Handheld measurement system with selectable options

• US 10,209,271 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Epperson, David Lawrence, Vetter, Glen Howard, Ferrante, Joseph V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US15/193,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20160305978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/025 concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards G01R31/31912 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a handheld measurement system generates a measurement image derived from measurement data that is generated and/or received by the handheld measurement system. The handheld measurement system also generates a plurality of option images that each correspond to a particular selectable option. A display screen, which may be a touch screen, simultaneously displays the measurement image and the option images. The measurement device modifies the measurement image and/or the option images in response to received option image selections.

Claims

1. A handheld measurement system comprising:

a measurement device;

a processor that receives primary measurement data from the measurement device, generates a measurement image derived from the primary measurement data, and generates a plurality of option images, wherein each option image corresponds to a particular option;

a touch screen that simultaneously displays the measurement image and the option images, wherein each of the displayed option images are selectable, and wherein the measurement device modifies the measurement image in response to selection of one or more displayed option images; and

a communication system that receives secondary measurement data comprising first measurement data measured by a first module device and second measurement data measured by a second module device, wherein the first and second module devices arc separate from each other and separate from the measurement device,

wherein a first displayed option image corresponds to the first measurement data measured by the first module device, and a second displayed option image corresponds to the second measurement data measured by the second module device,

wherein the processor modifies the measurement image to exclude or include;

the first measurement data in response to selection of the first displayed option image, and

the second measurement data in response to selection of the second displayed option image, and

wherein the touch screen further displays a third option image corresponding to an operation that is determined by the processor based on a type of measurement data in the primary measurement data and a type of measurement data in the first or second measurement data that is included in the measurement image, wherein, in response to selection of the third option image corresponding to the operation, the processor performs the determined operation and modifies the measurement image to include a result of the operation.

2. The handheld measurement system of claim 1, further comprising a housing that surrounds at least a part of the handheld measurement system at an outer layer, and wherein the first and second module devices are separate from the housing.

3. The handheld measurement system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the plurality of option images in response to selection of a maximize image input.

4. The handheld measurement system of claim 3, wherein the maximize image input is displayed on the touch screen for selection when the measurement image is displayed without the option images.

5. The handheld measurement system of claim 1, wherein the measurement image is modified to include a textual representation of the first measurement data and/or a textual representation of the second measurement data in the measurement image.

6. The handheld measurement system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device, wherein the secondary measurement data received by the communication system is automatically stored in the storage device, and wherein in response to selection of the first displayed option image, the processor retrieves the first measurement data from the storage device, and in response to selection of the second displayed option image, the processor retrieves the second measurement data from the storage device.

7. The handheld measurement system of claim 6, wherein the processor modifies the measurement image to exclude or include:

the retrieved first measurement data in response to selection of the first displayed option image, and

the retrieved second measurement data in response to selection of the second option image.

8. The handheld measurement system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of option images displayed on the touch screen is a first plurality of option images, and wherein, in response to an input to the touch screen, the processor further generates and displays on the touch screen a second plurality of option images that is different than the first plurality of option images.

9. A handheld digital multimeter comprising:

a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical or mechanical parameter and generate measurement data from the at least one measured electrical or mechanical parameter; and

a processor in communication with the measurement device, wherein the processor is configured to;

generate a plurality of option images, wherein each option image corresponds to a particular option;

generate a display on a touch screen that simultaneously displays the measurement data and the option images, wherein the displayed option images are selectable by an input to the touch screen; and

modify the generated display in response to selection of at least one of the displayed option images,

wherein the processor is further configured to receive secondary measurement parameters including a first measured electrical or mechanical parameter from a first module device and a second measured electrical or mechanical parameter from a second module device, wherein the first and second module devices are separate from each other and separate from the measurement device,

wherein a first displayed option image corresponds to the first module device or a parameter measured by the first module device, and a second displayed option image corresponds to the second module device or a parameter measured by the second module device,

wherein the processor is configured to modify the generated display to exclude or include;

the first measured electrical or mechanical parameter in response to user selection of the first displayed option image, and

the second measured electrical or mechanical parameter in response to user selection of the second displayed option image, and

wherein the processor is further configured to generate on the touch screen a display of a third option image corresponding to an operation that is determined by the processor based on a type of measurement data in the measurement data generated by the measurement device and a type of measurement data in the first and/or second measured electrical or mechanical parameter received respectively from the first and/or second module devices, wherein, in response to selection of the third option image corresponding to the operation, the processor performs the determined operation and modifies the generated display to include a result ofthe operation.

10. The handheld digital multimeter of claim 9, wherein more than one displayed option image is simultaneously selectable, and in response to selection of more than one displayled option image, the generated display is modified to include or exclude secondary parameters corresponding to the selected option images.

11. A method for displaying a measurement image on a handheld device comprising:

measuring at least one parameter with a handheld measurement device, wherein the measured parameter is an electrical or mechanical parameter;

generating a measurement image that is derived from the measured parameter;

receiving one or more secondary measurement parameters from module devices that are separate from each other and separate from the handheld measurement device, wherein the secondary measurement parameters are electrical or mechanical parameters measured by the module devices;

generating a plurality of option images;

simultaneously displaying the measurement image and the plurality of option images on display screen, wherein each displayed option image corresponds to a selectable option, and wherein the plurality of option images includes an option image corresponding to each of the module devices;

receiving a selection of at least one displayed option image corresponding to a particular module device, wherein more than one option image displayed on the display screen is simultaneously selectable;

modifying the measurement image displayed on the display screen to include or exclude the secondary measurement parameter of the particular module device corresponding to the selected option image, and if more than one option image is selected, modifying the measurement image displayed on the display screen to include or exclude secondary measurement parameters of the devices corresponding to the selected option images;

determining a potential operation based on the at least one parameter measured by the handheld measurement device and the one or more secondary measurement parameters received from the module devices;

generating and displaying on the display screen an option image corresponding to the potential operation;

receiving a selection of the option image to the potential operation, and in response thereto, performing the potential operation;

modifying the measurement image to include a result of the performed operation; and

displaying the modified measurement image on the display screen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the display screen is a touch screen, and wherein the plurality of option images are generated in response to selection of a maximize image input displayed on the touch screen.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the maximize image input is displayed on the touch screen for selection when the measurement image is displayed without the plurality of option images.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the one or more secondary measurement parameters received from the module devices in a data storage device, and in response to receiving a selection of at least one displayed option image corresponding to a particular module device, the method further comprises retrieving the secondary measurement parameter of the particular module device from the data storage device, and in response to more than one option image being selected, the method further comprises retrieving the secondary measurement parameters of the module devices corresponding to the selected option images.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of option images displayed on the display screen is first plurality of option images, the method further comprising:

receiving a selection of a particular option image in the first plurality of option images;

in response to receiving the selection of the particular option image, generating a second plurality of option images that is different than the first plurality of option images; and

displaying on the touch screen the second plurality of option images in place of the first plurality of option images, wherein each displayed option image in the second plurality of option images corresponds to a selectable option.