Apparatus and method for evaluating the performance of systems having time-varying output characteristics

An apparatus for evaluating a system, comprising:

• a storage element for receiving at least one time-varying output characteristic of said system, said at least one time-varying output characteristic comprising a plurality of raw data points representing a plurality of measurements at a plurality of times;
• and
• a processing element communicatively coupled to said storage element, said processing element configured for:
• partitioning said plurality of raw data points into a plurality of segments,
• calculating a plurality of estimated data points based on a plurality of mathematical expressions, wherein at least one of said plurality of mathematical expressions are associated with each of said plurality of segments, and
• characterizing said system based on at least one figure of merit (FOM) computed from said plurality of estimated data points.

An apparatus for evaluating an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

• a signal generator/detector for producing at least one input signal for said electronic device and for detecting at least one time-varying output signal from said electronic devices responsive to said input signal, said at least one time-varying output signal comprising a plurality of raw data points representing a plurality of measurements at a plurality of times;
• a storage element for receiving said output characteristic;
• and
• a processing element communicatively coupled to said storage element, said processing element configured for:
• partitioning said plurality of raw data points into a plurality of segments,
• calculating a plurality of estimated data points based on a plurality of polynomial equations, wherein at least one of said plurality of polynomial equations are associated with each of said plurality of segments, and
• binning said electronic based on at least one figure of merit (FOM) for at least one quantity computed from said plurality of estimated data points.