LATEST PATENT ON DSO

ABSTRACT
A method for presenting information and a digital storage oscilloscope are disclosed
in which primary measurements of a signal are performed and displayed.
Parameters are also derived for the signal based upon the primary measurement
data. These derived parameters are then also displayed as a function of time on the
display, preferably with a common time axis. This enables the oscilloscope operator
to correlate features found by reference to the derived parameters directly to the
primary measurements of the signal. Moreover, since the data from the primary
measurements are stored in the oscilloscope, multi parameter calculation and
parameter recalculation can be performed.

Publication number U

Publication type G

Application number U

Publication date 2

Filing date 9

Priority date 9

Fee status P

Also published as C

Inventors M

Original Assignee L

Export Citation B

Patent Citations (7), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referen

by (31),Classifications (20), Legal Events (13)

External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espac

DESCRIPTION
A digital storage oscilloscope, also known as a DSO, is an electronic device
that is capable of storing a digital copy of the measured waveform. Using
analog-to-digital converters to digitize and sample measured voltages, a
digital storage oscilloscope stores the results in its memory, which it
process further using digital signal processing techniques.
An oscilloscope is a device used for testing signal voltages in fields such
as circuit debugging, electronic measurement, testing in manufacturing,
designing, general testing and researches. Also known as a scope, an
oscilloscope displays the changes in signal voltage over a certain period of
time. It usually comes with a rectangular screen, which allows users to
view the input voltage on a particular axis over a particular period of time
on the other. Instead of displaying time on the other axis, the scope can
also display a second signal voltage, while changing the intensity of the
screen image using a third waveform allows the scope to display a three
dimensional figure. Some scopes can even display multiple waveforms
simultaneously, superimposed on each other or separately for comparison
purposes.
Just like other kinds of digital oscilloscopes, a DSO converts analog input
voltages into digital data. Two factors determine the maximum frequency
that the digital storage oscilloscope can measure. One is the sampling
rate of the oscilloscope, which is usually measured in millions or billions of
samples per second, and the other is the nature of the analog-to-digital
converter and the signal amplifier on each input. Upon capturing a signal,
the scope stores as many samples as possible in its memory to represent
the waveform.
Used in testing signal voltages in electronic devices such as radio
broadcasting equipment, televisions and audio recording equipment, a
digital storage oscilloscope offers the advantage of capturing and logging
electronic events that occurred when no one was watching or which were
otherwise impossible to determine.
Not to be confused with a voltmeter, a digital storage oscilloscope
displays graphical representations of signal, enabling a more intuitive
visual diagnosis of the unexpected voltages source. A voltmeter, on the
other hand, records only the presence of unexpected voltage, requiring
further troubleshooting and diagnostics. A DSO can measure the same
voltage and show oscillation in the affected circuit. Digital storage
oscilloscopes also offer visual display of the precise timing or shape of the
pulse.
Acting as a simple signal tracer, a digital storage oscilloscope enables
technicians to probe electronic devices individual connections and
components, to determine the malfunctioning part. In measuring the
functions of the individual component of the device, the DSO locates
where an expected signal is incorrect or absent. The DSO can also
measure the components minor variations in operations and alert the
technician of the need for fine tuning or replacement. To prevent
erroneous replacement of parts, the DSO also helps technicians identify
the parts that are still working.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

SUMMARY
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a digital storage
oscilloscope which includes first and second memory modules each including a data
input section for receiving an input stream of digital data words and generating a
sequence of address words, an acquisition memory which is addressed utilizing the
address words for storing the data words, and a trigger input section for receiving a
discrete input trigger and supplying the discrete input trigger to the data input section
for initiating termination of an acquisition, and wherein the data input section of the
first memory module passes the stream of digital data words to the data input section
of the second memory module and supplies a discrete trigger to the trigger input
section of the second memory module.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a memory
module for a digital storage oscilloscope, the memory module including a data input
section for receiving an input stream of digital data words and generating a
sequence of address words, an acquisition memory which is addressed utilizing the
address words generated by the data input section for storing the data words, a
trigger input section for receiving a discrete input trigger and supplying the discrete
input trigger to the data input section for initiating termination of an acquisition, and a
trigger output section for generating a discrete output trigger when the acquisition
memory is full