JPH0623796B2 - Logic analyzer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a logic analyzer, and more particularly to a technique of timing analysis display thereof.

[Prior art]

A logic analyzer is used to analyze the operation of a digital application device such as a microprocessor and debug the software and hardware. As an analysis display function of this logic analyzer, there is a timing display function of analyzing the timing of each signal and displaying it on the display. FIG. 9 is a conventional block diagram of a configuration for performing a timing display function in a logic analyzer. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a data acquisition device, and digital signals of a plurality of channels from a probe connected to a logic analyzer are stored in a data memory provided in the data acquisition device 1. There are multiple types of probes connected to the logic analyzer. For example, a general-purpose probe called a logic probe, a probe for easily observing information on the GP-IB bus, and a RS232-C bus are provided. There are dedicated probes such as probes for facilitating observation of information and probes for facilitating observation of input / output signals of a microprocessor. The digital data stored in the data capturing device 1 is read out according to a control signal from the display control device 2 and displayed on the display 3, as described later. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are examples of the display screen of the display 3. As shown in these drawings, in the timing display area 4 of the display, digital signals of a plurality of channels from the probe are displayed in different rows for each channel. In this case, it is necessary to know on the screen which display data of each row is the data of the digital signals of the plurality of channels from the probe. Therefore, the display 3 is provided with a signal identification display area 5 on the left side of the timing data display area 4, and the display area 5 has a first identification area.
On the screen of FIG. 0, the channel number corresponding to each channel of the probe is displayed, and in FIG. 11, the signal name of that channel is displayed. The data of the channel display order and the signal name indicating which channel is set in which row is supplied from the selection device 6 to the display control device 2. The selection device 6 is supplied with the channel display order from the dedicated probe ROMs 7 ₁ to 7 n and the signal name data corresponding to each channel, and is supplied with a general-purpose probe R.
The channel display order and corresponding signal name data from AM8 are supplied. The selection device 6 is selectively controlled by a selection signal from a probe type setting device 9 such as a keyboard according to a probe connected to the logic analyzer. And
When the general-purpose probe is selected, the channel display order and the signal name data from the RAM 8 are supplied from the selection device 6 to the display control device 2, and when the dedicated probe is selected, the dedicated probe ROMs 7 _{1 to} 7 n. Among them, the channel display order and the signal name data from the selected dedicated probe ROM are supplied from the selection device 6 to the display control device 2. In the case of dedicated probes, the signal of which channel is known what signal is either in advance, in the 7 ₁ ~7n for each dedicated probe ROM, and a relationship between the signal of each channel when the display representation The channel display order and the signal name of each channel determined in consideration of ease of analysis such as viewing are written. Therefore, when the dedicated probe is connected to the logic analyzer, the display controller 2 creates the screen data of the display screen of the display 3 based on the channel display order and the signal name data from the selected dedicated probe ROM. , The screen is displayed on the display 3. The general-purpose probe has as many clips as the number of channels for connecting to an object to be analyzed, for example, a terminal pin of a digital IC, and the number of channels is, for example, a relatively small number of channels that can be displayed on the display 3, for example, 16 channels. Then, the signals of the respective channels are different depending on the analyzed object to which the clip corresponding to each channel is connected and also for the same analyzed object because the clip connection positions are different. Therefore, in the RAM 8, a channel display order file as shown in FIG. 12 and a signal name file as shown in FIG. 13 are prepared. 0 to
Channels 16 are written in order, and "NAME0" to "NAM" are used as the signal names of the channels in the signal name file.
E15 ”is written in advance. The contents of the display order file and the signal name file can be changed by the changing device 10 such as a keyboard to change the display order of each channel so that the signals between the channels can be easily seen and the signal name can be changed. I am trying. Therefore, when the general-purpose probe is selected, the display control device 2 creates screen data of the display screen of the display 3 based on the channel display order and the signal name data from the RAM 8, and displays the screen data on the display 3. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

As described above, conventionally, when the general-purpose probe is used, the channel display order and the signal name data can be changed, but when the dedicated probe is used, the channel display order and the signal name data written in the ROM are changed. Since the display is performed on the display screen based on the signal name data, the channel display order and the signal name could not be changed. By the way, as described above, the dedicated probe ROM is written with the channel display order and its signal name in consideration of, for example, arranging related signals next to each other for easy comparison. However, it is virtually impossible to have all relevant signals side by side on the screen. Therefore, in consideration of the fact that the signals to be compared are at distant display positions, conventionally, a measure such as providing a timing observation line 11 on the display screen as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has been taken. , It was hard to see. Further, the signal name is a name selected by the ROM designer, and the user of the logic analyzer often gives a unique signal name. Further, the present applicant previously proposed a dedicated probe as a dedicated probe for a microprocessor that can directly supply the input / output signals of a microprocessor without passing through a state analysis data conversion circuit to a logic analyzer (1991). However, in the case of such a dedicated probe for a microprocessor, the number of channels is extremely large, such as 40, for example. With such a large number of signal channels, it is impossible to display all signals at one time on one screen of the display screen of the logic analyzer. For this reason, when comparing signals that are not on the same screen, there is a drawback in that it is extremely difficult to make a comparison, such as displaying two screens alternately. An object of the present invention is to provide a logic analyzer capable of changing a channel display order and a signal name regardless of a general-purpose probe and a destination probe.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The logic analyzer according to the present invention includes a data capturing means for capturing and storing digital data of a plurality of channels from a probe, a display means for displaying the stored digital data in a timing format, and each channel from the probe. Of the plurality of first storage means for storing the channel display order data and the signal name data of the channel that determine the display order of the data of the above-mentioned display means, and the plurality of first storage means. Selection means for selecting a first storage means according to the type of probe used, and channel display order data and signal name data for each channel from the first storage means selected by the selection means Rewritable second storage means, and the channel display order data of the second storage means Means for rewriting, in accordance with the channel display order data from said second storage means, and display control means for displaying the digital data and signal names from the data capturing means on the display means.

[Action]

The first storage means corresponding to the probe connected to the logic analyzer is selected by the selection means, and the channel display order data and the signal name data of each channel from the selected first storage means are stored in the second storage. Written to the means. Then, the display control means displays the digital data from the data fetching means and its signal name on the display means in accordance with the channel display order data of the second storage means. The second storage means can be rewritten, and the channel display order data and the signal name can be rewritten by the changing means. Therefore, even when the dedicated probe is selected, the display order on the display screen of each channel can be changed, and the signal name can be arbitrarily changed.

