US4949290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for defining test sequences for a signal measurement system
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1988-04-05
•
Granted: 1990-08-14
•
Expires: 2008-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A signal measurement system with softkey menus for enabling a user to select a desired test setup, including selection of test measurement for a device. The signal measurement system prompts the user with a set of displayed softkey selections via a user interface to step the user through the setup process. Preferably, a signal processing unit (or analyzer) included in the signal measurement system incorporates the user interface in firmware to aid the user in entering a test sequence for the device to be tested. The analyzer preferably displays the softkey menus on a cathode ray tube included in the analyzer to guide the user. The user is guided through the test sequencing procedure by depressing softkeys. A set of softkey labels (softkey menu) is presented on the display of the analyzer by the firmware for each step in the test sequencing series. As each step of a desired test sequence is entered by the user, the step is displayed on the CRT. Also, the displayed steps are preferably overlaid on data measured in accordance with the test sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 William T. Pike
- 👤 Robert T. Loder, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R27/00; G01R27/02; G01R27/04; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2832; G01R31/2834; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31903; G01R31/31912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for enabling a user to define a test sequence during setup of a signal measurement system, comprising the steps of: providing a user of the signal measurement system with softkey menus for selecting a desired series of test steps, including measurement selection for a device to be tested, for combination into a test sequence for execution as a single measurement process; measuring data using the selected test sequence; displaying the measured data; and displaying the steps in the selected test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the selected test sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for enabling a user to define a test sequence during setup of a signal measurement system, comprising the steps of: providing a user of the signal measurement system with softkey menus for selecting a desired series of test steps, including measurement selection for a device to be tested, for combination into a test sequence for execution as a single measurement process; measuring data using the selected test sequence; displaying the measured data; and displaying the steps in the selected test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the selected test sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of programming a signal processing unit included in the signal measurement with firmware to enable the user to enter the test sequence for the device to be tested by the signal measurement system for a desired test.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the user of the signal measurement system with softkey menus for selecting one of a calibration measurement and a test measurement for the device to be tested.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signal measurement system is a vector network analyzer for measuring performance of RF and microwave systems and components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each softkey menu comprises a set of textual selections displayed via a user interface for prompting the user to key in the test sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of displaying softkey menus to the user comprises displaying software menus on a cathode ray tube incorporated in the user interface of a signal processing unit, the signal processing unit being included in the signal measurement system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method of operation of a signal measurement system, the improvement comprising the steps of: enabling a user of the signal measurement system to select a desired series of test steps, including measurement selection, for combination into a test sequence for execution as a single measurement process; measuring data using the selected test sequence; displaying the measured data; and displaying the steps in the selected test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the selected test sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method of operation of a signal measurement system, the improvement comprising the steps of: enabling a user of the signal measurement system to select a desired series of test steps, including measurement selection, for combination into a test sequence for execution as a single measurement process; measuring data using the selected test sequence; displaying the measured data; and displaying the steps in the selected test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the selected test sequence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A signal measurement system incorporating user definition of test sequences, comprising: a display for displaying measured data; means for providing images on the display for enabling the user to define a test sequence during setup of the signal measurement system, the test sequence being stored for recall and execution; means for measuring data using the defined test sequence; and means for displaying steps in the defined test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the defined test sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A signal measurement system incorporating user definition of test sequences, comprising: a display for displaying measured data; means for providing images on the display for enabling the user to define a test sequence during setup of the signal measurement system, the test sequence being stored for recall and execution; means for measuring data using the defined test sequence; and means for displaying steps in the defined test sequence, as the steps of the test sequence are entered, as an overlay on displayed data measured using the defined test sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8 wherein the images comprise softkey menus and each softkey menu comprises a set of textual selections displayed by the display for prompting the user to key in the test sequence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8 wherein a signal processing unit included in the signal measurement system incorporates firmware to aid the user in entering a test sequence for a device to be tested by the signal measurement system for a desired test.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8 wherein the display comprises a cathode ray tube incorporated in a signal processing unit, the signal processing unit being included in the signal measurement system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8, further comprising means for providing the user of the signal measurement system with softkey menus for selecting one of a calibration measurement and a test measurement for a device to be tested.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8 wherein the signal measurement system is vector network analyzer for measuring performance of RF and microwave systems and components.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The signal measurement system of claim 8, further comprising means for measuring a device under test.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4145742A
Cited
US4455618A
Cited
US4207611A
Cited
US4456964A
Cited
US4763117A
Cited
US4550406A
Cited
US4606025A
Cited
US4636717A
Cited
US4682158A
Cited
US4750105A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-13 | 1994-02-12 | 1994-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-02-12 | 1998-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-13 | 2002-02-12 | 2002-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |