US 4,053,831 A · Waveform analysis system

Abstract

An address counter sequentially addresses locations in a shift register or random access memory in which a waveform is stored in digital form to display the waveform on a cathode ray tube. Several magnification ranges are provided so that a selected portion of the waveform may be viewed in magnified form. A manually controllable position counter selects the portion of the magnified waveform for viewing in such a manner that the center of the portion will remain in the center of the cathode ray tube when the system is switched between magnification ranges. The position counter is an up-down counter which is driven by a same clock pulse generator which drives the address counter. A variable frequency divider is provided between the clock pulse generator and the position counter in such a manner that the position counter is driven at a convenient speed regardless of the magnification range. Two manually controllable mark counters similar to the location counter are also driven from the clock pulse generator, and indicate memory locations for which respective markers are to be displayed on the cathode ray tube. The contents of the memory location corresponding to the first of the markers is displayed in digital form, and the time difference between the markers is also measured and displayed in digital form. Variable frequency dividers provide magnitude and time scaling for the digital displays, and also ensure movement of the markers on the cathode ray tube at a convenient speed regardless of the magnification range. The frequency dividers are switched so that the address and mark counters are driven at low speed when the selected portion for magnification and marks are addressed and at high speed at other times.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A waveform analysis system, comprising:

a digital memory;
a display unit to display a waveform stored in the digital memory;
an address counter to sequentially address storage locations in the digital memory for display;
a marker counter to designate a storage location for display of a marker corresponding to said designated storage location on the display unit;
a clock pulse generator to generate clock pulses to drive the address counter and the marker counter;
marker counter switch means to selectively enable the marker counter to be driven by the clock pulses;
marker comparator means to sense for a same count in the address counter and the marker counter and generate an indicator enable signal in response thereto;
indicator means to numerically indicate contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal;
and
magnification means for controlling the display unit to display a selected section of the storage locations in magnified form;
the display unit further comprising a sweep generator for generating a sweep signal of predetermined duration, the magnification means comprising a frequency divider and magnification switch means for connecting the frequency divider between the clock pulse generator and the address counter while the sweep signal is being generated by the sweep generator.

8 more elements

A waveform analysis system, comprising:

a digital memory;
a display unit to display a waveform stored in the digital memory;
an address counter to sequentially address storage locations in the digital memory for display;
a marker counter to designate a storage location for display of a marker corresponding to said designated storage location on the display unit;
a clock pulse generator to generate clock pulses to drive the address counter and the marker counter;
marker counter switch means to selectively enable the marker counter to be driven by the clock pulses;
marker comparator means to sense for a same count in the address counter and the marker counter and generate an indicator enable signal in response thereto;
indicator means to numerically indicate contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal;
a secondary marker counter to designate a secondary storage location for display of a secondary marker corresponding to said secondary storage location on the display unit;
the marker counter switch means being further operative to selectively enable the secondary marker counter to be driven by the clock pulses;
secondary marker comparator means to sense for a same count in the address counter and the secondary marker counter and generate a secondary indicator enable signal in response thereto;
time measurement means for measuring a time interval between the indicator enable signal and the signal indicator enable signal;
and
time indicator means to indicate the measured time interval.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Waveform analysis system

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Waveform analysis system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25