Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for programmatically/dynamically creating or editing a graphical program. The ability to programmatically create/edit graphical programs enables applications and tools to automatically create or modify a graphical program or a portion of a graphical program. In the preferred embodiment, any operation which a user may perform while interactively editing a graphical program (e.g., connect two objects, change the position of an object, change the color of an object, etc.) may be performed programmatically.

Abstract: System and method for determining the presence of an object of interest from a template image in an acquired target image, despite of or using various types of affine transformations of the object of interest in the target image. A template image discrete curve is determined from the template image corresponding to the object of interest, and a template curve canonical transform calculated based on the curve. The canonical transform is applied to the template curve to generate a mapped template curve. The target image is received, a target image discrete curve determined, and a target curve canonical transform computed based on the target curve canonical transform. The target canonical transform is applied to the target curve to generate a mapped target curve. Geometric pattern matching is performed using the mapped template and target image discrete curves to generate pattern matching results, and the pattern matching results are output.

Abstract: A reconfigurable test system including a host computer coupled to a reconfigurable test instrument. The reconfigurable test instrument includes reconfigurable hardware—i.e. a reconfigurable hardware module with one or more programmable elements such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays for realizing an arbitrary hardware architecture and a reconfigurable front end with programmable transceivers for interfacing with any desired physical medium—and optionally, an embedded processor. A user specifies system features with a software configuration utility which directs a component selector to select a set of software modules and hardware configuration files from a series of libraries. The modules are embedded in a host software driver or downloaded for execution on the embedded CPU. The configuration files are downloaded to the reconfigurable hardware. The entire selection process is performed in real-time and can be changed whenever the user deems necessary.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating URLs which reference one or more data sources or data targets connected to a computer. The data sources/targets may be of any type including files, http servers, ftp servers, hardware devices, etc. The generated URLs may be used together with a system such as the Data Socket system to seamlessly read data from disparate data source types or write data to disparate data target types without having to manually perform configuration, connection operations, data format conversion, etc. The URLs are generated automatically and contain all the information necessary for accessing the data source/target. This greatly abstracts a user or application from the I/O process.

Abstract: The coupling apparatus couples two circuit cards to fit into a larger chassis. A coupling element can connect two similar sized circuit cards or two different sized circuit cards together by coupling the first circuit card and the second circuit card to effectively form a combined circuit card of a larger size. The larger size may allow for more features, may make it easier to dissipate heat, may make the circuit cards easier to shield, and/or may allow for the use of larger and less expensive components on the circuit cards.

Abstract: A calibration unit and technique for calibrating A/D systems (e.g., data acquisition devices) using a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit to reduce nonlinearity. The calibration unit may be coupled to an analog-to-digital module (ADM) of the A/D system. The PWM circuit may generate a calibration signal with intentional ripple, which may exercise a region of a transfer curve of the ADM to reduce local nonlinearities in measurements associated with the calibration of the system. Pulse trains of varying frequency and duty cycle may be generated to sweep the PWM circuit through an ADM range and to calculate an ADM linearity correction function, which may be used to perform gain and offset correction with respect to a best-fit line through an ADM transfer curve to reduce large signal nonlinearities. The PWM circuit may include a resistor divider circuit including a plurality of taps to calibrate small input ranges.

Abstract: A system and method for logging results for a test executive sequence to a database. The test executive software may be operable to receive user input to a graphical user interface (GUI) to specify desired database result logging criteria. In various embodiments, any of various result logging criteria may be specifiable. For example, the user input may specify a mapping of the results for the test executive sequence to the database tables. The user input may also specify criteria for limiting the amount of data logged to the database, e.g., by filtering the results that are logged in various ways. The test executive software may then log at least a portion of the execution results for the test executive sequence to a database, according to the specified result logging criteria.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a prototyping environment application to automatically create a plurality of prototypes, wherein each of the plurality of prototypes is configured to perform a process to solve a particular problem. In response to receiving user input requesting the automatic creation of a prototype, the prototyping environment may display a list of items, wherein each item visually indicates a particular problem. In response to the user specifying an item, the prototyping environment is operable to create a prototype including a plurality of elements operable to interact in order to perform a process to solve the problem indicated by the specified item. The prototyping environment is preferably operable to receive and use solution information updates enabling the automatic creation of a new prototype, i.e., a prototype configured to perform a process to solve a new problem.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a module may have a slot for an input/output card. While cables may be connected to the card in the module, external forces acting on the cable and/or module may result in the cable pulling the card out of the module, damaging the connector or card. In some embodiments, a strain-relieving device may be used to counter these forces on the cable. In some embodiments, a positioning strip may be coupled to a base placed over the card in the module. In some embodiments, a cable grip may be coupled to the positioning strip through a bracket. In some embodiments, the cable grip may include two plates that are coupled to the bracket through fasteners. As the fasteners are tightened, a distance between the two plates may decrease, and a cable between the plates may be at least partially secured between the plates.

Abstract: A plurality of operator interface controls for use in a run-time operator interface application for executing one or more test executive sequences is described. Each operator interface control may have associated functionality for managing execution of a test executive sequence and/or functionality for displaying information regarding execution of a test executive sequence. One or more of the operator interface controls may be included in a run-time operator interface application, which may aid the user in easily creating the run-time operator interface application.

