Oscilloscope having video signal input

• US 5,808,464 A
• Filed: 04/05/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ozawa, Shigeki, Natori, Kazuya, Nakanishi, Masatake, Iwabuchi, Mitsunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Application Number:
  US08/628,852
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 324/121 R, 364/487, 348/180, 348/184, 348/185, 348/186
• US Class Current: 324/121.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0457 Improvement of perceived resolution by subpixel rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3607 for displaying colours or for displaying grey scales with a specific pixel layout, e.g. using sub-pixels display of colours in flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; grey scales specific for television H04N3/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/02 for colour television signals

Abstract

In an oscilloscope having a video signal input, a video signal and the like can be monitored in addition to the normal waveform monitoring operation as the oscilloscope. The oscilloscope having such a video signal input is arranged by a first input terminal for the oscilloscope, for entering therein a signal under monitor; an oscilloscope unit connected to the first input terminal, for processing the signal under monitor supplied from the first input terminal to output an oscilloscope signal; a second input terminal for entering therein a video signal; a picture monitor unit connected to the second input terminal, for processing therein the video signal supplied from the second input terminal to output a picture monitor signal; a display switching unit for selecting one of the oscilloscope signal derived from the oscilloscope unit and the picture monitor signal derived from the picture monitor unit; and a display device for displaying therein either the oscilloscope signal or the picture monitor signal derived from said display selecting unit.

Claims

1. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input, comprising:

a first input terminal, to which a signal to be observed is supplied;

an oscilloscope unit coupled to said first input terminal, for processing said signal to be observed supplied from said first input terminal to output a waveform as an oscilloscope;

a second input terminal, to which a video signal is supplied;

a picture monitor unit coupled to said second input terminal, for processing said video signal supplied from said second input terminal to output a picture monitor signal;

a display switching unit coupled to said oscilloscope unit and said picture monitor unit, for selecting one of the output signals derived from said oscilloscope unit and from said picture monitor unit; and

a display device coupled to said display switching unit, for displaying either one of said output signals from said oscilloscope unit and said picture monitor unit.

2. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said display device is a color dot matrix flat display device including a display unit having a large number of dots arranged in a matrix form for a color display.

3. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said oscilloscope unit includes;

a memory for storing therein display data based upon said signal to be observed supplied from said first input terminal; and

display data output means having sync signal generating means for outputting a sync signal, and an output unit for reading the display data from said memory in synchronism with said sync signal to thereby output said display data as said oscilloscope signal to said display switching unit;

said color dot matrix flat display device includes said display unit;

a dot scanning control unit for sequentially supplying the signal from said display switching unit to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data; and

a scanning clock signal generator for generating a scanning clock signal used to scan said display unit;

said scanning clock signal generator generates said scanning clock signal in synchronism with said sync signal derived from said sync signal generating means; and

said dot scanning control unit sequentially supplies the signal derived from said display switching unit in synchronism with said scanning clock signal to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data on said display unit.

4. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said oscilloscope unit includes;

an analog processing circuit for converting the signal under monitor into a predetermined level;

an A/D converting circuit for converting the signal under monitor whose level has been converted into said predetermined level by said analog processing circuit into digital data by way of a sampling operation;

an acquisition memory for storing therein the digital data converted by said A/D converting circuit by way of a sampling operation;

a sampling control circuit for controlling the sampling operations of said acquisition memory and said A/D converting circuit;

a microcomputer for converting said digital data stored in the acquisition memory into display data;

a display memory for storing therein said display data converted by said microcomputer; and

a display control unit for separating said display data of the display memory into R, G, B signals and a sync signal and for supplying said R, G, B signals and said sync signal as said oscilloscope signal to said display switching unit;

said color dot matrix flat display device includes said display unit;

a dot scanning control unit for sequentially supplying the signal from said display switching unit to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data; and

a scanning clock signal generator for generating a scanning clock signal used to scan said display unit;

said scanning clock signal generator generates said scanning clock signal in synchronism with said sync signal derived from said sync signal generating means; and

said dot scanning control unit sequentially supplies the signal derived from said display switching unit in synchronism with said scanning clock signal to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data on said display unit.

5. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input, comprising:

a first input terminal, to which a monitored signal is applied;

an oscilloscope unit coupled to said first input terminal, including an analog processing circuit for converting said monitored signal derived from said first input terminal into a predetermined level, and an output unit for processing the signal derived from said analog processing circuit to output a waveform as an oscilloscope;

a second input terminal, to which a video signal is applied;

a switch for selecting one of said signals derived from said analog processing circuit and said video signal derived from said second input terminal;

a picture monitor unit coupled to said switch, for processing the signal derived from said switch to output a picture monitor signal;

a display switching unit for selecting one of the output signals derived from said oscilloscope unit and derived from said picture monitor unit; and

a display device for displaying either one of said outputs derived from said oscilloscope unit and said picture monitor unit.

6. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said display device is a color dot matrix flat display device including a display unit having a large number of dots arranged in a matrix form for a color display.

7. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said output unit of said oscilloscope includes;

a memory for storing therein display data based upon the signal derived from said analog processing unit; and

display data output means having sync signal generating means for outputting a sync signal, and an output unit for reading the display data from said memory in synchronism with said sync signal to thereby output said display data as said oscilloscope signal to said display switching unit;

said color dot matrix flat display device includes said display unit;

a dot scanning control unit for sequentially supplying the signal from said display switching unit to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data; and

a scanning clock signal generator for generating a scanning clock signal used to scan said display unit;

said scanning clock signal generator generates said scanning clock signal in synchronism with said sync signal derived from said sync signal generating means; and

said dot scanning control unit sequentially supplies the signal derived from said display switching unit in synchronism with said scanning clock signal to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data on said display unit.

8. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input, comprising:

a first input terminal for the oscilloscope, for entering therein a signal under monitor;

an analog processing circuit for converting said signal under monitor derived from said first input terminal into a predetermined level;

a second input terminal for entering therein a video signal;

a first switch for selecting one of said signal derived from said analog processing circuit and said video signal derived from said second input terminal;

a picture monitor circuit for inputting therein the signal selected by said first switch so as to produce R, G, B signals, a sync signal, and a sub-carrier signal, which are outputted as s picture monitor signal;

a waveform monitor circuit for inputting therein the signal selected by said first switch to produce a video chroma signal;

a vector scope circuit for generating X-Y vector data based upon the sub-carrier signal from said picture monitor circuit and the video chroma signal from said waveform monitor circuit;

a second switch for selecting any one of said signal under monitor whose signal level has been converted into said analog processing circuit, said X-Y vector data generated from said vector scope circuit, and said video chroma signal generated from said waveform monitor circuit, and for outputting said selected signal;

an oscilloscope unit for processing the signal selected from said second switch to thereby output an oscilloscope signal;

a display switching unit for selecting one of the oscilloscope signal derived from said oscilloscope unit and the picture monitor signal derived from said picture monitor unit; and

a display device for displaying thereon either said oscilloscope signal or said picture monitor signal derived from said display selecting unit.

9. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said display device is a color dot matrix flat display device including a display unit having a large number of dots arranged in a matrix form for a color display.

10. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said oscilloscope unit includes;

a memory for storing therein the signal selected from said second switch; and

display data output means having sync signal generating means for outputting a sync signal, and an output unit for reading to display data from said memory in synchronism with said sync signal to thereby output said display data as said oscilloscope signal to said display switching unit;

said color dot matrix flat display device includes said display unit;

a dot scanning control unit for sequentially supplying the signal from said display switching unit to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data; and

a scanning clock signal generator for generating a scanning clock signal used to scan said display unit;

said scanning clock signal generator generates said scanning clock signal in synchronism with said sync signal derived from said sync signal generating means; and

said dot scanning control unit sequentially supplies the signal derived from said display switching unit in synchronism with said scanning clock signal to the dots of said display unit so as to display the display data on said display unit.

11. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said oscilloscope unit includes;

a gradation processing unit for gradation-processing said video chroma signal and said X-Y vector data selected from said second switch.

12. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said waveform monitor circuit includes at least one of;

a low-pass filter and a band-pass filter for inputting therein said signals selected from second switch, respectively; and

a switch for selecting any one of output signals derived from said low-pass filter and said band-pass filter to thereby output said selected output signal as said video chroma signal.

13. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input, comprising:

a first input terminal for the oscilloscope, for entering therein a signal under monitor;

an analog processing circuit for converting said signal under monitor derived from said first input terminal into a predetermined level;

a second input terminal for entering therein a video signal;

a first switch for selecting one of said signal derived from said analog processing circuit and said video signal derived from said second input terminal;

a picture monitor circuit for inputting therein the signal selected by said first switch so as to produce R, G, B signals, a sync signal, and a sub-carrier signal, which are outputted as a picture monitor signal;

a waveform monitor circuit for inputting therein the signal selected by said first switch to produce a video chroma signal;

a vector scope circuit for generating X-Y vector data based upon the sub-carrier signal from said picture monitor circuit and the video chroma signal from said waveform monitor circuit;

a second switch for selecting any one of said signal under monitor whose signal level has been converted into said analog processing circuit, said X-Y vector data generated from said vector scope circuit, and said video chroma signal generated from said waveform monitor circuit, and for outputting said selected signal;

an analog-to-digital converting circuit for sampling the signal selected by said second switch to convert the sampled signal into digital data;

an acquisition memory for sampling the digital data derived from said analog-to-digital converting circuit so as to store therein the sampled digital data;

a sampling control circuit for controlling the sampling operations of said analog-to-digital converting circuit and said acquisition memory;

a micro computer for converting the data stored in said acquisition memory into display data;

a display memory for storing therein the display data derived from said microcomputer;

a display control unit for separating said display data read from said display memory into R, G, B signals and a sync signal to thereby output these R, G, B, and sync signals;

a display switching unit for selecting one of said R, G, B signals and also said sync signal from said display control unit, and said R, G, B signals and also said sync signal from said picture monitor circuit; and

a color dot matrix display device for displaying thereon the signals selected from said display switching unit.

14. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said color dot matrix flat display device includes;

said display unit;

a dot scanning control unit for sequentially supplying the signal derived from said display switching unit to the dots of said display unit in dot unit so as to display said supplied signal; and

a scanning clock signal generator for generating a scanning clock signal used to scan said display unit;

said scanning clock signal generator generates said scanning clock signal in synchronism with said sync signal derived from said sync signal generating means; and

said dot scanning control unit sequentially supplies the signals derived from said display switching unit in synchronism with said scanning clock signal to the dots of said display unit so as to display the contents of said signals from the display switching unit on said display unit.

15. A digital oscilloscope having a video signal input, comprising;

a first input terminal, to which a signal to be observed is supplied;

an oscilloscope unit coupled to said first input terminal, said oscilloscope unit including a converting means for converting said signal to be observed to digital data, an acquisition memory for storing said digital data and a display memory, to which data corresponding to the output from said acquisition memory is written to display;

a second input terminal, to which a video signal is supplied;

a video signal input block coupled to said second input terminal, said video signal input block including a video chroma signal processing circuit and a sync reproducing circuit, for extracting color components;

a display switching unit coupled to said oscilloscope unit and said video signal input block, for selecting one of the output signals derived from said oscilloscope unit and from said video signal input block; and

a display device coupled to said display switching unit, for displaying either one of said output signals from said oscilloscope unit and said video signal input block.