Display Of Waveform Patents (Class 702/67)
  • Patent number: 8548763
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus for variable sensing using the frequency domain are taught herein. An exposure of a system to a physical variable is determined by periodically sensing the physical variable to produce a plurality of digital samples. The plurality of digital samples is converted to respective frequency domain representations. The exposure is calculated using the frequency domain representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: 2 Bit, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney J. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20130253866
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system for intelligent visualization in the monitoring of process and/or system data used in technical processes and in the operation of technical systems. The behavior of signals in the past is analyzed and used for a future optimized visualization. Continuously running online algorithms support the system operator by detecting and correspondingly highlighting deviations from the historically observed signal patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Moncef CHIOUA, Martin HOLLENDER
  • Publication number: 20130245977
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and method for providing post-acquisition trigger control and presentation of associated waveforms on a display. An electrical signal under test is sampled and digitized, and stored in an acquisition memory as a data record. A display device draws a waveform associated with the signal under test. After the acquisition of the digital samples is stopped, a user selects trigger criteria using trigger controls such as a trigger level control. A trigger circuit detects a post-acquisition trigger event in the data record based on the trigger criteria causing an automatic adjustment of the waveform to conform to a time of the post-acquisition trigger event. One or more configurable trigger controls can be used to adjust a display of post-acquisition trigger events and waveforms. Upon resumption of the live-acquisition of data, the live waveform conforms to the newly selected trigger criteria as previewed during the post-acquisition mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Kristie L. Veith, Steven K. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8532953
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trigger in a test and measurement apparatus are provided. The method comprises the steps of loading a first trigger configuration to a first trigger element of the test and measurement apparatus and loading a second trigger configuration to a second trigger element of the test and measurement apparatus so that these trigger elements operate substantially simultaneously, It is then determined whether the input signal generates a trigger in accordance with the one or more trigger configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Cake, Peter J Pupalaikis, David Graef, William Driver, Michael Hertz, Laxmikant Joshi
  • Publication number: 20130231882
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an acquisition system for oscilloscopes having n input channels. The acquisition system comprises n A/D converters (2.1, 2.2, . . . , 2.n) with each of the n A/D converters receiving a signal under test from one of n channels and digitizing the received signal into digital samples; an acquisition memory for storing the digitized samples from the n A/D converters; and a memory allocation processor for dynamically allocating memory lengths (or memory depths) for the selected n input channels within an acquisition memory based on the user setting from the oscilloscope. To efficiently use the acquisition memory, the acquisition system does not allocate any memory areas for the input channels that are not selected. In addition, the acquisition system can set up sampling rates for the n input channels based on the frequencies of the signals under test received from the n input channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX (CHINA) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haiwen Yu
  • Patent number: 8527214
    Abstract: A mechanical seal monitoring system and method that measure the wear of seal faces of a mechanical seal where the mechanical seal seals a rotating machine portion from another portion of the machine. The system preferably uses a wear probe movable relative to a rotating seal component so that the wear probe can contact the rotating component. The wear of the seal is preferably determined by the relative movement that is required for the wear probe to contact the rotating component. Preferably, stress waves induced by the rubbing between the probe and the rotating component are detected by a stress-wave sensor, processed by a signal processor, and either displayed to the user numerically or reported to a monitoring computer. A signal intensity comparison method is preferably used to make the detection process insensitive to background noise generated by sources other than the contact of the wear probe and the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Michael N. Horak
  • Patent number: 8521457
    Abstract: A user configured measurement display system and method for a non-destructive testing device and instrument (NDT/NDI) with high input data rate is disclosed. The system and the method provide the means for NDT/NDI instruments display measurement values that satisfies user designated measurement criterion occurring during any measurement time intervals (MTIs). The present disclosure overcomes the shortcomings of conventional ways of picking and displaying measurement values at fixed MTIs, by which the values truly satisfying the measurement criterion that occurs at random MTIs (other than scheduled MTIs) are often skipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventors: Jayesh Patel, Michael Drummy
  • Patent number: 8515690
