Chapter 7.

Working in TOP View (Optional Feature)

7.2 Creating a TOP View

Whether in TIMED or ENCODED operating mode, the TOP View feature allows the user to acquire data over a period
of time while scanning an area of interest. One of four data-viewing options (identified as DATA SOURCEs in the
VIEW Menu) is displayed as it is acquired. The remaining DATA SOURCEs are automatically added to the
instrument’s data buffer from which they can be retrieved and viewed at any time (during TIMED mode) or when the
instrument is STOPped (Section 7.3) in ENCODED mode. While acquiring TOP View data, the KNOB EMULATOR /
TOP View Control Menu (identified in Figure 68 on page 153) includes controls that affect the scanning process;
however, only the STOP operation is enabled while acquiring data in ENCODED mode.
Note: During TIMED TOP View operation, all functions can be accessed and changed. However, during ENCODED
acquisition, most functions are blocked from change. Therefore, most instrument settings that are specific to
TOP View must be adjusted in TIMED mode prior to switching to ENCODED mode.
Acquiring TOP View Data in TIMED Mode
After the instrument is configured as described in Section 7.1.1 and Section 7.1.2, the TOP View display is
immediately active when the VIEW MODE Function (in the VIEW Submenu) is set to TOP. TIMED operation is
shown in Figure 67 on page 151
Note: While scanning in TIMED CONTINUOUS mode TOP View data is first added to the display screen, which
contains approximately the duration of data listed in the DISPLAY LENGTH Function box. When the screen is
full the initial data “scrolls” into the instrument’s data buffer. New data automatically causes the oldest data
in the buffer to be overwritten in TIMED CONTINUOUS. At any time, the TOP View scanning process can
be stopped, allowing on-screen and buffered data to be stored in a data set (Section 7.4). Storing data in a data
set or generating a report clears the data buffer. Therefore, if immediate data analysis is desired, this should be
performed before the file ACTION is taken. Alternatively, the stored data set can later be RECALLed to allow
for analysis.

Figure 67: TOP View display data, in this case acquired in TIMED mode, represents the projection of reflectors
from a region of interest (defined by the A- or B-Gate) onto a viewable plane. The TOP View display’s detailed
on-screen graticule and scale aids in determining a reflector’s size and depth within the test piece.

Phasor XS User’s Manual 151