Patents Assigned to National Instruments
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Patent number: 8237598Abstract: Provided is a method for performing analog to digital conversion of a plurality of analog signal channels. The method may comprise successively processing each analog signal channel of a plurality of analog signal channels. The processing of an analog signal channel of the plurality of analog signal channels may comprise: selecting the analog signal channel from the plurality of analog signal channels, generating an analog output signal corresponding to an analog input signal transmitted over the selected analog signal channel, and sampling the analog output signal using a successive approximation register (SAR) converter. Sampling the analog output signal using a SAR converter may comprise sampling the analog output signal a specific number of times to produce a respective plurality of digital samples corresponding to the selected analog input signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Garritt W. Foote, Hector Rubio
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Patent number: 8239824Abstract: 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: August 7, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Christopher G. Cifra, John D. Stanhope, Duncan G. Hudson, III
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Patent number: 8239848Abstract: System and method for deploying and executing a program, e.g., a graphical program, on an embedded device. The program and a plurality of execution system components are stored on a host computer. The program is analyzed programmatically to determine a subset of the plurality of components required for execution of the program. The subset of components and the program are combined into a file while preserving execution order of the program. The file is transmitted to the device. The file is used to construct a combined program which includes executable code for the program and the subset of components. The device includes a minimal execution engine which executes the subset of components to execute the program. The file may be streamed to the device for streaming execution, where received portions of the subset of components needed for execution of received portions of the program are stored until no longer needed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Marius Ghercioiu, Ciprian Ceteras, Ioan Monoses, Gratian I. Crisan, Jeffrey L. Kodosky
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Patent number: 8239177Abstract: Simulating a mechanical system controlled by a motion controller. First position data may be received. The first position data may be provided by a motion controller at a first rate. The first position data received at the first rate may be interpolated to provide second position data at a second rate. Operation of the mechanical system may be simulated or modeled using the second position data at the second rate. Interpolating the first position data and modeling the operation of the mechanical system may be performed without simulating drives and motors necessary to drive the mechanical system.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Sundeep Chandhoke, Brian C. MacCleery
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Patent number: 8239436Abstract: A system and method for estimating a signal based on a stream of randomly generated samples. The method includes: (a) receiving a sample; (b) generating a sampling vector; (c) multiplying the sample and the sampling vector to obtain a current back projection; (d) computing a first intermediate vector that represents an average of the current back projection and previous back projections; (e) transforming the first intermediate vector to determine a second intermediate vector; (f) identifying locations where the second intermediate vector attains its k largest values; (g) computing an estimate for the transformation of the signal by solving a system of equations based on the identified locations, the received sample value, previously received sample values, the sampling vector and previously generated sampling vectors; (h) inverse transforming the transformation estimate to determine an estimate of the signal; and (i) storing the signal estimate.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Eduardo Perez
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Patent number: 8234089Abstract: System and method for performing a multiple tests on each of one or more units, where each of the tests requires a respective resource of a plurality of resources. A first test is performed on a unit using a first resource. During performance of the first test, a search is made for a second test, requiring a second resource, where the second resource is not currently being used. If the second test is found, the second test is performed on the unit, or a second unit, using the second resource, substantially concurrently with at least a portion of the first test being performed on the unit. Performing a test includes locking the respective resource to exclude use by other tests, including acquiring the resource, and unlocking the resource upon completion of the test, including releasing the resource for use in performing the respective test on another of the units.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2002Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: James A. Grey, Daniel Elizalde
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Patent number: 8219923Abstract: System and method for generating information regarding the functionality of a system. Input specifying at least a portion of functionality of a system may be received, e.g., from a user via a graphical user interface (GUI), and may specify one or more components of the system at a component level. The input may specify one or more components of the system, e.g., software component(s), hardware device(s), function(s) of the system, etc. Information, e.g., help information and/or documentation, describing one or more aspects of the functionality of the system may be automatically generated based on the input. The descriptions of the aspects may include information regarding the synergistic/combinatorial interactions of the components at a system level, e.g., via calculation or derivation from data retrieved from various sources regarding the components of the system. The information may be automatically stored and/or automatically displayed in the GUI substantially in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Peck, Damien F. Gray
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Patent number: 8214028Abstract: A system, method and memory medium for operating on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. A multiscale short-time Fourier transform (STFT) is performed 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: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Zhijun Gu, Nanxiong Zhang, Shie Qian
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Patent number: 8214796Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program operable to asynchronously pass one or more trigger events to a statechart. The graphical program may include a first node which is operable to asynchronously send one or more trigger events to a statechart. For example, in some embodiments the first node may be operable to place the one or more trigger events in an event queue associated with the statechart. The statechart may receive and process events from the event queue asynchronously with respect to when the events are placed in the event queue.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Nicholas G. Neumann, Toga Hartadinata, Kevin M. Hogan
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Patent number: 8212572Abstract: Provided for in some embodiments is, a method of electromagnetic compatibility multi-carrier immunity testing. The method includes generating a first carrier frequency set including a first plurality of carrier frequencies simultaneously such that a device under test is subjected to the first plurality of carrier frequencies simultaneously. One or more of the first plurality of carrier frequencies is substantially different from other ones of the first plurality of carrier frequencies such that the first plurality of carrier frequencies do not interfere with one another when they are generated simultaneously, and intermodulation products of the first plurality of carrier frequencies are not significant relative to the first plurality of carrier frequencies when the first plurality of carrier frequencies are generated simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventor: Patrick W. Webb
