Multi-channel digital trigger with combined feature matching and associated methods

A method of generating a digital trigger from multi-channel analog inputs, the method comprising:

• converting an analog input signal on each channel into a respective digital signal;
• comparing signal values of the digital signal on each channel to at least one threshold for each channel to generate a stream of levels for each channel;
• combining the stream of levels for each channel into a combined stream of levels;
• detecting a pattern in the combined stream of levels using regular expressions in a Finite State Machine (FSM) implementing a combined-feature matching procedure;
• and
• generating the digital trigger according to a result of the combined-feature matching procedure.

A multi-channel digital trigger device for a measurement instrument, the device comprising:

• an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to convert analog input signals on each of multiple channels into a respective digital signal;
• a comparator associated with each channel and configured to compare signal values of the digital signal on each channel to at least one threshold to generate a stream of levels for each channel;
• and
• a multi-channel trigger unit comprising hardware configured to combine the stream of levels for each channel into a combined stream of levels that reflects combined features of the multiple analog input signals, detect a pattern in the combined stream of levels using a combined-feature matching procedure, and generate a trigger according to a result of the combined-feature matching procedure.