Abstract: A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus. The secondary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the second PCI bus. The serial bus is coupled between the primary bridge and the secondary bridge.

Abstract: A system and method for programmatically generating a second graphical program based on a first graphical program. The first graphical program may be associated with a first programming development environment. For example, a user may have interactively created the first graphical program from within the first programming development environment, e.g., by using an editor to place various nodes on a block diagram, such that the nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical program. The method may operate to automatically, i.e., programmatically, generate a second graphical program based on the first graphical program, such that the second graphical program is associated with a second programming development environment. The method may generate the second graphical program programmatically, without relying on user input, or may prompt for user input to determine various options to use in generating the second graphical program.

Abstract: A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus. The secondary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the second PCI bus. The serial bus is coupled between the primary bridge and the secondary bridge.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an instrumentation system, wherein the present invention includes an improved instrument driver software architecture. The instrument driver software architecture of the present invention provides a number of features, including improved simulation features. The system may comprise a computer system comprising a CPU and memory. The memory of the computer system may store a user application, a class driver, and a class simulation driver. The user application is operable to perform an application using an instrument, wherein the instrument is of a first class. The class driver is operable to receive calls from the user application, wherein the class driver is common to a plurality of instruments of the first class. The class driver may then call a class simulation driver, wherein the class simulation driver is operable to simulate operation of the instrument.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method may operate to configure an instrument to perform measurement functions, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element. The method comprises first creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program may implement a measurement function. A portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element, and a portion may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. The programmable hardware element is thus configured utilizing a hardware description and implements a hardware implementation of at least a portion of the graphical program.

Abstract: A system and method for searching for items in a hierarchy of palette windows and for incorporating located items into programs. Palette windows may include one or more palette window selection items that, when selected, open child palette windows of the current palette window. Palette windows may include one or more items for navigating in the hierarchy. A search mechanism for locating palette windows and/or palette window content may be provided. From the search mechanism, the user may locate and open palette windows in one or more hierarchies. The user may also incorporate palette window content into something, for example, a program being edited in a graphical programming environment. In one embodiment, the user may drag-and-drop palette window content onto a window being edited.

Abstract: A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to state diagram information. The state diagram information may specify a plurality of states and state transitions, wherein each state transition specifies a transition from a first state to a second state. A graphical program generation program (GPG program), may receive the state diagram information and automatically, i.e., programmatically, generate a graphical program (or graphical program portion) based on the state diagram information. The GPG program may programmatically include graphical source code in a block diagram of the graphical program, which may serve as a framework of the states specified by the state diagram information and the state transitions among the states.

Abstract: A USB-based data acquisition system including virtual DMA software which increases USB data transfer rates with minimal changes to DAQ driver level software. The virtual DMA software operates to receive or intercept DMA instructions provided by the DAQ driver level software to program a DMA controller to acquire data from the device. The virtual DMA software intercepts the DMA instructions and emulates operation of the DMA controller in software. The virtual DMA software operates to request the data in bulk packets from the device. The virtual DMA software then stores the received packets of data in the addresses specified in the DMA instructions. The virtual DMA software thus emulates operation of a DMA device, thus “fooling” the DAQ driver level software into thinking the data is being acquired using real DMA transfers. Thus, the present invention allows for much faster data transfers, while requiring minimal or no changes to the existing DAQ driver level software.

Abstract: The system and method of industrial automation provides improved network transfer of data between nodes. The system comprises a plurality of computer systems which are interconnected through a network, wherein each of the computer systems executes industrial automation software. One or more of these computer systems interface to various hardware I/O devices for data acquisition. Each computer system is home to one or more client and/or server processes. When a hardware I/O device generates data, a server process which is linked to that device through a device driver receives a block of data from the device. Using a real-time protocol, the server adds one or more blocks of data to a packet and transmits the packet to every client which has subscribed to the data. For increased network and computational efficiency, the real-time protocol includes compression techniques and is exception-based: only changes in data are sent to clients.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an instrumentation system, wherein the present invention includes an improved instrument driver software architecture. The instrument driver software architecture of the present invention provides a number of features, including instrument interchangeability, i.e., the use of interchangeable virtual instruments or interchangeable instrument drivers, improved performance, an improved attribute model, improved range checking, and improved simulation features, among others.

Abstract: A test executive program which provides greatly improved configurability and modularity, thus simplifying the creation, modification and execution of test sequences. The test executive program includes process models for improved flexibility, modularity and configurability. Process models provide a modular and configurable entity for encapsulating operations and functionality associated with a class of test sequences. The process model thus encapsulates a “testing process” for a plurality of test sequences. The process model enables the user to write different test sequences without repeating standard testing operations in each sequence. The test executive program also includes step types for improved configurability. A step type is a modular, identifiable unit configured by the user which defines common properties and/or operations associated with a plurality of steps.

Abstract: A test executive program which provides greatly improved configurability and modularity, thus simplifying the creation, modification and execution of test sequences. The test executive program includes process models for improved flexibility, modularity and configurability. Process models provide a modular and configurable entity for encapsulating operations and functionality associated with a class of test sequences. The process model thus encapsulates a “testing process” for a plurality of test sequences. The process model enables the user to write different test sequences without repeating standard testing operations in each sequence. The test executive program also includes step types for improved configurability. A step type is a modular, identifiable unit configured by the user which defines common properties and/or operations associated with a plurality of steps.

Abstract: A USB-based data acquisition system including virtual buffer software which increases USB data transfer rates with minimal changes to DAQ driver level software. The virtual buffer software operates to receive or intercept calls made by the DAQ driver level software to acquire data from the device, wherein the DAQ driver level software is designed to read the data from the device one sample at a time from the device. The virtual buffer software intercepts the call and requests the data in bulk packets from the device. The virtual buffer software then stores the received packets of data in a virtual buffer or virtual FIFO maintained in computer system memory. The DAQ driver level software then obtains the data from the computer system memory using much faster transfers.

Abstract: A Data Socket client and associated applications and/or tools which provide programs with access to data from various sources and having various types or formats, wherein the access is provided invisibly to the user. The Data Socket client allows the user or program to access any data source available on the user's machine as well as data anywhere on a network, such as a LAN, WAN or the Internet. In the preferred embodiment, the Data Socket client addresses data sources or I/O sources using a URL (uniform resource locator), much the way that a URL is used to address web pages anywhere in the world. The present invention also includes new Data Socket URLs which allow the user to access I/O sources.

Abstract: A reconfigurable test system including a host computer coupled to a reconfigurable test instrument. The reconfigurable test instrument includes reconfigurable hardware—i.e. a reconfigurable hardware module with one or more programmable elements such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays for realizing an arbitrary hardware architecture and a reconfigurable front end with programmable transceivers for interfacing with any desired physical medium—and optionally, an embedded processor. A user specifies system features with a software configuration utility which directs a component selector to select a set of software modules and hardware configuration files from a series of libraries. The modules are embedded in a host software driver or downloaded for execution on the embedded CPU. The configuration files are downloaded to the reconfigurable hardware. The entire selection process is performed in real-time and can be changed whenever the user deems necessary.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for deploying a graphical program onto an image acquisition (IMAQ) device. The method may operate to configure an image acquisition (IMAQ) device to perform image processing or machine vision functions, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element and/or a processor and memory. The method comprises first creating a graphical program which implements the image processing or machine vision function. A portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element, and a portion may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. The programmable hardware element is thus configured utilizing a hardware description and implements a hardware implementation of at least a portion of the graphical program. The CPU-executable code may be executed by a computer coupled to the IMAQ device, or by a processor/memory on the IMAQ device.

Abstract: A signal analysis system and method for analyzing an input signal acquired from a mechanical system. The mechanical system may include at least one rotating apparatus. The signal analysis system may include an input for receiving samples of an input signal acquired from the mechanical system, wherein the input signal is sampled in time, and wherein the input signal comprises a plurality of order components. The signal analysis system may also include a processor coupled to the input and a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores analysis software.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an analog to digital (A/D) converter. The A/D converter includes an internal D/A converter, wherein the internal D/A converter includes a plurality of current generators, and wherein one or more of the current generators may produce linearity errors in the A/D converter. The A/D converter includes a switching element connected to the internal D/A converter. During calibration, the switching element operates to adjust connections to the current generators in the internal D/A converter one or more times according to different switching patterns, thereby causing different ones of the current generators to be stimulated by an input to the A/D converter. This avoids the necessity of using a complex and costly waveform generator input during calibration, which would normally be required to ensure that all of the current generators in the internal D/A converter are stimulated. Rather, a much simpler input can be used in calibrating the A/D converter, thereby reducing cost.

Abstract: A signal analysis system and method for analyzing an input signal acquired from a mechanical system. The mechanical system may include at least one rotating apparatus. The signal analysis system may be configured to: (a) receive samples of the input signal, (b) perform an invertible joint time-frequency transform (e.g.

Abstract: A flash A/D conversion system and method with a reduced number of comparators. The voltage range applied by the comparators is moved or adjusted to provide an A/D converter with a much greater voltage range. The system comprises a reduced plurality of comparators each coupled to receive an analog input signal, and a decoder coupled to receive the outputs of the comparators. Each comparator also receives a respective comparator reference signal for comparison with the analog input signal, and outputs a digital value indicative of the comparison between the analog input signal and the respective comparator reference signal. In one embodiment, a dynamic reference controller dynamically outputs one or more dynamic reference voltages to the plurality of comparators, wherein the comparators may receive different comparator reference voltages for comparing with the analog input signal.