Method for controlling a test and / or measurement system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (10) for controlling a test and / or measurement system (100), the test and / or measurement system comprising a display unit (101) configured to display numerical control values of the test and / or measurement system. The method (10) comprises activating (11) a first editing mode of the test and / or measurement system in which: a cursor element is displayed (11a) in a predetermined position relative to the control value, and the control value is edited (11b) upon receipt of a first user input. The method (10) further comprises activating (12) a second editing mode of the test and / or measurement system in which, in the second editing mode, the position of the cursor element (41) is moved (12a) to a number of the control value and, upon receipt of a second user input, the value of the number is increased or decreased (12b) by a predetermined step length.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods for controlling test and / or measurement systems (such as oscilloscopes), and corresponding test and / or measurement systems. Background Technology

[0002] Measurement systems, such as radio frequency (RF) measurement devices, are typically adjustable by directly inputting parameter values ​​(such as measurement sensitivity, range, etc.). Typically, such systems include sensitive measurement hardware that should react instantly to changes in parameter values. However, in extreme cases, unintentional erroneous input can damage the system. Such erroneous inputs often occur when users must input values ​​very frequently and over a large range.

[0003] Furthermore, measurement systems typically require setting a large number of parameter values. Therefore, it is desirable for these values ​​to be input simply, quickly, and intuitively. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the objective is to provide an improved method for controlling test and / or measurement systems that avoids the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0005] This objective is achieved through the embodiments provided in this invention. Advantageous implementation methods of these embodiments are further defined in this invention.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a test and / or measurement system, the test and / or measurement system including a display unit configured to display numerical control values ​​of the test and / or measurement system. The method includes: activating a first editing mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein in the first editing mode: a cursor element is displayed at a predetermined position relative to the control value, and the control value is edited upon receiving first user input. The method further includes: activating a second editing mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein in the second editing mode: the position of the cursor element is moved to a number of the control value, and the value of the number is increased or decreased by a predetermined step upon receiving second user input.

[0007] This achieves the following advantages: the numerical control values ​​of the system (also referred to herein as control values) can be edited in a simple, fast, and intuitive way. In particular, the editing of control values ​​via pointing devices (e.g., computer mouse or touchpad) or computer keyboard can be improved.

[0008] For example, in the first editing mode, upon receiving the first user input, the entire control value is increased or decreased by a predetermined value (e.g., increased or decreased by another predetermined step or increment / decrement). Based on this predetermined value, one or more digits of the control value can be adjusted at a time, thus allowing coarse adjustment of the control value. In contrast, in the second editing mode, only one digit can be edited at a time (i.e., increased or decreased by a predetermined step), thus allowing fine adjustment of the control value.

[0009] First user input and / or second user input can be received through the user interface of the test and / or measurement system. The user interface may include a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed by a display unit.

[0010] Numerical control values ​​can be decimal numbers, with both fractional and integer parts comprising multiple digits. These numerical control values ​​can be parameter values ​​for test and / or measurement systems.

[0011] Control values ​​can control settings for test and / or measurement equipment, such as sensitivity or value range. Control values ​​can include numbers and units of measurement that can be displayed on a display unit, such as GHz.

[0012] The cursor element can be displayed as an up arrow and a down arrow. In the second editing mode, the up arrow and down arrow can be displayed above and below the number of the control value to be edited, respectively.

[0013] Test and / or measurement systems can be implemented through hardware and / or software. For example, a test and / or measurement system may include test and / or measurement equipment and / or software for controlling the test and / or measurement equipment. For example, test and / or measurement equipment may be a signal and / or spectrum analyzer, a signal generator, a network analyzer, or an oscilloscope.

[0014] In one implementation of the first aspect, the settings of the test and / or measurement system are adjusted according to changes in control values ​​in the first editing mode and / or the second editing mode, particularly immediately after receiving first user input and / or second user input.

[0015] For example, a test and / or measurement system can immediately record changes in control values ​​upon receiving first user input and / or second user input, and adjust the settings of the test and / or measurement equipment accordingly.

[0016] In one implementation of the first aspect, the testing and / or measurement system prevents returning from the second editing mode to the first editing mode. This achieves the advantage of avoiding erroneous input.

[0017] For example, a testing and / or measurement system can be configured to prevent a direct return from a second editing mode to a first editing mode.

[0018] In one implementation of the first aspect, in the first editing mode, the cursor element is displayed before the highest digit of the numerical control value.

[0019] For example, a cursor element can be displayed at the position of the second-highest digit of the display control value.

[0020] In one implementation of the first aspect, in the second editing mode, if the position of the cursor element is moved above the highest digit or below the lowest digit of the control value, an additional number with a zero value is added to the control value at the corresponding position.

[0021] Therefore, the highest and lowest digits can refer to the leftmost or rightmost digit (i.e., the highest or lowest digit in the control value).

[0022] In one implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes activating a third editing mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein, in the third editing mode, a new value is directly input via a third user input that is at least a portion of the numbers of the control value.

[0023] For example, in the third editing mode, you first select the numeric portion to be edited, and then assign it a new value through direct user input. Direct user input can refer to entering a value directly on a hardware or software keyboard or numeric keypad. Furthermore, you can enter entirely new values ​​for control values ​​in the third editing mode.

