US4673931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waveform data display
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1985-03-18
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Granted: 1987-06-16
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Expires: 2005-03-18
Abstract
Abstract Acquired sampled waveform data is displayed on a screen as a busform, wherein a change of state in the waveform during a sampling interval is represented by a solid block character on the screen, and wherein the lack of a change of state in any of the channels during a sampling interval is represented by a space character of the same width as the block character. The blocks and spaces representing contiguous sampling intervals are of the same width and are displayed in horizontal sequence across the screen such that the time between state changes is graphically represented by the horizontal distance between the blocks. Numbers indicating the associated waveform state are displayed when possible in the space or spaces following each block character.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard G. Cunningham, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/22; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3177; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for representing a waveform on a screen comprising the steps of: a. determining the state of the waveform at regular sampling intervals, b. determining if the waveform has changed state during a waveform display period comprising a plurality of sampling intervals, c. displaying a first indicating character on the screen if the waveform has changed state during the display period, d. displaying a second indicating character on the screen if the waveform has not changed state during the display period, the first and second characters being recognizably different, and e. repeating steps b, c and d for subsequent waveform display periods such that indicating characters corresponding to successive display periods are successively displayed on the screen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for representing a waveform on a screen comprising the steps of: a. determining the state of the waveform at regular sampling intervals, b. determining if the waveform has changed state during a waveform display period comprising a plurality of sampling intervals, c. displaying a first indicating character on the screen if the waveform has changed state during the display period, d. displaying a second indicating character on the screen if the waveform has not changed state during the display period, the first and second characters being recognizably different, and e. repeating steps b, c and d for subsequent waveform display periods such that indicating characters corresponding to successive display periods are successively displayed on the screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said first and second indicating characters are of the same width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the first indicating character comprises a solid block and wherein the second indicating character comprises a pair of horizontal lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said second indicating character comprises a representation of the state of the waveform during the display period.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for representing a waveform set on a screen comprising the steps of: a. sampling the state of the waveform set at regular sampling intervals, b. storing data representing the state of the waveform set at each sampling interval in a random access acquisition memory, data for successive sampling intervals being stored at successive memory addresses, c. determining if the data stored at each location within a group of successive acquisition memory locations has the same value as data stored at every other location within said group, d. displaying a first indicating character on the screen if the data is not of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, and e. displaying a second indicating character on the screen if the data is of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, the first and second indicating characters being recognizably different.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for representing a waveform set on a screen comprising the steps of: a. sampling the state of the waveform set at regular sampling intervals, b. storing data representing the state of the waveform set at each sampling interval in a random access acquisition memory, data for successive sampling intervals being stored at successive memory addresses, c. determining if the data stored at each location within a group of successive acquisition memory locations has the same value as data stored at every other location within said group, d. displaying a first indicating character on the screen if the data is not of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, and e. displaying a second indicating character on the screen if the data is of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, the first and second indicating characters being recognizably different.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step: f. repeating steps c, d and e for successive groups of acquisition memory addresses such that indicating characters corresponding to successive address groups are successively displayed on the screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said second indicating character comprises a representation of the state of the waveform set.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for representing a waveform set on a screen comprising: means to sample the state of the waveform set at regular sampling intervals, means to store data representing the state of the waveform set at each sampling interval in a random access acquisition memory, data for successive sampling intervals being stored at successive memory addresses, and means to determine if the data stored at each location within a group of successive acquisition memory locations has the same value as data stored at every other location within said group, to display a first indicating character on the screen if the data is not of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, and to display a second indicating character on the screen if the data is of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, the first and second indicating characters being recognizably different.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for representing a waveform set on a screen comprising: means to sample the state of the waveform set at regular sampling intervals, means to store data representing the state of the waveform set at each sampling interval in a random access acquisition memory, data for successive sampling intervals being stored at successive memory addresses, and means to determine if the data stored at each location within a group of successive acquisition memory locations has the same value as data stored at every other location within said group, to display a first indicating character on the screen if the data is not of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, and to display a second indicating character on the screen if the data is of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, the first and second indicating characters being recognizably different.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 further comprising means to selectively increase or decrease the number of successive acquisition memory locations contained within said groups such that the number of sampling intervals associated with each indicating character may be increased or decreased.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said second indicating character comprises a representation of the state of the waveform set during the display period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means to determine comprises: a source of clock pulses, a source of display step pulses, one such display step pulse occurring after each occurrence of a selected number of clock pulses, an increment register for storing an increment number, an accumulator, for storing an address number, the address number being incremented by the increment number on each clock pulse occurrence, a portion of the address number being applied to address the random access acquisition memory such that the acquisition memory places currently addressed data on a data output bus, and means to determine if all data occurring on the data output bus between any two display step pulses has the same value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means to display first and second indicating characters comprises: means to generate character data representing the first indicating character each time said means to determine determines the data is not of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group and for generating character data representing the second indicating character each time said means to determine determines the data is of the same value at each said successive memory address within said group, a random access display memory for storing said character data generated by said character table, and means to display the contents of the display memory in the form of said indicating characters on the screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said second indicating character represents the magnitude of the waveform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-12-15 | 1991-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-15 | 1994-12-15 | 1995-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-15 | 1998-12-15 | 1999-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |