Multi-Input Trigger Circuit for Detecting Signal Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test and measurement instruments, such as oscilloscopes, are limited in recognizing input signal transitions due to their logic trigger mode, which does not generate a trigger signal when any input transitions to logic HI regardless of the state of other inputs, restricting their capability to recognize various types of input signal changes.
Innovation Solution
The development of a method and trigger circuit that generates a trigger signal in response to every occurrence of specified trigger events, including transitions to logic HI, falling edges, or any edge, across multiple inputs, enabling flexible and configurable triggering behavior by using event activity detectors and logical OR circuits to combine signals asynchronously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional logic trigger mode is used, then the instrument triggers on logical combinations of Boolean words in input signals, but it is limited in recognizing input signal transitions and does not generate trigger signal when any input transitions to logic HI regardless of other inputs state
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger circuit is segmented into multiple independent event activity detectors, each configured to detect specific trigger events (rising edges, falling edges, logic HI transitions) on individual input channels. Each detector operates independently and generates trigger signals for its detected events, allowing the system to recognize multiple types of input signal transitions simultaneously without requiring complex inter-channel logic coordination.
2Measurement precision
If conventional logic OR trigger mode is used, then the instrument triggers when any input is logically HI, but it cannot recognize every occurrence of transitions to logic HI when other inputs are already HI
Solution Approach 1:
Each event activity detector is pre-configured with event activity specifications that define the types of transitions it should detect (rising edges, falling edges, logic HI transitions). This preliminary configuration allows each detector to independently recognize every occurrence of its specified trigger events without needing to check the state of other inputs, thereby achieving precise transition detection while maintaining simple configuration through standardized detector modules.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of triggering a test and measurement instrument having a plurality of inputs include the step of generating a trigger signal in response to every occurrence of any one of a plurality of specified trigger events. A first specified trigger event occurs in at least a first one of the inputs and a second specified trigger event occurs in at least a second one of the plurality of inputs. A specified trigger event may include at least one selected input from the plurality of inputs and a selected activity type. Some methods include configuring each of a plurality of event activity detectors to produce a pulse in a logic signal in response to every occurrence of one of the specified trigger events. The plurality of logic signals are combined in a logical OR circuit to generate the trigger signal. Trigger circuits configured according to these methods are also disclosed.