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Patent number: 8204951Abstract: A system and method for enabling deterministic or time-triggered data exchange between a first graphical program and a second graphical program. A first variable is assigned to a first time slot in a network cycle. A first graphical program may be configured to write data to the first variable. A second graphical program may be configured to read data from the first variable. The first graphical program may be executed on a first computer system, where executing the first graphical program comprises writing data to the first variable. Writing data to the first variable may cause the data to be delivered over a network to a second computer system when the first time slot occurs. The second graphical program may be executed on the second computer system, where executing the second graphical program comprises reading from the first variable the data sent from the first computer system.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jacob Kornerup, Aljosa Vrancic
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Patent number: 8205188Abstract: System and method for programmatically generating a second graphical program associated with a second programming development environment based on a first graphical program associated with a first programming development environment. The second graphical program may be generated programmatically, without relying on user input, or may prompt for user input to determine various options to use in generating the second graphical program. The second graphical program may implement the functionality of, or a portion of the functionality of, the first graphical program. The method preferably generates the second graphical program such that the second programming development environment is operable to treat the second graphical program identically to a graphical program interactively developed by a user using the second programming development environment.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Lothar Wenzel, Gregory O. Morrow, Michael L. Santori, John C. Limroth, Ram Kudukoli, Robert E. Dye
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Patent number: 8205162Abstract: System and method for creating a graphical program (GP) having portions that execute on different targets. A GP including a plurality of interconnected nodes visually indicating functionality of the program is created in response to user input, including a first graphical code portion with a first execution context specifying execution of the first graphical code portion on a first target. A second execution context indicating a second target for execution of a second graphical code portion of the GP is established in response to user input, e.g., by displaying a context structure indicating the second execution context and associating the second graphical code portion with the context structure in response to user input. During execution of the GP, the first graphical code portion executes on the first target using the first execution context, and the second graphical code portion executes on the second target using the second execution context.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Darshan K. Shah, Aljosa Vrancic
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Patent number: 8205161Abstract: A system and method for enabling a graphical program to receive and respond to programmatic events, such as user interface events. The graphical program may include a graphical user interface having various user interface elements and a block diagram having a plurality of nodes indicating functionality of the graphical program. The graphical program may be configured to receive and respond to one or more user interface events. For each event, a portion of graphical source code (such as a plurality of interconnected nodes) may be included in the block diagram, wherein the portion of graphical source code is operable to receive and respond to the respective user interface event. The portion of graphical source code may be executable to perform a desired process or action in response to the respective event. In one embodiment, a sub-program node may be associated with each event.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jason King, Craig Smith, Greg McKaskle, Andrew Dove
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Patent number: 8204925Abstract: System and method for controlling/analyzing a process by solving a system of linear equations in real-time. Linear equations that model the process are stored. In an off-line stage a partitioning strategy is determined based on the linear equations, including determining groups of values for recursively partitioning a set of values measured and/or computed from the process. In an on-line stage: current process data are received from the process, including measurements from the process, and composing a set of values; the linear equations are recursively solved for a first group of the set, where the first group partitions the set into respective subsets of values, and where the recursively solving produces solved values for respective first groups of the set/subset of values; the linear equations are solved for remaining unsolved values in the set, thereby producing solved values for the set, which are stored and are useable to control/analyze the process.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Aljosa Vrancic, Lothar Wenzel
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Patent number: 8185833Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Darshan Shah, Steven W. Rogers
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Patent number: 8185832Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Darshan Shah, Steven W. Rogers
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Patent number: 8185835Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program that performs a numerical function on at least a subset of a set of data values received over a period of time. The method may utilize a “collector node”, which simplifies these types of common programming tasks. The collector node may be operable to maintain state information regarding received data values and may use the state information to determine a data collection on which to perform a numerical function. The data collection comprises at least a subset of data values that have been received by the collector node. The user may be able to configure the collector mode to determine the data collection in various ways.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jeffrey D. Washington, Mike Santori, Bob Young
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Patent number: 8185840Abstract: System and method implementing an integrated interface for multiple instruments for signal analysis, including two or more virtual instruments. The method includes a) receiving user input specifying an operation implementing at least a portion of a signal analysis function; b) performing the operation utilizing at least one of the instruments to perform the operation; c) displaying an icon comprising a graphical representation of the operation in response to the specifying; d) storing information specifying the operation; and repeating a)-d) multiple times to specify the function, thereby producing stored information representing the operations in the function, and after which multiple icons are displayed representing the operations and visually indicating the function. The operations in the function include 1) generating signals displayed in a graph, and/or 2) modifying one or more signals displayed in the graph.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Michael L. Santori, Alain G. Moriat, Christopher G. Cifra, Richard Keene
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Patent number: 8185834Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for enabling a graphical program to dynamically register one or more events during execution of the graphical program. An event registration node may be displayed in the block diagram of the graphical program. One or more events may be associated with the event registration node. The event registration node may be operable to dynamically register the one or more events during execution of the graphical program. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method for enabling a graphical program to programmatically generate and respond to a user-defined event. The user may desire to define custom, i.e., user-defined, events for use in a graphical program.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Jason S. King, B. Craig Smith