    Abstract: A line locator includes a signal detector to detect signals from an underground line; an error modeler that models a phase error in the signal from neighboring underground lines; and an enhanced electromagnetic field modeler that provides a location of the underground line based on the signal and a result from the error modeler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Metrotech Corporation
    Inventor: Kun Li
  • Patent number: 8502821
    Abstract: The system for three-dimensional rendering of signals has a computer system having acquired, streaming, or previously stored data in its memory representing multiple channels of signals in which each channel has a value which varies over a domain, e.g., time or frequency, and a display coupled to the computer. For each channel, the computer system segments the data of the channel into segments, orders the segments, renders on the display each of the segments, in which each of the rendered segments are aligned in such order along a three-dimensional perspective with gaps between adjacently rendered segments, and lines are rendered extending from each line of each one of the rendered segments to form a three-dimensional plane in the gap to the next successive one of the rendered ordered segments to form a three-dimensional continuous or discontinuous surface characterizing the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: C Speed, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ralph Louise, Kevin Roy Francis, David James Yaw
  • Patent number: 8494796
    Abstract: The counting device includes: a signal counter that counts the number of half cycles of input signals during given counting periods; a signal half cycle measurement unit that measures the half cycles; a frequency distribution generator that generates a frequency distribution of the half cycles; a representative value calculator configured to calculate a representative value of a distribution of the half cycles; a correction value calculator configured to calculate a total number Ns and a total number Nwn so as to correct the number of the half cycles, wherein Ns represents the total of the number of the half cycles that are less than 0.5 times the represent value, and Nwn represents the total of the number of the half cycles that are equal to or greater than 2n and less than (2n+2) times the representative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Patent number: 8452559
    Abstract: A “density trace” according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by measuring the density of each column of a frequency domain bitmap above a user-specified “amplitude threshold.” The density of each column equals the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column that are above the amplitude threshold divided by the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column. A density trace provides a convenient way to define and represent the occupancy for a large number of columns, and also allows density data to be quickly transmitted from one instrument or computer to another. In some embodiments, a density trace is incorporated into a trigger detector of a test and measurement instrument and used to generate a trigger signal. The trigger detector compares the density trace to a user-specified “density threshold” and generates the trigger signal when the value of any point of the density trace violates the density threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn A. Engholm, Alfred K. Hillman, Jr., John F. Turpin, David H. Eby
  • Patent number: 8447548
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for identifying and measuring a signal pulse induced in a microcircuit due to ionizing radiation. The method comprises locating an ionizing radiation induced pulse across a microcircuit using a plurality of sensors on the microcircuit. The method further comprises radiating a radiation through the microcircuit to produce a pulse width. The method further comprises using a time to digital converter (TDC) to measure a duration of the pulse width to create a measured pulse width. The method further comprises using the TDC to convert the measured pulse width into a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anthony L. McKay, Jeremy Popp
  • Patent number: 8433532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a digital data acquisition module, such as a digital oscilloscope, that includes a synchronous random access memory (RAM), a digital signal processing unit, and a master control unit. The digital signal processing unit is coupled to the synchronous RAM and includes at least one analog-to-digital (A/D) converter that digitizes an analog signal, and a digital signal processor that includes a dual-port RAM, a plurality of processing blocks and a communications interface. The plurality of processing blocks process the digitized analog signal data, store the processed signal data in the synchronous RAM, create display data from the stored signal data, store the display data in the dual-port RAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Service Solutions U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Marco LeBrun
  • Patent number: 8433543
    Abstract: The present invention provides a digital oscilloscope with glitch detection, including a synchronous random access memory (RAM), a digital signal processing unit, coupled to the synchronous RAM, and a master control unit coupled to the digital signal processing unit. The digital signal processing unit includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to digitize an analog signal and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor includes a dual-port RAM, a plurality of processing blocks to process the digitized analog signal data, detect glitches in the digitized analog signal data, store the processed signal data in the synchronous RAM, create display data from the stored signal data, and store the display data in the dual-port RAM, and a communications interface to transmit the stored display data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Service Solutions U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Marco LeBrun
  • Publication number: 20130090874
