Abstract: A method for the scheduled execution of program steps (target function) by the processor of a computer at predetermined times, in which a register of the computer is read repeatedly and this value is compared with a reference value representing the predetermined time, wherein when the read value corresponds to the reference value, the target function is executed in the processor. In the described method, a technique is used that is known by the English term “polling.” The disadvantage of the polling method is that it is not suitable for multitasking. This disadvantage is overcome by the present invention. This task is solved such that the reading of the register is performed within a start function that is executed by the processor as an interrupt service routine.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an image processing algorithm and automatically evaluating the performance of the algorithm. A user may develop an image processing algorithm in an image prototyping environment. The image prototyping environment may provide image processing functions for analyzing, processing, or manipulating various types of images. Once the user has developed an image processing algorithm, the user may execute the algorithm. In response to executing the algorithm, the execution time requirements of the algorithm may be determined. This information may be used, for example, in order to determine whether the image processing algorithm is fast enough to evaluate images that are acquired at a particular rate in a real-time application. The information may also help the user identify portions of the algorithm that need to be modified, e.g., because they are bottlenecks in the algorithm.

Abstract: A scanning system and method for scanning for an object within a region, or for locating a point within a region. Embodiments of the invention include a method for scanning for an object within a region using a Low Discrepancy Curve (LDC) scanning scheme. The method may: 1) generate a Low Discrepancy Sequence (LDS) of points in the region; 2) calculate an LDC in the region based on the LDS of points; and 3) scan the region along the LDC to determine one or more characteristics of the object in response to the scan. In calculating the LDC in the region based on the LDS of points, the method may connect sequential pairs of the LDS with contiguous orthogonal line segments (each parallel to a respective axis of the region), then sample the segments, generating points which may be used to generate the LDC, such as by a curve fit.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time processing of nondeterministic captured data events. The system includes data capture logic configured to capture data events from a nondeterministic data bus; a system memory including a plurality of addressable locations, where a subset of the plurality of addressable locations is configured as a data event buffer; a DMA transfer engine configured to transfer the captured data events from the data capture logic to a region of the data event buffer as portions of the captured data events become available from the data capture logic; and an application configured to retrieve captured data events from the data event buffer and to display the retrieved data events substantially in real time with respect to the occurrence of the corresponding captured data events on the nondeterministic data bus.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient transfer and buffering of captured data events. The system includes data capture logic configured to capture data events from a nondeterministic data bus; a system memory including a plurality of addressable locations, where a subset of the plurality of addressable locations is configured as a data event buffer; a DMA transfer engine configured to transfer the captured data events from the data capture logic to a region of the data event buffer as portions of the captured data events become available from the data capture logic; and an application configured to access the data event buffer to process the captured data events without the DMA transfer operation being stopped. In response to the region being filled, the DMA transfer engine may perform the DMA transfer operation to a different region of the data event buffer without the DMA transfer operation being stopped.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a curve, such as a Low Discrepancy Curve, on a surface, such as an abstract surface with a Riemannian metric. The system may comprise a computer which includes a CPU and a memory medium which is operable to store one or more programs executable by the CPU to perform the method. The method may: 1) parameterize the surface; 2) select a curve, such as a Low Discrepancy Curve, in a parameter space, for example, a simple space such as a unit square; 3) re-parameterize the surface, for example, re-parameterize the surface such that a ratio of line and area elements of the surface based on a Riemannian metric is constant; and 4) map the curve onto the surface using the re-parameterization. The method may also generate output comprising information regarding the mapped curve, for example, displaying the mapped curve on a display device.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a group of related products or devices. According to one embodiment, the user may first manually create a base test sequence, and child test sequences may then be created based on the base test sequence. The user may include various steps in the base test sequence, such that the base test sequence includes steps that need to be common to most or all of the child test sequences. The user may also configure parameters or properties for each step in the base test sequence, such that the parameter configuration is what is required for most or all of the child test sequences. Initial child test sequences may then be automatically created as instances of the base test sequence. The user may then manually edit the instances of the base test sequence to produce the desired child test sequences, such that each child test sequence is configured to appropriately test a particular product to which the child test sequence corresponds.

Abstract: A system and method for online configuration of a measurement system. The user may access a server over a network and specify a desired task, e.g., a measurement task, and receive programs and/or configuration information which are usable to configure the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task. Additionally, if the user does not have the hardware required to perform the task, the required hardware may be sent to the user, along with programs and/or configuration information. The hardware may be reconfigurable hardware, such as an FPGA or a processor/memory based device. In one embodiment, the required hardware may be pre-configured to perform the task before being sent to the user. In another embodiment, the system and method may provide a graphical program in response to receiving the user's task specification, where the graphical program may be usable by the measurement system to perform the task.

Abstract: A method for the direct call of a target function by a start function by means of a processor with a memory management unit (MMU) in a computer operated by an operating system. In today's multitasking operating systems, the call of a function of a first task by a second task is executed and managed by the task scheduler of the operating system. The time of the execution of the called function is uncertain and is dependent on the operating system as well as the tasks managed at every point in time by the operating system. One object of the invention is to disclose a method which enables a time-determined call of a function and which is executed immediately in connection with the call. This object is achieved in that the start function is a component of a first task with a first memory context and in that the first task performs a context switch from the first memory context into the other memory context and this memory switch is reversed after the execution of the target function.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a curve fit on a plurality of data points. In an initial phase, a subset Pmax of the plurality of points which represents an optimal curve is determined. This phase is based on a statistical model which dictates that after trying at most Nmin random curves, each connecting a randomly selected two or more points from the input set, one of the curves will pass within a specified radius of the subset Pmax of the input points. The subset Pmax may then be used in the second phase of the method, where a refined curve fit is made by iteratively culling outliers from the subset Pmax with respect to a succession of optimal curves fit to the modified subset Pmax at each iteration. The refined curve fit generates a refined curve, which may be output along with a final culled subset Kfinal of Pmax.