[0024] For example, in the third edit mode, after the user has completed direct input, the test and / or measurement system sets a new value. The input value can be discarded in the third edit mode before the test and / or measurement system changes its internal settings based on the new value.

[0025] In one implementation of the first aspect, which of the first, second, or third editing modes is activated first depends on the type of the control value to be edited and / or the type of user input used to activate the editing mode.

[0026] In one implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: displaying a value editor for editing control values ​​in a first editing mode and / or a second editing mode.

[0027] The value editor can be displayed as a graphical value editor element by a display unit. The value editor can be displayed when the first, second, and / or third editing modes are activated. The value editor can also be an editor menu.

[0028] In one implementation of the first aspect, the value editor includes a drop-down menu or a pop-up menu depending on the input device used to activate the first editing mode and / or the second editing mode.

[0029] Alternatively, the value editor may be displayed as a drop-down menu or a pop-up menu, depending on the input device used to activate the third editing mode.

[0030] In one implementation of the first aspect, the value editor displays multiple keyboard shortcuts and / or optional icons for the measurement units and / or exponents of the numerical control value; wherein, when the corresponding keyboard shortcut is executed and / or the corresponding optional icon is selected (e.g., clicked), the control value is adjusted according to one of the multiple measurement units and / or exponents.

[0031] Optional icons can be number keys or buttons displayed by the display unit.

[0032] For example, the position of the decimal point (and therefore the integer and fractional parts of the numerical control value) can be adjusted based on the selected unit of measurement and / or exponent.

[0033] In one implementation of the first aspect, the adjustment of the control value includes converting from an initial unit of measurement and / or exponent to a unit of measurement and / or exponent corresponding to the executed keyboard shortcut and / or selected (e.g., clicked) icon.

[0034] In one implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: issuing user feedback and / or warning signals if the control value changes to a value outside a predetermined range.

[0035] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to a first aspect of the invention.

[0036] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a testing and / or measurement system. The testing and / or measurement system includes: a display unit configured to display a numerical control value of the testing and / or measurement system; and a user interface for receiving user input. The testing and / or measurement system is configured to activate a first editing mode, in which: the display unit is configured to display a cursor element at a predetermined position relative to the control value, and the testing and / or measurement system is configured to edit the control value when a first user input is received on the user interface. The testing and / or measurement system is further configured to activate a second editing mode, in which: the display unit is configured to move the position of the cursor element to a number of the control value, and the testing and / or measurement system is configured to increase or decrease the value of the number by a predetermined step when a second user input is received on the user interface.

[0037] The user interface (UI) can be a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI can be displayed on a monitor. The display element can include a touch-sensitive display for receiving user input on the GUI.

[0038] In one implementation of the third aspect, the user interface includes a graphical user interface displayed by a display unit, wherein numerical control values ​​and cursor elements are displayed in the graphical user interface.

[0039] In one implementation of the third aspect, the test and / or measurement system is configured to adjust settings based on changes in control values ​​in the first and / or second editing modes, particularly adjusting settings immediately upon receiving first and / or second user input.

[0040] In one implementation of the third aspect, the testing and / or measurement system is configured to prevent a return from the second editing mode to the first editing mode.

[0041] In one implementation of the third aspect, in the first editing mode, the display unit is configured to display the cursor element before the highest digit of the numerical control value.

[0042] In one implementation of the third aspect, in the second editing mode, if the cursor element moves above or below the most significant digit of the control value, the display unit is configured to add an additional digit with a zero value to the control value at the corresponding position.

[0043] In one implementation of the third aspect, the test and / or measurement system is configured to activate a third editing mode, wherein a new value is directly entered via a third user input on the user interface, which is at least a portion of the numbers of the control value.

[0044] In one implementation of the third aspect, the test and / or measurement system is configured to activate a first editing mode, a second editing mode, or a third editing mode based on the type of control value to be edited and / or the type of user input used to activate the editing mode.

[0045] In one implementation of the third aspect, the display unit is configured to display a value editor for editing control values ​​in a first editing mode and / or a second editing mode.

[0046] In one implementation of the third aspect, the value editor includes a drop-down menu or a pop-up menu depending on the input device used to activate the first editing mode and / or the second editing mode.

[0047] In one implementation of the third aspect, the value editor displays multiple keyboard shortcuts and / or optional icons for the measurement units and / or exponents of the numerical control value; wherein the test and / or measurement system is configured to adjust the displayed control value according to one of the multiple measurement units and / or exponents when the corresponding keyboard shortcut is executed and / or the corresponding optional icon is selected.

[0048] In one implementation of the third aspect, the adjustment of the control value includes converting from the initial unit of measurement and / or exponent to a unit of measurement and / or exponent corresponding to the executed keyboard shortcut and / or the selected icon.

[0049] In one implementation of the third aspect, the test and / or measurement system is configured to issue user feedback and / or warning signals if the control value is changed to a value outside a predetermined range.

[0050] The above description of the method according to the first aspect of the invention is correspondingly effective for the system according to the third aspect of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The above aspects and implementation methods are explained in the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0052] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for controlling a test and / or measurement system according to one embodiment is shown;

[0053] Figures 2a-7c An example display of control values ​​for editing a test and / or measurement system is shown;

[0054] Figures 8a-8b A flowchart of a method for controlling a test and / or measurement system according to one embodiment is shown;

[0055] Figures 9a-12 Another exemplary display for editing control values ​​of a test and / or measurement system is shown; and

[0056] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a test and / or measurement system according to one embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0057] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method 10 for controlling a test and / or measurement system according to one embodiment is shown. The test and / or measurement system includes a display unit configured to display numerical control values ​​of the test and / or measurement system.