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aerial surveying system for collecting electromagnetic spectrum data. Spectrally tuned antennas are used on an airplane to prefilter the data in accordance with spectral frequency bands. The data is sequentially sampled using an antenna switching device, band pass filtered and downconverted to an intermediate frequency. High speed vector signal analyzers and digitizers create frequency spectral data and I and Q temporal data. The collected data is recorded and compressed using any desirable compression technique, including video compression. Data analyzers analyze the data and display the data on a GIS map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Donald M. Bishop
  • Publication number: 20130066576
    Abstract: A system for measuring phase attributes of high voltage electrical lines comprises a single high voltage probe. The probe comprises a sensing element for selectively measuring voltage of a high voltage electrical line. A processing circuit detects zero crossings of the measured voltage, applies a time tag to the zero crossings, and stores samples of the amplitude and time tagged zero crossings. A memory stores samples of the amplitude and time tagged zero crossings for a plurality of high voltage electrical lines. A processor is operatively associated with the memory for determining phase relationships between the plurality of high voltage electrical lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Adishesha CS, Arun Vijayakumari Mahasenan, Bhanumurthy Veeragandham
  • Patent number: 8332171
    Abstract: There is provided a waveform observing apparatus, which facilitates management of compressed data and measured data that were created for a reduced display, reduces a calculating amount in making the reduced display, and displays a boundary between stoppage and start of collection of measured data in a visually observable manner, in such a manner that, when a compression ratio is set to the number of pieces of data per display dot, a plurality of compressed data of a compressed-data file for display with a smaller compression ratio than the above used to calculate compressed data, to make a reduced display at the compression ratio after the setting change, final compressed data is created based upon measured data of a fraction at the time of stoppage of sampling, top compressed data is created based upon measured data of a fraction immediately after resuming of the sampling at the time of the resuming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Atoro, Yohei Okawa
  • Patent number: 8290729
    Abstract: In a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) timing test system and method, a clock signal waveform and a data signal waveform are obtained. Clock cycles are selected from the clock signal waveform. Data bits transmitted within the selected clock cycles are identified from the data signal waveform. Accordingly, bit positions of the data bits are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jui-Hsiung Ho, Wang-Ding Su
  • Patent number: 8284200
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable storage media for displaying a dense graph and details of a portion of the dense graph on a display are provided. A processor coupled to memory, an input device and a display are provided to perform operations including: locally distorting a portion of the dense graph identified by interaction through the input device, wherein the local distortion includes expanding the portion of the dense graph along a first dimension axis of the graph, compressing at least one adjacent portion of the dense graph adjacent the expanded portion, and maintaining a scale of all of the dense graph in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. The dense graph and expanded and compressed portions are displayed on the display, wherein all of the graph represented by the display signal on the display prior to performing the local distortion operation is displayed after performing the local distortion operation. In at least one embodiment, the system comprises an oscilloscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 8280662
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical module having an optical reception unit that receives input light and output an electric signal related to received input light, and a processing unit having an identification unit that performs identification processing based on a threshold value on the electric signal input via a reception signal path from the optical reception unit. The optical module includes a threshold calculation unit that calculates the threshold value based on the electric signal from the optical reception unit and a signal path characteristic of the reception signal path from the optical reception unit to the identification unit, and the identification unit of the processing unit performs the identification processing based on the threshold value calculated by the threshold calculation unit. Thereby, the threshold value is optimized when the identifier is provided in the unit as a connection destination of the optical module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yasunori Nagakubo
  • Patent number: 8271225
    Abstract: A test system includes a main selector, a first and a second switching connectors, a first and a second sub-selectors, and a processor. The main selector includes a number of first switches, a number of first contacts, and a number of second contacts. Each sub-selector includes a second switch, a third contact, and a fourth contact. The processor sends a first instruction and a second instruction to correspondingly control the main selector and a selected sub-selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Cheng Hung, Wang-Ding Su, Jui-Hsiung Ho
  • Patent number: 8229754
