Patents by Inventor Cary Paul Butler

Cary Paul Butler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030192032
    Abstract: A system and method for debugging a program which is intended to execute on a reconfigurable device. A computer system stores a program that specifies a function, and which is convertible into a hardware configuration program (HCP) and deployable onto a programmable hardware element comprised on the device. The HCP is generated based on the program, specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and further specifies usage of one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function. A test configuration is deployable on the programmable hardware element by a deployment program, where, after deployment, the programmable hardware element provides for communication between the fixed hardware resources and the program. The program is executable by a processor in the computer system, where during execution the program communicates with the one or more fixed hardware resources through the programmable hardware element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Hugo A. Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler, Joseph E. Peck, Newton G. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20030163298
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a device to perform a function, where the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources. A program is stored which represents the function. A hardware configuration program is generated based on the program, specifying a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and usage of the fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function. A deployment program deploys the hardware configuration program onto the programmable hardware element, where, after deployment, the device is operable to perform the function, where the programmable hardware element directly performs a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element invokes the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. An optional measurement module couples to the device and performs signal conditioning and/or conversion logic on an acquired signal for the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Keith Odom, Joseph E. Peck, Hugo A. Andrade, Cary Paul Butler, James J. Truchard, Newton G. Petersen, Matthew Novacek
  • Patent number: 6608638
    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 optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU, and another portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element. The programmable hardware element is configured utilizing a hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler, Andrew Mihal
  • Patent number: 6584601
    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 optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU, and another portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element. The programmable hardware element is configured utilizing a hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler, Andrew Mihal
  • Publication number: 20020080174
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler, Kevin L. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20020055947
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin L. Schultz, Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler