Automatic Capture And Storage Of Measurements In Digital Multimeter

Abstract

A digital multimeter includes an auto-save component configured to automatically capture and save a sequence of measurements. The auto-save component detects when a measurement becomes stable and upon determining that the measurement has become stable, captures and saves the measurement in a memory of the digital multimeter. The multimeter may additionally include an auto-naming component for automatically assigning a name to each measurement in the sequence, and an auto-hold component for temporarily freezing the display of the stable measurements in the multimeter.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A digital multimeter, comprising:
 a processor configured to receive measurement data corresponding to one or more physical or electrical parameters; and   a user interface for displaying measurement values and for receiving user input to place the digital multimeter in an auto-capture mode to automatically perform a sequence of measurements of the one or more physical or electrical parameters,   wherein when the multimeter is placed into the auto-capture mode, the processor initially operates at a first clock rate and the user interface displays measurement values until the multimeter enters a battery saver mode, and   further wherein in the battery saver mode, the user interface discontinues displaying measurement values, and the processor operates at a reduced clock rate while continuing to receive measurement data.   
     
     
         22 . The digital multimeter of  claim 21 , wherein the battery saver mode is triggered upon receiving a predefined user input. 
     
     
         23 . The digital multimeter of  claim 21 , wherein the battery saver mode is triggered upon passage of a first period of time wherein no user input is received. 
     
     
         24 . The digital multimeter of  claim 21 , wherein the multimeter exits the battery saver mode upon passage of a second period of time after entering the battery saver mode, and further wherein upon exiting the battery saver mode, the processor resumes operation at the first clock rate, and the user interface resumes displaying measurement values. 
     
     
         25 . The digital multimeter of  claim 21 , wherein the multimeter exits the battery saver mode upon receiving a new user input, and further wherein upon exiting the battery saver mode, the processor resumes operation at the first clock rate, and the user interface resumes displaying measurement values. 
     
     
         26 . The digital multimeter of  claim 21 , wherein when the multimeter is placed into the auto-capture mode, the processor operates at the first clock rate to determine which measurement values are stable and to store the stable measurement values in a memory. 
     
     
         27 . The digital multimeter of  claim 26 , wherein the stable measurements are stored with an auto-incrementing descriptor in the memory. 
     
     
         28 . A digital multimeter configurable to be placed in a first mode and a battery saver mode, the digital multimeter comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 upon the digital multimeter being placed in the first mode, operate at a normal clock rate to receive measured values of one or more electrical or physical parameters continuously being acquired by the digital multimeter; and 
 upon the digital multimeter being placed in the battery saver mode, power down at least one of the processor's clocks and cease receiving the measured values; and 
   a display configured to:
 upon the digital multimeter being placed in the first mode, display the measured values; and 
 upon the digital multimeter being placed in the battery saver mode, cease displaying the measured values. 
   
     
     
         29 . The digital multimeter of  claim 28 , wherein the digital multimeter is placed in the first mode upon receiving a first predefined user input. 
     
     
         30 . The digital multimeter of  claim 28 , wherein the digital multimeter is placed in the battery saver mode upon receiving a second predefined user input. 
     
     
         31 . The digital multimeter of  claim 28 , wherein the digital multimeter is placed in the first mode after a first time interval has elapsed while the digital multimeter is in the battery saver mode. 
     
     
         32 . The digital multimeter of  claim 28 , wherein the digital multimeter is placed in the battery saver mode after a second time interval has elapsed while the digital multimeter is in the first mode. 
     
     
         33 . The digital multimeter of  claim 28 , wherein in the first mode, the processor is further configured to determine which measurement values are stable and to store the stable measurement values in a memory. 
     
     
         34 . The digital multimeter of  claim 33 , wherein the stable measurements are stored with an auto-incrementing descriptor in the memory. 
     
     
         35 . A method for measuring electrical or physical parameters, the method comprising:
 continuously measuring a sequence of one or more electrical or physical parameters;   prior to activation of a battery saver mode, operating in a first mode to display measurement values of the one or more electrical or physical parameters and process the measurement values at a normal clock speed; and   upon activation of a battery saver mode, ceasing display of the measurement values and suspending processing of the measurement values.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the battery saver mode is activated upon receiving a first predefined user input. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising upon activation of the battery saver mode, returning to the first mode upon receiving a second predefined user input. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the battery saver mode is activated upon passage of a first period of time in the first mode. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising upon activation of the battery saver mode, returning to the first mode upon passage of a second period of time in the battery saver mode. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein in the battery saver mode, powering down one or more clocks in the digital multimeter. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein processing the measurement values comprises determining which measurement values are stable and storing the stable measurement values in a memory. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein storing the stable measurements comprises storing the stable measurements with an auto-incrementing descriptor.