Abstract: System and method for creating measurement applications. The system includes a measurement task specifier for generating a measurement task specification (MTS) for a measurement task in response to user input; an expert system for analyzing and validating the generated MTS, and generating a run-time specification (RTS) for the measurement task; a run-time builder for analyzing the RTS, configuring one or more measurement devices according to the RTS, and generating a run-time which is executable to perform the measurement task. The system includes a storage system for storing the generated MTS, the generated RTS, and configuration information for one or more measurement devices. The expert system includes one or more measurement experts which analyze all or part of the MTS and populate complete or partial RTSs. The partial RTSs are iteratively populated by other experts to form complete RTSs. Competing RTSs may be assessed and a final RTS selected based upon user preferences.

Abstract: System and method for specifying timing or triggering (TT) in a graphical program (GP). A first polymorphic timing or triggering node (PTTN) is displayed in the GP in response to user input. TT type options for the PTTN are presented in response to user input. User input specifying one of the TT type options is received, and a second TT node (TTN) determined in response which corresponds to the specified type, and which provides TT functionality for the graphical program according to the type. The second TTN replaces the first PTTN in the GP, and connects to function nodes in the GP to provide TT functionality in the GP according to the type. The TTN includes a front panel with controls and/or indicators for interactively setting and/or displaying parameters according to the type, and a block diagram graphically representing the implementation of TT functionality according to the type.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying one or more graphical programs on a portable computing device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device. One or more selected graphical programs may be programmatically converted to an executable format that can be executed by the portable computing device. For example, the graphical programs may be initially represented as a plurality of data structures that define or specify the operation of the respective graphical programs, and conversion software program may operate to access these data structures from memory and convert the data structures to an executable format suitable for the portable computing device. The executable may be transferred to the portable computing device for execution.

Abstract: System and method for programmatically determining routing with signal modifications in a measurement system to perform a measurement task. Information is received specifying a route from a source terminal to a destination terminal in the measurement system, including signal modification requirements and a graph of possible routes in the measurement system. A current signal modification of the route is determined and used with the signal modification requirements to determine desired changes in the signal modification of the route. The legs of the route are walked in the graph, and one or more legs are replaced with respective alternative legs, each of which includes at least a portion of the desired changes in the signal modification, thereby generating a modified route which satisfies the signal modification requirements for the route, where the modified route is usable to route signals in performing the measurement task. The modified route is then stored.

Abstract: System and method for enabling a program to call into graphical program code via a shared library. A graphical programming system may export a graphical program to a shared library, such as a Windows Dynamic Link Library (DLL), Unix Shared Library, etc. A program, e.g. a text-based program, may then use the shared library to call into the graphical program. Graphical programs or subprograms may have associated inputs or outputs of various data types. When creating a shared library, a functional interface specifying parameterized versions of these inputs and outputs may be specified, either automatically or interactively. A program may then utilize this functional interface to construct an appropriate call into the shared library. A user interface enabling users to specify the mapping of graphical program inputs and outputs onto parameters of the functional interface is described. Multiple graphical programs or subprograms may be exported to a shared library.

Abstract: Individual test executive sequences may correspond to individual sub-components of a hierarchical system. To test a system sub-component directly without testing “upper” sub-components in the hierarchy, a first test executive sequence corresponding to that system sub-component may be executed directly, without requiring execution of test executive sequences above the first test executive sequence in the hierarchy, or requiring only partial execution of test executive sequences above the first test executive sequence in the hierarchy. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for enabling propagation or inheritance of test executive sequence local variables.

Abstract: A system and method for performing trajectory generation, interpolation, and control for a motion control application, where the trajectory generation, interpolation, and control are performed in parallel with each other. In one embodiment, an FPGA in a motion control device may be configured to perform the trajectory generation, interpolation, and control in parallel. Performing trajectory generation, interpolation, and control in parallel on an FPGA may increase the efficiency of the motion control application.

Abstract: A system for interfacing a host computer to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The system comprises a memory, an embedded processor and interface logic. The memory stores program code. The embedded processor couples to the memory and executes the program code. The interface logic interfaces the embedded processor with an interconnecting bus, e.g., the Real-Time System Integration (RTSI) bus. In response to execution of the program code, the embedded processor is operable to perform a CAN event in response to the interface logic receiving a RTSI trigger signal on a selected line of the RTSI bus. A peripheral device also coupled to the host computer assert the trigger signal in response to the peripheral device receiving and/or transmitting data. Furthermore, the interface logic is configured to assert a RTSI trigger signal on a selected line of said RTSI bus in response to the embedded processor performing a CAN event. CAN events include transmission/reception of a CAN frame.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring data over a communications medium using data transfer links. A host computer may couple to a device through a serial bus. A buffer of contiguous virtual memory addresses may correspond to non-contiguous physical addresses, which may be stored in a linked list of transfer nodes, preserving the order of the original virtual buffer elements. Each transfer node specifies a data transfer between the host and device, and may be executed by the device DMA Controller. Each node may contain source and/or destination address information, size of the data to be transferred, and a link to the next node. The transfer nodes may be transferred to the device using a double-buffering scheme wherein the device executes the nodes from one half of the link buffer while the host computer transfers further nodes to be executed to the other half of the link buffer. The buffer halves may be switched back and forth between these two processes until all links are executed.