GB2467134A - Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display - Google Patents

Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2467134A
GB2467134A GB0901042A GB0901042A GB2467134A GB 2467134 A GB2467134 A GB 2467134A GB 0901042 A GB0901042 A GB 0901042A GB 0901042 A GB0901042 A GB 0901042A GB 2467134 A GB2467134 A GB 2467134A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
test equipment
display
electronic test
flat panel
panel display
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0901042A
Other versions
GB0901042D0 (en
Inventor
Adam David Loveridge
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0901042A priority Critical patent/GB2467134A/en
Publication of GB0901042D0 publication Critical patent/GB0901042D0/en
Publication of GB2467134A publication Critical patent/GB2467134A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R13/00—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms
    • G01R13/40—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R13/00—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms
    • G01R13/40—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect
    • G01R13/401—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect for continuous analogue, or simulated analogue, display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R13/00—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms
    • G01R13/40—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect
    • G01R13/401—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect for continuous analogue, or simulated analogue, display
    • G01R13/403—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms using modulation of a light beam otherwise than by mechanical displacement, e.g. by Kerr effect for continuous analogue, or simulated analogue, display using passive display devices, e.g. liquid crystal display or Kerr effect display devices

Abstract

Electronic test equipment in the form of a flat panel display requires minimal lab bench surface area. Preferably the display is of a touch-screen type with signal interface connections 20 on the display housing. Alternatively, signal interface connections may be in a separate module (figure 2, not shown). In a further embodiment, the flat panel display is used for multiple electronic test equipment functions. The display may then show different measurements simultaneously or alternately. Individual test equipment interfaces may be attached to the display in a daisy chain fashion.

Description

Flat screen Electronic Test Equipment
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to Electronic Test Equipment used in a lab bench environment.
Electronic Test Equipment here refers to such items (although not exclusively) as oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, network analysers, signal/waveform generators.
Electronic Test Equipment has traditionally been cumbersome and bulky with limited clarity of display. Colour Flat Panel Displays of any size are now produced in high volume and as such are low cost. However Electronic Test Equipment is still predominantly of traditional size and function. At present the predominant flat screen technology is Liquid Crystal Display LCD. However the invention will apply to any flat screen technology such as Plasma or Organic Light Emitting Diode OLED.
Traditionally, Electronic Test Equipment is based around a Personal Computer or some form of embedded processing unit. Normally included are peripherals such as a Floppy Drive, a Hard Disk Drive, control panel(s), and the Display. To drive the display there would be some form of display driver. The Electronic Test Equipment functions would usually require some form of Digital Signal Processing which may require additional processing units. These requirements would dictate that the Electronic Test Equipment is of significant size.
Some Electronic Test Equipment products do have the option for using external displays, and some forms of Electronic Test Equipment are designed to be controlled by a Personal Computer. However, the overall surface space required by the Electronic Test Equipment function is still large.
STATEMENT OF NVENTON
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an Electronic Test Equipment function in the form of a standard Flat Panel Display. The signal interface can be on or attached to the display itself or on an external module. Likewise, the control can be provided by buttons, soft buttons or touch-screen function on the display, or buttons on an external module. In each case the Electronic Test Equipment has a much improved display and the overall Electronic Test Equipment function requires significantly less surface area.
Preferably, the Digital Signal Processing, main control unit, display drive, and other functions are integrated in to a single device such as an Application Specific Integrated
Circuit or Field Programmable Gate Array.
In a further embodiment to the invention a Flat Panel Display is used, with the option to be the display for multiple Electronic Test Equipment functions. The multiple Electronic Test Equipment units are module based and can be either in one form attached directly to the Flat Panel Display, or in another form connect individually to the Flat Panel Display, or in another form connect via a daisy chain arrangement. If the display is small, then Page 1 the display can be made to alternate between views generated from the different Electronic Test Equipment function as required. If the display is larger, then multiple views generated from the different Electronic Test Equipment functions can be simultaneously displayed and arranged.
AD VAN TAG ES
The test equipment has a large clear display and function, while using minimal surface space. There will be minimal processing delay from the signal analysis to the display function, allowing for a fast acquisition function, and a fast user control function.
On a large display, data from multiple signal sources can be clearly displayed simultaneously.
Data from multiple Electronic Test Equipment functions could be displayed simultaneously.
Preferably, the interface and control is encompassed in the display housing or stand.
Preferably the display is of LCD type with a touch-screen interface.
INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS
An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment using a flat touch-screen display with signal interface being part of the Flat Panel Display housing according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment using a flat touch-screen display with interface unit attached using interface cables according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment using a large flat touch-screen display with multiple interface units attached according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment.
Figure 5 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a reduced size form factor.
Figure 6 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a laptop as the control and display interface.
Figure 7 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a desktop PC as the control and display interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention is directed to any form of test equipment that would benefit from a reduction in size to that of a Flat Panel Display which provides the display function and may additionally provide the signal interface and control via a touch-screen function..
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 1,2,3.
Page 2 Examples of prior art are shown in figures 4,5,6,7.
Figure 1 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment device using a flat panel touch-screen display with signal interface being part of the Flat Panel Display housing according to the present invention. The flat panel touch-screen display 10 is mounted on a stand 15, with signal interfaces 20(a,b,c,d) being part of the display housing. In this case there are 4 signal interfaces. The number and type of connections would vary depending on the type of Electronic Test Equipment function required.
Figure 2 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment using a flat touch-screen display with interface unit attached using interface cables according to the present invention. In this embodiment the signal interface 25 is connected to the main display housing 10 using two cables 30a 30b. The number and type of cable would vary depending on the Electronic Test Equipment function. Preferably, the display is of touch-screen type. Alternatively a suitable control interface could be implemented on the signal interface 25.
Figure 3 is a simplified view (not to scale) of a test equipment using a large flat touch-screen display with multiple interface units attached according to the present invention.
In this embodiment of the invention there are three independent Electronic Test Equipment interfaces 25 26 27attached to the display 13. Preferably the display is large enough to display the multiple Electronic Test Equipment functions simultaneously, and provide housing for the Electronic Test Equipment signal interface modules by any suitable means. Alternatively, it is possible to connect interface modules to the display directly or in a daisy chain fashion. This would allow the use of a smaller display with the possibility of providing suitable means for alternating the view from a particular Electronic Test Equipment function.
Figure 4 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment 41. The Electronic Test Equipment function is housed in one unit 41. The screen 12 is of limited size and any number of controls (area 37) is required to control the Electronic Test Equipment function. Signal interfaces 20(a,b,c) are provided as shown. The Electronic Test Equipment takes up significant surface area.
Figure 5 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a reduced size form factor 42. The figure shows a progression from the prior art of figure 4 towards a smaller form factor. The same issues as discussed for figure 4 still apply.
Figure 6 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a laptop 12 as the control and display interface. An external unit 25 is used as the signal interface housing. This solution provides a larger display with a flexible user interface, but the Electronic Test Equipment function still takes up significant surface area and the speed of operation would be limited.
Figure 7 is a simplified view (not to scale) of prior art test equipment utilising a desktop PC 35 with display unit 14 and keyboard 36 as the control and display function. This Page 3 solution provides a larger display with a flexible user interface, but the Electronic Test Equipment function still takes up significant surface area and the -of operation Page4