【Example】

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a structure for executing a timing display function in a logic analyzer according to the present invention. In the present invention, as is apparent from FIG. 1, a RAM 14 having a channel display order file and a signal name file is provided between the selection device 16 and the display control device 12. 17 ₁ ~17n is ROM7 ₁ ~7n for similar dedicated probe and ROM in the conventional example described above, these ROM1
The channel display order and signal name data from 7 _{1 to} 17 n are supplied to the selection device 16. Further, in this example, the ROM 18 is provided for the general-purpose probe. This ROM1
A channel display order and initial setting values of signal names when a general-purpose probe is connected to a logic analyzer are written in 8, and the channel display order and signal name data from the ROM 18 are also supplied to the selection device 16. . The output of the selection device 16 is supplied to the ROM 14. This R
The AM 14 includes a channel display order file and a signal name file, but unlike the conventional general-purpose probe RAM 8 described above, a capacity capable of storing a large number of channels in consideration of a large number of channels such as a dedicated probe for a microprocessor. Have. Therefore, when any probe is selected by the probe type setting device 19, all the channel display order data from the selected probe ROM is written in the channel display order file, and the signal name data is written in the signal name file. All written. Instead of providing the initial value setting ROM 18 for the general-purpose probe, the initial value may be written in the RAM 14 by software when the general-purpose probe is selected. The contents stored in the RAM 14 are changed by the changing device 1 such as a keyboard.
It can be rewritten by 5. Then, based on the channel display order and the signal name data from the RAM 14, the display control device 12 displays on the display 13 the digital data and channel numbers or channels for a plurality of channels from the probe stored in the data capturing device 11. The corresponding signal name is displayed. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can be constructed by using a microcomputer, and the hardware in that case is shown in FIG. In the figure, 21 is a CPU, 22 is a program RO
M and 23 are work area RAMs, 24 is a communication bus,
27 is a keyboard. Digital data for a plurality of channels from the probe 25 is stored in the data capturing device 11, and is sent to the communication bus 24 as appropriate upon receiving a read request from the CPU 21. Then, the display control device 12 is C
Under the control of the PU 21, the above-mentioned timing data is displayed on the display 13. In this example, the probe recognition device 26 is the communication bus 24.
When the probe is connected to the logic analyzer and the probe is connected to the logic analyzer, the type of the probe is automatically recognized. That is, each probe has an identification signal indicating what kind of probe it is, and when the probe is connected to the logic analyzer, this identification signal is decoded by the probe identification device 26 to determine the type of the probe. . Next, in order to explain the function of the display control device 12 in detail, it will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. The channel display order data from the selection device 16 is stored in the RAM.
It is transferred to and written in the 14 channel display order file 14A. Further, the signal name data from the selection device 16 is transferred to and written in the signal file 14B of the RAM 14. In the channel display order file 14A, similar to the one shown in FIG. 12, the channel numbers displayed in each of the first to Nth (N ≧ the maximum value of the number of channels of the dedicated probe) are written. Also, the signal name file 14B
To the channel Ch0, as in the case shown in FIG.
The signal name of ~ ChN is written. Writing to these files 14A and 14B is controlled by the controller 30. Key input data from the keyboard 31 is supplied to the controller 30. Further, the information on the cursor position on the display screen and the key input data for the soft keys displayed on the touch panel type screen are supplied from the screen information input means 32 to the controller 30. The display control device 12 includes a data writing control unit 1
21, a channel number or signal name writing control unit 122, and a video RAM (hereinafter referred to as VRAM) 12
3 and a selector 124. The VRAM 123 is provided with a channel number / signal name storage area and a data storage area. The data write control unit 121 receives the control command from the controller 30, refers to the channel number of the channel display order file 14A, reads the data of the corresponding channel from the data memory of the data capturing device 11, and the data of the VRAM 123. Write to the address corresponding to the display order on the screen in the storage area. In this case, from the first display order to the number of channels that can be displayed on the screen, for example, up to the 16th, the VRAM 123 is used.
Write in. After that, for example, by pressing the next candidate key, data is written in the VRAM 123 for every 16 channels. It should be noted that the display order on the display order file displayed on the top line of the screen of the disc play 13 may be designated by key input, and the designated 16-channel data may be written to the VRAM 123. Good. Channel number or signal name writing control unit 122
In response to a control command from the controller 30, refers to the channel number of the channel display order file 14A and retrieves the channel number data from the channel display order file 14A or the signal name data from the signal name file 14B from the select 124. . And the selector 12
Set the channel number data or signal name data selected in 4 to V
Write to the address corresponding to the display order in the channel number / signal name storage area of the RAM 123. In this case, the channel number or signal name corresponding to each of the 16 channels of data written in the data storage area is VRAM.
Will be written in 123. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 described above, the data from the data storage area of the VRAM 123 is VR-displayed in the timing data display area 4 of the display 13.
The data from the channel number / signal name storage area of the AM 123 is displayed in the signal identification display area 5 of the display 13, respectively. Whether to display the channel number or the signal name in the signal identification display area 5 can be switched by operating the soft key displayed on the display 13. That is, when the soft key is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation information is supplied from the controller 30 to the channel number or signal name writing control unit 122, and the selector 124 is switched by the output of the control unit 122. The display control device 12 in the mode of the channel number display screen for displaying the channel number in the signal identification display area 5
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the operation in the above. Further, FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the display control device 12 in the mode of the signal name display screen for displaying the signal name in the channel number or signal name display area. In this example, the display order can be changed by changing the displayed channel number on the channel number display screen. The operation when changing the display order,
Description will be given with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the display screen of the display 13 is a display order changeable screen, which is a channel number display screen in this example (step 301). If it is a channel number display screen, the display order can be changed. For example, the operator moves the cursor to a channel number display position above or below the display order of one of the two channels of data to be compared, and inputs the channel number of the other data to be compared from the keyboard 31. In the controller 30, the display order i (i is the display order in the display order file 14A) selected by the cursor is temporarily stored (step 302). Then, in response to the key input of the channel number (step 303), the channel number of the display order i of the display order file 14A is rewritten to the channel number input by the key (step 304). Next, a control signal is supplied from the controller 30 to the display control device 12, and V corresponding to the display order i is processed in the same procedure as described above.
The contents of the address in the RAM 123 are rewritten with the channel number and the data of that channel that have been key-in (step 305). Then, the new channel number display screen is displayed on the display 13 (step 306). Similarly, on the signal name display screen, the signal name of the channel at the display order position selected by the cursor can be changed. FIG. 7 shows the flowchart. First, it is determined whether or not the display screen of the display 13 is the signal name display screen (step 401), and if it is the signal name display screen, the signal name can be changed. The operator moves the cursor to the signal name display position to be changed and inputs a new signal name from the keyboard 31. The display order i selected by the cursor is temporarily stored in the controller 30 (step 402), and the channel number of the display order i in the display order file 14A is searched (step 403). Upon receiving the key input of the signal name (step 404), the signal name of the channel number of the searched display order i in the signal name file 14B is rewritten to the new key input key name (step 405). Next, a control signal is supplied from the controller 30 to the display control device 12, and V corresponding to the display order i is processed in the same procedure as described above.
The contents of the address of the RAM 123 are rewritten to the signal name input by the key (step 406). Then, the new signal name display screen is displayed on the display 13 (step 407). As described above, not only when using a general-purpose probe,
The channel display order and signal names can be changed even when using the dedicated probe. Moreover, the channel display order can be changed even if the number of channels that can be displayed on the display is out of the range. That is, when the number of channels that can be displayed on the display is small and all the channels cannot be displayed on one screen, the channels that are not displayed on the display due to the channel display order change are called to the desired display order position on the display screen. be able to. Therefore, even when a dedicated probe with a large number of channels is used, comparison and examination of digital signals of all the channels can be facilitated. The above example is the case where one probe is connected to the logic analyzer, but there is also a logic analyzer that has substantially two logic analyzer functions and can use two probes. In such a logic analyzer, the display screen of the display can be switched or the display screen can be divided to display the timings of the digital signals from separate probes. In such a logic analyzer, there are cases where it is desired to compare signals from different probes, but conventionally, the only method of comparison has been to switch screens or compare split screens. However, according to the present invention, signals from different probes to be compared can be displayed as if they were signals from the same one probe as follows. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a logic analyzer which can use two probes. In the case of this example, two selection devices 16 ₁ and 16 ₂ are provided, each of which is a ROM 17 ₁ to 17 n and a ROM.
Display order data and signal name data corresponding to the probe type from 18 are supplied. Selection device 16 ₁ , 16
_The probes ₂ can be individually selected by the probe type setting device 19. The probe type setting device 19 can automatically recognize the probe and selectively control the selection devices 16 ₁ and 16 ₂ as described above. RAM for channel display order / signal name file in this example
Reference numeral 14 has a capacity capable of storing the display order and signal name data from the two probe ROMs. Then, for example, the number "1" is added to the channel number from the probe selected by the selection device 16 ₁ , and Ch0, 1, Ch1,
1, Ch2,1, set the ... channel number as, also, the channel number from selected by the selection device 16 ₂ probes by adding a number "2", Ch0,2, Ch
Channel numbers are set like 1, 2, Ch2, 2, ..., These channel numbers are written in the display order file, and these channel numbers C are written in the signal name file.
h0,1, Ch1,1, ... and Ch0,2, Ch1,
Write the signal name corresponding to 2, ... Then, based on the data from the RAM 14, the data from the data acquisition devices 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ which store digital data of a plurality of channels from the respective separate probes are displayed on the display 13 via the display control device 12. For example, Ch0,1, Ch1,1, Ch2,1, ...
Data from the data acquisition device 11 ₁ of
Ch1,1, Ch2,2, ... and dating from the data capture device 11 _2, and displays the 2 divides a screen of the display 13 to the left and right. In this device, on the display 13, for example, the cursor is moved to the channel number display device of the data from the data capturing device 11 ₁ and the channel number of the data from the data capturing device 11 ₂ is changed as the channel number.
Input from 9. Then, the content of the corresponding address of the display order file is rewritten to the changed channel number. Thus, the stored contents of the VRAM corresponding to the display order position of the data from the data acquisition device 11 ₁ which is selected by the cursor, the data and the channel number from the data capture device 11 ₂ of the modified channel number or Can be rewritten to the signal name. As a result, the modified digital data from the separate probe is displayed in its display order position. In this way, digital data from separate probes can also be reordered as one of multiple channels of data from the same single probe. In the above example, the channel number is used as the display order data, but the signal name may be used as the display order data. In this case, the display order can be changed by changing the signal name. Then, only the display order file needs to be provided in the RAM 14.