[0058] Method 10 includes activating a first editing mode of the test and / or measurement system 11, wherein, in the first editing mode: a cursor element 11a is displayed at a predetermined position relative to a control value, and the control value 11b is edited upon receiving a first user input. The method also includes activating a second editing mode of the test and / or measurement system 12, wherein, in the second editing mode: the position of the cursor element 12a is moved to a number of the control value, and upon receiving a second user input, the value of said number is increased or decreased by a predetermined step 12b.

[0059] For example, in the first editing mode, upon receiving the first user input, the entire control value is increased or decreased by a predetermined value (e.g., increased or decreased by another predetermined step or increment / decrement), while in the second editing mode, only one number can be edited at a time (i.e., increased or decreased by a predetermined step). Therefore, coarse adjustment of the control value can be performed in the first editing mode, and fine adjustment of the control value can be performed in the second editing mode.

[0060] Control values ​​can control settings for test and / or measurement equipment, such as sensitivity or value range. Control values ​​may have measurement units, such as GHz, that can be displayed on a display unit.

[0061] When specific user input is received, such as when a user clicks or selects a displayed control value, the first editing mode and / or the second editing mode (11, 12) can be activated.

[0062] Test and / or measurement systems may include test and / or measurement equipment and / or software for controlling the test and / or measurement equipment. For example, test and / or measurement equipment may be a signal and / or spectrum analyzer, a signal generator, a network analyzer, or an oscilloscope.

[0063] For example, the settings of the testing and / or measurement system are adjusted based on changes in control values ​​in the first editing mode and / or the second editing mode. In particular, the settings are adjusted immediately upon receiving the first user input and / or the second user input.

[0064] In other words, the test and / or measurement system can record changes in control values ​​immediately after receiving a first user input and / or a second user input, and adjust the settings of the test and / or measurement equipment accordingly (e.g., after each input that changes the control value by one step or a single incremental / decrease change).

[0065] Figures 2a to 7c Exemplary display content that can be displayed on the display unit of a test and / or measurement device is shown.

[0066] For example, method 10 may include displaying a value editor, specifically displaying the value editor when one of the editing modes is activated.

[0067] like Figure 2a As shown, the value editor can display the numerical control values ​​of the test and / or measurement system (in this example: 1.230 000 00). The value editor can also display descriptive titles for the control values ​​(e.g., frequency) and the corresponding units of measurement (e.g., MHz).

[0068] If the control value has a corresponding unit of measurement, that unit can be displayed next to its value. Depending on the range of the control value, an appropriate unit of measurement with multiple International System of Units (SI) prefixes, such as kHz, MHz, or GHz, can be displayed to improve the readability of long values.

[0069] Control values ​​can be displayed using multiple different and convertible units of measurement, such as "degrees" or "radians" for angle measurements. Combinations of SI prefix units of measurement and convertible units of measurement (e.g., dBm, dBμV, nV, μV, mV, V) can also be used to display control values. For example, a user can select the desired unit of measurement from a number of units provided by the system. When this is done, the control value is converted to the selected unit of measurement and displayed accordingly. The display and editing of the control value can then be performed under the selected unit of measurement. However, editing of the control value according to method 10 can be performed regardless of whether the control value has a corresponding unit of measurement.

[0070] The value editor can be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) on the system's display unit. For example, multiple control values ​​and parameters can be displayed simultaneously on the GUI. To edit a specific control value or parameter, the user can select it, thereby activating the system's editing mode (e.g., a first editing mode and / or a second editing mode). Activation of the editing mode can be accomplished using navigation via the keyboard or a pointing device.

[0071] The transition from a read-only control value to an editable control value can be called opening the value editor, and the transition from an editable control value to a read-only control value can be called closing the value editor.

[0072] The value editor can include different menus that can be used to edit control values ​​and / or display information related to the editing.

[0073] For example, a value editor may include a drop-down menu for editing control values ​​at the current location (hereinafter referred to as an in-place editor) or a pop-up menu for editing control values ​​in a separate editor window (hereinafter referred to as a pop-up editor). When the in-place editor or pop-up editor is displayed, the keyboard can be used to enter numbers, unit shortcuts, and navigate the cursor in the corresponding editor.

[0074] Figure 2bAn example of an in-place editor is shown, which is a drop-down menu that can be displayed below control values.

[0075] When the local editor (drop-down menu) is opened, possible units of measurement can be displayed for selection in a separate window 21 (the so-called unit pop-up window) next to the editor. The unit pop-up window can be displayed when the local editor is open. If the control value has no unit, the unit of measurement may not be displayed.

[0076] For example, whenever the in-place editor is open, a virtual button 23 for opening the pop-up editor can be displayed. This virtual button can be integrated into the unit pop-up window or can be displayed independently. Additionally, the value range and current step size (element 22) for editing control values ​​in the first and / or second editing modes can be displayed.

[0077] Figure 2c An example of a pop-up editor is shown. Here, the pop-up editor is a pop-up menu that can be displayed as a separate window that can overlap with the original value editor, specifically the displayed numerical values.

