Data decoder

• US 20070096951A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne LeCroy, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lecroy Corporation (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hertz, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/34 Circuits for representing a single waveform by sampling, e.g. for very high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/145 Conversion to or from block codes or representations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/033 using the transitions of the received signal to control the phase of the synchronising-signal-generating means, e.g. using a phase-locked loop

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program for decoding a data stream. The method comprises the steps of acquiring an analog data signal, determining an initial polarity of the analog data signal, determining a threshold transition level, determining a plurality of transition edges where the analog data signal crosses the threshold transition level, and determining the number of unit intervals between each pair of transition edges. A binary value is assigned to each of the unit intervals, and the binary values are displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A method for decoding a data stream, comprising the steps of:

acquiring an analog data signal;

determining an initial polarity of the analog data signal;

determining a threshold transition level;

determining a plurality of transition edges where the analog data signal crosses the threshold transition level;

determining the number of unit intervals between each pair of transition edges;

assigning a binary value to each of the unit intervals; and

displaying the binary values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the bitrate of the analog data signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a user input designating the bitrate of the analog data signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed binary values correspond to a portion of the analog data signal shown on a display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the threshold transition level comprises the steps of:

determining a minimum value of the analog data signal;

determining a maximum value of the analog data signal; and

setting the threshold transition level midway between the minimum and maximum values.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the analog data signal is a Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analog data signal is a Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signal that has been converted from another format.

8. A computer program for operation on an oscilloscope for decoding a data stream, the computer program including instructions for:

acquiring an analog data signal;

determining an initial polarity of the analog data signal;

determining a threshold transition level;

determining a plurality of transition edges where the analog data signal crosses the threshold transition level;

determining the number of unit intervals between each pair of transition edges;

assigning a binary value to each of the unit intervals; and

displaying the binary values.

9. The computer program of claim 8, further comprising an instruction for determining the bitrate of the analog data signal.

10. The computer program of claim 8, further comprising an instruction for receiving a user input designating the bitrate of the analog data signal.

11. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the displayed binary values correspond to a portion of the analog data signal shown on a display.

12. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the instruction for determining the threshold transition level comprises the further instructions for:

determining a minimum value of the analog data signal;

determining a maximum value of the analog data signal; and

setting the threshold transition level midway between the minimum and maximum values.

13. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the analog data signal is a Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signal.

14. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the analog data signal is a Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signal that has been converted from another format.

15. An oscilloscope for decoding a data stream, comprising:

an acquisition portion for acquiring an analog data signal;

a processor for determining an initial polarity of the analog data signal, determining a threshold transition level, determining a plurality of transition edges where the analog data signal crosses the threshold transition level, determining the number of unit intervals between each pair of transition edges, and assigning a binary value to each of the unit intervals; and

a display for displaying the binary values.

16. The oscilloscope of claim 15, wherein the processor further determines the bitrate of the analog data signal.

17. The oscilloscope of claim 15, further comprising an input for receiving a user input designating the bitrate of the analog data signal.

18. The oscilloscope of claim 15, wherein the display displays binary values correspond to a portion of the analog data signal shown on the display.

19. The oscilloscope of claim 15, wherein the processor determines the threshold transition level by:

determining a minimum value of the analog data signal;

determining a maximum value of the analog data signal; and

setting the threshold transition level midway between the minimum and maximum values.

20. The oscilloscope of claim 15, wherein the analog data signal is a Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signal.