JP2023141911A - Measuring device and measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve usability without requiring reading a remote command instruction manual.SOLUTION: A measuring device 1 is substantially formed of a measuring instrument unit 2 that is detachably attached with a plurality of modules 11a, and an external device 3 that remotely controls the measuring instrument unit 2. A remote command including a switching command of the modules 11a is linked to every widget of a graphical user interface of the measuring instrument unit 2. The measuring device comprises: command recording means 17 that, when the widgets are operated, records the remote commands linked to the widgets and their arguments as SCPI commands in order the widgets are operated; and file output means 18 that outputs the SCPI commands recorded by the command recording means 17 as files in order the widgets are operated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a measuring device and a measuring method that can perform measurements under external control using remote commands.

Conventionally, when controlling a measuring instrument with multiple modules using remote commands, read the remote command instruction manual for the measuring instrument, list the remote commands and their arguments for operating the graphical user interface, and then The user was responsible for inserting remote commands to switch between modules. Note that, as a measuring device that performs control using this type of remote command, for example, a measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below is known.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-310736

However, with conventional measuring devices including the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, reading the remote command instruction manual and listing the remote commands for operating the GUI requires the user's time and effort to research, and the enumeration may occur due to a misinterpretation of the instruction manual. Usability improvements were needed because errors in commands, arguments, and insertion of remote commands to switch the controlled module were likely to occur. Additionally, if the measuring instrument is configured with multiple modules (for example, a signal generation module, a signal reception module, a clock signal generation module, etc.), it is possible to forget to specify the module to be switched. there were. Furthermore, when controlling a plurality of measuring instruments equipped with a plurality of modules of this type using remote commands, the commands become even more complex, which may lead to errors.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device and a measuring method that can improve usability without requiring reading a remote command instruction manual. .

In order to achieve the above object, a measuring device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a measuring device unit 2 to which a plurality of modules 11a can be attached and detached, and an external device 3 that remotely controls the measuring device unit. A measuring device 1 comprising:
A remote command including a command for switching the module is linked to each widget of the graphical user interface of the measuring instrument unit,
command recording means 17 for recording remote commands associated with the widget and their arguments as SCPI commands in the order in which the widgets are operated;
The present invention is characterized by comprising a file output means 18 that outputs the recorded SCPI commands as a file in the order in which the widgets are operated.

The measuring device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the measuring device according to claim 1, which includes:
The measuring instrument unit consists of a plurality of units,
The remote command is characterized in that it is linked to each widget of the graphical user interface as a switching command for the module and the measuring instrument unit.

The measuring method according to claim 3 of the present invention is directed to a measuring device 1 that includes a measuring device unit 2 to which a plurality of modules 11a can be attached and detached, and an external device 3 that remotely controls the measuring device unit. A measuring method for measuring W,
associating a remote command including a command for switching the module with each widget of the graphical user interface of the measuring instrument unit;
when the widget is operated, recording remote commands associated with the widget and their arguments as SCPI commands in the order in which the widget is operated;
The method is characterized by including the step of outputting the recorded SCPI commands as a file in the order in which the widgets were operated.

The measuring method according to claim 4 of the present invention is the measuring method according to claim 3, which includes:
configuring a plurality of the measuring instrument units;
The method is characterized by including the step of associating the remote command with each widget of the graphical user interface as a switching command for the module and the measuring instrument unit.

According to the present invention, there is no need to read the remote command instruction manual, measurement work can be carried out in a short time, and errors in interpretation of the instruction manual do not occur, so there is no time loss such as rework, and usability is improved. You can improve your performance.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a measuring device according to the present invention. It is a figure showing a part of operation screen of the measuring device concerning the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a remote command generation function in the measuring device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a file to be saved. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection example between a plurality of measuring instrument units and one external device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a measuring device and a measuring method that can perform measurements under external control using remote commands.

As shown in FIG. 1, the measuring device 1 of this embodiment outputs remote commands and their arguments equivalent to operations on a graphical user interface (hereinafter abbreviated as GUI) as SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) commands. It has a remote command generation function to perform the measurement, and is composed of a measuring instrument unit 2 and an external device (personal computer) 3 for remotely controlling the measuring instrument unit 2 and performing various measurements on the measuring object W.

Note that SCPI is a standard regarding command grammar and data structure formulated for remote control commands of measurement devices.

The measuring instrument unit 2 is generally configured to include a measuring section 11, an operation display section 12, a mode specifying means 13, a parameter selecting means 14, a measurement controlling means 15, an interface 16, a command recording means 17, and a file outputting means 18.

The measuring section 11 includes a plurality of modules 11a that can be attached to and detached from each slot of the measuring instrument unit 2 in arbitrary combinations, and performs various measurements on the measuring object W. For example, when the measuring device 1 is configured as an error rate measuring device, the plurality of modules 11a are configured of a PPG module for signal generation, an ED module for signal reception, a synthesizer module for clock signal generation, and the like. Note that the measuring instrument unit 2 is given a unit ID for specifying the unit, and the plurality of modules 11a are also given module IDs for specifying each one.

The operation display unit 12 is configured to include, as a GUI, a power switch, cursor keys for moving the cursor, remote command generation start/end buttons, etc. It is operated when specifying a file name in which to save an SCPI command, selecting parameters for each item that determines the measurement content, starting the measuring section 11, etc.

In addition, when generating a remote command by the operation display unit 12, the remote command including the switching command of the module 11a is linked to each GUI widget (interface parts such as buttons, text boxes, pull-down menus, etc.) of the operation display unit 12. It is being

The operation display unit 12 includes various displays such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a screen that notifies the start of remote command generation and displays parameters for each item that determines the measurement content to be performed by the measurement unit 11. Displays an operation screen for setting, displays measurement results by the measurement unit 11, etc.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates and describes the operation display section 12 as an integrated operation section and display section, the operation display section 12 may be configured with a separate operation section and display section.

The mode specifying means 13 specifies the operation mode of the measuring instrument unit 2 as either a measurement mode or a command generation mode. The measurement mode is a mode in which the measurement section 11 performs measurement and the measurement results are displayed on the operation display section 12. The command generation mode is a mode in which a remote command for remotely controlling the measurement unit 11 by the measurement control means 15 from the external device 3 via the interface 16 to perform measurement is generated. The mode specifying means 13 specifies a mode based on an operation on the operation display section 12.

For example, when the device is started up (when the power is turned on), it is checked whether a specific key other than the power switch is pressed, and if a specific key other than the power switch is not pressed, the measurement mode is specified, and a specific key other than the power switch is When the key (for example, the start/end key 13b of the operation screen 13a in FIG. 3) is pressed, the command generation mode is designated.

The parameter selection means 14 selects parameters to be input and set at the cursor position on the setting screen by operating the widget of the GUI of the operation display unit 12 while the command generation mode is specified by the mode specifying means 13. .

When the measurement control means 15 performs an operation to start measurement with the measurement mode specified by the mode specification means 13, the measurement control means 15 controls the measurement section 11 according to the parameters of each item selected on the setting screen. The measurement target W is measured.

The interface 16 is a channel through which signals are transmitted, an ID (interface ID) is assigned to each channel, and the interface 16 is used for communication with an external device (personal computer) 3 for remotely controlling the measuring instrument unit 2. It is for carrying out. When a remote command is input from the external device 3 to the measurement control means 15 via the interface 16 while the measurement mode is specified by the mode specification means 13, the measurement control means 15 performs measurement according to the input remote command. The unit 11 is controlled to perform measurement on the measurement target W.

When a parameter is selected by the parameter selection means 14 by operating a GUI widget on the operation display unit 12, the command recording means 17 records the remote command and its argument associated with the widget that selected the parameter as an SCPI command. The order in which widgets on the GUI of the operation display section 12 are operated is recorded.

The file output means 18 outputs the SCPI commands recorded by the command recording means 17 as a text-format SCPI file in the order in which the widgets on the operation display section 12 are operated.

Next, a method for generating a remote command using the measuring device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

When the start/end button 13b of the operation screen 13a in FIG. 2 is clicked, a pop-up screen (not shown) notifying the start of remote command generation appears, and a message indicating that the GUI operation will be converted to an SCPI file appears.

Then, after clicking OK in a pop-up screen (not shown) and specifying a file name for saving the SCPI command equivalent to the GUI operation in the command recording means 17, to indicate to the user that the operation is being recorded, The start/end button 13b is highlighted (for example, in green).

After that, when all operations on the GUI are completed and the start/end button 13b is clicked, the color of the start/end button 13b returns to its original color, and the SCPI command equivalent to the GUI operation with the specified file name is displayed in text format. The SCPI file is saved in the command recording means 17 in the order in which the GUI widgets are operated, and the text-format SCPI file saved in the command recording means 17 is outputted from the file output means 18 as needed by the operation of the operation display section 12. The widgets are output in the order in which they are operated.

Here, a specific example of the operation on the GUI will be shown and explained. When the start/end key 13b on the operation screen 13a in FIG. 2 is clicked (ST1) and the remote command generation function is started (ST2), the parameter "2" is entered in the text box 13c on the operation screen 13a in FIG. 2 as a user operation. .400000" to set the [Bitrate] of the module 11a (module ID: No. 7) of the measuring instrument unit 2 (unit ID: No. 1) (ST3). As a result, as a software operation, the SCPI command ":UENTry:ID1;:MODule:ID7;" including the switching command linked to the parameter, ":OUTPut:DATA:BITRate" and the input value "2.400000" '' is recorded in the command recording means 17 (ST4).