Abstract: System and method for determining the presence of an object of interest in a target image. Regions of a target image may be located that match an object of interest, e.g., in a template image, with respect to various information, e.g., luminance, color and/or other types of boundary information. The invention includes improved methods for mapping point sequences (e.g., pixel sequences) or curves to new point sets or curves for curve matching. The method determines the presence of an object of interest in a target image despite of or using various types of topological transformations of the object of interest in the target image. One or more mapping operators are determined based on template curves and/or example target curves. Pattern matching is performed on one or more target images using the mapping operator(s) to generate pattern matching results, and the pattern matching results output.

Abstract: Operations in an application may be displayed using a graphical programming representation. A plurality of interconnected icons may be displayed, where each icon corresponds to an operation included in the application. The plurality of interconnected icons may visually indicate a function implemented by operations in the application. Each displayed icon may correspond to a node in a graphical programming development environment.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a mechanical adapter may be used to couple a first circuit board (e.g., a motherboard) to a second circuit board (e.g., a daughtercard) in a module. The mechanical adapter may have a mounting portion and a configurable portion. In some embodiments, the mounting portion may be similar for multiple configurations of the mechanical adapter. In various embodiments, the motherboard may be similar for different modules. For example, the mechanical adapter may be configured to mount a specific type of daughtercard in the configurable portion, while the mounting portion may be similar to mounting portions on other mechanical adapters with different configurations for different daughtercards (e.g., the motherboard may be similar for each of the different configurations). Therefore, in various embodiments, a common mounting portion may mate to a common motherboard configuration for different products each configured to mount a different daughtercard.

Abstract: System and method for determining a mapping operator for use in a pattern matching application, where the mapping operator enhances differences between respective objects of interest and background objects, e.g., objects not of interest. First and second information is received regarding an object of interest and objects that may appear with the object of interest in an acquired target data set, respectively. The mapping operator is determined using the first information and the second information by determining a template discrete curve characterizing the object of interest, determining one or more target discrete curves characterizing the background objects, and generating a mapping operator that enhances differences between the mapped template discrete curve and the mapped target discrete curves. The operator is stored in a memory and is operable to be used in a pattern matching application to locate instances of the object of interest in acquired target data sets or images.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a graphical programming development environment to provide suggested graphical programming operations, such as suggested nodes or icons to include in a graphical program. User input specifying one or more nodes to include in the graphical program may be received. The one or more specified nodes may then be included in the graphical program. One or more suggested nodes to include in the graphical program may be then be automatically displayed or otherwise suggested to the user. The one or more suggested nodes may be based on the nodes already included in the graphical program. In various embodiments, the one or more suggested nodes may be displayed or otherwise suggested in various ways.

Abstract: System and method for graphically specifying hardware timing and triggering. A diagram is displayed graphically representing user-configurable timing and triggering components of a device, e.g., icons and signal paths representing operational relationships between the components, where timing and triggering for the device is determined by timing and triggering attributes. The diagram receives user input specifying one or more of the timing and triggering attributes, e.g., parameters, signal routes, etc., and the diagram modified, e.g., graphically configured, in accordance with the specified attributes, where the diagram represents configuration of the user-configurable timing and triggering components. Dependent attributes are programmatically computed based on the specified attributes. The specified attributes are stored and are usable to configure timing and triggering for the device. Program code for configuring the device may be generated based on the diagram.

Abstract: An instrument I/O assistant and the algorithms that may be used to manage instrument responses and that may provide an instrument-centric approach to message-based instrument I/O. The instrument I/O assistant may assist the user in parsing instrument responses by offering an environment to interact with an instrument response without forcing the user to write parsing code. Embodiments may be integrated into instrumentation control programs to make instrument I/O as transparent as possible. The instrument I/O assistant may provide code generation so that the parsing of an instrument response performed in the instrument I/O assistant can be reused. The saved code for one query and response may be referred to as a query block. Two or more query blocks may be saved into a task. A task is a series of executable query blocks. The task may be executed, or alternatively code may be generated to execute the task.

Abstract: A system and method for associating a block diagram with a user interface element. A block diagram associated with a user interface element may include graphical code, i.e., a plurality of interconnected nodes, for controlling functionality of the user interface element. For example, when the user provides user input to a user interface control, a block diagram associated with the control may receive the user input and may respond to the user input. As another example, in response to a user interface indicator receiving data for display, a block diagram associated with the indicator may receive the data and process it, e.g., to control how the data is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a program to subscribe to data and/or publish data, e.g., in order to receive and display data from a data source in a graphical user interface (GUI) element or in order to write data associated with a GUI element to a data target. In one embodiment, a developer of a program may specify a data source and/or data target during development of the program, e.g., via a URL. If a data source is specified, the method may operate to automatically determine a GUI element operable to display (or otherwise indicate) data received from the data source and may automatically include the GUI element in the program's graphical user interface (GUI) and automatically configure the GUI element to receive and display data from the specified data source during execution of the program. In the preferred embodiment, the developer is not required to specify any source code for the program in performing this configuration.