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for graphically displaying audio data are provided. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes displaying a graphical visual representation of digital audio data, the representation displaying a feature of the audio data on a feature axis with respect to time on a time axis. The method also includes receiving an input in the graphical visual representation selecting a range with respect to the feature and automatically extending the selected range with respect to time to define a selected region of the visual representation, where the extended range with respect to time is predefined and ignoring any component of the received input with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Ramirez, Todd Orler, Shenzhi Zhang, Jeffrey Garner
  • Patent number: 8224613
    Abstract: An Arbitrary Waveform Generator has a controller programmed to generate a sequence of test waveforms using previously-defined waveform data files. The controller generates this series of test waveforms by direct synthesis to cause each waveform to contain a respective different predetermined amount of Rj, Sj and ISI jitter components. In this way, the Arbitrary Waveform Generator produces a sequence of waveforms incorporating varying amounts of ISI to sweep the ISI jitter components from an initial amount of ISI, for example, zero ISI, and continually increment the amount of ISI to a full unit interval of ISI in predetermined increments, for example, 0.1 UI steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Calvin, Gary K. Richmond
  • Patent number: 8219338
    Abstract: A testing system for bus parameters includes a wave displaying unit and a control module connected to the wave displaying unit. The control module includes a decode unit, a testing unit connected to the decode unit, and an output unit connected to the testing unit. The decode unit is connected to the wave displaying unit. The wave displaying unit is configured for receiving an electronic signal from a bus to be tested. The decode unit is configured for decoding the electronic signal to determine if the electronic signal is valid. The testing unit tests parameters of the bus. The output unit displays testing results for the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wang-Ding Su, Yung-Cheng Hung, Hsien-Chuan Liang, Po-Kai Huang, Mi-Wen Tsai, Chi-Ren Kuo
  • Patent number: 8211022
    Abstract: A method for dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) assessment includes acquiring a blood pressure (BP) signal having a first oscillatory pattern from a first individual, acquiring a blood flow velocity (BFV) signal having a second oscillatory pattern from the first individual, decomposing the BP signal into a first group of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), decomposing the BFV signal into a second group of IMFs, determining dominant oscillatory frequencies in the first group of IMFs, automatically selecting a first characteristic IMF from the first group of IMFs that has its associated dominant oscillatory frequency in a predetermined frequency range, automatically selecting a second characteristic IMF from the second group of IMFs, calculating a time sequence of instantaneous phase difference between the first characteristic IMF and the second characteristic IMF, computing an average of the instantaneous phase difference in the time sequence, and identifying a pathological condition in the first individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: DynaDx Corporation
    Inventors: Men-Tzung Lo, Yanhui Liu
  • Patent number: 8214160
    Abstract: A state detecting apparatus S for detecting a current operating state of an LM (linear motion) system includes an AE sensor 1 generating a detection signal Sae by detecting an AE wave elastically generated when a plurality of balls contained in the LM system revolve in a circulation portion while spinning themselves; and a signal processing unit 4 generating a parameter indicating an intensity of the AE wave based on only the detection signal Sae corresponding to an operating frequency of the ball, and uses the parameter to determine a lubrication state of the LM system. Thereby, it is possible to provide the state detecting apparatus capable of predicting failure occurrence in the LM system; providing an improved maintenance to a user of the LM system and further longer lifetime thereof; and providing a performance guarantee and an improved quality of a device or equipment manufactured using the LM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: THK. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Honjo
  • Patent number: 8209136
    Abstract: A line locator includes a signal detector to detect signals from an underground line; an error modeler that models a phase error in the signal from neighboring underground lines; and an enhanced electromagnetic field modeler that provides a location of the underground line based on the signal and a result from the error modeler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Metrotech Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Kun Li
  • Publication number: 20120158334
    Abstract: A digitizing instrument is used for modifying pattern data and jitter and noise components of a communication signal. In a typical implementation, the midpoints of a rising edge slope and horizontal portion of the communication signal are determined and multiple digital data records are acquired at the midpoints. The data sample records are transformed to frequency components and the random jitter and noise, and periodic jitter and noise components are determined. A correlated pattern data and the jitter and noise components are matrix elements in a simulated signal channel having communication system elements. Each correlated pattern data and jitter and noise component may be modified for each of the communication system element. The selectively modified correlated pattern data and jitter and noise components are combined to produce a modified communication signal that is displayed as a numeric table, eye diagram or bit error rate presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Maria Agoston, Ronald M. Henricksen, Pavel R. Zivny
  • Patent number: 8195413
