Apparatus for use in a logic analyzer for compressing digital data for waveform viewing

Apparatus for rapidly producing a compressed display of data in a logic analyzer, comprising:

• a memory for storing logic state samples representing the behavior over time of one or more input signals;
• a starting memory address register for storing a starting memory address;
• an ending time stamp comparator for comparing a current time stamp with an ending time stamp to determine the last sample associated with a given pixel, said starting address and said ending timestamp defining a timeslice;
• hardware circuitry for compressing data descriptive of waveform activity during said timeslice by using said hardware circuitry to compare current sample data with reference data;
• and further comprising
• a display screen for displaying waveform data;
• and
• a controller for controlling said display screen;
• said controller loading said starting memory address into said starting memory address register;
• said controller loading said ending time stamp into said comparator;
• said hardware circuitry evaluating data read from said acquisition memory beginning at said starting address, incrementing said memory address and reading a current timestamp until said current timestamp value exceeds said ending timestamp value;
• said controller receiving only said compressed waveform data for display.