Instrument having a virtual magnifying glass for displaying magnified portions of a signal waveform
First Claim
1. An instrument for collecting data and which displays the data to a user, comprising:
- a memory for storing the data corresponding to a signal waveform; and
a display which displays the data as the signal waveform, wherein said display is also operable to display a virtual magnifying symbol;
wherein the virtual magnifying symbol is operable to be positioned over a portion of the signal waveform and wherein movement of the virtual magnifying symbol during positioning corresponds to movement of at least one user input device;
wherein the portion of the signal waveform is located at a first location in the signal waveform;
wherein the portion of the signal waveform is magnified on the display after positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform;
wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed proximate to the first location in the signal waveform;
wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the signal waveform at the first location in the signal waveform and wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the virtual magnifying symbol as the virtual magnifying symbol is moving in response to the movement of the at least one user input device;
wherein the instrument comprises a computer system programmed to operate as a virtual instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic instrument which has a virtual magnifying symbol capable of magnifying a portion of the instrument'"'"'s signal waveform in a single window of the instrument display. The user is able to position the virtual magnifying symbol with knobs, buttons, or, more preferably, with a pointer, such as a mouse, digital pen, or touch screen. The virtual magnifying symbol can be employed at all times during display of the signal waveform. In the preferred embodiment, the virtual magnifying symbol is a magnifying glass. The user centers the desired portion of the signal waveform within the virtual lens of the magnifying glass, then magnifies the desired portion. Thus the instrument with the virtual magnifying glass of the present invention provides an innovative solution for simultaneously magnifying a portion of the instrument'"'"'s signal waveform within the context of the entire signal waveform. Viewing, within the context of the entire signal waveform, a portion of that waveform allows the user to operate the instrument more efficiently and accurately.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An instrument for collecting data and which displays the data to a user, comprising:
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a memory for storing the data corresponding to a signal waveform; and a display which displays the data as the signal waveform, wherein said display is also operable to display a virtual magnifying symbol; wherein the virtual magnifying symbol is operable to be positioned over a portion of the signal waveform and wherein movement of the virtual magnifying symbol during positioning corresponds to movement of at least one user input device; wherein the portion of the signal waveform is located at a first location in the signal waveform; wherein the portion of the signal waveform is magnified on the display after positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform; wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed proximate to the first location in the signal waveform; wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the signal waveform at the first location in the signal waveform and wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the virtual magnifying symbol as the virtual magnifying symbol is moving in response to the movement of the at least one user input device; wherein the instrument comprises a computer system programmed to operate as a virtual instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of magnifying a portion of a signal waveform, comprising:
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displaying the signal waveform on a display of a computer system; displaying a virtual magnifying symbol on the display after displaying the signal waveform; positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over a portion of the signal waveform in response to user input, wherein movement of the virtual magnifying symbol during positioning corresponds to movement of a user input device; wherein the portion of the signal waveform is located at a first location in the signal waveform; and displaying a magnified image of the portion of the signal waveform proximate to the first location in response to said positioning; wherein the magnified image of the portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the signal waveform at the first location in the signal waveform and wherein the magnified image is displayed within the virtual magnifying symbol as the virtual magnifying symbol is moving in response to the movement of the user input device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An instrument for collecting data and which displays the data to a user, comprising:
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a pointing device; a memory for storing data corresponding to a signal waveform; and a display which displays the data as the signal waveform, wherein said display is also operable to display a virtual magnifying symbol; wherein the virtual magnifying symbol is operable to be positioned over a portion of the signal waveform in response to user input received through the pointing devices, wherein movement of the virtual magnifying symbol during positioning corresponds to movement of the pointing device; wherein, in response to positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform, the portion of the signal waveform is magnified within the original waveform and wherein the portion of the signal waveform is magnified and displayed within the virtual magnifying symbol as the virtual magnifying symbol is moving in response to the movement of the pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification