Abstract: One or more counter units of a data acquisition device used to perform sampling operations. Each of the counter units is configurable to operate in a selected one of a plurality of modes. During operation, at least one of the counter units may receive a measurement signal (or input signal) acquired by the data acquisition device and also a sample clock signal. The counter unit may sample the measurement signal based on the selected operational mode and timing of the sample clock, and at a rate that is independent of the frequency of the measurement signal. Furthermore, the counter unit may sample the measurement signal based on a selected one of a plurality of timing modes associated with the sample clock signal. The counter units may take samples of the measurement signal to perform at least one of the following types of measurements: period, frequency, pulse-width, semi-period, time separation, or event counting.

Abstract: Adapting move constraints for position based moves in a trajectory generator. Specification of a trajectory may be received. The specification may include a geometry of the trajectory, where the geometry specifies a desired trajectory length. A plurality of constraints for the trajectory may be received. The plurality of constraints may include one or more of a velocity, acceleration, or jerk constraint. A motion control profile may be generated based on the plurality of constraints. The method may include determining if a distance of the motion control profile exceeds the desired trajectory length. If the distance of the motion control profile exceeds the desired trajectory length, one or more values of the plurality of constraints may be decreased to make the distance of the motion control profile less than or equal to the desired trajectory length.

Abstract: System and method for generating a data flow diagram. A first case structure may be specified. Each case of the first case structure that includes a respective plurality of input bound data flow nodes may be partitioned into one or more data flow diagram portions. The first case structure may be replaced with a first conditional structure and one or more second conditional structures. The first conditional structure may be operable to select one or more of the plurality of input bound data flow diagram portions in accordance with the conditions of the first case structure. The one or more second conditional structures may be operable to select at least one output from the plurality of input bound data flow diagram portions in accordance with the conditions of the first case structure. The partitioning and replacing may be performed automatically in response to specification of the first case.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program utilizing one or more nodes which are statically bound to one or more virtual instruments (VIs). The system and method for static binding provides a way to interact individually with controls and indicators of a VI running asynchronously, wherein the values read and written are strictly typed to the data type of the control. The overhead of dynamic invocation may be substantially eliminated to allow for greater efficiency.

Abstract: A system and method for defining a route through one or more switch devices based on signal requirements and/or resource dependencies. The user may interact with a graphical user interface to specify required signal characteristics for the route, such as signal bandwidth, voltage, carry current, etc. The required signal characteristics may then be used when selecting or determining channels to include the route. The required signal characteristics may affect both automatically selected channels and user-selected channels. For example, if the user specifies a portion of a route and the switch executive core automatically completes the route for the user, the switch executive core may choose a route including only valid channels, according to the required signal characteristics.

Abstract: System and method for a four-slot asynchronous communication mechanism with decreased latency. The system may include a host system and a client device. The host may comprise a data structure with four (two pairs of) slots. The client may comprise first information indicating a status of write operations to the data structure on the host and second information usable to determine a slot that should be written to. If the first information indicates that the second information is accurate, the client may determine which slot in the data structure should be written to based on information stored only on the client device. The determined slot may be the slot that has not been written to more recently of the pair of slots that has not been read from most recently. The client may write data to the determined slot. The client may update at least a portion of the information stored on the client device to reflect the write of data to the determined slot.

Abstract: System and method for performing industrial control. A vision engine operable to execute vision functions to control a vision element in response to received asynchronous commands is stored on a vision system. An application programming interface (API) that provides access to the vision engine is stored. The API includes multiple function blocks operable to be included in an industrial control application, and executable to send the asynchronous commands to the vision engine. The application is created, including inserting at least one function block of the API into the application. The application is executed on a programmable controller, including executing the function block to send a corresponding asynchronous command to the vision engine. The vision engine performs a vision function corresponding to the function block in response to the asynchronous command, and sends resultant data to the industrial control application, which stores the resultant data.

Abstract: System and method for merging graphical programs. Information is received regarding first, second, and third graphical programs, where the third graphical program is an ancestor graphical program of the first and second. The information is analyzed to determine differences among the graphical programs. The first and second graphical programs are merged based on the determined differences, generating a merged graphical program, which is displayed.

Abstract: Evaluation of graphical program nodes. A first graphical program may be displayed on a display. The first graphical program may include a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually specifies functionality of the first graphical program. User input may be received which selects at least one of the plurality of interconnected nodes while editing the first graphical program. A second graphical program may be automatically generated based on the user input. The second graphical program may include the at least one node. The second graphical program may be executable to allow the user to evaluate the at least one node. The second graphical program may be displayed on the display.

Abstract: System and method for creating a graphical program that uses multiple models of computation (MoC). A first plurality of graphical program elements is assembled in a graphical program in response to first input, where the assembled first plurality of graphical program elements have a first MoC. A structure is displayed in the graphical program indicating use of a second MoC for graphical program elements comprised within the interior of the structure. A second plurality of graphical program elements is assembled within the structure in response to second input, where the assembled second plurality of graphical program elements have the second MoC. The graphical program is executable to perform a function, for example, by executing the assembled first plurality of graphical program elements in accordance with the first model of computation, and executing the assembled second plurality of graphical program elements in accordance with the second model of computation.