Next, as a user operation, click the button 13d on the operation screen 13a in FIG. ” (ST5). As a result, the software operations include the SCPI commands ":UENTry:ID1;:MODUle:ID6;" and ":INPut:DATA:EQUalizer:LFEQ:SET" including the switching commands associated with the button 13d. The combination of "ON" is recorded in the command recording means 17 (ST6).

Next, as a user operation, click the button 13e on the operation screen 13a in FIG. to "ON" (ST7). As a result, the software operations include the SCPI commands ":UENTry:ID1;:MODUle:ID7;" and ":OUTPut:DATA:OUTPut" including the switching commands associated with the button 13e, and the setting "ON". The combination is recorded in the command recording means 17 (ST8).

Then, as a user operation, when all operations on the GUI described above are completed and the start/end button 13b is clicked (ST9), the recorded command recorded in the command recording means 17 is transferred to the GUI. The widgets are outputted from the file output means 18 as a text-format SCPI file in the order in which they were operated, and the remote command generation function is terminated (ST10).

Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of the contents of a file stored in the command recording means 17. To explain the contents of the file in Figure 4, :UENTry:ID 1; means "switch the command output destination to measuring instrument unit 2 (unit ID: No. 1)", and :MODule:ID 7 means "switch the command output destination to measuring instrument unit 2 (unit ID: No. 1)". MODule:ID 6 means "switch the command output destination to the module 11a (module ID: No. 6)", and MODule:ID 6 means "switch the command output destination to the module 11a (module ID: No. 6)". Also, :OUTPut:DATA:BITRate, :INPut:DATA:EQUalizer:LFEQ:SET, :OUTPut:DATA:OUTPut mean each command linked to a widget on the GUI.

Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the case where one measuring instrument unit 2 including a plurality of modules 11a is remotely controlled by one external device 3 was explained as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a configuration in which a plurality of measuring instrument units 2 each having a plurality of modules 11a are prepared, and one external device 3 remotely controls the plurality of measuring instrument units 2 at the same time. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the device 3 remotely controls a plurality of measuring instrument units 2 while sequentially switching them. In this case, in order to support the recording and file output of SCPI commands including switching commands by operating the GUI described above, each of the plurality of measuring instrument units 2 is given a unit ID that identifies each one, and each measuring instrument unit The modules 11a included in the measurement unit 11 of No. 2 are also assigned module IDs that identify each module.

In this way, in this embodiment, the operation of widgets (parts such as buttons and text boxes) on the GUI of a measuring instrument unit equipped with a plurality of modules is linked to the equivalent remote command, including the switching command. This outputs remote commands equivalent to GUI operations and their arguments together with switching commands as SCPI commands to a text-format SCPI file in the order in which widgets on the GUI are operated. This enables customers to enumerate SCPI commands, including accurate switching commands, in the order in which they were operated and output them to a file, which is equivalent to operations on the GUI of a measuring instrument unit equipped with multiple modules, and provides instructions on how to use remote commands. There is no need to read manuals, measurement work can be carried out in a short time, and there is no chance of misinterpretation of the instruction manual, so there is no time loss such as rework, and usability can be improved.

Although the best mode of the measuring device and measuring method according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the description and drawings based on this mode. That is, it goes without saying that all other forms, embodiments, operational techniques, etc. made by those skilled in the art based on this form are included in the scope of the present invention.

1 Measuring device 2 Measuring instrument unit 3 External device 11 Measuring section 11a Module 12 Operation display section 13 Mode specifying means 13a Operation screen 13b Start/end button 13c Text box 13d, 13e button 14 Parameter selection means 15 Measurement control means 16 Interface 17 Command Recording means 18 File output means W Measurement object

Claims (4)

A measuring device (1) comprising a measuring instrument unit (2) to which a plurality of modules (11a) can be attached and detached, and an external device (3) for remotely controlling the measuring instrument unit,
A remote command including a command for switching the module is linked to each widget of the graphical user interface of the measuring instrument unit,
command recording means (17) for recording remote commands associated with the widget and their arguments as SCPI commands in the order in which the widget was operated;
A measuring device comprising: file output means (18) for outputting the recorded SCPI commands as a file in the order in which the widgets were operated. The measuring instrument unit consists of a plurality of units,
The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the remote command is linked to each widget of the graphical user interface as a switching command for the module and the measuring instrument unit. A measuring device (1) comprising a measuring device unit (2) to which a plurality of modules (11a) can be attached and detached, and an external device (3) that remotely controls the measuring device unit measures a measurement target (W). A measurement method that performs
associating a remote command including a command for switching the module with each widget of the graphical user interface of the measuring instrument unit;
when the widget is operated, recording remote commands associated with the widget and their arguments as SCPI commands in the order in which the widget is operated;
A measuring method comprising the step of outputting the recorded SCPI commands as a file in the order in which the widgets were operated. configuring a plurality of the measuring instrument units;
4. The measuring method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of associating the remote command with each widget of the graphical user interface as a switching command for the module and the measuring instrument unit.

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