[0078] For example, users can freely move the pop-up editor on the display unit. By dimming the raw value editor, the overlay of the raw value editor and the pop-up menu can be visualized, such as... Figure 2c As shown.

[0079] The pop-up editor (pop-up menu) may include a virtual keyboard and / or numeric keypad and virtual navigation buttons. The pop-up editor may also include virtual buttons or optional icons for units of measurement, SI prefixes, and / or exponents. This allows control values ​​to be entered entirely via a pointing device (such as a computer mouse). Furthermore, the pop-up editor may display the value range and / or current step size for editing control values ​​in the first and / or second editing modes.

[0080] Whether to display a pop-up editor (pop-up menu) or an in-place editor (drop-down menu) depends on the input device used to initiate editing of the control values, i.e., the input device used to activate the first and / or second editing modes.

[0081] For example, if you open the value editor by clicking with the keyboard or mouse, the in-place editor will open. If needed, you can open a pop-up editor via virtual button 23, such as... Figure 2d As shown.

[0082] If you open the value editor via touchscreen input or by pre-defined keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Ctrl key + left mouse button), the pop-up editor will be displayed directly.

[0083] The pop-up editor can also be opened via keyboard shortcuts or hard keys on the testing and / or measurement system.

[0084] The first and second editing modes can be part of a so-called "variable mode" for the test and / or measurement system. For example, in variable mode, the control value increases or decreases in steps.

[0085] In one example, the test and / or measurement system can also operate in a third operating mode, which can be called "edit mode." In edit mode, new control values ​​can be directly entered.

[0086] In both variable modes (i.e., the first and second editing modes) and the editing mode (i.e., the third editing mode, as described below), the selection of values ​​(including units of measurement) is possible. This can be referred to as the "selection mode".

[0087] The following sections discuss examples and possible implementations of variable mode (i.e., first and second editing modes) and editing mode (i.e., third editing mode) in more detail:

[0088] Variable modes (i.e., first editing mode and / or second editing mode):

[0089] In variable mode, the control value can be adjusted using the keyboard (e.g., up / down arrow keys), mouse wheel, or rotary encoder of the test and / or measurement system. Thus, the increment or decrement of the control value can be referred to as the "variable step size".

[0090] In the first and / or second editing modes, each change in the control value immediately results in a change in the corresponding settings or adjustment parameters of the test and / or measuring equipment. In other words, the variable step size can have a direct and irreversible effect on the system. For example, the user can only return to the previous value by changing the control value in reverse.

[0091] For example, in the first and / or second editing modes, changes to control values ​​are limited to predetermined ranges set by the test and / or measurement system. Only values ​​generated by the variable and falling within the predetermined range are valid. Such variables can be carried over.

[0092] Variable sequence:

[0093] Figures 3a to 3c The possible sequences of variables in the first editing mode are shown.

[0094] Therefore, starting from the set control value of 1MHz ( Figure 3a This value can be varied (incrementing or decreasing) in predetermined steps of 1.23 kHz. The step size can be predetermined by the test and / or measurement system for this specific control value.

[0095] like Figure 3bAs shown, a first user input (e.g., clicking the up arrow key) can trigger an increase in an increment (value 1MHz + step 1.23kHz), setting a new value of 1.00123MHz. This can be repeated until the maximum control value is set.

[0096] like Figure 3c As shown, by entering the first user input again (e.g., pressing the down arrow key), a decrease of 1 MHz (in steps of 1.23 kHz) can be triggered, and a new value of 0.998 77 MHz can be set. This can be repeated until the minimum control value is set.

[0097] Step size:

[0098] The step size during a variable step can be the currently valid step size. The direction of the variable change (increment or decrease) determines the sign of the variable step.

[0099] The step size can be predefined by the test and / or measurement system, and / or can be adjusted by the user. For example, the step size can be predefined based on a starting value, which the user can then adjust. The step size can be displayed next to the in-place editor or a pop-up editor.

[0100] Figure 4a An example is shown where the step size is predefined or suggested as a starting value by the test and / or measurement system. In this example, the step size is 1.23 Hz, as shown in window element 22.

[0101] exist Figure 4a In the example shown, the first editing mode is activated, and the cursor element 41 (also called the "variable cursor" in variable mode) is displayed before the highest digit of the numerical control value in the first editing mode (i.e., the highest digit of the number in the value).

[0102] exist Figure 4b In the example shown, the second editing mode is activated, and cursor element 41 is displayed at a number in the control value (in this example, at the highest digit of the control number). Generally, the step size can correspond to the position of the selected number (in the example shown, the step size is every power of 10 between 1 GHz and 1 MHz, depending on the selected number). Figure 4b In the example, the variable cursor element 41 is displayed at the number 100kHz, so the step size is 100kHz (up or down). However, the cursor element 41 can be moved to different numbers, which can lead to step size adjustments.

[0103] If different units of measurement are selected, the step size can be adapted accordingly. Then, other variable step sizes can be implemented with the selected units of measurement.

[0104] The selectable step size can be limited to a suitable range by the test and / or measurement system based on the value range of the control value.

[0105] Adjust step size:

[0106] Specifically, in the first editing mode, the largest possible step size can correspond to the digits of the highest number among the largest absolute values ​​(minimum or maximum) of the control values ​​within the value range, and the smallest possible step size can correspond to the resolution of the test and / or measurement system with respect to the control values.

