Run-time configurable graphical interface for measuring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10386394-B2
Application number	US-39715609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2009
Priority date	Mar 3, 2008
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A measuring device providing a display device. The operation of the measuring device can be adapted by a user. In this context, operation includes the input and output of parameters in dialogs and the switching between dialogs. The display device displays the dialogs and can display several dialogs simultaneously. The input of given values in given dialogs effects the opening and/or closing of at least one respectively associated further dialog. The content and/or the position and/or the form and/or the linking of the dialogs are adapted. The operation of the measuring device is functional during the adaptation. Exclusively the currently-displayed dialogs are adaptable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for configuring an operation of a measuring device that has a display device, the method comprising:
displaying dialogs for a measuring operation in a graphical user interface by the display device,
wherein the displayed dialogs of the measuring operation includes input and output of parameters in dialogs, switching between dialogs, and displaying several dialogs simultaneously;
wherein a dialog contains at least one further subdivided dialog forming a dialog structure, and several dialogs are displayed superimposed and partially transparent;
upon a first user input of given values in the displayed dialogs, at least one respectively associated further dialog is opened, closed, or combination thereof,
during the measuring operation, while the measuring operation of the measuring device is functional, retrospectively modified the displayed dialogs:
upon a second user input of activation of a dialog editor, display the dialog editor and the dialogs for the measuring operation simultaneously on the display;
upon a third user input selecting a dialog element from the currently displayed dialogs via a selection menu of possible dialog elements sorted according to categories, display a selection menu of control types for the selected dialog element;
upon a fourth user input selecting a control type for the selected dialog element from the selection menu of control types, display a preview of the selected control type for the selected dialog element;
upon a fifth user input positioning the selected control type for the selected dialog element in the currently displayed dialogs, replace the selected dialog element in the existing displayed dialogs with the selected control type for the selected dialog element;
upon additional user inputs, changing a content, a position, a form, a linking, or combination thereof, of the displayed dialogs using the dialog editor, wherein new dialogs are prepared and dialogs that are no longer needed are removed; and
applying changes to the displayed dialogs, and storing the changed dialogs in a databank;

wherein the measuring device is an oscilloscope or a network analyzer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
text, graphics, or combination thereof, can be displayed using output fields, and
numerical values, texts, or combination thereof, can be input or preset entries can be selected by means of input fields.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the parameters are stored in the databank.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein,
upon the input of a parameter in a dialog, the displayed dialogs are automatically updated, and associated dialogs are automatically opened, closed, or combination thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
values of the parameters, which are input in a dialog are available in all further dialogs, in which the parameters are displayed.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
several dialogs are displayed on the graphical user interface device side-by-side, one above the other, or combination thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the dialogs are presented with an adjustable degree of transparency.

8. A measuring device comprising:
a display device; and
a processing device configured to configure a measuring operation of the measuring device, the processing device comprises a memory storing instructions executable to perform:
displaying dialogs for the measuring operation in a graphical user interface by the display device;
wherein the displayed dialogs of the measuring operation includes input and output of parameters in dialogs, switching between dialogs, and displaying several dialogs simultaneously;
wherein a dialog contains at least one further subdivided dialog forming a dialog structure, and several dialogs are displayed superimposed and partially transparent;
upon a first user input of given values into the displayed dialogs, at least one respectively associated further dialog is opened, closed, or combination thereof,
during the measuring operation, while the measuring operation of the measuring device is functional, retrospectively modified the displayed dialogs:
upon a second user input of activation of a dialog editor, display the dialog editor and the dialogs for the measuring operation simultaneously on the display;
upon a third user input selecting a dialog element from the currently displayed dialogs via a selection menu of possible dialog elements sorted according to categories, display a selection menu of control types for the selected dialog element;
upon a fourth user input selecting a control type for the selected dialog element from the selection menu of control types, display a preview of the selected control type for the selected dialog element;
upon a fifth user input positioning the selected control type for the selected dialog element in the currently displayed dialogs, replace the selected dialog element in the existing displayed dialogs with the selected control type for the selected dialog element;
upon additional user inputs, changing a content, a position, a form, a linking, or combination thereof, of the displayed dialogs via the dialog editor, wherein new dialogs are prepared and dialogs that are no longer needed are removed;
applying changes to the displayed dialogs, and storing the changed dialogs in a databank;

wherein the measuring device is an oscilloscope or a network analyzer.

9. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein
the graphical user interface displays text, graphics, or combination thereof, by means of output fields, and
numerical values, texts, or combination thereof, can be input or preset entries can be selected using input fields.

10. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein
the processing device stores parameters in the databank.

11. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein,
upon the input of a parameter in a dialog, the processing device automatically updates the displayed dialogs and automatically opens, closes, or combination thereof, associated dialogs.

12. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein
the values of the parameters, which are entered in a dialog, are available in all further dialogs, in which the parameters are displayed.

13. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein
the graphical user interface displays several dialogs side-by-side, one above the other, or combination thereof.

14. The measuring device according to claim 8 , wherein
the graphical user interface displays the dialogs with an adjustable degree of transparency.

Assignees

• Eibl Joachim
• Rohde & Schwarz

Inventors

• Eibl Joachim

Classifications

• G01R19/2516 Primary

  Modular arrangements for computer based systems; using personal computers (PC's), e.g. "virtual instruments" · CPC title

• G01R31/31912

  Tester/user interface · CPC title

• G06F8/34

  Graphical or visual programming · CPC title

• G01R1/025

  concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards (G01R31/31912 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R13/029

  Software therefor · CPC title