Abstract: System and method for retrieving and displaying patent marking information for resources coupled to or comprised in a computer system. One or more resources, i.e., hardware devices and/or software, may be detected on the computer system. Software resources may be downloaded from an e-commerce server, which may also facilitate ordering and/or purchasing the resources. Patent marking information (PMI) corresponding to each of the resources may be retrieved, including one or more patent numbers for each resource. The respective PMI may be stored on each resource, in a database on the computer system, or in a database on a server coupled to the computer system. The resources may store identification (ID) information identifying the respective resource, where the respective PMI for each resource is retrieved from the patent marking database based on the ID information. The PMI is then displayed, e.g., by a graphical user interface (GUI) on a computer display.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A counter module may include a first set of registers configured to store respective sets of first control data, a second set of registers configured to store respective sets of second control data, a first counter and a second counter. The first counter may be coupled to the first set of registers and may receive counter input signals and an internal control signal, and generate a first count output and a first terminal count output according to one of the respective sets of the first control data, the internal control signal, and the counter input signals. The second counter may be coupled to the first counter and to the second set of registers, and may receive the counter input signals, generate the internal control signal, and generate a second count output and a second terminal count output according to one of the respective sets of the second control data and the counter input signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods are described in which system simulation techniques are combined with graphical programming techniques in a common environment. For example, various embodiments of the methods comprise displaying a graphical data flow diagram connected to a system diagram, e.g., where the graphical data flow diagram and the system diagram are displayed together in a compound diagram. In the displayed compound diagram, the graphical data flow diagram may be connected to the system diagram, e.g., by a line or wire. In one embodiment the wire may visually indicate that the graphical data flow diagram is executable to produce a value that is provided as an input signal for a simulation performed based on the system diagram. In another embodiment the wire may visually indicate that the graphical data flow diagram receives an output value from the system simulation as input.

Abstract: System and method for a four-slot asynchronous communication mechanism with increased throughput. The system may include a host system and a client device. The host may comprise a data structure with four (two pairs of) slots and first information indicating a status of read operations from the data structure by the host. The client may read the first information from the host. The client may read second information from a local memory. The second information may indicate a status of write operations to the data structure by the client. The client may determine a slot of the data structure to be written. The slot may be determined based on the first information and the second information and may be the slot which has not been written to more recently of the pair of slots which has not been read from most recently. The client may increment a value of a counter. The value of the counter may be useable to indicate which slot has been written to most recently.

Abstract: A task based polymorphic graphical program node system and method. A node is displayed in a graphical program. First user input is received invoking display of a plurality of function type options for the node, and the function type options for the node displayed. Second user input is received specifying a function type from the function type options. Based on the second user input, program instructions executable to provide functionality in accordance with the specified function type are determined and associated with the node, after which the node is executable in the graphical program to provide the functionality in accordance with the specified function type. Associating the program instructions with the node may include configuring the (possibly generic) node with the program instructions, replacing default program instructions of the node implementing default node functionality with the program instructions, and/or replacing the node with another node that includes the program instructions.

Abstract: A system and method for overcoming the parasitic elements associated with off the shelf or general purpose solid-state devices configured to operate as RF AC/DC signal coupling networks. An AC/DC signal coupling network may comprise a general purpose solid-state relay device and two inductors having values carefully chosen to compensate for the imperfections and intrinsic parasitic elements associated with the solid-state relay. The inductors may also have values carefully chosen to compensate for the parasitic elements of the neighboring or coupled circuit, and for the capacitance that is associated with the printed circuit board bond pad that is directly dependent upon the area of the pad and distance to the neighboring conductors. The inductors may cause the input path to become inductive as the signal frequency increases, and also improve the input return loss over the RF input range.

Abstract: System and method for creating, configuring, representing, and using variables in programs. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed in response to user input requesting creation and/or configuration of a variable for use in or comprised in one or more programs, e.g., on various devices. User input is received to the GUI configuring attributes of the variable, including: name, data type, and/or scope (e.g., local, global, or network). The configured attributes are stored and optionally displayed, e.g., in a resource tree, and the variable in each of the programs updated in accordance with the configured attributes. When at least one of the programs is incompatible with the configured variable, an error condition may be indicated, e.g., by providing information relating to portions of the program that are incompatible with the configured variable. The program may be modified in response to user input for compatibility with the configured variable.

Abstract: System and method for implementing multi-channel operations in a programmable hardware element (PHE). A hardware configuration program, including a processing function, inputs and outputs of the processing function, a plurality of channels, and channel scanning functionality for the plurality of channels, is specified. A PHE is configured with the hardware configuration program, including implementing the processing function and the channel scanning functionality on the PHE. A respective state and configuration of each of the plurality of channels is stored in a memory of the PHE to enable logic-sharing between each of the plurality of channels. The PHE is operated, including performing channel scanning on the plurality of channels, and updating the configuration of one or more of the channels in the memory of the PHE without interrupting the channel scanning, without taking any of the channels offline, and/or without interrupting a continuity of an output of the PHE.

Abstract: Enumerating an expanded bus system in a system. The expanded bus system may include a first bus, a bridge coupled to the first bus, and a second bus coupled to the bridge, where the second bus includes one or more downstream bus ports. One or more of the downstream bus ports may initially be masked. An initial bus enumeration may be performed during system boot, which may not include enumerating the masked bus ports. After the initial bus enumeration, the masked bus ports may be unmasked. An operating system may re-enumerate the bus system, which may include enumerating the no-longer-masked bus ports.