Patents Assigned to National Instruments
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Patent number: 8392878Abstract: System and method for including an in-place structure in a graphical program. Input including the structure in the graphical program may be received, where the structure is displayed in the graphical program. At least one graphical program node may be associated with the structure. The at least one graphical program node may be executable to manipulate at least one of a first element or a second element. The structure may specify that data memory of the first element is useable as the data memory of the second element in the graphical program. The structure may be usable by a development environment to reduce memory usage of the graphical program during execution.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Steven W. Rogers
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Patent number: 8392740Abstract: An analog-to-digital-converter (ADC) timing engine may simplify the use of Delta-Sigma ADCs by compensating for the group-delay of the ADC. The compensation may render the group-delay corresponding to the ADC largely transparent to the end-user of the ADC. Therefore, multiple ADCs may be easily synchronized with each other, even if they have different group-delays, and they may further be synchronized with other types of ADCs that do not have group-delays. The data from the ADCs may also be synchronized with external events. The ADC timing engine (ATE) may be programmed with a number of parameters to set proper delays taking into account not only the group-delays corresponding to the various ADC, but delays stemming from a variety of other sources. Multiple ATEs may be synchronized with each other to ensure that data acquisition by the participating ADCs is started and/or stopped at the same point in time.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Adam H. Dewhirst, Rafael Castro Scorsi
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Patent number: 8392879Abstract: A system and method for dynamically determining a plurality of possible or valid parameter values and automatically including one of the parameter values in a software program. In one embodiment, the plurality of possible parameter values may be dynamically determined based on a hardware configuration of a computer system. A graphical user interface for selecting a parameter value may be displayed. The graphical user interface may visually indicate the plurality of dynamically determined possible parameter values and may allow a user to easily select one of the possible parameter values for inclusion in the software program. User input may be received to the graphical user interface to select a first parameter value from the plurality of possible parameter values. The first parameter value may be programmatically included in the software program in response to the first parameter value being selected.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Patrick Williams, David Rohacek
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Patent number: 8392876Abstract: System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Paul F. Austin, Ramprasad Kudukoli
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Patent number: 8387002Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method enabling a guard condition for a statechart to be defined using graphical data flow code. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method enabling an action for a statechart to be defined using graphical data flow code. The statechart may be created in response to user input, e.g., user input to a statechart development environment that includes a graphical statechart editor. The graphical data flow code that defines the guard condition or the action may be created in response to user input to a graphical data flow code editor. In some embodiments the graphical data flow code editor may be integrated with or embedded in the graphical statechart editor.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Christina M. Dellas, Kevin M. Hogan
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Patent number: 8386464Abstract: A method and system is presented which provides a TDM framework for managing self-describing measurement data. The TDM framework provides applications with a central platform for accessing measurement data across an entire enterprise system. By means of individual plug-ins, which may be specific to a given data file format, meta-data for each data store in the enterprise may be indexed in a unified manner. The unified indexing, in turn, provides the ability to browse and query the indexed measurement data without requiring the opening or reading from a source data file.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Andreas Peter Haub, Stefan Romainczyk, Ralf Deininger, Helmut Helpenstein, Andreas Krantz, Myrle H. Krantz, Eva Wolpers
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Patent number: 8378693Abstract: A front end of a vector network analyzer (VNA) on an integrated circuit includes a clock generator and two ports. The VNA couples to a device under test (DUT) using the two ports. Each port may include a plurality of receivers and a VSWR bridge, and can be configured as either an input or an output. The clock generator can generate a stimulus signal, an in-phase I clock signal, and a quadrature-phase Q clock signal. The output port provides the stimulus signal to the DUT and measures both reference and reflected power from the DUT, such as by utilizing two receivers by using direct conversion and the I and Q clock signals. The input port measures transmitted power through the DUT using a second VSWR bridge and one of its receivers by using direct conversion along with the I and Q clock signals. The VNA IC can provide S-parameter measurements to a processing unit for further processing and/or analysis to compute the DUT S-parameters.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Michel M. Azarian
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Patent number: 8381174Abstract: System and method for deterministic modification of global variables in a graphical program. Input including the structure in the graphical program may be received, where the structure is displayed in the graphical program. At least one graphical program node is associated with the structure. The at least one graphical program node may be executable to modify the value of a global variable. During execution of the graphical program the structure ensures deterministic modification of values of the global variable.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Steven W. Rogers
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Patent number: 8374552Abstract: Testing a plurality of communication devices. A plurality of signals may be received from the plurality of communication devices. The plurality of signals may include a signal from each of the plurality of communication devices, where a first subset of the plurality of signals has a different frequency than a second subset of the plurality of signals. The received signals may be combined into a combined signal. The combined signal may be downconverted to a combined signal, e.g., by mixing the combined signal with an output from at least one local oscillator. The downconverting may generate a plurality of lower frequency signals, each corresponding to one of the plurality of received signals. Testing may be performed on each of the plurality of lower frequency signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Craig E. Rupp, Richard Henry Mace Keene
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Patent number: 8375357Abstract: System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Paul F. Austin, Malcolm I. Smith, Brock J. Reeve
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Patent number: 8375355Abstract: System and method for converting a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program. A first data flow program is received, where the first data flow program is an object oriented program comprising instances of one or more classes, and wherein the first data flow program is executable to perform a first function. The first data flow program is automatically converted to a second data flow program, where the second data flow program does not include the instances of the one or more classes, and where the second data flow program is executable to perform the first function. The second data flow program is stored on a computer memory, where the second data flow program is configured to be deployed to a device, e.g., a programmable hardware element, and where the second data flow program is executable on the device to perform the first function.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Stephen R. Mercer, Akash B. Bhakta, Matthew E. Novacek