    Abstract: A measuring device for displaying several time-variable electrical signals. The measuring device includes a front panel, which provides various operating elements, with a screen, which provides several display fields. The first display field provides at least one window, which corresponds to a given measurement channel, where the time-variable electrical signal is presented in this first display field and can be switched as a maximized display to the second display field. For each signal presented in maximized format in the second display field, a status field is then displayed in the corresponding first display field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Freidhof
  • Patent number: 8190392
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trigger in a test and measurement apparatus are provided. The method comprises the steps of loading a first trigger configuration to a first trigger element of the test and measurement apparatus and loading a second trigger configuration to a second trigger element of the test and measurement apparatus so that these trigger elements operate substantially simultaneously. It is then determined whether the input signal generates a trigger in accordance with the one or more trigger configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: LeCroy Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Cake, Peter J Pupalaikis, David Graef, William Driver, Michael Hertz, Laxmikant Joshi
  • Patent number: 8185334
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for removing spikes and/or speckle noise from a digital signal. In some embodiments of the present invention, an input signal is filtered according to a first low pass filter. The low pass filtered signal, also considered a first local-mean signal, is subtracted from the input signal, thereby producing an AC signal. A maximum of a first region associated with the AC signal and a maximum of a second region associated with the AC signal are determined. When the maximum of the first region and the maximum of the second region meet a comparison criterion, coefficients for a second low pass filter are determined. The input signal is filtered according to the second low pass filter, thereby producing a second local-mean signal, and a second AC signal is produced by subtracting, from the input signal, the second local-mean signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8170821
    Abstract: In order to automatically measure a signal skew between a first test signal and a second test signal by using an oscilloscope, a method is provided by the present invention. The method includes: capturing a band center of the first test signal; capturing a first sampling point and a second sampling point of the second test signal; comparing a voltage difference between the first sampling point and the second sampling point of the second test signal with a threshold value so as to decide and capture a rising band center and a falling band center of the second test signal. By using the invented method, the signal skew between the first test signal and the second test signal can be calculated according to the band center of the first test signal, the rising band center and the falling band center of the second test signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Shang-Yi Wang
  • Publication number: 20120095711
    Abstract: There is set forth in one embodiment an apparatus and method for imparting a phase shift to an input waveform for output of a converted waveform. In one embodiment, a phase shift can be provided by four wave mixing of an input waveform and a pump pulse. In one embodiment, there is set forth an apparatus and method for generating a high resolution time domain representation of an input waveform comprising: dispersing the input waveform to generate a dispersed input waveform; subjecting the dispersed input waveform to four wave mixing by combining the dispersed input waveform with a dispersed pump pulse to generate a converted waveform; and presenting the converted waveform to a detector unit. In one embodiment a detector unit can include a spectrometer (spectrum analyzer) for recording of the converted waveform and output of a record representing the input waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Cornell University
    Inventors: Mark Foster, Alexander Gaeta, David Geraghty, Michal Lipson, Reza Salem, Amy Foster
  • Patent number: 8131489
    Abstract: A data analysis technique for a long data record in a memory uses a reference, either user-provided or calculated from the data in the long data record, as a representative event. Each event in the long data record is compared with the reference to determine whether there are significant deviations from the reference. Those events having significant deviations are identified as events of particular interest for a user. The reference may be either a waveform shape or a mean time interval between events. A tolerance value may be added to the waveform reference and varied for dynamic limit testing. Events that are outside the waveform reference as modified by the tolerance value are identified as outliers and may be reduced to iconic images for display simultaneously with the long data record and a selected one of the outliers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Heuser, Tristan A. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20120053875
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a test and measurement instrument that processes acquired data before it is displayed by re-sampling it with a pseudo-random sampling phase. This data processing step introduces a randomly-varying phase between the signal under test and the sampling clock of the test and measurement instrument, thereby canceling the effect of any synchronization between the two. In this manner, the test and measurement instrument may acquire data based on a clock signal that is very close to, or even synchronized with, the test and measurement instrument's own sampling clock (or a harmonic of it), and yet still provide a smooth, artifact-free display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC
    Inventor: DAVID H. EBY
  • Patent number: 8126256
