Patents Assigned to National Instruments
  • Publication number: 20130243057
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20130243058
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Publication number: 20130243061
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Dark
  • Publication number: 20130243060
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Dark, Christopher J. Behnke
  • Patent number: 8539443
    Abstract: Analyzing code written in a loosely typed language. User input specifying code for a script may be received. The specified code may be analyzed. More specifically, one or more code portions referenced by the specified code may be determined. Properties of symbols of the specified code and the one or more code portions may also be determined. Additionally, the specified code may be analyzed using the determined properties to determine errors in the specified code. Accordingly, one or more errors may be graphically indicated based on said analyzing. Receiving the user input, analyzing the specified code, and graphically indicating the one or more errors may be performed at edit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Rishi H. Gosalia, Jesse M. Attas, Bryan A. Marker
  • Patent number: 8539440
    Abstract: System and method for managing and specifying hardware implementation of a graphical program. A graphical program that implements an algorithm is stored in a memory of a computer system. The graphical program meets one or more first specified implementation requirements and is targeted for deployment to a programmable hardware element. A plurality of sets of descriptive directives are also stored in the memory, where the descriptive directives are associated with the graphical program and specify one or more additional specified implementation requirements, e.g., memory resource implementations, optimization directives, and so forth, where the additional directives result from programmatic and/or user-specification. Each set of descriptive directives is useable by a synthesis tool to generate a respective hardware configuration program for deployment to the graphical programmable hardware element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Tianming Liang, Kosta Ilic, Jonathan Hawks, Ariane Chan-You, Gerardo Garcia, Lei Song
  • Patent number: 8539367
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically re-positioning one or more nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program in response to a new node being displayed in the block diagram are described. A new node may be displayed at a first position in the block diagram in response to user input. One or more of the plurality of nodes already in the block diagram may be automatically re-positioned in response to displaying the new node at the first position. In other embodiments, a particular node in the block diagram may be moved from a first position to a second position in response to user input, and one or more of the other nodes may be automatically re-positioned in response to the user moving the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Roger F. Dickey
  • Patent number: 8539505
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for automatically arranging or positioning objects included in a selected portion of a graphical program are described. A user may select a first portion of the graphical program. The graphical programming development environment may automatically re-arrange the selected first portion of the graphical program without re-arranging the rest of the graphical program. For example, nodes in the first portion of the graphical program may be automatically re-positioned so as to better organize the first portion of the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Kodaganur, Subbaiah Kandera Gopal, Vineeth Kashyap, Craig Smith, Bharath Dev
  • Patent number: 8533670
    Abstract: System and method for executing a graphical program on a first computer and providing a user interface of the graphical program on a second computer, where the graphical program includes a plurality of interconnected function icons representing graphical data flow of a function. Information indicating a plurality of graphical programs on the first computer, e.g., a list, may be displayed on the second computer, and user input specifying the graphical program on the first computer received to the second computer, e.g., selecting the graphical program from the list of graphical programs. The graphical program is executed on the first computer, and information describing the user interface of the graphical program is provided to the second computer during execution. The user interface of the graphical program is displayed on the second computer, facilitating interaction between a user of the second computer and the graphical program executing on the first computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Dye, Darshan Shah, Steve Rogers, Greg Richardson, Dean A. Luick
  • Patent number: 8530758
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed. The connector includes a conductive housing. The conductive housing includes a wall region enclosing a space for receiving an adapter. The conductive housing also includes an annular end piece extending radially inward from a first end of the wall region and terminating the space. The annular end piece includes a flat annular surface, and a raised deformable annulus mounted on the flat annular surface. The raised deformable annulus is of a height such that an insertion of the adapter into the space deforms the raised deformable annulus to generate a physical contact connection between the flat annular surface and the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Ron Jay Barnett, Gregory Stephen Gonzales
  • Patent number: 8533739
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for automatically arranging or positioning objects in a block diagram of a graphical program are described. The graphical program may include a first plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, where the first plurality of interconnected nodes includes a structure object having a border visually defining a sub-diagram that includes a second plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the structure object. The method may operate to automatically re-arrange the graphical program. Re-arranging the graphical program may include shifting the structure object and the second plurality of interconnected nodes included in the sub-diagram of the structure object to new locations without re-arranging the second plurality of interconnected nodes with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Kodaganur, Subbaiah Kandera Gopal, Vineeth Kashyap, Craig Smith, Bharath Dev
  • Patent number: 8533738
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for automatically re-arranging a graphical program are described. The method may operate to receive user input excluding a portion of the graphical program from re-arrangement, and to then automatically re-arrange the graphical program without re-arranging the excluded portion of the graphical program. In various embodiments, the objects in the non-excluded part of the may be re-positioned so as to better organize the graphical program or enable a user to more easily view or understand the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Kodaganur, Subbaiah Kandera Gopal, Vineeth Kashyap, Craig Smith, Bharath Dev
  • Patent number: 8527964
