Variable color digital measuring and testing system with error memory

• US 6,133,722 A
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation), Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLSEN, ERNEST F
• Application Number:
  US09/334,335
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 324/115, 324/99 D, 324/96, 324/131, 345/83, 345/88, 345/150
• US Class Current: 324/115
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/26 Circuits for controlling the intensity of the electron beam or the colour of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/405 using a plurality of active, i.e. light emitting, e.g. electro-luminescent elements, i.e. bar graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0452 Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A variable color digital measuring system performs sequential tests and exhibits each measured value in a color in accordance with the previous measurement errors. An error memory is provided for storing a value indicating whether there was a measurement error. A color control illuminates the present measured value in a first color when the contents of the error memory indicate that there was no previous measurement error, and in a second color when the contents of the error memory indicate that there was a previous measurement error.

Claims

1. A measuring device comprising:

means for repeatedly measuring a signal and including a data output for developing for each measurement the data indicative of the measured value of the signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, for comparing each said data with a predetermined low limit and a predetermined high limit, and a comparator output, for accordingly developing a pass signal when said data are within said low limit and said high limit and a fail signal when said data are not within said low limit and said high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, said light signals being combined to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving said data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs; and

color control means responsive to said first bistable signal, to said second bistable signal, to said pass signal, and to said fail signal, for accordingly applying a color control signal to certain of said color control inputs.

2. A measuring device comprising:

means for repeatedly measuring a signal and including a data output for developing for each measurement the data indicative of the measured value of the signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, for comparing each said data with a predetermined low limit and a predetermined high limit, and a comparator output, for accordingly developing a pass signal when said data are within said low limit and said high limit and a fail signal when said data are not within said low limit and said high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, said light signals being combined to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving said data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs; and

color control means responsive to said bistable output and to said comparator output, for applying a first color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said first bistable signal and to said pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a first color, for applying a second color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said second bistable signal and to said pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a second color, and for applying a third color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said fail signal, for illuminating said character indication in a third color.

3. A measuring device comprising:

means for repeatedly measuring a signal and including a data output for developing for each measurement the data indicative of the measured value of the signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, for comparing each said data with a predetermined low limit and a predetermined high limit, and a comparator output, for accordingly developing a pass signal when said data are within said low limit and said high limit and a fail signal when said data are not within said low limit and said high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, said light signals being combined in said display area to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving said data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs;

a color control network having a first input coupled to said bistable output, a second input coupled to said comparator output, and a plurality of outputs, equal in number to said plurality of color control inputs and respectively coupled thereto, for developing a first color control signal in response to said first bistable signal and to said pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a first color, for developing a second color control signal in response to said second bistable signal and to said pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a second color, and for developing a third color control signal in response to said fail signal, for illuminating said character indication in a third color.

4. A measuring device comprising:

means for sequentially measuring a first signal and a second signal and including data output for developing first data indicative of the measured value of the first signal and second data indicative of the measured value of the second signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, and a comparator output, for developing a pass signal and a fail signal, for comparing on said comparator input said first data with a predetermined first low limit and a predetermined first high limit and for developing on said comparator output a first pass signal when said first data are within said first low limit and said first high limit, and a first fail signal when said first data are not within said first low limit and said first high limit, and for comparing on said comparator input said second data with a predetermined second low limit and a predetermined second high limit and for developing on said comparator output a second pass signal when said second data are within said second low limit and said second high limit, and a second fail signal when said second data are not within said second low limit and said second high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said first fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, and means for combining said light signals in said display area to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for said receiving second data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said second data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs; and

color control means responsive to said first bistable signal, to said second bistable signal, to said second pass signal, and said second fail signal, for accordingly applying a color control signal to certain of said color control inputs.

5. A measuring device comprising:

means for sequentially measuring a first signal and a second signal and including data output for developing first data indicative of the measured value of the first signal and second data indicative of the measured value of the second signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, and a comparator output, for developing a pass signal and a fail signal, for comparing on said comparator input said first data with a predetermined first low limit and a predetermined first high limit and for developing on said comparator output a first pass signal when said first data are within said first low limit and said first high limit, and a first fail signal when said first data are not within said first low limit and said first high limit, and for comparing on said comparator input said second data with a predetermined second low limit and a predetermined second high limit and for developing on said comparator output a second pass signal when said second data are within said second low limit and said second high limit, and a second fail signal when said second data are not within said second low limit and said second high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said first fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, said light signals being combined to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for said receiving second data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said second data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs; and

color control means responsive to said bistable output and to said comparator output, for applying a first color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said first bistable signal and to said second pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a first color, for applying a second color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said second bistable signal and to said second pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a second color, and for applying a third color control signal to said color control inputs, in response to said second fail signal, for illuminating said character indication in a third color.

6. A measuring device comprising:

means for sequentially measuring a first signal and a second signal and including data output for developing first data indicative of the measured value of the first signal and second data indicative of the measured value of the second signal;

means for comparing including a comparator input, responsive to said data output, and a comparator output, for developing a pass signal and a fail signal, for comparing on said comparator input said first data with a predetermined first low limit and a predetermined first high limit and for developing on said comparator output a first pass signal when said first data are within said first low limit and said first high limit, and a first fail signal when said first data are not within said first low limit and said first high limit, and for comparing on said comparator input said second data with a predetermined second low limit and a predetermined second high limit and for developing on said comparator output a second pass signal when said second data are within said second low limit and said second high limit, and a second fail signal when said second data are not within said second low limit and said second high limit;

bistable means responsive to said comparator output and including a bistable output for developing a first bistable signal in its initial condition and a second bistable signal in response to said first fail signal;

a display device including a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of characters, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, and means for combining said light signals in said display area to obtain a light signal of a composite color;

means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving said second data, and a plurality of decoder outputs, coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, for producing decoder output signals for providing a character indication of said second data;

a plurality of color control inputs coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their colors, for forwardly biasing said light emitting diodes in certain ones of said display areas, in accordance with said decoder output signals, in a color in accordance with a color control signal applied to said color control inputs; and

a color control network having a first input coupled to said bistable output, a second input coupled to said comparator output, and a plurality of outputs, equal in number to said plurality of color control inputs and respectively coupled thereto, for developing a first color control signal in response to said first bistable signal and to said second pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a first color, for developing a second color control signal in response to said second bistable signal and to said second pass signal, for illuminating said character indication in a second color, and for developing a third color control signal in response to said second fail signal, for illuminating said character indication in a third color.