Auto-scaling strip chart

• US 8,194,076 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newport Corporation (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Newport Corporation (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Culpi, William, Bryant, William E., Rickman, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Phi
• Application Number:
  US13/187,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 398/5, 705/37, 382/298, 702/3, 436/43, 345/35, 345/440.2
• US Class Current: 345/440.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for displaying a strip chart on an electronic display. A furthest extremum value of the measured quantity is recorded over a period of time and a plurality of values of the measured quantity are displayed on the strip chart. The furthest extremum value is used to automatically rescale the strip chart, providing for at least one bound of the zoomed range. In response to receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart, the strip chart is automatically scaled to a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the strip chart may be automatically scaled such that the strip chart is bounded on one side by one of a furthest extremum maximum or minimum value and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum or minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a strip chart on an electronic display, the method comprising:

recording over a period of time a furthest extremum maximum value of a measured quantity and a furthest extremum minimum value of the measured quantity;

receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection of the zoom factor, displaying, via the electronic display, a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the strip chart is automatically rescaled such that the strip chart is bounded on opposing sides by respective first and second values, the first value comprises one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value, and the second value is automatically scaled based on the first value and the zoom factor so that the strip chart has a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the furthest extremum maximum value is the largest maximum peak value in the period of time and the furthest extremum minimum value is the smallest minimum peak value in the period of time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of values include the maximums and the minimums of the measured quantity in the period of time.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection to clear the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection to clear the strip chart;

erasing the display of all of the plurality of values of the measured quantity;

recording over a different period of time a furthest extremum maximum value of a measured quantity and a furthest extremum minimum value of the measured quantity; and

repeating the displaying step using the furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of a measured quantity recorded over the different period of time.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection to save the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection to save the strip chart, outputting the strip chart to a recordable medium.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measured quantity comprises optical power or optical energy.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, via the electronic display, a menu of selectable-options including an option to select the zoom factor defining the degree of magnification of the strip chart.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a sample number rate, wherein the furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of the measured quantity are recorded over the period of time at the selected sample number rate.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the electronic display concurrently with the strip chart a bar graph, wherein the bar graph is configured to display a current value of the measured quantity.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with a measuring device that records over a period of time furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of a measured quantity, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions stored thereon for displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on a strip chart in response to receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart, the instructions comprising:

instructions for, in response to receiving the selection of the zoom factor, displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the strip chart is automatically rescaled such that the strip chart is bounded on opposing sides by respective first and second values, the first value comprises one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value, and the second value is automatically scaled based on the first value and the zoom factor so that the strip chart has a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

11. A system comprising:

a display configured to display a plurality of values of a measured quantity on a strip chart; and

a measuring device in operative association with the display, the measuring device configured to;

record over a period of time a furthest extremum maximum value of the measured quantity and a furthest extremum minimum value of the measured quantity;

receive a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection of the zoom factor, display, via the display, a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the strip chart is automatically scaled to a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the strip chart is automatically scaled such that the strip chart is bounded on one side by one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the furthest extremum maximum value is the largest maximum peak value in the period of time and the furthest extremum minimum value is the smallest minimum peak value in the period of time.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of values include the maximums and the minimums of the measured quantity in the period of time.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the measuring device is further configured to receive a selection to clear the strip chart and, in response to receiving the selection to clear the strip chart, erase the display of all of the plurality of values of the measured quantity.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the measuring device is further configured to receive a selection to save the strip chart and, in response to receiving the selection to save the strip chart, output the strip chart to a recordable medium.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein the measuring device comprises an optical meter and the measured quantity comprises optical power or optical energy.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein the measuring device is further configured to receive a selection of a sample number rate and the furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of the measured quantity are recorded over the period of time at the selected sample number rate.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein

the strip chart occupies a fixed portion of the display device and is bound by left and right opposing edges and upper and lower opposing edges,

the strip chart includes a horizontal axis representing a magnitude of the measured quantity and a vertical axis representing time and a distance between the upper and lower opposing edges represents the period of time over which the furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of the measured quantity are recorded, and

each of the plurality of values of the measured quantity is presented as a data point on the strip chart with a most recent measured quantity being presented along the upper edge, the data points accumulating on the strip chart as time progresses so that a history of values versus time is presented via the strip chart.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein the measuring device is further configured to display, via the display, a bar graph concurrently with the strip chart, the bar graph configured to display a current value of the measured quantity.

20. A system for displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on a strip chart, the system comprising:

a means for recording over a period of time a furthest extremum maximum value of a measured quantity and a furthest extremum minimum value of the measured quantity;

a means for receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart; and

a means for, in response to receiving the selection of the zoom factor, displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the strip chart is automatically rescaled such that the strip chart is bounded on opposing sides by respective first and second values, the first value comprises one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value, and the second value is automatically scaled based on the first value and the zoom factor so that the strip chart has a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

21. A method for displaying a strip chart on an electronic display, the method comprising:

receiving a selection to display a zoomed range of a measured quantity;

receiving a selection of a sample number rate;

recording over a period of time a furthest extremum value of the measured quantity at the sample number rate; and

displaying, via the electronic display, a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the furthest extremum value is used to automatically rescale the strip chart, providing for at least one bound of the zoomed range.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the furthest extremum value comprises the largest maximum peak value in the period of time or the smallest minimum peak value in the period of time.

23. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a selection to clear the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection to clear the strip chart;

erasing the display of all of the plurality of values of the measured quantity;

recording over a different period of time a furthest extremum value of the measured quantity at the sample number rate; and

repeating the displaying step using the furthest extremum value of the measured quantity recorded over the different period of time.

24. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart; and

in response to receiving the selection of the zoom factor, automatically rescaling the strip chart to a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor, wherein the furthest extremum value remains the bound of one side of the strip chart.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of recording the furthest extremum value comprises recording over the period of time furthest extremum maximum and minimum values of the measured quantity at the sample number rate and the strip chart is automatically rescaled such that the strip chart is bounded on one side by one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum value or the furthest extremum minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

displaying on the electronic display concurrently with the strip chart a bar graph, the bar graph to display a current value of the measured quantity.

27. A system for displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on a strip chart, the system comprising:

a means for receiving a selection to display a zoomed range of a measured quantity and receiving a selection of a sample number rate;

a means for recording over a period of time a furthest extremum value of the measured quantity at the sample number rate; and

a means for displaying a plurality of values of the measured quantity on the strip chart, wherein the furthest extremum value is used to automatically rescale the strip chart, providing for at least one bound of the zoomed range.