[0107] For example, if the control value ranges from -999 to 10 and the resolution is 0.005, the maximum step size can be the highest digit in |-999|, which is 100. In this example, the minimum step size can be 0.005.

[0108] Cursor element:

[0109] like Figure 4a and Figure 4b As shown, cursor element 41 (also known as the "variable cursor") is always visible in variable mode. The variable cursor can be positioned on a number of the control value or before the control value (i.e., before its highest digit).

[0110] In the second editing mode, the position of cursor element 41 at the corresponding number can be defined with a step size, which corresponds to the place value of that number in the control value. The smallest possible step size cannot exceed the lower threshold. The step size can be adjusted by moving cursor element 41. For example, the cursor element cannot be placed on the decimal point or the thousands separator.

[0111] For example, cursor element 41 can only be placed on numbers whose bit values ​​conform to the allowable step size of the test and / or measurement system. The allowable position of the least significant bit can be determined by the bit value of the most significant bit of the minimum step size.

[0112] For example, in the value 5.123.2, the place value (or digit value) of the digit 5 ​​is 1.000. The place value (or digit value) of the digit 2 in this value is 10.

[0113] For example, at a resolution of 0.25 (minimum step size), the cursor element can be placed at position 0.1 of the control value, but not at position 0.01. Therefore, the step size is 0.25.

[0114] Position of the cursor element:

[0115] For example, the cursor element 41 can be controlled and / or moved by the user using the left / right arrow keys on the keyboard or by directly clicking a number with a pointing device.

[0116] exist Figure 5a In the image, cursor element 41 is located at the 0.0001Hz bit, which also corresponds to the step size.

[0117] exist Figure 5b In the middle, the cursor element is moved to the 100kHz position by (second) user input. The step size is now 100kHz.

[0118] Figure 5c An example of the first editing mode is shown, where the cursor element 41 is placed before the control value (i.e., before the digits of its highest value).

[0119] The editing mode changes from the first editing mode to the second editing mode:

[0120] For example, if the test and / or measurement system supports both a first editing mode and a second editing mode for a given control value, the system can initiate the editing process by first activating the first editing mode. Then, if needed, the user can switch from the first editing mode to the second editing mode.

[0121] The system can switch from the first editing mode to the second editing mode if the second editing mode is allowed, by moving the cursor element 41 from a predetermined position in the first editing mode (e.g., next to the highest number) to any specific number of the control value.

[0122] In the second editing mode, the cursor can be moved to different decimal (or integer) places to directly change the value at the corresponding position. For example, the value at a position can be changed by increasing or decreasing by 1 or a different step size. However, this may be limited by the minimum step size (for example, if the minimum step size is 10kHz, the cursor cannot move to a 1kHz number).

[0123] However, the system can prevent returning from the second editing mode to the first editing mode. This helps reduce erroneous value changes.

[0124] For example, if the control value is set to 100MHz and the system can run up to 10GHz, the control value can be increased by 1GHz in one step in the second editing mode. Therefore, cursor element 41 is moved "left" (i.e., to the highest digit).

[0125] However, returning to the first editing mode requires moving the cursor element 41 to the leftmost position. Therefore, returning to the first editing mode is similar to setting the maximum step size in the second editing mode, which may confuse the user and lead to incorrect input.

[0126] Therefore, the system can be adjusted so that the entire editing process needs to end and restart in order to return from the second editing mode to the first editing mode.

[0127] In each case, cursor element 41 can be displayed as an up arrow and a down arrow, with the number in the middle.

[0128] Figure 5d The diagram illustrates exemplary editing of control values ​​in both a first and second editing mode. In the first editing mode, a blank cursor element can be displayed to the left of the control value. The entire value can be increased / decreased using the up / down arrow keys, the rotary encoder, or the mouse wheel. Changes are directly considered by the system and do not require individual confirmation. The step size can be preset by the system (fixed variable mode) or defined individually by the user (outside the editor) (user variable mode). If the user clicks on the left, the last digit will be displayed in the variable cursor.

[0129] If the user now clicks the right arrow key, the first number will be displayed in the variable cursor. Now, the entire value may no longer be adjustable; only the number within the variable cursor can be changed (via carry).

[0130] Changes between the most significant digit and the least significant digit:

[0131] For readability, the control value can be displayed such that the zeros of the highest-order digit and / or the lowest-order digit after the decimal point are omitted. To adjust the step size using these omitted high-order and low-order digits, the cursor element 41 can be moved to these positions via user input in the second edit mode.

[0132] For example, the cursor can be moved above the most significant digit or below the least significant digit of the indicated control value. The selected bit is then filled with zeros, thus achieving a mathematically correct representation of the control value. In other words, an additional digit of zero can be added to the control value at the appropriate position before the most significant digit or after the least significant digit of the initial control value.

[0133] For example, a control value of 1.2kHz, with a range of 0Hz to 1GHz and a resolution of 0.001Hz, can be displayed in the format "1.2kHz". To increase the value from 30kHz to 31.2kHz by adjusting the variable (i.e., increasing the step size), cursor element 41 can be moved to the 10kHz position and then incremented three times.

[0134] Figures 6a to 6e An example variation of the higher digits is shown.

