Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Follett

Stephen D. Follett has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9886419
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument provides for increased transient event detection by adjusting data sampling periods. The test and measurement instrument includes a data sampler for acquiring first sampled data and a data processor structured to process the first sampled data. The data processor operates during a first data processing period. Also included in the instrument is a sample time adjustor structured to allow a user to select a time for the data sampler to acquire second sampled data. The time for the data sampler to acquire the second sampled data occurs during the first data processing period. The time for acquiring the second sampled data may be determined by generating a probability distribution function, then applying the distribution function to the available times during the first data processing period that the second sample data may be collected. Methods of use of the test and measurement instrument are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Follett, Steven W. Stanton
  • Publication number: 20140032150
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument provides for increased transient event detection by adjusting data sampling periods. The test and measurement instrument includes a data sampler for acquiring first sampled data and a data processor structured to process the first sampled data. The data processor operates during a first data processing period. Also included in the instrument is a sample time adjustor structured to allow a user to select a time for the data sampler to acquire second sampled data. The time for the data sampler to acquire the second sampled data occurs during the first data processing period. The time for acquiring the second sampled data may be determined by generating a probability distribution function, then applying the distribution function to the available times during the first data processing period that the second sample data may be collected. Methods of use of the test and measurement instrument are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: STEPHEN D. FOLLETT, STEVEN W. STANTON
  • Patent number: 7894419
    Abstract: An activity display for multiple data channels over a period of time for a communication link provides a quasi-three-dimensional presentation having time periods and data channels as orthogonal axes and shading within each time period/data channel rectangle representing ones density for the channel during that time period. One or more frames of the communication link corresponding to one time period are captured, and then each frame is processed in sequence one data channel at a time to build up a line of the display for the time period. Over multiple time periods the display is built up line by line, with the oldest line being dropped as a new line is added when the maximum number of lines for the display is achieved. In this way an operator has a high level all-in-one glance at the operation of the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: TekTronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Turpin, Amy Powell, Stephen D. Follett
  • Publication number: 20080070508
    Abstract: An activity display for multiple data channels over a period of time for a communication link provides a quasi-three-dimensional presentation having time periods and data channels as orthogonal axes and shading within each time period/data channel rectangle representing ones density for the channel during that time period. One or more frames of the communication link corresponding to one time period are captured, and then each frame is processed in sequence one data channel at a time to build up a line of the display for the time period. Over multiple time periods the display is built up line by line, with the oldest line being dropped as a new line is added when the maximum number of lines for the display is achieved. In this way an operator has a high level all-in-one glance at the operation of the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: John F. Turpin, Amy Powell, Stephen D. Follett
  • Patent number: 7109991
    Abstract: An activity display for multiple data channels over a period of time for a communication link provides a quasi-three-dimensional presentation having time periods and data channels as orthogonal axes and shading within each time period/data channel rectangle representing ones density for the channel during that time period. One or more frames of the communication link corresponding to one time period are captured, and then each frame is processed in sequence one data channel at a time to build up a line of the display for the time period. Over multiple time periods the display is built up line by line, with the oldest line being dropped as a new line is added when the maximum number of lines for the display is achieved. In this way an operator has a high level all-in-one glance at the operation of the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Turpin, Amy Powell, Stephen D. Follett
  • Publication number: 20030038769
    Abstract: An activity display for multiple data channels over a period of time for a communication link provides a quasi-three-dimensional presentation having time periods and data channels as orthogonal axes and shading within each time period/data channel rectangle representing ones density for the channel during that time period. One or more frames of the communication link corresponding to one time period are captured, and then each frame is processed in sequence one data channel at a time to build up a line of the display for the time period. Over multiple time periods the display is built up line by line, with the oldest line being dropped as a new line is added when the maximum number of lines for the display is achieved. In this way an operator has a high level all-in-one glance at the operation of the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: John F. Turpin, Amy Powell, Stephen D. Follett