Block diagram editor system and method for controlling electronic instruments

• US 4,868,785 A
• Filed: 01/27/1987
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Gregory L., Jordan, Dale A., Fitzsimmons, Lynne A., Stubbs, David D., Greenseth, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/007,234
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/300, 364/900 MS File, 364/578
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2834 Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A block diagram editor system and method is implemented in a computer workstation that includes a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and a mouse, graphics and windowing software, and an external communications interface for test instruments. The computer is programmed for constructing, interconnecting and displaying block diagrams of functional elements on the CRT. From prestored routines for each functional element, the software assembles and executes a program that emulates the functional operations of each element and transfers data from output from each element in turn to an input of a succeeding block, as determined by the block diagram configuration. The block functions include signal generating and analysis functions, and functions for control of various types of test instruments, which can be interactively controlled through the CRT and mouse. The computer converts desired outputs of the instruments into control settings and receives, analyzes and displays data from the instruments. Blocks can also be grouped into macroblocks.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface system for a user interactively to edit and program a block diagram for execution by a computer, the system comprising:

a programmable computer including memory means for storing computer program instructions and data and processing means for executing the stored program instructions to manipulate the stored data;

a graphical display means connected to the computer for displaying two-dimensional graphic data;

input means connected to the computer for inputting data to the computer, including user-operable means for selecting and positioning graphic data displayed on the display means;

block display means responsive to the user-operable means for displaying a plurality of user-selected blocks as graphical data on the graphical display means, said blocks including a first block having an output terminal and a second block having an input terminal;

interconnection display means responsive to the user-operable means for displaying an interconnection between the output terminal of the first block and the input terminal of the second block;

first prestored function instruction means associated with the first block and executable by the processing means for generating a first set of signal data in accordance with a predefined first function and providing the signal data at the output terminal of the first block;

data flow means associated with the displayed inteconnection for transmitting signal data between functions in a direction determined by the interconnection from the output terminal of the first block to the input terminal of the second block;

second prestored function instruction means associated with the second block and executable by the processing means for transforming the input signal data in accordance with a predefined second function;

at least one of the function instruction means including a user-settable parameter responsive to user operation of the input means to set the function thereof, the parameter including a two-dimensional output function and the means for setting said parameter includes means for displaying a representation of said function on the graphical display means;

means responsive to operation of the user-operable means for graphically modifying said representation, and means for converting the modified representation into a modified setting of the two-dimensional output function;

means responsive to the input means for actuating the processing means to execute the first and second function instruction means to generate said first set of signal data in accordance with the first function, to transmit the signal data via the data flow means to the second function, and to transform the signal data in accordance with the second function to produce a second set of signal data; and

means for actuating the graphical display means to display the second set of signal data.

2. A method of computer-controlling a physical system, comprising:

providing computer-controllable means for stimulating the physical system;

providing computer-controllable means for detecting a response to stimulation of the physical system;

providing a computer including user input means for a user to enter instructions, user display means for graphically displaying information to the user, and external communications means for sending and receiving data;

connecting the computer communications means for sending control signals via a first data channel to control the stimulating and detecting means for receiving, via a second data channel from the detecting means, a data signal that defines a response of the physical system to the stimulation;

programming the computer to display a block diagram including a first block defining the stimulating means and a second block defining the detecting means;

storing in association with the first block a variable stimulation parameter generically defining a form of stimulation that the stimulating means is capable of providing to the physical system;

storing in association with the second block a variable detection parameter generically defining a feature of the response that the detecting means is capable of detecting;

programming the computer to generate and send control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to actuate stimulation of the physical system and detection of the response thereof in accordance with the stimulation and detection parameters;

entering in association with a selected one of the first and second blocks an instruction setting the variable parameter thereof to a specific simulation or detection parameter;

executing the program to cause the computer means to send said control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to cause each in turn to stimulate the physical system and detect the response thereof in accordance with the specific stimulation parameter;

transmitting to the computer a data signal corresponding to the detected response of the physical system; and

processing the data signal and displaying in association with the second block a representation of the detected response, the displayed representation of the response being determined by said stimulation and detection parameters, wherein the detecting means is operable to detect the response of the physical system in two dimensions defining a signal acquisition window, including storing two of said variable detection parameters corresponding to the two dimensions, entering in association with the second block an instruction setting at least one of the two variable parameters to specific detection parameters to determine said acquisition window, operating the detecting means to acquire signal data defining said response in accordance with the signal acquisition window determined by the two specific parameters, and displaying a two-dimensional representation of the acquired signal data within a display window defined by said two parameters.