Claims (10)

  1. CLAIMSThe invention claimed is: 1. Electronic Test Equipment in the form of a Flat Panel Display.
  2. 2. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 1 with signal interface connections on the Flat Panel Display.
  3. 3. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 1 with signal interface connections on a module attached to the Flat Panel Display.
  4. 4. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 2 with a touch-screen control interface.
  5. 5. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 3 with a touch-screen control interface.
  6. 6. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 3 with controls on the connection module.
  7. 7. Electronic Test Equipment in the form of a Flat Panel Display in which the display is used for multiple Electronic Test Equipment functions.
  8. 8. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 7 with individual Equipment Test Equipment interfaces attached directly to the display.
  9. 9. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 7 with individual Equipment Test Equipment interfaces connected to the display via cable(s).
  10. 10. Electronic Test Equipment according to claim 7 with individual Equipment Test Equipment interfaces connected to the display via cable(s) in a daisy chain fashion Page 5
GB0901042A 2009-01-22 2009-01-22 Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display Withdrawn GB2467134A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0901042A GB2467134A (en) 2009-01-22 2009-01-22 Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0901042A GB2467134A (en) 2009-01-22 2009-01-22 Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0901042D0 GB0901042D0 (en) 2009-03-11
GB2467134A true GB2467134A (en) 2010-07-28

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0901042A Withdrawn GB2467134A (en) 2009-01-22 2009-01-22 Electronic test equipment having a flat panel display

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2467134A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110115470A1 (en) * 2009-11-13 2011-05-19 Lecroy Corporation Rotatable Display for Test and Measurement Apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4821030A (en) * 1986-12-19 1989-04-11 Tektronix, Inc. Touchscreen feedback system
US20040041793A1 (en) * 2002-09-03 2004-03-04 The Stanley Works Handheld multimeter with computer functions
US20070132761A1 (en) * 2003-05-15 2007-06-14 Advantest Corporation Signal measuring device
US20070257895A1 (en) * 2006-05-08 2007-11-08 Sunrise Telecom Incorporated Tactile display locking and marker system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4821030A (en) * 1986-12-19 1989-04-11 Tektronix, Inc. Touchscreen feedback system
US20040041793A1 (en) * 2002-09-03 2004-03-04 The Stanley Works Handheld multimeter with computer functions
US20070132761A1 (en) * 2003-05-15 2007-06-14 Advantest Corporation Signal measuring device
US20070257895A1 (en) * 2006-05-08 2007-11-08 Sunrise Telecom Incorporated Tactile display locking and marker system

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Agilent Technologies, 7000 series demo video, February 2008, available at http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/product.jspx?nid=-34750.0.00&c=180949.i.2&to=79830.g.0&cc=US&lc=eng&pageMode=LB [accessed 7 May 2009]. *
Agilent Technologies, InfiniiVision 7000 Series Oscilloscopes Data Sheet, October 2008, available from http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-7736EN.pdf [accessed 5 May 2009]. *
Bosch Autoparts, KTS 650 Multimedia-Capable Diagnostic Tester, January 2008, available from http://web.archive.org/web/20080113121215/www.boschautoparts.co.uk/teKTS650Prod.asp?c=2&d=2 [accessed 6 May 2009]. *
Tektronix, H600/SA2600 Spectrum Analyzer Series, December 2008, available from http://www.tek.com/products/spectrum_analyzers/sa2600/ [accessed 5 May 2009]. *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110115470A1 (en) * 2009-11-13 2011-05-19 Lecroy Corporation Rotatable Display for Test and Measurement Apparatus
US8981760B2 (en) * 2009-11-13 2015-03-17 Teledyne Lecroy, Inc. Rotatable display for test and measurement apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0901042D0 (en) 2009-03-11

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)