Real-time Spectrum Analyzer Frequency Content Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional real-time spectrum analyzers struggle to easily separate specific events from complex signal streams when these events are not clearly separated in frequency, requiring users to reprogram the device or change the test environment.
Innovation Solution
A real-time spectrum analyzer with a frequency content based trigger unit that generates trigger signals based on predetermined conditions, allowing selective display and processing of frequency domain data using multiple display modes, including traditional, spectrogram, and persistence modes, enabling the isolation of specific signal components without altering the test environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional frequency mask trigger is used to detect trigger conditions, then triggered measurements and displays can be obtained, but the ability to separate specific events from complex signal streams is lost when events are not clearly separated in frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from frequency-domain-only triggering to time-frequency joint triggering. The trigger condition detection is extended from merely frequency-based to include both time and frequency dimensions, allowing events to be separated based on their temporal characteristics as well as spectral properties. This dimensional expansion enables effective separation of events that overlap in frequency but are separated in time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the complex signal stream analysis into multiple independent trigger condition detections. Instead of relying on a single frequency mask, the system implements multiple trigger conditions that can be independently evaluated, allowing specific events to be isolated and identified even when they are embedded within complex overlapping signals.
2Measurement precision
If custom programming is required to separate specific events, then measurement precision can be improved, but device complexity and programming requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the spectrum analyzer to automatically perform event separation through its enhanced trigger system. The device self-adjusts and self-analyzes by implementing multiple trigger conditions that automatically identify and isolate specific events without requiring external custom programming. The system serves itself by having built-in capabilities to handle complex signal separation tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the triggering parameters from simple frequency thresholds to composite time-frequency conditions. By modifying the trigger detection parameters to include both temporal and spectral characteristics, the system achieves precise event isolation using standard operational modes rather than requiring custom programming solutions.
3Productivity
If frequency domain data processing is continuous, then real-time analysis is maintained, but the ability to focus on specific triggered events is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic evaluation of multiple trigger conditions during continuous data processing. While maintaining real-time continuous processing of frequency domain data, the system periodically checks multiple trigger conditions to identify and highlight specific events of interest. This periodic trigger evaluation within the continuous processing framework enables both high throughput and effective event isolation.
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time spectrum analyzer includes an ADC for providing digitized time domain data, an acquisition control unit for selectively acquiring the time domain data, a processing unit and a display unit. The processing unit includes a domain conversion engine configured to convert the acquired time domain data to frequency domain data, first and second display engines configured to generate first and second display data according to first and second display modes, a frequency content based trigger unit configured to generate a frequency content based trigger signal when the frequency domain data meet a first predetermined trigger condition, and a trigger based enabler configured to generate an enable signal for selectively gating the second display engine in response to the frequency content based trigger signal, such that the second display engine stops generating the second display data, while the first display engine continues to generate the first display data.