【The invention's effect】

As described above, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned data from the ROM storing the display order and signal name data for a plurality of probes are once transferred to the RAM and stored in the data capturing device based on the data from this RAM. Since the display order and data of the plurality of channels are determined and the signal names are displayed, the channel display order and the signal names can be easily changed even when the dedicated probe is used. The channel display order can be changed even if the number of channels that can be displayed on the display is out of the range. Therefore, even when a dedicated probe with a large number of channels is used, comparison and examination of digital signals of all the channels can be facilitated. In addition, when the present invention is applied to a logic analyzer that has substantially two logic analyzer functions and two probes can be used simultaneously, digital data from different probes can be converted into digital data from one probe. Since it can be handled in the same manner as above, the timing comparison of data from different probes can be easily performed by changing the display order.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an essential part of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of hardware when the present invention is configured by a microcomputer, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an essential part of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are explanations of operation of an example of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an essential part of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example of an essential part of a conventional logic analyzer, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are logic circuits. A diagram showing zero on the display screen of the analyzer, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing an example of the display order file and the signal name file. 11: Data acquisition device 12; Display control device 13; Display 14; RAM as an example of second storage means 15; Change device 16; Selection device 17 _{1 to} 17 n; ROM for dedicated probe 18; ROM for general-purpose probe

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Data capturing means for capturing and storing digital data of a plurality of channels from a probe, display means for displaying the stored digital data in a timing format, and data of each channel from the probe. From among a plurality of first storage means for storing the channel display order data that determines the display order in the display means and the signal name data of each channel and among the plurality of first storage means according to the type of the probe Selection means for selecting the first storage means according to the type of probe used, and writing for writing the channel display order data and the signal name data of each channel from the first storage means selected by the selection means. Rewritable second storage means, means for rewriting the channel display order data of the second storage means, According to the above-channel display order data from the second storage means, the logic analyzer and a display control means for displaying the digital data and signal names from the data capturing means on the display means.