides display of minimum and maximum measured values recorded since enabling a min/max function. The minimum and maximum values, as well as a present value, may be displayed, together with the relative or absolute time at which the measured minimum or maximum occurred. An alert signal is generated to indicate a new maximum or a new minimum measurement.

Abstract: An instrument having a continuity test feature wherein a change in continuity state from open-to-short or short-to-open is captured and displayed. A comparator provides continuity state information for a circuit under test. A storage device receives the state information and provides logic indicative of the continuity state which is read by a controller that executes a continuity capture program initiated by keypad or function selector input. A first transition between different continuity states is captured during a present capture cycle and is displayed in a form indicative of the type of transition captured. Subsequent transitions during the present capture cycle are ignored.

Abstract: A digital multimeter having automatic function selection capability includes a signal type detector and an analog-to-digital converter formed as an application specific integrated circuit. The signal type detector has a comparator circuit that compares the analog input signal to be measured with predetermined thresholds and stores the resulting values, which are related to the type of analog input signal, in a memory that is also a part of the signal type detector. A controller executes an automatic function selection program that causes the controller to read the stored values and generate a corresponding function code, which causes an analog-to-digital converter to be configured to perform an appropriate conversion function on the analog input signal. When a change in the type of analog input signal is sensed, the controller aborts the present measurement cycle and proceeds with a next measurement cycle in which the changed analog input signal is measured.