Trigger Scanning for Oscilloscope Anomaly Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital storage oscilloscopes face challenges in capturing rare trigger events due to slow update rates, leading to prolonged times in observing anomalies, especially when edge rates exceed the oscilloscope's update rate, making it difficult to isolate and analyze infrequent glitches or anomalies.
Innovation Solution
A trigger scanning capability that automatically scans through different trigger types, applies them to the acquired signal, and adjusts settings based on statistical and pictorial analysis to optimize the detection of anomalies, allowing for continuous scanning and user intervention to select or automatically set the best trigger settings for subsequent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the oscilloscope operates at a fixed update rate, then the device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but the ability to capture rare anomalies at high edge rates is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger system dynamically switches between multiple trigger types (edge, pulse width, glitch, runt) based on statistical analysis of the input signal characteristics. The system automatically adjusts trigger parameters and selects optimal trigger modes in real-time to maximize anomaly detection rate without requiring manual intervention or complex fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes trigger parameters (thresholds, time windows, polarity) based on statistical analysis of the signal. By continuously monitoring signal characteristics and adjusting trigger parameters dynamically, the system adapts to capture rare anomalies even when edge rates exceed the oscilloscope's fixed update rate.
2Productivity
If the oscilloscope update rate is increased to capture more anomalies, then the number of anomalies per second increases, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary statistical analysis on the input signal to identify characteristic patterns and anomaly signatures before attempting to capture them. By pre-characterizing the signal and predicting where anomalies are likely to occur, the system can set optimized trigger parameters in advance, improving detection reliability without requiring higher update rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors trigger results and uses feedback to refine trigger parameters and statistical models. By analyzing captured anomalies and adjusting trigger settings based on observed patterns, the system improves its anomaly detection capability over time, maintaining high reliability even at fixed update rates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple trigger types are scanned through sequentially, then the versatility and anomaly detection capability improve, but the time to capture anomalies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger scanning process is segmented into discrete, quickly-executable trigger type evaluations. Instead of performing comprehensive analysis for each trigger type, the system uses simplified statistical tests that can be rapidly evaluated, allowing multiple trigger types to be scanned through in succession with minimal time penalty while maintaining high versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial statistical analysis for each trigger type rather than complete characterization. By using simplified metrics and thresholds that can be quickly computed, the system enables rapid scanning through multiple trigger types without sacrificing the ability to detect anomalies across diverse signal conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining a trigger in a test and measurement apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of indicating one or more anomalies to be found, loading a first trigger configuration to the test and measurement apparatus and determining for a first predetermined time period whether an input signal generates a trigger related to one or more of the one or more anomalies. A second trigger configuration is loaded to the test and measurement apparatus upon the conclusion of the first predetermined time, and for a second predetermined time it is determined whether the input signal generates a trigger related to one or more of the one or more anomalies.