    Abstract: System and method for creating a measurement application. User input specifying a sequence of functions implementing a measurement application is received, where the sequence of functions are executable to perform a specified task utilizing one or more hardware devices, and where the user input further specifies the hardware devices. Configuration of the measurement application is automatically analyzed according to rules specifying operation of the sequence of functions and the hardware devices. One or more errors in the measurement application are automatically determined based on the analyzing, and error information regarding the errors is displayed on a computer display, where the error information is usable to modify the measurement application to correct the one or more errors. In response to the error information, user input modifying the measurement application to correct the one or more errors may be received and/or the measurement application may be automatically modified to correct the errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Alain G. Moriat, Patrick J. Christmas
  • Publication number: 20130215986
    Abstract: A mechanism for jointly correcting carrier phase and carrier frequency errors in a demodulated signal. A computer system may receive samples of a baseband input signal (resulting from QAM demodulation). The computer system may compute values of a cost function J over a grid in a 2D angle-frequency space. A cost function value J(?,?) is computed for each point (?,?) in the grid by (a) applying a phase adjustment of angle ? and a frequency adjustment of frequency ? to the input signal; (b) performing one or more iterations of the K-means algorithm on the samples of the adjusted signal; (c) generated a sum on each K-means cluster; and (d) adding the sums. The point (?e, ?e) in the 2D angle-frequency space that minimizes the cost function J serves an estimate for the carrier phase error and carrier frequency error. The estimated errors may be used to correct the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: National Instruments Corporation
  • Patent number: 8516436
    Abstract: A system and method for encapsulating a graphical program within an image or other object are described. Graphical program information representing the graphical program may be stored within the image. The graphical program information may specify a plurality of interconnected nodes of the graphical program. In addition to the graphical program information, the image also includes pixel information for displaying the image. The image may subsequently be provided to a graphical programming development environment. The graphical programming development environment may retrieve the graphical program information from the image and use the graphical program information to automatically instantiate an editable, executable version of the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Anthony Hogg, J. Wesley Reynolds, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8514978
    Abstract: Receiving a modulated carrier signal that is modulated using a reference signal, wherein an acquisition by a digitizer is synced to the reference signal such that the modulated carrier signal has known timing with respect to a start of an acquisition within the digitizer. Further including routing the modulated carrier signal through a receiver system to generate a processed signal, receiving the processed signal at the digitizer, digitizing the processed signal at the digitizer, and determining a delay of the modulated carrier signal routed through the receiver system based on the timing of the processed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Wertz, Charles L. Corley, II, Kunal H. Patel
  • Patent number: 8510709
    Abstract: System and method for automatically parallelizing iterative functionality in a data flow program. A data flow program is stored that includes a first data flow program portion, where the first data flow program portion is iterative. Program code implementing a plurality of second data flow program portions is automatically generated based on the first data flow program portion, where each of the second data flow program portions is configured to execute a respective one or more iterations. The plurality of second data flow program portions are configured to execute at least a portion of iterations concurrently during execution of the data flow program. Execution of the plurality of second data flow program portions is functionally equivalent to sequential execution of the iterations of the first data flow program portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Adam L. Bordelon, Robert E. Dye, Haoran Yi, Mary E. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 8503184
    Abstract: Provided in some embodiment is a module locking device including a first member coupled to a computer chassis during use, a second member coupled to the first member via a hinge. The hinge enables the second member to move between a first position that inhibits removal of one or more modules from the computer chassis during use and a second position that facilitates removal of one or more modules from the computer chassis during use. The module locking device also includes a locking mechanism that selectively locks the second member in the first position to inhibit removal of one or more modules from the computer chassis during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: John N. Hanna
  • Patent number: 8499932
    Abstract: Software media packaging apparatus and associated method for manufacturing. The software media packaging apparatus may include first and second panels. The first and second panels may be connected to each other on three edges to define an enclosure. A media storage flap may be attached to the second panel and may be adapted to hold one or more software media. The media storage flap may be perforated with one or more perforations. Each perforation may be adapted to hold a software medium. The media storage flap may be foldable across the second panel. First and second sealer flaps may be connected to at least two edges of the first panel. The first and second sealer flaps may be adapted to fold over and attach to the enclosure and the media storage flap, thereby holding the media storage flap adjacent to and substantially coplanar with the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy G. Hicks, Ciaran P. Harte
  • Patent number: 8494622
    Abstract: A system, method, and memory medium for operating on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. A multiscale short-time Fourier transform (STFT) is perform on a set of ECG samples {s(n)} to obtain a transform array. For each sufficiently energetic peak in the transform array, a refined window width value and a refined window displacement value is generated by: computing an inner product between the set of samples and each of a plurality of functions, where the plurality of functions are sufficiently close to a coarse approximation function given by the peak location; and solving a linear system Av=c for the unknown vector v, where the vector c is determined by the inner products, where the matrix A is determined by the center times of the plurality of functions. After appropriate selection, the refined window width and refined window displacement may be used to represent ECG waveform features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Zhijun Gu, Nanxiong Zhang, Shie Qian