Patents by Inventor Mark R. Wetzel

Mark R. Wetzel 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).

  • Patent number: 9310832
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for synchronizing a clock via a backplane. An apparatus includes a backplane, a clock coupled to or included in the backplane, a synchronization interface, and at least one processing element coupled to the clock via the backplane and coupled to or including the synchronization interface. The at least one processing element may be configured to compare first time information received from the clock via the backplane with second time information received from the synchronization interface. The second time information may be associated with an external clock. The at least one processing element may determine adjustment information based on the comparison and synchronize the clock with an external clock using the adjustment information, via the backplane. The apparatus may be a PXIe chassis. The clock output may be sent to modules plugged into the backplane in order to synchronize them with an external chassis clock, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jason W. Frels, Rodney D. Greenstreet, Gabriel L. Narus, Mark R. Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20140122915
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for synchronizing a clock via a backplane. An apparatus includes a backplane, a clock coupled to or included in the backplane, a synchronization interface, and at least one processing element coupled to the clock via the backplane and coupled to or including the synchronization interface. The at least one processing element may be configured to compare first time information received from the clock via the backplane with second time information received from the synchronization interface. The second time information may be associated with an external clock. The at least one processing element may determine adjustment information based on the comparison and synchronize the clock with an external clock using the adjustment information, via the backplane. The apparatus may be a PXIe chassis. The clock output may be sent to modules plugged into the backplane in order to synchronize them with an external chassis clock, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason W. Frels, Rodney D. Greenstreet, Gabriel L. Narus, Mark R. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8122171
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Wetzel, Robert D. Ross, Eric R. Gardiner, Richard C. Thrapp
  • Publication number: 20100241781
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Mark R. Wetzel, Robert D. Ross, Eric R. Gardiner, Richard C. Thrapp