Parallel trigger paths in a test and measurement instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023055303-A1
Application number	US-202217891901-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2022
Priority date	Aug 23, 2021
Publication date	Feb 23, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A test and measurement instrument includes an auxiliary trigger input port for receiving an auxiliary trigger signal, a digital trigger processor for generating a digital trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal, an analog trigger processor for generating an analog trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal, a user-configurable selector coupled to the digital trigger processor and to the analog trigger processor, the user-configurable selector configured to output either the digital trigger signal or the analog trigger signal as a selected trigger output signal of the instrument. Methods of creating parallel triggers are also described.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A test and measurement instrument, comprising:
an auxiliary trigger input port for receiving an auxiliary trigger signal; a digital trigger processor for generating a digital trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal within a first processing time; an analog trigger processor for generating an analog trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal within a second processing time that is faster than the first processing time; and a user-configurable selector coupled to the digital trigger processor and to the analog trigger processor, the user-configurable selector configured to output either the digital trigger signal or the analog trigger signal as a selected trigger output signal of the instrument.

2 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising an input channel for accepting an input signal for analysis by the instrument.

3 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 2 , further comprising an input through which a user may cause the instrument to use a selected one of the analog trigger signal or the digital trigger signal to control an acquisition of the input signal.

4 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 1 , in which the analog trigger processor includes a comparator structured to receive the auxiliary trigger signal and pass an output signal only when the received auxiliary trigger signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 4 , in which the analog trigger processor includes a pulse conditioning circuit.

6 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 5 , in which the pulse conditioning circuit includes a hold off input, and in which the pulse conditioning circuit refrains from generating an output when the hold off input is asserted.

7 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 5 , in which the pulse conditioning circuit accepts an input signal derived from the auxiliary trigger signal and generates an output signal having a predefined shape.

8 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 7 , in which the output signal has a predefined amplitude, width, or polarity.

9 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 2 , in which the digital trigger processor is structured to generate a second digital trigger signal based on conditions of the input signal received on the input channel.

10 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 9 , in which the conditions of the input signal to cause the generation of the second digital trigger signal are user defined.

11 . The test and measurement instrument according to claim 1 , in which the digital trigger processor a hold off input, and in which the digital trigger processor refrains from generating an output when the hold off input is asserted.

12 . A method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument, the method comprising:
accepting an input signal at an input port for evaluation; accepting an auxiliary trigger signal at a trigger port; generating a digital trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal; generating an analog trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal; accepting a trigger selection from a user; and passing the digital trigger signal or the analog trigger signal as an output of the test and measurement device, depending on the trigger selection.

13 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 12 , in which generating an analog trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal comprises comparing the auxiliary trigger signal to a predetermined threshold and passing the analog trigger signal only when the received auxiliary trigger signal exceeds the predetermined threshold.

14 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 13 , further comprising conditioning the analog trigger signal through a conditioning circuit.

15 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 14 , in which conditioning the analog trigger signal through a conditioning circuit comprises suspending a generation of the analog trigger signal while a hold off input is asserted.

16 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 14 , in which conditioning the analog trigger signal through a conditioning circuit comprises generating an analog trigger signal having a predefined shape.

17 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 16 , in which the analog trigger signal has a predefined amplitude, width, or polarity.

18 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 12 , further comprising generating a second digital trigger signal based on conditions of the input signal received on the input channel.

19 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 18 in which generating a second digital trigger signal based on conditions includes generating the second digital trigger signal based on user-defined conditions.

20 . The method of generating trigger signals in a test and measurement instrument according to claim 12 , in which generating a digital trigger signal from the auxiliary trigger signal comprises suspending a generation of the digital trigger signal while a hold off input is asserted.

Assignees

• Tektronix Inc

Inventors

• O'Brien Joshua J
• Andrews Jed H

Classifications

• G01R13/0254 Primary

  for triggering, synchronisation · CPC title