INFORMATION DISPLAY FOR DIGITAL MULTIMETER

• US 20090128124A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Gloger, Christopher, Ferrante, Joseph, GARLAND, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/115
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters

Abstract

A digital multimeter provides information regarding measurements shown on a display of the multimeter, and available functions of the multimeter. The information typically relates to a current context of the multimeter. The context may include a current mode or other setting of the multimeter.

Claims

1. A portable digital multimeter, comprising:

a display for displaying measurement values and available functions of the multimeter;

a user interface for receiving a user input indicating a request for context-sensitive explanatory information regarding the measurement values or the available functions;

a memory for storing information relating to the measurement values or the available functions; and

a processor which, in response to receiving the user input, retrieves the information from the memory to allow the information to be shown on the display.

2. The portable digital multimeter of claim 1, wherein the processor further controls the display to present the information in a pop-up dialog box.

3. The portable digital multimeter of claim 2, wherein the pop-up dialog box includes a title bar displaying information regarding the multimeter functions in operation at the time when the user input was received.

4. The portable digital multimeter of claim 2, wherein the pop-up dialog box displays indications of the available functions of the multimeter and text explaining the operation of the corresponding functions.

5. The portable digital multimeter of claim 2, wherein the pop-up dialog box has an associated scrolling mechanism for allowing a user to scroll through information within the pop-up dialog box.

6. The portable digital multimeter of claim 2, wherein when the pop-up dialog box is displayed, the processor further controls the display to present a smaller version of the measurement value that was presented on the display immediately prior to the display of the pop-up dialog.

7. The portable digital multimeter of claim 1, wherein the information comprises instructions for performing one or more measurements with the digital multimeter.

8. The portable digital multimeter of claim 1, wherein the information includes a description of a mode of the multimeter.

9. The portable digital multimeter of claim 1, wherein the user input is received in response to actuation of a single button or switch on the multimeter.

10. A portable digital multimeter, comprising:

a display for displaying measurement values and available functions of the multimeter;

a user interface for receiving a user input indicating a request for context-sensitive explanatory information regarding the measurement values or the available functions;

a memory for storing the context-sensitive explanatory information;

a processor which, in response to receiving the user input, retrieves from the memory the information to be shown on the display; and

an external input interface for downloading to the memory the context-sensitive explanatory instruction from an external electronic storage medium.

11. The portable digital multimeter of claim 10, wherein the context-sensitive explanatory instruction is reconfigurable for user specific requirements.

12. A method of displaying information on a portable digital multimeter comprising a user-interface, a processor, a memory, and a display screen, the method comprising:

receiving a user input via the user interface, wherein the user input indicates a request for information regarding available functions of the multimeter or visual elements displayed on the display screen;

in response to receiving the user input, operating the processor to retrieve information from the memory regarding the available functions or visual elements; and

transmitting the information via the processor to the display screen to allow the information to be displayed on the display screen.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying the information in a pop-up dialog box on the display screen.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pop-up dialog box comprises a title bar, which includes information regarding the regarding the multimeter functions in operation at the time when the user input was received.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pop-up dialog box shows the indications of the available functions of the multimeter and text explaining the operation of the corresponding functions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the pop-up dialog box has an associated scrolling mechanism for allowing a user to scroll through information within the pop-up dialog box.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein when the pop-up dialog box is displayed, the processor further controls the display to present a smaller version of a measurement value presented on the display immediately prior to the display of the pop-up dialog.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein indications of the available functions of the multimeter comprise graphical icons presented in the display.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is context-sensitive explanatory information and comprises instructions for performing a series of measurements with the digital multimeter and an explanation of a current mode of the multimeter.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the user input is received in response to actuation of a single button or switch on the multimeter.