Method of waveform time stamping for minimizing digitization artifacts in time interval distribution measurements
First Claim
1. A method of time stamping threshold crossing points of an input signal having one or more nominal time intervals comprising the steps of:
- a) establishing a threshold level for measuring a time mark of the threshold crossing point;
b) acquiring digital data samples representative of the input signal prior and subsequent to the threshold crossing;
c) interpolating between at least a first data sample above and a first data sample below the threshold crossing point;
d) storing the time mark for the interpolated threshold crossing point as the time stamp; and
e) repeating steps (a) through (d) while varying the threshold level, using a distribution of random threshold offset values for the threshold crossings of the input signal to minimize digitization artifacts in the time marks and to acquire a sequence of time stamps for the threshold crossing points.
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Abstract
A time stamping method for threshold crossing points of an input signal uses a dithered threshold level. Digital data samples are acquired for the input signal and time marks are determined for the threshold crossings using interpolation. The time marks are stores as the time stamps. A threshold offset value generator generates a distribution of offset values for dithering the threshold value. Time interval values are generated from the time stamps and the number of occurrences of time interval values are accumulated in time bins. A time interval distribution histogram and statistical time interval distribution data, such as the mean, standard deviation and minimum and maximum time intervals may be generated.
39 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of time stamping threshold crossing points of an input signal having one or more nominal time intervals comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a threshold level for measuring a time mark of the threshold crossing point;
b) acquiring digital data samples representative of the input signal prior and subsequent to the threshold crossing;
c) interpolating between at least a first data sample above and a first data sample below the threshold crossing point;
d) storing the time mark for the interpolated threshold crossing point as the time stamp; and
e) repeating steps (a) through (d) while varying the threshold level, using a distribution of random threshold offset values for the threshold crossings of the input signal to minimize digitization artifacts in the time marks and to acquire a sequence of time stamps for the threshold crossing points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of generating time interval distribution measurements on an input signal having one or more nominal time intervals comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a threshold level for measuring a time mark of the threshold crossing point;
b) acquiring digital data samples representative of the input signal prior and subsequent to the threshold crossing;
c) interpolating between at least a first data sample above and a first data sample below the threshold crossing point;
d) storing the time mark for the interpolated threshold crossing point as the time stamp;
e) repeating steps (a) through (d) while varying the threshold level, using a distribution of random threshold offset values for the threshold crossings of the input signal to minimize digitization artifacts in the time marks and to acquire a sequence of time stamps for the threshold crossing points;
(f) generating time interval values defined as the difference between two time stamps;
(g) accumulating the number of occurrences of the time interval values in time bins; and
(h) generating statistical distribution data of the number of occurrences of the time interval values from the accumulated time bins for mean, standard deviation, and minimum and maximum time interval values. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification