Variable color digital multimeter

• US 4,794,383 A
• Filed: 01/15/1986
• Issued: 12/27/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Karel Havel
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/819,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/702, 340/704, 340/762, 324/99 D
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/405 using a plurality of active, i.e. light emitting, e.g. electro-luminescent elements, i.e. bar graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A multimeter with variable color digital display indicates measured values in digital format and in variable color. The multimeter includes a color control circuit for selectively controlling color of the digital display in accordance with the measurement quantity, method, unit, mode, function, range, location, modifier, control, limits, and the like. A color converter circuit is disclosed for converting analog voltage to variable color.

Claims

1. The method of simultaneously indicating RMS values and crest factor values of a measured waveform, on a single variable color digital display means, by causing said RMS values to be indicated on said variable color digital display means in a digital format, and by controlling the color of said variable color digital display means in accordance with said crest factor values.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the color of said variable color digital display means may be controlled substantially continuously such that the color changes of said variable color digital display means are proportional to changes in said crest factor values.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the color of said variable color digital display means may be controlled in a plurality of steps.

4. A device for measuring a waveform comprising:

first measurement means for measuring RMS values of said waveform;

second measurement means for measuring crest factor values of said waveform;

variable color digital display means for indicating measured RMS values of said waveform in a digital format; and

color control means for controlling the color of said variable color digital display means in accordance with measured crest factor values of said waveform.

5. A measurement device as defined in claim 4 more characterized by:

said second measurement means including;

peak detector means for detecting the instant peak value of said waveform; and

ratio producing means for developing a signal indicative of a ratio of said peak value to said RMS value.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 more characterized by:

said color control means causing said display means to illuminate in green color for crest factor values less than 1.5, in yellow color for crest factor values between 1.5 and 2.5, and in red color for crest factor values greater than 2.5.

7. A device as defined in claim 4 more characterized by:

said color control means causing said display means to illuminate in blue color for crest factor values less than 1.1, in purple color for crest factor values between 1.1 and 1.4, in blue-green color for crest factor values between 1.4 and 1.7, in green color for crest factor values between 1.7 and 2.0, in yellow color for crest factor values between 2.0 and 2.5, in white color for crest factor values between 2.5 and 3.0, and in red color for crest factor values greater than 3.0.

8. A method of simultaneously indicating a value of a first quantity indicative of a magnitude of a waveform and a value of a second quantity indicative of a shape of a waveform, on a single variable color digital display means, by causing a digital indication of the value of said first quantity to be exhibited on said display means, and by controlling the color of said indication in accordance with the value of said second quantity.

9. A measuring device comprising:

first measurement means for measuring a first quantity indicative of a magnitude of a waveform;

variable color digital display means for providing a digital indication of the value of said first quantity;

second measurement means for measuring a second quantity indicative of a shape of a waveform and for developing output signals indicative of the value of said second quantity; and

color control means responsive to said output signals for controlling the color of said indication in accordance with the values of said second quantity.

10. A measuring device comprising:

first measurement means for measuring a first quantity of a signal and for developing output data indicative of the measured value of said first quantity;

variable color digital display means responsive to said output data for providing a digital indication of the measured value of said first quantity;

second measurement means for measuring a second quantity of a signal and for developing output signals indicative of the measured value of said second quantity;

comparator means responsive to said output signals for comparing the measured value of said second quantity with a predetermined low measurement limit and a predetermined high measurement limit and for accordingly developing an active first comparison signal for the measured value of said second quantity being lower than said low measurement limit, an active second comparison signal for the measured value of said second quantity being between said low measurement limit and said high measurement limit, and an active third comparison signal for the measured value of said second quantity being higher than said high measurement limit, said first, second, and third comparison signals being mutually exclusive; and

color control means for causing said digital indication to illuminate in a first color in response to said active first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said active second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said active third comparison signal, said first, second, and third colors being respectively different.