Patent•
System and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions utilizing conversion of graphical programs into hardware implementations
25 Jun 2001-
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element and a graphical program is first created, where the graphical program implements a measurement function.
Abstract: A system and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element. A graphical program is first created, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function. The graphical program may include a front panel and a block diagram. The method then generates a hardware description based on at least a portion of the graphical program. The hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the graphical program. The method then configures the programmable hardware element in the instrument utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the graphical program. The instrument then acquires a signal from an external source, and the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal. The front panel may be used by a user to control the instrument during the measurement.
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Patent•
14 Apr 2004
TL;DR: In this article, the disclosure is directed to a sensor device including processing circuitry, at least one sensor coupled to the processing circuitry and memory responsive to processing circuitry including a static unique identification number.
Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a sensor device including processing circuitry, at least one sensor coupled to the processing circuitry, a serial data interface coupled to the processing circuitry and memory responsive to the processing circuitry. The memory includes a static unique identification number. The serial data interface provides access to retrieve the static unique identification number and sensed data measured with the at least one sensor from the memory.
621Â citations
Patent•
26 Oct 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, a system for monitoring a space external to the system is described, which includes a microprocessor, a memory coupled to the microprocessor and a sensor configured to detect at least one environmental parameter of the space and generate a sensor signal derived from the detected environmental parameter.
Abstract: A system for monitoring a space external to the system is disclosed. The system includes a microprocessor, a memory coupled to the microprocessor, a sensor configured to detect at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and configured to generate a sensor signal derived from the at least one detected environmental parameter of the space and at least one port for communicating with a network. The memory includes instructions for processing the sensor signal derived from the at least one environmental parameter of the space external to the system and the memory including a web server application. The at least one port is responsive to the microprocessor. The web server application is configured to provide a webpage associated with the sensor signal via the at least one port.
355Â citations
Patent•
29 Oct 2001TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system and method for configuring a device to perform a function, where the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources.
Abstract: A system and method for configuring a device to perform a function, where the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources. A program is stored which represents the function. A hardware configuration program is generated based on the program, specifying a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and usage of the fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function. A deployment program deploys the hardware configuration program onto the programmable hardware element, where, after deployment, the device is operable to perform the function, where the programmable hardware element directly performs a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element invokes the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. An optional measurement module couples to the device and performs signal conditioning and/or conversion logic on an acquired signal for the device.
224Â citations
Patent•
15 Aug 2002
TL;DR: In this article, a system including spreadsheet sheets, making calculations and data transformations, which is available through a programming interface, and conforms to the grammar and syntax of a target software development language is presented.
Abstract: A system including spreadsheet sheets, makes calculations and data transformations, which is available through a programming interface, and conforms to the grammar and syntax of a target software development language is presented. The system includes an Object Model with Data Structures representing entities involved in spreadsheets. The system includes a Parser and Code Generator that extracts data from a body of spreadsheet data, instantiates instances of Data Structures of the Object Model to represent the spreadsheet data, parses the data and formulas contained in the cells of the spreadsheets, iterates through the instantiated instances of the Data Structures, and generates source code that performs the calculations and data transformations embodied in the spreadsheet data. The system includes a Calculation Engine with software base classes that implement the common structural and data access features of spreadsheet data, and further implement the operations of common spreadsheet functions and operators.
199Â citations
Patent•
12 Jul 2002TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system and method for measurement, DAQ, and control operations which uses small form-factor measurement modules or cartridges with a re-configurable carrier unit, sensors, and a computer system to provide modular, efficient, cost-effective measurement solutions.
Abstract: System and method for measurement, DAQ, and control operations which uses small form-factor measurement modules or cartridges with a re-configurable carrier unit, sensors, and a computer system to provide modular, efficient, cost-effective measurement solutions. The measurement module includes measurement circuitry, e.g., signal conditioner and/or signal conversion circuitry, and interface circuitry for communicating with the carrier unit. The module communicates interface information to the carrier unit, which informs the computer system how to program or configure a functional unit on the carrier unit to implement the communicated interface, or sends the information directly to the computer system. The computer system programs the carrier unit with the interface, and the programmed carrier unit and measurement module together function as a DAQ, measurement, and/or control device. The carrier unit may receive multiple cartridges, each having a respective interface protocol, where the carrier unit is configurable to support the respective protocols sequentially and/or in parallel.
170Â citations
References
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Patent•
09 Apr 1987TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a method for programming a computer system having a display console for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument by the steps of displaying on the screen a first function-icon that references at least 1 first control module for controlling at least first function; displaying on screen at least 2 iteration-icon for controlling multiple iterations of data flow; and assembling a first acyclic data flow diagram, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing a value for each first function in the course of the first procedure.
Abstract: A method for programming a computer system having a display console for displaying images to control at least one of a virtual instrument and an instrument by the steps of displaying on the screen at least one first function-icon that references at least one first control module for controlling at least one first function; displaying on the screen at least one iteration-icon that references iteration control module for controlling multiple iterations of data flow; displaying on the screen at least one first input variable-icon that references at least one first input variable; displaying on the screen at least one first output variable-icon that references at least one first output variable; and assembling on the screen a first acyclic data flow diagram including the at least one first function-icon and the at least one iteration-icon and the at least one first input variable-icon and the at least one first output variable-icon, such that the diagram displays a first procedure for producing at least one value for the at least one first output variable-icon from at least one value for the at least one first input variable-icon, and such that the at least one iteration-icon in the diagram indicates multiple iterations of the at least one first function in the course of the first procedure.
551Â citations
27 Apr 1993
TL;DR: The authors build upon research by E. A. Lee (1991) concerning the token flow model by analyzing the properties of cycles of the schedule: sequences of actor executions that return the graph to its initial state.
Abstract: The authors build upon research by E. A. Lee (1991) concerning the token flow model, an analytical model for the behavior of dataflow graphs with data-dependent control flow, by analyzing the properties of cycles of the schedule: sequences of actor executions that return the graph to its initial state. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a bounded cyclic schedule as well as sufficient conditions for execution of the graph in bounded memory. The techniques presented apply to a more general class of dataflow graphs than previous methods. >
521Â citations
Patent•
10 Feb 1994TL;DR: In this paper, a technique for hierarchical display of control and dataflow graphs allowing a user to view hierarchically filtered control and flow information related to a design is presented, where the user can specify a level of detail to be displayed for any design element or group of design elements.
Abstract: A technique for hierarchical display of control and dataflow graphs allowing a user to view hierarchically filtered control and dataflow information related to a design. The technique employs information inherent in the design description and information derived from design synthesis to identify "modules" of the design and design hierarchy. The user can specify a level of detail to be displayed for any design element or group of design elements. Any CDFG (control and dataflow graph) object can be "annotated" with a visual attribute or with text to indicate information about the design elements represented by the object. For example, block size, interior color, border color, line thickness, line style, etc., can be used to convey quantitative or qualitative information about a CDFG object. Examples of information which can be used to "annotate" objects include power dissipation, propagation delay, the number of HDL statement represented, circuit area, number of logic gates, etc. The user is able to expand and/or compress CDFG blocks either "in-place" on a higher level CDFG display or to be displayed in isolation. Simulation-related data can also be used to annotate the CDFG. By viewing CDFG's (particularly annotated CDFG's) for a variety of trial designs, a problem-solving user can gain quick insight into the effects and effectiveness of various design choices.
482Â citations
TL;DR: The authors describe a systematic, heterogeneous design methodology using the Ptolemy framework for simulation, prototyping, and software synthesis of systems containing a mixture of hardware and software components.
Abstract: The authors describe a systematic, heterogeneous design methodology using the Ptolemy framework for simulation, prototyping, and software synthesis of systems containing a mixture of hardware and software components. They focus on signal-processing systems in which the hardware typically consists of custom data paths, finite-state machines (FSMs), glue logic and programmable processors. The software is one or more embedded programs running on the programmable components. >
301Â citations
Patent•
28 Sep 1993
TL;DR: In this article, a programmable logic device (PLD) is configured to modify a data stream, in particular a video stream, and the PLD can be connected to a memory resource.
Abstract: A video processing module designed for high performance using economical components. A programmable logic device (PLD) is configured to modify a data stream, in particular a video stream. The PLD can be connected to a memory resource. In addition, the PLD can be connected to a second PLD through an interruptable connection. The second PLD can be optimized for bus interface communication and connected to an external system, typically a host computer. The second PLD can take commands from the host to prepare a processing configuration for the first PLD and can connect when needed to download a configuration to the first PLD through the interruptable connection. An array of these modules can be connected in a systolic array to provide powerful, pipelined video processing.
259Â citations