Digital Search Triggering for Oscilloscope Bandwidth Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oscilloscopes face limitations in triggering capabilities, with analog trigger systems restricted to around 3 Gigahertz bandwidth and software-qualified triggers only analyzing acquired data, leading to missed events and reduced verified trigger rates, while full digital triggering is not available beyond 4 Gigahertz, limiting the use in modern oscilloscopes with acquisition bandwidths up to 67 Gigahertz and beyond.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a digital search triggering system that allows for analog-like trigger configuration options across the entire acquisition bandwidth, using digital triggers to detect and display varying electronic signals, enabling continuous conversion of analog signals to digital data for real-time analysis and triggering, with dedicated hardware resources for improved performance and extended functionality beyond analog trigger system limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If analog trigger systems are used, then triggering is available up to around 3 Gigahertz (or 20 Gigahertz with rising-edge and falling-edge modes), but triggering is not available for the large portion of acquisition bandwidth up to 67 Gigahertz and beyond

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetriggering availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the analog trigger system with a full digital trigger system that operates across the entire acquisition bandwidth. Instead of using analog circuits to detect trigger conditions, the system converts the analog signal to digital form and uses digital logic to evaluate trigger conditions, enabling triggering capability up to 67 GHz and beyond while maintaining full functional trigger modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the trigger system by implementing digital triggering across the full acquisition bandwidth. The digital trigger system operates with configurable parameters including trigger type, threshold levels, and search windows that can be set to match various signal characteristics, enabling reliable triggering throughout the entire bandwidth range rather than being limited to lower frequencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If software-qualified triggers are used, then trigger verification is performed, but trigger events between acquisitions or at acquisition boundaries are missed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger verification accuracyVSAvoidmissed trigger events

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous digital search triggering that operates throughout the entire acquisition window without gaps. The digital trigger system continuously monitors the digitized signal for trigger conditions across the full bandwidth, ensuring that no trigger events are missed between acquisitions or at acquisition boundaries, while maintaining the verification capability of software-qualified triggers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If software post-processing is performed after each analog trigger acquisition, then trigger verification is attempted, but verified trigger rates are drastically reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger verificationVSAvoidverified trigger rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs trigger condition evaluation continuously during the acquisition process using digital logic, rather than waiting until after acquisition to verify triggers. The digital trigger system identifies and validates trigger events in real-time as the signal is being digitized, eliminating the need for post-processing verification and thereby maintaining high verified trigger rates while ensuring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables triggering and display of electronic signals across the entire acquisition bandwidth, including beyond 100 Gigahertz, with improved performance and reduced missed events, allowing for complex trigger configurations and efficient data analysis without relying on analog trigger systems.

Implementation Method 1

a probe detects a varying electronic signal and produces an analog signal based on the varying electronic signal detected

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal detection and conversion:

Implementation Method 2

an analog to digital converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnalog-to-digital conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS10261111B1Oscilloscope with digital search triggering

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

An oscilloscope includes a probe and an analog to digital converter. The probe detects a varying electronic signal and produces an analog signal. The analog to digital converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal. The oscilloscope detects vertical movement of the digital signal as a first digital trigger triggered at a trigger time. A segment of the digital signal is compared with predetermined parameters for the varying electronic signal received from a user to confirm whether a pattern of the varying electronic signal in the segment matches the predetermined parameters. When the pattern of the varying electronic signal in the segment matches the predetermined parameters, the process includes generating a display showing the varying electronic signal in the segment based on the trigger time.