Simplified user interface and control system for a multimeter

US6218824A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Tektronix, Inc. · US

Inventors

• H. Wayne Oldstead · Beaverton, US
• Frank Goovaerts · Banks, US
• Theodore G. Nelson · Beaverton, US
• Michael R. Engbretson · Beaverton, US
• J. Steve Lyford · Portland, US
• Jerry L. Wrisley · Beaverton, US
• Charles L. Saxe · Portland, US
• James L. Williamson · Beaverton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 7, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2001
• Expiry date: May 7, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R13/02
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A simplified user interface for an electronic test and measurement device comprises an arrangement of a segmented LCD device and a plurality of keys used to implement a softkey system, in combination with a single AMPs input connector and a rotary selector having only a single position for each basic kind of parameter to be measured. The segmented LCD device includes, at each location adjacent to a key, a plurality of segments representing a vertically-arranged list of functions to be controlled. In one embodiment of the invention, the housing of the electronic test and measurement device is fabricated to have finger-like projections overlaying a portion of the LCD screen for creating the appearance of the continuation of displayed LCD softkey separation lines.