Patents by Inventor Hugo Andrade

Hugo Andrade 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: 20060015862
    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: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Odom, Joseph Peck, Hugo Andrade, Cary Butler, James Truchard, Newton Petersen, Matthew Novacek
  • Publication number: 20060015285
    Abstract: System and method for online configuration of a device for a measurement system. The user accesses a server with a client computer over a network and specifies a task. If the user lacks the hardware to perform the task, hardware specifications are sent to a manufacturer, who sends the hardware to the user. The hardware may be re-configurable hardware (a programmable hardware element or processor/memory based device). Software products (programs and/or data) for configuring measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the task may be sent to the user. The hardware may be configured automatically or by the user. The software products may include programs usable by the measurement system to perform the task, configuration information for configuring the client computer or other measurement device, and/or hardware configuration program(s) for configuring a programmable hardware element. Thus, hardware and/or software specific to the user's application are be provided to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: David Fuller, Michael Santori, Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, Joseph Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo Andrade, Newton Petersen
  • Publication number: 20060009945
    Abstract: A system and method for online configuration of a measurement device for a measurement system. The user accesses a server with a client computer over a network and specifies a desired measurement task. If the user lacks the hardware required to perform the task, hardware specifications and configuration software and/or data specific to the user's application, i.e., to perform the task, are sent to a manufacturer, who pre-configures the hardware with the configuration software and/or data to perform the task and sends the pre-configured hardware to the user. The hardware may be re-configurable hardware, such as a programmable hardware element or processor/memory based device. Configuration software and/or data for configuring the user's measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the desired task may also be sent to the user. The configuration software sent to the user may comprise a graphical program usable by the measurement system to perform the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: David Fuller, Michael Santori, Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, Joseph Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo Andrade, Newton Petersen
  • Publication number: 20060004553
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Odom, Cary Butler
  • Publication number: 20060005160
    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: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Kevin Schultz, Jeffrey Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Odom, Cary Butler
  • Patent number: 6983228
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler
  • Patent number: 6971066
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin L. Schultz, Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler
  • Publication number: 20050262383
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, David Fuller, Joseph Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo Andrade
  • Publication number: 20050257195
    Abstract: System and method for creating and executing a graphical program. A first plurality of graphical program elements (GPEs) having a first model of computation (MoC), e.g., homogenous dataflow, are assembled in a graphical program in response to first input. A structure, including an interior portion, is displayed in the graphical program, indicating use of a second MoC, e.g., multi-rate dataflow, for GPEs within the interior portion. A second plurality of GPEs having the second MoC are assembled within the interior portion of the structure in response to second input. The second plurality of GPEs are converted into a new third plurality of GPEs having the first MoC, e.g., by parsing the second plurality of GPEs to determine multiple primitives according to the second MoC, determining the third plurality of GPEs based on the primitives, and assembling the third plurality of GPEs in the graphical program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Gregory Morrow, John Limroth, Jeffrey Kodosky, Steven Rogers, Kevin Hogan, Hugo Andrade
  • Publication number: 20050257194
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Gregory Morrow, John Limroth, Jeffrey Kodosky, Steven Rogers, Kevin Hogan, Hugo Andrade
  • Patent number: 6961686
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler
  • Publication number: 20050235253
    Abstract: System and method for implementing a synchronous reactive system in a graphical program. A loop structure is included in the graphical program in response to first user input, and is operable to execute iteratively in a synchronous manner, where the loop structure performs each iteration subject to a time constraint. A plurality of graphical program nodes is included in the loop structure in response to second user input. The loop structure includes at least one synchronization register, comprising an input and an output. During execution of the graphical program, for each iteration, the input to the synchronization register stores the state information for the current iteration, and the output of the synchronization register provides the state information for use in a next iteration of the loop, where the loop structure executes the plurality of graphical program nodes in the loop structure using stored state information from an immediately previous iteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Newton Petersen, Hugo Andrade
  • Patent number: 6954724
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler
  • Patent number: 6934667
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler
  • Patent number: 6934668
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the 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: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler
  • Publication number: 20050177816
    Abstract: A system and method for programmatically generating a graphical program in response to receiving input, e.g., user or process input. The input may specify functionality of the graphical program to be generated, and also indicate a target platform. In response to the input, a graphical program implementing the specified functionality may be programmatically generated for execution on the indicated target platform. Thus, different graphical programs, or different implementations of the graphical program, may be generated, depending on the input received. The graphical program (or implementation) may be at least partly optimized for execution on the indicated target platform. The graphical program may include a block diagram portion and a user interface portion, where the block diagram portion is specified for execution on the target platform, and the user interface portion is specified for execution on a computer system coupled to the target platform, e.g., for display of a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Ramprasad Kudukoli, Adam Gabbert, Hugo Andrade, Matthew Novacek, Lukasz Darowski
  • Publication number: 20050155014
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program utilizing one or more input/output (I/O) nodes. An I/O node may be displayed in a first graphical program, where the I/O node may include associated generation code for programmatically generating execution-time code associated with the I/O node in the first graphical program. First input may be received to select a first I/O source or target corresponding to the first I/O node, e.g., from various supported hardware resources, and the associated generation code may be executed to programmatically generate or modify the execution-time code, e.g., at compilation or prior to execution of the first graphical program, to provide I/O to or from the first I/O source or target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Hugo Andrade, Matthew Novacek, Lukasz Darowski
  • Publication number: 20050143968
    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: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Brian Odom, Joseph Peck, Hugo Andrade, Cary Butler, James Truchard, Newton Petersen, Matthew Novacek
  • Publication number: 20050144523
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Brian Sierer, Ganesh Ranganathan, John Pasquarette, David Fuller, Joseph Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo Andrade
  • Publication number: 20050137840
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Peck, Matthew Novacek, Hugo Andrade, Newton Petersen, Ganesh Ranganathan, Brian Sierer, John Pasquarette