[0135] exist Figure 6a In the process, at the start of editing, cursor element 41 is located at the 1kHz position. Then, cursor element 41 is moved left to the 10kHz position based on user input, as shown below. Figure 6b As shown. Add a leading zero at the position of the cursor element. By moving the cursor element further to the left by 41, as... Figure 6cAs shown, select the next higher digit (here: 100kHz) and add another leading zero. By moving the cursor 41 back to the right, you can move it to the next lower digit and remove the redundant leading zero. Figure 6d Incrementing via user input, the value at 10kHz can now be incremented three times, reaching 31.2kHz. Figure 6e ).

[0136] Figures 6f to 6i An example variation of the lower digits is shown.

[0137] exist Figure 6f In the process, at the start of editing, cursor element 41 is located at the 100Hz position. Then, cursor element 41 is moved to the right to the 10Hz position based on user input, such as... Figure 6g As shown. Adjust the step size accordingly and add a lower-order zero at the position of the cursor element. By moving the cursor element 41 further to the right, as... Figure 6h As shown, select the next lower decimal position (here: 1kHz) and add another zero. You can move it to the next higher position and remove redundant zeros by moving the cursor 41 back to the left. Figure 6i ).

[0138] Editing mode (third editing mode):

[0139] like Figure 1 As shown, method 10 may further include: activating a third editing mode (also known as: editing mode) of the 14 test and / or measurement system.

[0140] For example, in the third editing mode, a new value is entered directly as a portion of the numerical value of the control value via a third user input. That is, in the third editing mode, a new control value can be entered, or a portion of the current control value can be edited.

[0141] Figure 7a The image shows an example of editing a control value in the third editing mode. Optionally, the user can directly access the third editing mode and override the current control value. This allows the entire value to be highlighted (e.g., displayed in blue), and an insertion cursor symbol to be displayed after the last digit of the control value. The user can move the insertion cursor symbol using, for example, the arrow keys.

[0142] Users can switch between inserting the cursor and overwriting the cursor symbol.

[0143] Then, the user can directly enter a new control value (for example, via the keyboard), which will overwrite the current control value.

[0144] For example, in the third edit mode, changes to control values ​​are only transmitted to and / or applied by the measurement system after the input is completed. This means that input or changed values ​​can be discarded in edit mode without needing to be set in the test and / or measurement system.

[0145] For example, after a new control value is entered, its reasonableness and range can be checked. Values ​​outside the range can be discarded by the system, or automatically adjusted to an allowable value.

[0146] Select mode:

[0147] In addition, you can select the entire control value or a sequence of numbers within the control value. In the third editing mode, such marked numbers can be overwritten by directly entering a new value, or deleted by pressing the DEL / Backspace key on the keyboard. Selected numbers can also be copied to the operating system's clipboard, from where they can be copied to different value editors or new applications.

[0148] This selection of a specific number can be called a "selection pattern".

[0149] Figure 7b An example of selecting multiple numbers for a control value is shown. Users can then use key combinations to mark relevant areas of the value, which are highlighted (e.g., in blue) (selection mode). Depending on the direction the user marks the area (left to right or right to left), the insertion cursor can blink behind or in front of the mark.

[0150] Variations between patterns:

[0151] The choice of which editing mode to activate first, second, or third can depend on the type of control value to be edited and / or the type of user input used to activate the editing mode.

[0152] For example, if the control value supports variable mode, variable mode (e.g., first or second editing mode) can be activated after the corresponding ENTER key or mouse click. If the user begins to enter a numerical value (e.g., via keyboard or numeric keypad), editing mode (i.e., third editing mode) can be activated first.

[0153] Depending on the system configuration, directly switching from edit mode to variable mode may not be supported. In this case, it may be necessary to first exit edit mode, which will reset the entire value editor to its initial state.

[0154] Figure 7c An example of changing from variable mode to edit mode is shown.

[0155] For example, such as Figure 7cAs shown in the upper part, once the user begins entering a number in variable mode, the mode immediately switches to edit mode. Now, the system only considers the value when the user completes the input using [enter] or a unit key. A blinking insertion cursor can be displayed to the right of the last digit.

[0156] In addition to the possibility of confirming a new value, users can also use the arrow keys or mouse to navigate to any location of a newly entered, unconfirmed value to overwrite the number. The selected number can have a blinking background area (overwriting the cursor).

[0157] For example, such as Figure 7c As shown in the lower half, if the user clicks any number directly with the right arrow key or mouse, this can be displayed in the variable cursor. If the user now enters a new value (e.g., 5) instead of modifying it via increment or decrement, that input is displayed, and the number to the right is shown in the overlay cursor.

[0158] The transition between modes can depend on the type of control parameters, the configuration of the test and / or measurement system, and / or user input.

[0159] Figures 8a to 8b A flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a test and / or measurement system according to one embodiment is shown. The flowchart indicates transitions between different modes. Figure 8a and Figure 8b The left and right sides of the flowchart are shown separately. For better readability, the flowchart is divided into two diagrams. Thus, the flowchart is depicted in the form of a "state machine".

[0160] Unit shortcut key:

[0161] You can assign a unit of measurement with or without an SI prefix (e.g., thousand, mega, giga, etc.) or a number of exponents (e.g., "×10"). 9 A keyboard shortcut (or "E+9") ​​can be assigned. Users can adjust these shortcuts according to their needs. These shortcuts will be referred to as unit keyboard shortcuts below.

