Waveform measuring instrument with resident programmed processor for

Abstract

A waveform measuring and display instrument includes a digital memory unit to store digitized waveform samples for display on an X-Y plotting or monitor oscilloscope. A programmed processor includes an integrated interactive keyboard with user operated data reduction and calculating keys which actuate the processor to execute an appropriate one of a plurality of corresponding program routines in the processor memory to do the appropriate data reduction and calculation on the waveform array or related data. The memory unit and display unit include controllers with data communication provided by hardwire interfacing. The processor writes program tables for the controllers, with the memory unit shared by the data acquisition unit, the display unit and the processor. The interactive keyboard has separate keys for the four basic arithmetic functions and for compound mathematical functions, for operation on full arrays in memory and on individual numbers in special registers. The function keys are directly identified by the known arithmetic and compound function symbols employed in scientific analysis and discussion. Numeric entry keys and cursor positioning keys are provided. A pair of cursors are provided with user motion control keys and machine assist control keys. The processor includes a special sequence memory bank in which the processor stores user established sequences of keystrokes. The processor then, upon demand, directly executes the sequence of keystrokes on the appropriate data arrays and registers.