Tektronix, Inc.

Donald L Taylor

Clark P Foley

A method for producing a statistical profile of a repetitive electrical signal entails selecting a window pulse width that is preferably a large multiple of the period of the signal, setting a comparison threshold, and counting the time that the signal is above (or below) the comparison threshold during the window pulse. The comparison threshold is then repeatedly incremented (or decremented) over the amplitude range of the signal, while this procedure is repeated at each level. The difference is then taken between the times measured at adjacent amplitude increments and the absolute value of these differences is displayed as the waveform profile. An apparatus for implementing this method includes a counter/timer, a gate, a comparator, a pulse generation circuit, a comparison threshold generation circuit, and a microprocessor for controlling the other circuit elements and performing calculations. The incoming repetitive signal is coupled to one input of the comparator and the output of the comparison threshold generation circuit is coupled to the other input. The output of the comparator is applied to the gate input along with the output of the pulse generation circuit. The output of the gate enables the counter/timer. The microprocessor controls the comparison threshold generation circuit and the pulse generation circuit, reads back the output of the counter/timer, and calculates the absolute value of the differences between times counted at adjacent amplitude thresholds.

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Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Donald L Taylor