[0162] Unit keyboard shortcuts can be displayed in the value editor, especially in drop-down editors (in-place editors) and / or pop-up menus (pop-up editors).

[0163] Figure 9a An exemplary in-place editor with unit keyboard shortcut 91 is shown. Unit keyboard shortcut 91 can be displayed next to the corresponding unit or index in the unit pop-up window 21 to provide context-sensitive help to the user. Figure 9aIn the examples, the keyboard shortcuts for "GHz" are "G" or "g" keys, the shortcuts for "Hz" are "H" or "h" keys, and so on.

[0164] Alternatively, the in-place editor can display optional icons for directly selecting units of measurement or indices (e.g., via mouse click or touch input). For example, the unit keyboard shortcut 91 and the optional icon can be displayed in the same location.

[0165] Figure 9b An exemplary pop-up editor is shown, in which unit keyboard shortcuts are displayed directly on / at the unit key, or as tooltips when the mouse pointer hovers over the unit key.

[0166] Figure 9c An exemplary in-place editor is shown, featuring a shortcut key for the exponent instead of a shortcut key for the unit of measurement. For example, when the control values ​​used have a large number of numbers without units or with units that do not use SI prefixes (such as frames), the exponent can be displayed in scientific notation (e.g., multiples of 3, such as 10). -6 10 -3 ,×1,10 3 10 6 (Or E-6, E-3, E+0, E+3, E+6). A shortcut key can be assigned to each index.

[0167] Enter values ​​using the unit's keyboard shortcuts / optional icons:

[0168] When entering control values ​​(e.g., in the third editing mode), the unit keyboard shortcut can be used to input values ​​with the relevant unit of measurement, SI prefixes, and / or exponents. Inputting unitless values ​​with exponents can be done similarly to inputting values ​​with units. This facilitates the input of long control values ​​with a large number of digits.

[0169] In particular, when the corresponding keyboard shortcut is executed and / or the corresponding optional icon is clicked, the control value shown can be adjusted according to one of the multiple units of measurement and / or exponents displayed in the value editor.

[0170] exist Figures 10a to 10d In the example shown, a frequency of 1.23MHz is input starting from the initially set frequency of 1GHz.

[0171] Figure 10a The value of 10 GHz currently set for the test and / or measurement system is shown, which can be displayed in the GUI. In this example, the value can be set precisely to 0.001 Hz, and the control value displays all significant digits (1.000 000 000000 GHz).

[0172] Users can click on the control value with a computer mouse, or place the input focus on the value and press the ENTER key. This opens an in-place editor, allowing the value to be edited. Figure 10b ).

[0173] Users can input the value "1.23" via the keyboard, such as... Figure 10c As shown. However, this value has not yet been implemented in test and / or measurement systems.

[0174] Then, the user can click the optional icon with the unit "MHz", or the user can press the keyboard shortcut (in... Figure 10c In the middle, for example, the letter "m" or "M".

[0175] This completes the input of the new control value. Therefore, the local editor can be closed. The new value "1.23" can be set by the test and / or measurement system and can be displayed in the GUI (in a specified format, e.g., accurate to 0.001Hz), such as... Figure 10d As shown.

[0176] Convert to different units:

[0177] Adjustments to control values ​​may include converting from the initial unit of measurement and / or exponent to a unit of measurement and / or exponent corresponding to the keyboard shortcut and / or optional icon clicked.

[0178] For example, in variable mode (first editing mode and / or second editing mode), the displayed value can be converted to different units of measurement (or exponents) by clicking the unit keyboard shortcut or selecting the unit in the unit pop-up window 21.

[0179] For example, such as Figure 11a As shown, when the value editor is opened, the control value in MHz is 1.230000000MHz.

[0180] When you select a different SI prefix (here: kHz) using the unit keyboard shortcut ("k") or by clicking the optional "kHz" icon in pop-up window 21, the current value will be converted to 1,230,000,000 kHz, as shown below. Figure 11b As shown.

[0181] User feedback:

[0182] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the method may include issuing 15 user feedback and / or warning signals if the control value changes to a value outside the predefined range.

[0183] User feedback can be used to inform users of notes or indications regarding control values ​​in the test and / or measurement system. For example, a set control value may be outside the permissible range, therefore the system cannot set that value. The permissible range may be fixed by the test and / or measurement system, or it may depend on other control parameters and / or external influences on the test and / or measurement system.

[0184] Furthermore, testing and / or measurement systems may allow control values ​​to exceed technical specifications or guaranteed measurement accuracy. Therefore, user feedback can be used to inform the user of the exact reason.

[0185] Furthermore, the control values ​​may currently be uneditable for any specific reason. This can also be reported to users via user feedback.

[0186] When system messages appear, the value editor can color-code them based on their urgency, or provide symbols or text prompts. Typically, states that elicit user feedback include prompts, warnings, or errors. Therefore, user feedback can be a warning signal or a message.

[0187] A text prompt can be displayed next to the value editor. This text prompt can be made invisible after a timeout or user interaction. Thus, as long as the message exists, color-coded and / or symbols indicating the urgency of the message can be further displayed.

[0188] Figure 12 An example of a warning being issued in an in-place editor is shown.

[0189] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a test and / or measurement system 100 according to one embodiment is shown. For example, the test and / or measurement system 100 may be configured to perform tests according to... Figure 1 Method 10.

