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US4053831A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Waveform analysis system

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-03-29
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Granted: 1977-10-11
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Expires: 1996-03-29
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Abstract

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.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masamichi Furukawa
  • 👤 Susumu Iguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 15:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/22; G01R13/30; G01R13/34; G01R13/345

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim 207 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 207 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 184 words
A waveform analysis system, comprising: a digital memory; a display unit to display 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; magnification means for controlling the display unit to display a selected section of the storage locations in magnified form; and a position counter to select the selected section of storage locations to be displayed in magnified form and position the selected section at a predetermined position on the display unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 184 words
A waveform analysis system, comprising: a digital memory; a display unit to display 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; magnification means for controlling the display unit to display a selected section of the storage locations in magnified form; and a position counter to select the selected section of storage locations to be displayed in magnified form and position the selected section at a predetermined position on the display unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 2, in which the digital memory comprises a shift register which is driven in synchronism with the address counter by the clock pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 2, in which the digital memory comprises an electronic random access memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
The waveform analsis system of claim 2, in which the marker counter is an up-down counter, the marker counter switch means being operative to selectively enable the up-down counter to be driven up and down by the clock pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
The waveform anaysis system of claim 2, in which the position counter is driven by the clock pulses, the mafnification means further comprising position counter switch means to selectively enable the position counter to be driven by the clock pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 6, in which the position counter is an up-down counter, the position counter switch means being operative to selectively enable the up-down counter to be driven up and down by the clock pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 57 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 2, in which the magnification means further comprises position comparator means to sense for a same count in the address counter and position counter and generate a sweep enable signal in response thereto, the display unit comprising a sweep generator triggered by the sweep enable signal to generate a sweep signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 52 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 8, in which the sweep signal has a predetermined duration, the magnification means further comprising frequency divider and magnification switch means to connect the frequency divider between the clock pulse generator and the address counter while the sweep signal is being generated by the sweep generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 41 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 9, in which the magnification switch means is further operative to connect the frequency divider between the clock pulse generator and the position counter while the sweep signal is being generated by the sweep generator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 9, in which a frequency division ratio of the frequency divider is variable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 40 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 10, in which the frequency divider is operative to provide a greater frequency division ratio between the clock pulse generator and the position counter than between the clock pulse generator and the address counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 8, in which the magnification means further comprises a delay unit connected between the position comparator means and the sweep generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 49 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 11, in which the magnification means further comprises a variable delay unit connected between the position comparator means and the sweep generator, a duration of delay of the delay unit being variable in accordance with the frequency division ratio of the frequency divider.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 8, further comprising marker counter control means having a frequency divider and marker counter switch means to connect the frequency divider between the clock pulse generator and the marker counter in response to coincidence of the indicator enable signal and the sweep signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 15, in which a frequency division ratio of the frequency divider is variable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 70 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 15, further comprising synchronizing pulse generator means to generate a synchronizing pulse the address counter addresses a last storage location, the marker counter switch means being further operative to disconnect the frequency divider from between the clock pulse generator and the marker counter in response to an absence of coincidence of the indicator enable signal and the sweep signal between two consecutive sychronizing pulses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 135 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 17, in which the marker counter switch means comprises a first AND gate having inputs connected to receive the indicator enable signal and the sweep signal, first and second flip-flops, an output of the first AND gate being connected to set inputs of the first and second flip-flops, a reset input of the first flip-flop being connected to receive the synchronizing pulse, a second AND gate having an input connected to receive the sychronizing pulse and another input connected to an inverting output of the first flip-flop, an output of the second AND gate being connected to a reset input of the second flip-flop, an output of the second flip-flop being operatively connected to connect and disconnect the frequency divider between the clock pulse generator and the marker counter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 247 words
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; and indicator means to numerically indicate contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal, the digital memory being arranged to store the waveform in the form of binary numbers in the respective storage locations, the indicator means comprising a binary to binary-coded-decimal converter, the converter comprising a binary counter driven by the clock pulses, a latch to store a binary number constituting the contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal; an indicator comparator to sense for a same binary number in the latch and the binary counter and generate an indicator signal in response thereto, a binary-coded-decimal counter driven by the clock pulses; and an indicator to indicate contents of the binary-coded-decimal counter in response to the indicator signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 247 words
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; and indicator means to numerically indicate contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal, the digital memory being arranged to store the waveform in the form of binary numbers in the respective storage locations, the indicator means comprising a binary to binary-coded-decimal converter, the converter comprising a binary counter driven by the clock pulses, a latch to store a binary number constituting the contents of said designated storage location in response to the indicator enable signal; an indicator comparator to sense for a same binary number in the latch and the binary counter and generate an indicator signal in response thereto, a binary-coded-decimal counter driven by the clock pulses; and an indicator to indicate contents of the binary-coded-decimal counter in response to the indicator signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 58 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 19, in which the indicator means further comprises a variable frequency divider connected between the clock pulse generator and the binary and binary-coded-decimal counters to divide the clock pulses at a different ratio between the clock pulse generator and the binary counter and between the clock pulse generator and the binary-coded-decimal counter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 241 words
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.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 241 words
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.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 50 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 21, in which the time measurement means comprises: a timer counter drivable by the clock pulses; and gate means operative to gate the clock pulses to the timer counter during the time interval between the indicator enable signal and the secondary indicator enable signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 110 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 22, in which the gate means comprises: an OR gate having inputs connected to receive the indicator enable signal and the secondary indicator enable signal; and a flip-flop connected to an output of the OR gate so as to be set by one of the indicator enable signal and the secondary indicator enable signal and reset by the other of the indicator enable signal and the secondary indicator enable signal; and an AND gate having an input connected to an output of the flip-flop and another input connected to receive the clock pulses and an output connected to an input of the timer counter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 44 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 23, further comprising synchronizing pulse generator means arranged to generate a synchronizing pulse after the address counter addresses a last storage location, reset inputs of the flip-flop and the timer counter being connected to receive the synchronizing pulse.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 29 words
The waveform analysis system of claim 22, in which the time measurement means further comprises a variable frequency divider connected between the clock pulse generator and the timer counter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3662373A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-10-10 1981-04-11 1981-10-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-10-10 1985-04-11 1985-10-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-10-10 1989-04-11 1989-10-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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