User-Placed Marks in Long Record Length Waveforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of test and measurement instruments face challenges in efficiently navigating and recording interesting events in long-record-length digitized signals, as current methods require excessive time and reduce detail, and lack effective navigation and recording capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for creating marks on test and measurement instruments that allow users to identify and mark features in digitized signals, enabling easy navigation and recall of specific events through a processor, memory, and display configuration, including manual and search mark interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user zooms in on a digitized signal to see interesting events in sufficient detail, then the measurement precision is improved, but the time required to pan through the signal increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically records the positions of interesting events (trigger points) as they occur during signal acquisition. This preliminary recording eliminates the need for manual position tracking and allows users to quickly navigate to marked events without manually panning through the entire signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automatic search function with trigger point detection as an intermediary between the user and the signal data. This mediator automatically identifies, records, and manages interesting events, allowing users to navigate efficiently without manually examining the entire long record length signal.
2Loss of time
If the user zooms out to pan through the digitized signal in acceptable time, then the time required to navigate is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates and interesting events become invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic search function acts as an intermediary that compensates for the reduced visual detail when zoomed out. It automatically detects trigger points and interesting events even at lower magnification, providing accurate event identification without requiring the user to zoom in for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically identifying and recording interesting events without requiring user intervention. The automatic search function scans the signal, detects trigger points, and records their positions, freeing the user from manual examination and enabling efficient navigation even when zoomed out.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual recording of event positions is implemented, then the ability to return to specific events is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual entry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically records and stores the positions of trigger points and interesting events during signal acquisition. This self-service functionality eliminates the need for manual position entry, while still providing the capability to return to specific marked events through automated navigation features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by automatically recording event positions and making them accessible for later navigation. The recorded trigger point information is fed back into the system's memory and display, enabling users to quickly return to specific events without manual re-entry of positions.
4Productivity
If a conventional search function is used to display the next event, then the productivity is improved, but the ability to navigate among multiple events and record positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically recording the positions of all trigger points and interesting events during the search process. This preliminary recording enables subsequent navigation among multiple events, allowing users to move between previously detected events without re-detecting them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal analysis by identifying and marking individual trigger points and interesting events as separate recordable entities. Each event is independently detected, recorded, and marked, enabling selective navigation among multiple discrete events rather than sequential display only.
Data Source
AI summary
A test and measurement instrument includes a memory configured to store a digitized signal, a display configured to display the digitized signal, a mark interface configured to generate a mark creation signal, a processor coupled to the memory, the display, and the mark interface. The processor is configured to identify a feature of the digitized signal and create a mark indicating the feature and the digitized signal in response to the mark creation signal.