Patent · US Expired

Digital oscilloscope having improved peak detect mode

US6344844B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
20References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 1998
Grant dateFeb 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R13/345
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a digital oscilloscope and associated method that provides a peak detect mode of operation that not only accurately displays peak information, but also reflects the significance of peak information, without distorting a statistical view of the signal. In this regard, and in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the oscilloscope includes an analog to digital (A/D) converter configured to periodically sample an input signal and convert the periodic samples into a train of digital data. A circuit is disposed at the output of the A/D converter and is configured to evaluate the train of digital data over a first predetermined period of time and detect a minimum value and a maximum value during the first period of time. A mechanism is configured to evaluate the minimum and maximum values and determine a significance measure of the minimum value and the maximum values. Finally, the oscilloscope includes a display controller configured to vary an intensity of a signal representation on a display, in response to the significance measure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.