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Patent number: 8364446Abstract: System and method for approximating a system. A multi-parameter representation of a family of systems is stored. An embedding of the family into an abstract geometrical continuous space with a metric and defined by the parameters is determined. Coordinates of the space specify values for the parameters of systems of the family. The space includes a grid of points representing respective discrete approximations of the systems. A first point corresponding to a desired instance of a system is determined. The first point's coordinates specify values for the parameters of the instance. The space is sampled using a mapping of a well-distributed point set from a Euclidean space of the parameters to the abstract space. A nearest discrete point to the first point is determined which specifies values for parameters for an optimal discrete approximation of the desired instance, which are useable to implement the discrete approximation of the desired instance.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: James M. Lewis, Michael D. Cerna, Kyle P. Gupton, James C. Nagle, Yong Rao, Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Darren R. Schmidt, Bin Wang, Benjamin R. Weidman, Lothar Wenzel, Naxiong Zhang
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Patent number: 8359567Abstract: A system and method for specifying timing relationships among nodes in a graphical program. User input specifying desired timing of a first node with respect to timing of a second node may be received. In various embodiments, any kind of timing relationship or timing constraint between the first node and the second node may be specified. Timing information may be displayed on the display to visually indicate the timing of the first node with respect to timing of the second node. In one embodiment, displaying the timing information may comprise displaying a timing wire between the first node and the second node. The graphical program may be executed in such a way that the visually indicated timing of the first node with respect to timing of the second node is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jacob Kornerup, Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo A. Andrade, Biren Shah, Aljosa Vrancic, Michael L. Santori
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Patent number: 8356290Abstract: System and method for converting a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program. A first data flow program is received, where the first data flow program is an object oriented program comprising instances of one or more classes, and wherein the first data flow program is executable to perform a first function. The first data flow program is automatically converted to a second data flow program, where the second data flow program does not include the instances of the one or more classes, and where the second data flow program is executable to perform the first function. The second data flow program is stored on a computer memory, where the second data flow program is configured to be deployed to a device, e.g., a programmable hardware element, and where the second data flow program is executable on the device to perform the first function.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Stephen R. Mercer, Akash B. Bhakta, Matthew E. Novacek
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Patent number: 8352209Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, David W Fuller, III, Joseph E. Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo A. Andrade
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Patent number: 8352645Abstract: Device driven transfer of data from the device to a memory of a host. The device may receive data from one or more data sources. The device may transfer at least a portion of the data to the memory of the host coupled to the device. Transferring may be performed without an initiation of the transfer by the host. Additionally, transferring may include, for each of the one or more data sources, determining a portion of the memory medium corresponding to the data source, determining a latest value for the data source from the data, and storing the latest value for the data source in the portion of the memory. Storing the latest value may include overwriting a previous value of the data source when the previous value exists in the portion of the memory medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Rodney W. Cummings, William R. Pitts, Matthew M. Brzezinski, Eric L. Singer
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Patent number: 8327280Abstract: A system and method for visually indicating one or more problems in a graphical program. The graphical program may be programmatically analyzed to discover a problem (or potential problem) in the graphical program. The problem found during the programmatic analysis of the graphical program may then be visually indicated on a display device. Visually indicating the problem may comprise visually indicating one or more objects in the graphical program to which the problem corresponds. Visually indicating the graphical program object(s) may comprise displaying information or altering the appearance of the object(s) in order to call the user's attention to the object(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Darren M. Nattinger
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Patent number: 8320662Abstract: System and method for distinguishing colors of illuminated objects using machine vision. A color-balanced image that includes at least one lit area is received, as well as an indication of a region of interest that includes one of the one or more lit areas. A mask image is generated based on the region of interest. A color-balanced image of the region of interest is generated by masking the color-balanced image with the mask image, and a plurality of image attributes for the region of interest is determined by analyzing the color-balanced image of the region of interest. A color is determined based on the plurality of image attributes using a trained classifier, and the determined color stored, e.g., in a memory medium.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Michael Bailey
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Patent number: 8316311Abstract: A system and method for visually indicating one or more problems in a graphical program. The graphical program may be programmatically analyzed to discover a problem (or potential problem) in the graphical program. The problem found during the programmatic analysis of the graphical program may then be visually indicated on a display device. Visually indicating the problem may comprise visually indicating one or more objects in the graphical program to which the problem corresponds. Visually indicating the graphical program object(s) may comprise displaying information or altering the appearance of the object(s) in order to call the user's attention to the object(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Darren M. Nattinger
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Patent number: 8312298Abstract: A PXI Express controller may be configured to support at least three different conditions under which the controller may be turned on. If a chassis (e.g. a PXI Express chassis) interfacing with the controller has a power button, the first condition (which may be considered normal operation) may be met when the power button is being pressed at a time auxiliary power is present. When the chassis does not have a power button, the second condition may be met when the power is switched on at a time auxiliary power is present, and the third condition may be met when the power is switched on at a time auxiliary power is not present. A state-machine comprised in the PXI Express controller may be configured to interface with a chipset equally comprised in the PXI Express controller, to perform the control functions required to provide the support for the three different conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Keith D. Peterson, Jeffrey L. Kennedy