[0190] The test and / or measurement system 100 includes: a display unit 101 configured to display a numerical control value of the test and / or measurement system 100; and a user interface 102 for receiving user input; wherein the test and / or measurement system 100 is configured to activate a first editing mode, in which: the display unit 101 is configured to display a cursor element 41 at a predetermined position relative to the control value, and the test and / or measurement system 100 is configured to edit the control value when a first user input is received on the user interface 102. The test and / or measurement system 100 is also configured to activate a second editing mode, in which: the display unit 101 is configured to move the position of the cursor element 41 to a number of the control value, and the test and / or measurement system 100 is configured to increase or decrease the value of the number by a predetermined step when a second user input is received on the user interface 102.

[0191] User interface 102 may include any interface suitable for receiving user input, such as control elements of test and / or measurement system 100, or mouse and / or keyboard, or interface for connecting to test and / or measurement system 100.

[0192] For example, user interface 102 includes a graphical user interface displayed by display unit 101, wherein numerical control values ​​and cursor element 41 are displayed in the graphical user interface.

[0193] The display unit 101 may be a touch-sensitive display. For example, user input can be received via touch input on the touch-sensitive display.

[0194] The test and / or measurement system 100 can activate a first editing mode and / or a second editing mode when it receives specific input (such as a user clicking or selecting a displayed control value).

[0195] The test and / or measurement system 100 can be configured to adjust settings (e.g., internal settings) based on changes in control values ​​in a first editing mode and / or a second editing mode, particularly adjusting settings immediately after receiving first user input and / or second user input.

[0196] The test and / or measurement system 100 may include test and / or measurement equipment and / or software for controlling the test and / or measurement equipment. For example, the test and / or measurement equipment may be a signal and / or spectrum analyzer, a signal generator, a network analyzer, or an oscilloscope.

[0197] While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only and not as limitation. Many changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments based on the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the embodiments described above. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0198] Although the disclosed embodiments have been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent changes and modifications will be conceived or known by those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such a feature may be combined with one or more other features of other implementations in any given or particular application to meet needs and gain advantages.

Claims

1. A method (10) for controlling a test and / or measurement system (100), the test and / or measurement system comprising a display unit (101) configured to display a numerical control value of the test and / or measurement system, the method comprising: activating (11) a first edit mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein, in the first edit mode: - a cursor element is displayed (11a) at a predetermined position relative to the control value, and - the control value is edited (11b) upon receiving a first user input; activating (12) a second edit mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein, in the second edit mode: - the position of the cursor element (41) is moved (12a) to a digit of the control value, and - the value of the digit is increased or decreased (12b) by a predetermined step size upon receiving a second user input.

2. The method (10) according to claim 1, wherein Settings of the test and / or measurement system are adjusted in accordance with changes in the control value in the first edit mode and / or the second edit mode, in particular immediately upon receiving the first user input and / or the second user input.

3. The method (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The test and / or measurement system prevents returning from the second edit mode to the first edit mode.

4. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein In the first edit mode, the cursor element (41) is displayed before the most significant digit of the numerical control value.

5. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein In the second edit mode, if the position of the cursor element (41) is moved above the most significant digit or below the least significant digit of the control value, an additional digit with a zero value is added to the control value at the respective position.

6. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: activating (14) a third edit mode of the test and / or measurement system, wherein, in the third edit mode, new values are directly entered for at least one digit of the control value by a third user input.

7. The method (10) according to claim 6, wherein Which one of the first, second or third edit mode is activated first depends on the type of control value to be edited and / or the type of user input used to activate the edit mode.

8. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: displaying (13) a value editor for editing the control value in the first edit mode and / or the second edit mode.

9. The method (10) according to claim 8, wherein The value editor comprises a drop-down menu or a pop-up menu depending on the input device used to activate the first edit mode and / or the second edit mode.

10. The method (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein The value editor displays a plurality of keyboard shortcuts and / or selectable icons for a measurement unit and / or an exponent of the numerical control value; wherein, upon executing a respective keyboard shortcut and / or selecting a respective selectable icon, the control value is adjusted in accordance with one of a plurality of measurement units and / or exponents.

11. The method (10) according to claim 10, wherein The adjustment of the control value comprises a conversion from an initial measurement unit and / or exponent to a measurement unit and / or exponent corresponding to the executed keyboard shortcut and / or the selected icon.

12. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: issuing (15) a user feedback and / or a warning signal if the control value changes to a value outside a predetermined value range.

13. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A test and / or measurement system (100) comprising: a display unit (101) configured to display a numerical control value of the test and / or measurement system; and a user interface (102) for receiving user input; wherein the test and / or measurement system (100) is configured to activate a first edit mode in which: - the display unit (101) is configured to display a cursor element (41) at a predetermined position relative to the control value, and - the test and / or measurement system (100) is configured to edit the control value when a first user input is received on the user interface (102); wherein the test and / or measurement system (100) is further configured to activate a second edit mode in which: - the display unit (101) is configured to move the position of the cursor element (41) to a digit of the control value, and - the test and / or measurement system (100) is configured to increase or decrease the value of the digit by a predetermined step size when a second user input is received on the user interface (102).

15. The test and / or measurement system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the user interface (102) comprises a graphical user interface displayed by the display unit (101); wherein the numerical control value and the cursor element (41) are displayed in the graphical user interface.

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