Coded data generation or conversion – Bodily actuated code generator – With rotary dial
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-10
2001-05-08
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Coded data generation or conversion
Bodily actuated code generator
With rotary dial
C341S034000, C345S173000, C345S950000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229456
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to measurement instruments. More particularly, this invention relates to a measurement instrument display-based control knob.
2. Background
Various measurement instruments are known in the art, such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and reflectometers. Measurement instruments include instruments that generate test signals, instruments that merely measure or sample signals, and combinations thereof. Measurement instruments are used in a wide variety of applications, such as measuring engine vibrations, measuring electronic device voltages, measuring brain waves, etc. Historically, measurement instruments are analog devices, however, increasingly measurement systems are constituted with digital components. Furthermore, increasingly graphical user interfaces (GuIs) are being employed to assist users in control and operation of the instruments.
Measurement instruments typically provide a variety of user-controllable parameters in order for a user to “tune” the instrument properly to whatever signal(s) the user is trying to measure and to display the signal(s) in a manner useful to the user. Examples of such parameters include the center frequency of a spectrum analyzer, the vertical position of an oscilloscope trace, etc. Different mechanisms currently exist to allow users to adjust these parameters.
One such mechanism, illustrated in
FIG. 1
a
, is referred to as a “slider”. A slider is typically a vertical or horizontal line
101
along which a slide box
102
can be moved by a user. Values are changed by moving the slide box
102
along the line
101
(e.g., “clicking” and “dragging” the box
102
with a pointer). However, one problem with sliders is the inability to make fine adjustments. Rather, the user is limited by how finely he or she can move slide box
102
in a “click and drag” manner, as well as how “sensitivity” parameters for the slider are set up.
Another such mechanism, illustrated in
FIG. 1
b
, are up and down arrows
106
and
107
that allow a user to increment a value
108
by selecting up arrow
106
or decrement the value
108
by selection down arrow
107
. Selection of one of the arrows
106
or
107
is typically done by clicking the appropriate arrow with a pointer. However, problems with such arrows include the inability to allow different rates of adjustment (rather, a user is limited to clicking one of the arrows
106
or
107
) and the inability to provide graphical feedback of the change in value (rather, only the numeric value is displayed).
Another such mechanism, illustrated in
FIG. 1
c
, is referred to as a “type-in” value. A type-in value box
115
displays a current value for a parameter (the value
132
in the illustrated example). A user can alter the current value by simply entering a new value, such as by typing it on an alphanumeric keyboard. However, problems with type-in values include the inability to provide graphical feedback of the change in value (rather, only the numeric value is displayed), and the inability to provide any GUI-oriented inputs (rather, only typing in a particular value can be done).
Another such mechanism, illustrated in
FIG. 1
d
, is referred to as a “scroll bar”. A scroll bar is typically a vertical or horizontal “bar”
121
through which a user can drag a box
123
to alter parameter values. Additionally, values can be incremented by pressing an up arrow
127
or decremented by pressing a down arrow
125
.
However, one problem with scroll bars, as well as each of the other mechanisms in FIGS
1
a
-
1
c
, is that they lack the intuitive clockwise vs. counterclockwise mapping to increasing value vs. decreasing value found in manual control knobs to which people are accustomed. Furthermore, each of the mechanisms illustrated in FIGS
1
a
-
1
d
lacks the intuitive “stops” or “boundaries” in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions found in manual control knobs.
Thus, an improved parameter adjustment mechanism is needed. As will be discussed in more detail below, the present invention achieves these and other desirable results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for facilitating user interaction with a measurement instrument using a display-based control knob is described herein. A control knob glyph corresponding to a user-adjustable parameter of the measurement instrument is displayed, the control knob glyph having an indicator and a partially circular drag area through which the indicator can be rotated in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise manner. Inputs indicating amounts of rotational movement for the indicator can be received, and the location of the indicator within the drag area and the value of the parameter is changed in response to such inputs.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the control knob glyph also includes increment and decrement buttons. Thus, a user is able to alter the location of the indicator within the partially circular drag area by, for example, dragging the indicator itself, clicking in the drag area, or clicking on one of the increment or decrement buttons. Additionally, the position of the indicator within the drag area corresponds to the value of the user-adjustable parameter of the measurement instrument, both representing its current state and causing user-directed changes to its state.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a measurement apparatus includes a display device and a control subsystem coupled to the display device. The control subsystem provides a control knob glyph on the display device corresponding to a user-adjustable parameter of the measurement apparatus, the control knob glyph having an indicator and a partially circular drag area through which the indicator can be rotated in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise manner. The control subsystem can also receive an input indicating an amount of rotational movement for the indicator and the location of the indicator within the drag area and a value of the parameter is changed in response to the input.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4649499 (1987-03-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 5485600 (1996-01-01), Joseph et al.
patent: 5559301 (1996-09-01), Bryan, Jr. et al.
ToolBox 4.3 OTDR Test Application Software Instruction Manual, Mar. 1997, pp. 25-26.
Engholm Kathryn A.
Huff Larry Joe
Edwards, Jr. Timothy
Gray Francis I.
Horabik Michael
Sponseller Allan T.
Tektronix Inc.
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