3. A method according to claim 2 including superimposing a modified display window over a portion of the signal represented in the display window, converting the modified display window into modified detection parameters, and operating the detecting means in accordance with the modified detection parameters to acquire a second response within a modified signal acquisition window determined by the modified detection parameters.

4. A method of computer-controlling a physical system, comprising:

providing computer-controllable means for stimulating the physical system;

providing computer-controllable means for detecting a response to stimulation of the physical system;

providing a computer including user input means for a user to enter instructions, user display means for graphically displaying information to the user, and external communications means for sending and receiving data;

connecting the computer communications means for sending control signals via a first data channel to control the stimulating and detecting means and for receiving, via a second data channel from the detecting means, a data signal that defines a response of the physical system to the stimulation;

programming the computer to display a block diagram including a first block defining the stimulating means, a second block defining the detecting means, a third block defining the physical system, a first signal path connecting an output of the first block to an input of the third block, and a second signal path connecting an output of the third clock to an input of the second block;

storing in association with the first block a variable stimulation parameter generically defining a form of stimulation that the stimulating means is capable of providing to the physical system;

storing in association with the second block a variable detection parameter generically defining a feature of the response that the detecting means is capable of detecting;

programming the computer to generate and send control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to actuate stimulation of the physical system and detection of the response thereof in accordance with the stimulation and detection parameters;

entering in association with a selected one of the first and second blocks an instruction setting the variable parameter thereof to a specific stimulation or detection parameter;

executing the program to cause the computer means to send said control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to cause each in turn to stimulate the physical system and detect the response thereof in accordance with the specific stimulation parameter;

transmitting to the computer a data signal corresponding to the detected response of the physical system; and

processing the data signal and displaying in association with the second block a representation of the detected response, the displayed representation of the response being determined by said stimulation and detection parameters wherein the stimulating means is operable to generate a test signal having signal features in two dimensions, including storing two of said variable stimulation parameters corresponding to the two-dimensional signal features, entering in association with the first block an instruction setting the two variable parameters to specific stimulation parameters, and operating the stimulating means to generate the two-dimensional test signal in accordance with the two specific parameters

5. A method according to claim 4 including displaying a two-dimensional representation of the variable stimulation parameters, displaying and positioning a point on said two-dimensional representation, and converting coordinates of said point to said two specific parameters.

6. A method of computer-controlling a physical system, comprising:

providing computer-controllable means for stimulating the physical system;

providing computer-controllable means for detecting a response to stimulation of the physical system;

providing a computer including user input means for a user to enter instructions, user display means for graphically displaying information to the user, and external communications means for sending and receiving data;

connecting the computer communications means for sending control signals via a first data channel to control the stimulating and detecting means and for receiving, via a second data channel from the detecting means, a data signal that defines a response of the physical system to the stimulation;

programming the computer to display a block diagram including a first block defining the simulating means, a second block defining the detecting means, a third block defining the physical system, a first signal path connecting an output of the first block to an input of the third block, and a second signal path connecting an output of the third clock to an input of the second block;

storing in association with the first block a variable stimulation parameter generically defining a form of stimulation that the stimulating means is capable of providing to the physical system;

storing in association with the second block a variable detection parameter generically defining a feature of the response that the detecting means is capable of detecting;

programming the computer to generate and send control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to actuate stimulation of the physical system and detection of the response thereof in accordance with the stimulation and detection parameters;

entering in association with a selected one of the first and second blocks an instruction setting the variable parameter thereof to a specific stimulation or detection parameter;

executing the program to cause the computer means to send said control signals to the stimulating and detecting means to cause each in turn to stimulate the physical system and detect the response thereof in accordance with the specific stimulation parameter;

transmitting to the computer a data signal corresponding to the detected response of the physical system; and

processing the data signal and displaying in association with the second block a representation of the detected response, the displayed representation of the response being determined by said stimulation and detection parameters.

7. A method according to claim 6 including storing information about the physical system, said information normally being suppressed but being displayable upon request of the user by actuation of the input means.

8. A method according to claim 6 including storing a third block function in association with the third block comprising a simulation of the physical system, inputting to the third block function data corresponding to the stimulation signal, and detecting the response of the simulation in accordance with the stimulation and detection parameters.