System and method for simultaneously invoking automated measurements in a signal measurement system

• US 6,522,345 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1998
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Jay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/005,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 345/134, 345/339, 345/340, 345/348, 345/349, 345/967, 345/970, 345/764, 345/771, 345/810, 345/835, 345/843, 345/961, 345/440.1, 345/440, 702/64, 702/66-68, 702/79, 702/124
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/345 for displaying sampled signals by using digital processors by intermediate A.D. and D.A. convertors (control circuits for CRT indicators)
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

A quick measurement apparatus and method for invoking automated measurements in a signal measurement system. The system sequentially applies one or more predetermined automated measurements to each of a plurality of predetermined waveforms. The automated measurements, which are applied to each of the user-selected waveforms in response to a single respective measurement request, measure a respective predetermined extent of each of the selected waveforms. Preferably, each single respective activation request is generated in response to the performance of an associated single operator action. It is also preferable that the system is configured to enable a user to define the sequence in which the automatic measurements are applied to the selected waveforms. The signal measurement system further includes a graphical user interface for displaying the waveforms and the measurement results. Each of the measurement requests is generated in response to a corresponding selection of a display element on the graphical user interface. Alternatively, the signal measurement system also includes a front panel keyboard. Here, each of the respective operator actions includes a depression of a dedicated button on the signal measurement system front panel. Each depression of the dedicated button invokes one of the measurement requests.

Claims

1. A quick measurement system, for use in a signal measurement system having a display, comprising:

a measurement controller configured to simultaneously apply a plurality of automated measurements to each waveform of a plurality of waveforms, said application of the measurements to each waveform occurring in response to a same operator action, wherein repeated performance of the same operator action with no intervening operator actions results in the sequential measurement of the waveforms; and

a measurement customizer configured to enable an operator to select said plurality of automated measurements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal measurement system further comprises:

a graphical user interface for displaying said plurality of waveforms and measurement results on the display of the signal measurement system,

wherein said same operator action comprises selection of a same display element on said graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal measurement system further comprises:

a front panel keyboard, and

wherein said same operator action comprises manual activation of a common button on said front panel keyboard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the quick measurement system is constructed and arranged such that said sequential association between each performance of the operator action and one of the plurality of waveforms can be specified by the operator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal measurement system displays a waveform display region on the display, the waveform display region adapted to display said plurality of waveforms, wherein said quick measurement system is further constructed and arranged to display a measurement results display region in which results of said application of the plurality of automated measurements to each of the waveforms are displayed, wherein said measurement display region does not overlay or otherwise visually interfere with the display of waveforms in said waveform display region.

6. A signal measurement system comprising:

a display; and

means for simultaneously applying a plurality of user-selected automated measurements to each waveform of a plurality of user-selected waveforms, wherein said application of the measurements to each waveform occurs in response to a same, single operator action, and farther wherein sequential performance of the same operator action causes sequential application of the measurements to each of the plurality of waveforms.

7. The system of claim 6,

wherein said signal measurement system includes a graphical user interface, and

wherein, said same, single operator action comprises a selection of a display item on said graphical user interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said display item is a pull-down menu item.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said display item is an icon.

10. The system of claim 6,

wherein the signal measurement system includes a control panel, and wherein said same operator action comprises a depression of a button on the control panel of the signal measurement system.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said activation request is generated in response to a selection of a programmable softkey on the display of the signal measurement system.

12. A method for sequentially applying a plurality of automated measurements to a plurality of waveforms in a signal measurement system having a display, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an indication of a first occurrence of an operator action;

(b) applying simultaneously the plurality of automated measurements to a first waveform in response to said first occurrence of said operator action;

(c) displaying results of said step (b) in a specified region of the display;

(d) receiving an indication of a second occurrence of said operator action with no occurrence of any intervening operator action;

(e) applying simultaneously the plurality of automated measurements to a second waveform in response to said second occurrence of said operator action;

(f) displaying results of said step (e) in a specified region of the display.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

(g) prior to said step (a), receiving an indication of which automated measurements have been selected by the user as said plurality of automated measurements to be applied to said first and second waveforms in response to said first and second occurrence of said operator action, respectively.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

(g) prior to said step (a), receiving an indication of which waveforms have been selected by the user as said first and second waveforms.

15. A signal measurement system comprising:

a signal acquisition system;

a display; and

a quick measurement system comprising;

an automated measurement manager configured to simultaneously apply a plurality of automated measurements to a waveform, wherein the waveform is one of a plurality of waveforms, and wherein application of said measurements to each of said plurality of waveforms occurs in response to a same operator action, wherein sequential performance of the same operator action with no intervening operator actions results in the sequential measurement of the plurality of waveforms; and

an automated measurement customizer configured to enable an operator to determine said plurality of automated measurements.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said signal measurement system further comprises:

a graphical user interface for displaying said plurality of waveforms and said measurement results on the display of the signal measurement system,

wherein said same operator action is a selection of a display element on said display.

17. The system of claim 15,

wherein said signal measurement system further comprises a front panel keyboard, and

wherein said same operator action is a depression of one dedicated button on the signal measurement system front panel.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said customizer is further configured to enable an operator to define a sequence in which said one or more automatic measurements are applied to each of said waveforms.