    Abstract: An analysis device for analyzing a signal characteristic with the use of a mask. The analysis device includes a buffer device for the provision of a signal-image address of a signal-image point of a signal image and for the provision of a mask-image address of a mask-image point of a mask image and a comparison device for the comparison of the signal-image address and the mask-image address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Kuhwald
  • Publication number: 20120046897
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying waveforms generated from input signals received at a common input channel (CIC) of a data acquisition (DAQ) device. An input signal received at the CIC can be displayed as a present-time waveform, and while the input signal is displayed as a present-time waveform, the input signal can be tagged for displaying the input signal as a historical waveform for the CIC. After receiving another input signal at the CIC, a display can be refreshed to display, simultaneously, the historical waveform for the CIC and the other input signal as another present-time waveform for the CIC. The DAQ device can tag the displayed input signal in response to a user pushing a selector device on the DAQ device. The display can display other present-time waveforms with the historical waveform to allow a user to compare input signals received at the CIC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: James A. Panko
  • Publication number: 20120041701
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide enhanced triggering capabilities such as frequency and phase triggering in a test and measurement instrument, such as a Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) or oscilloscope. A test and measurement instrument can include input terminals to receive RF signals, an ADC to digitize the RF signals, a digital downconverter to produce I and Q baseband component information, and a power detector to determine a power level using the I and Q information. A comparator compares the power level received from the power detector with a user-definable power threshold, and produces a logic signal for enabling one or more phase or frequency demodulators. The one or more demodulators produce IQ-based time-domain traces derived from the I and Q component information when the power level determined by the power detector exceeds the power threshold. Trigger circuitry is configured to trigger on an event responsive to a delayed trigger enable signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Alfred K. HILLMAN, JR., Marcus K. DA SILVA, Kathryn A.. ENGHOLM, Kenneth P. DOBYNS
  • Patent number: 8103469
    Abstract: A method for predicting a predetermined bit error rate for an actual data transmission from a transmitter to a target receiver over an actual backplane link is disclosed. The method involves defining a simulated backplane corresponding to an actual backplane link intended to be used for data transmission between a transmitter and a target receiver. Once the simulated backplane is defined, a data transmission from the transmitter to the receiver is simulated and captured across the simulated backplane. A waveform simulation of the data transmission over the simulated backplane is then generated. The waveform simulation takes into account characteristics of the simulated backplane and the target receiver. From the waveform simulation, a total jitter for a predetermined bit error rate for the data transmission is extrapolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: San Wong, Daniel Tun Lai Chow, Geping Liu
  • Patent number: 8074127
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a signal analyzing apparatus which can easily identify a pattern high in error rate and a pattern causing bit errors in comparison with the conventional device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Wada, Hajime Imazeki, Takashi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20110282610
    Abstract: A “density trace” according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by measuring the density of each column of a frequency domain bitmap above a user-specified “amplitude threshold.” The density of each column equals the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column that are above the amplitude threshold divided by the sum of the densities of all of the pixels in the column. A density trace provides a convenient way to define and represent the occupancy for a large number of columns, and also allows density data to be quickly transmitted from one instrument or computer to another. In some embodiments, a density trace is incorporated into a trigger detector of a test and measurement instrument and used to generate a trigger signal. The trigger detector compares the density trace to a user-specified “density threshold” and generates the trigger signal when the value of any point of the density trace violates the density threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC
    Inventors: KATHRYN A. ENGHOLM, ALFRED K. HILLMAN, JR., JOHN F. TURPIN, DAVID H. EBY
  • Patent number: 8055077
    Abstract: A realtime display compression for a waveform image uses a priority basis for combining groups of pixels when producing a compressed waveform image in order to preserve intensity information. As an example successive lines of data for the waveform image are demultiplexed into line buffers in a circulating manner, the number of line buffers being a function of the maximum desired integer compression ratio. The outputs from the line buffers are aligned and the corresponding pixels are combined according to a desired compression ratio, one output line for each integer compression ratio. The appropriate compressed line is selected as the output line according to the desired compression ratio, with the totality of the output lines forming the compressed waveform image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff W. Mucha, Robert L. Beasley
  • Publication number: 20110270560
    Abstract: Provided are a digital oscilloscope and a method for controlling the same. The digital oscilloscope comprises a trace intensity synthesizer (303) including a first intensity memory (310) and a second intensity memory (320). The controlling procedure (400) performed by the digital oscilloscope includes: a determining step (420) for determining whether the time interval of a trigger signal is larger than a predetermined threshold, a first fluorescence processing step (430) performed when the time interval of a trigger signal is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and a second fluorescence processing step (440) performed when the time interval of a trigger signal is larger than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: RIGOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yue Wang, Tiejun Wang, Weisen Li
  • Patent number: 8046183
    Abstract: Pre-trigger and post-trigger acquisition for a no dead time acquisition system, where the data being displayed does not include a related trigger event, has a variable record length buffer having a maximum record length equal to a maximum desired pre-trigger interval, and has a trigger FIFO and timer for delaying the related trigger event. The record length of the buffer is determined by the desired pre-trigger interval, and fast rasterizers access the oldest data that encompasses the desired pre-trigger data. A first trigger event in the trigger signal may be delayed by a desired post-trigger interval before the fast rasterizers begin drawing the waveform data that encompasses the desired post-trigger data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Dobyns, Kristie L. Veith
  • Patent number: 8046182
    Abstract: An approach is provided for digital triggering a recording of one or several signals sampled at individual sampling instants on a digital oscilloscope. The triggering is carried out when the interval between two recurrent triggering events is less or greater than a time threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Freidhof, Johann Huber
  • Patent number: 8027797
    Abstract: Techniques for inline measurement of a switching history time constant in an integrated circuit device are provided. A series of pulses is launched into a first stage of a delay chain comprising a plurality of delay stages connected in series and having a length greater than a decay length of at least an initial one of the series of pulses, such that the at least initial one of the series of pulses does not appear at a second stage of the delay chain. An amount of time between the launching of the initial one of the series of pulses and the appearance of at least one of the series of pulses at the second stage of the delay chain is determined. The switching history time constant is calculated as a function of a number of stages traversed by the at least one pulse, the determined amount of time, and the decay length of the at least initial one of the series of pulses based at least in part on a switching history of the integrated circuit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Manjul Bhushan, Mark B. Ketchen, Dale J. Pearson
  • Patent number: 8024140
    Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically detect anomalies in waveforms. In addition, the systems and methods alert a human operator of the anomaly and provide suggestions as to the cause of the problem and/or possible solutions to the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Amherst Systems Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Williams, Thomas Zych
  • Patent number: 8024141
    Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and method for providing post-acquisition trigger control and presentation of associated waveforms on a display. An electrical signal under test is sampled and digitized, and stored in an acquisition memory as a data record. A display device draws a waveform associated with the signal under test. After the acquisition of the digital samples is stopped, a user selects trigger criteria using trigger controls such as a trigger level control. A trigger circuit detects a post-acquisition trigger event in the data record based on the trigger criteria causing an automatic adjustment of the waveform to conform to a time of the post-acquisition trigger event. One or more configurable trigger controls can be used to adjust a display of post-acquisition trigger events and waveforms. Upon resumption of the live-acquisition of data, the live waveform conforms to the newly selected trigger criteria as previewed during the post-acquisition mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah A. Bartlett, Kristie L. Veith, Steven K. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8006195
    Abstract: A computationally implemented method comprises providing a plurality of spectral data display and manipulation options on a display displaying spectral data, the plurality of data display and manipulation options including providing a region further including a plurality of selectable tabs, and displaying a pictorial representation of the spectral data display and manipulation options, further including displaying the region further including a plurality of selectable tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Meta Greek, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Woodings, Brian Tuttle, Don Valate Harrison
  • Patent number: 8000937
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for performing waveform analysis on physiological parameters. In one embodiment, a method includes reading measurement values of a first physiological parameter relating to time, and displaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area that includes first coordinates representing time and second coordinates representing the measurement values. The method also includes acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph, and displaying, in a waveform display area, waveform data of a second physiological parameter associated with formation of the first physiological parameter during periods before and after the selected time. The waveform display area includes time coordinates. The disclosed embodiments allow medical staff to view the curve of a patient's physiological parameters throughout a monitoring/therapy period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingbo Zeng, Dazhi Teng, Saixin Zhou, Lin Tan, Qi Wang