Instrument having a virtual magnifying glass for displaying magnified portions of a signal waveform

• US 7,443,396 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ilic, Kosta
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US09/726,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,890 Days
• Field of Search: 345/671, 345/815, 345/660, 345/661, 345/418, 345/419, 345/629, 345440-4402, 702 66- 68
• US Class Current: 345/440.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

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.

Claims

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.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

the at least one user input device, wherein the user input device is operable to receive user input to position the virtual magnifying symbol on the display.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the at least one user input device is operable to receive user input selecting a magnification option;

wherein the portion of the signal waveform is magnified on the display in response to positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform and receiving user input selecting the magnification option.

4. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the at least one user input device is operable to receive user input selecting a degree of magnification for the magnified portion of the signal waveform.

5. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the at least one user input device includes a mouse.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument further comprises a housing having a first side;

wherein the display is mounted on the first side of the housing;

wherein the instrument further comprises a plurality of user input controls mounted on the first side of the housing.

7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the plurality of user input controls comprises one or more knobs and one or more buttons.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said virtual magnifying symbol is a magnifying glass symbol.

9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument is an oscilloscope.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument further comprises:

an input for receiving the data from an environment or unit under test.

11. The instrument of claim 10,

wherein the memory, which stores the data, is coupled to the input;

wherein the instrument further comprises a processor coupled to the memory which performs data analysis and data processing on the data.

12. A method of magnifying a portion of a signal waveform, comprising:

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.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving user input selecting a magnification option;

wherein said displaying the magnified image of the portion of the signal waveform is performed in response to positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform and receiving user input selecting the magnification option.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving user input selecting a degree of magnification for the magnified portion of the signal waveform;

wherein the portion of the signal waveform is displayed with the selected degree of magnification.

15. The method as defined by claim 12, further comprising:

moving the virtual magnifying symbol along additional portions of the signal waveform;

magnifying the additional portions of the signal waveform as the user moves the virtual magnifying symbol; and

displaying the magnified additional portions of the signal waveform.

16. The method as defined by claim 12, wherein said virtual magnifying symbol is a magnifying glass symbol.

17. An instrument for collecting data and which displays the data to a user, comprising:

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.

18. The instrument of claim 17, wherein the virtual magnifying symbol operates as a virtual magnifying glass.

19. The instrument of claim 17,

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.

20. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed at the first location in the signal waveform.

21. The instrument of claim 19, wherein the magnified portion of the signal waveform is displayed within the signal waveform at the first location in the signal waveform.

22. The instrument of claim 17, wherein the instrument is further operable to receive user input selecting a magnification option;

wherein the portion of the signal waveform is magnified on the display in response to positioning the virtual magnifying symbol over the portion of the signal waveform and receiving user input selecting the magnification option.

23. The instrument of claim 17, wherein the instrument is further operable to receive user input selecting a degree of magnification for the magnified portion of the signal waveform.

24. The instrument of claim 17, further comprising

an input for receiving the data from an environment or unit under test.

25. The instrument of claim 17, wherein the pointing device is a mouse, a digital pen, or a touch screen.