Measuring device with functional units controllable via a block diagram

• US 20040207637A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Desquiotz, Rene, Pauly, Andreas, Kernchen, Wolfgang, Braunstorfinger, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2841 Signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2846 using hard- or software simulation or using knowledge-based systems, e.g. expert systems, artificial intelligence or interactive algorithms

Abstract

A measuring device, in particular a signal generator, comprises several functional units which may be connected to each other in various combinations, a control device which determines the connection and functions of the functional unites, and optical display device. The functional units are symbolized by function blocks which may be represented on the display device and graphically connected by connection elements. The control device controls the display device so that the functional blocks are graphically connected to each other correspondingly to the actual connection of the functional units by the connection elements.

Claims

1. A measuring device comprising:

a plurality of functional units capable of being selectively connected to one another;

a control device configured for setting a configuration and functions of the functional units; and

a visual display device wherein a plurality of functional blocks can be displayed on the display device and graphically connected by means of connecting elements,

wherein the control unit is further configured for controlling the display device so that the functional blocks are graphically interconnected by the connecting elements in a manner that corresponds to the current configuration of the functional units.

2. A measuring device according to claim 1,

wherein the functions of one of the functional units can be selected by moving a cursor by means of a positioning element to a graphic position of a corresponding one of the functional blocks, and

wherein, at the position of the corresponding one of the functional blocks, a function of the one of the functional units allocated to the corresponding one of the functional blocks is selected from a function-selection list or graphic function-selection window and communicated to the control unit to specify the function of the corresponding one of the functional units.

3. A measuring device according to claim 2, wherein one of the functional units is includes a base band unit, and a type of signal generated by the base band unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the base band unit.

4. A measuring device according to claim 3, wherein one of the functional units includes a fading unit connected in series to the base band unit, and a number, a time delay and an attenuation of signal paths provided in the fading unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on the a functional block allocated to the fading unit.

5. A measuring device according to claim 4, wherein one of functional units includes a noise unit connected in series to the base band unit or the fading unit and a type and level of noise of the noise signal generated by the noise unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the noise unit.

6. A measuring device according to claim 3 wherein one of the functional units includes an I/Q-modulator connected in series to the base band unit, the fading unit or the noise unit, and with which burst-sequence signal can be generated, and active bursts and a level of the bursts can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the I/Q-modulator.

7. A measuring device according to claim 6, wherein one of the functional units includes a high-frequency unit connected in series to the I/Q-modulator, and one or more output frequencies initiated according to a sudden frequency change procedure, can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the high-frequency unit.

8. A measuring device according to claim 6, wherein a configuration diagram can be displayed in a display field on the display device at at least one of an input of the I/Q-modulator and at an output of at least one of the base band unit the fading unit.

9. A measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the base band unit, the fading unit, the noise unit, the I/Q-modulator and the high-frequency unit are present at least twofold, and that the inputs and/or outputs from the base band units, the fading units, the noise units, the I/Q-modulators and/or the high-frequency units can be connected to one another in a variable manner.

10. A measuring according to claim 3 wherein a digital base band generator unit is provided, of which the output signal can be added to the output signal from a base band unit.

11. A method for controlling a measuring device having a plurality of functional units capable of being selectively connected to one another, said method comprising:

setting a configuration and functions of the functional units in response to user input; and

displaying a plurality of functional blocks respectively symbolizing the functional units and graphically connected by means of connecting elements such that the functional blocks are graphically interconnected by the connecting elements in a manner that corresponds to a current configuration of the functional units.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

selecting the functions of one of the functional units based on input received from moving a cursor by means of a positioning element to a graphic position of a corresponding one of the functional blocks;

selecting, at the position of the corresponding one of the functional blocks, a function of the one of the functional units allocated to the corresponding one of the functional blocks from a function-selection list or graphic function-selection window; and

setting the function of the corresponding one of the functional units to the selected function.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein one of the functional units includes a base band unit, and a type of signal generated by the base band unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the base band unit.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein one of the functional units includes a fading unit connected in series to the base band unit, and a number, a time delay and an attenuation of signal paths provided in the fading unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the fading unit.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein one of functional units includes a noise unit connected in series to the base band unit or the fading unit, and a type and level of noise of the noise signal generated by the noise unit can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the noise unit.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein one of the functional units includes an I/Q-modulator connected in series to the base band unit, the fading unit or the noise unit, and with which a burst-sequence signal can be generated, and active bursts and a level of the bursts can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the I/Q-modulator.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein one of the functional units includes a high-frequency unit connected in series to the I/Q-modulator, and one or more output frequencies initiated according to a sudden frequency change procedure can be selected by positioning the cursor on a functional block allocated to the high-frequency unit.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising displaying a configuration diagram can be displayed at at least one of an input of the I/Q-modulator and at an output of at least one of the base band unit the fading unit.

19. A method according to claim 17, furthering comprising providing the base band unit, the fading unit, the noise unit, the I/Q-modulator and the high-frequency unit in at least twofold, such that the inputs and/or outputs from the base band units, the fading units, the noise units, the I/Q-modulators and/or the high-frequency units can be connected to one another in a variable manner.

20. A method according to claim 13, adding an output signal from a digital base band generator unit to the output signal from a base band unit.