Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a delay determining unit that may be operable to determine a relative delay between the first signal provided by the first source and the second signal provided by the second source, based upon a travel path of the first signal and a travel path of the second signal. In addition, a delay circuit, comprised within the waveform generator, may be configured to be programmed to delay output of the first signal to output the first signal at a predetermined position with respect to output of the second signal, based on the determined relative delay. More specifically, in one embodiment, the delay circuit may be configured to be automatically programmed to add the relative delay to the output of the first signal to automatically align the output of the first signal with respect to the output of the second signal.

Abstract: A motion control system and method are disclosed which provide improved pulse placement for smoother operation of a motion device such as a stepper motor. A placement of pulses may be determined for each of a plurality of time intervals such that the pulses are placed evenly across the plurality of time intervals, wherein the quantity of pulses in each of the time intervals is variable. The pulses may be generated and sent to the motion device to move the object to the desired position. A delay may be used to place each pulse at an arbitrary location within one of the time intervals. Where the desired step rate is fractional, time may be “borrowed” for one loop iteration from other loop iterations. In one embodiment, the step rate may be changed from one loop period to the next.

Abstract: A motion control system and method are disclosed which provide improved pulse placement for smoother operation of a motion device such as a stepper motor. A placement of pulses may be determined for each of a plurality of time intervals such that the pulses are placed evenly across the plurality of time intervals, wherein the quantity of pulses in each of the time intervals is variable. The pulses may be generated and sent to the motion device to move the object to the desired position. A delay may be used to place each pulse at an arbitrary location within one of the time intervals. Where the desired step rate is fractional, time may be “borrowed” for one loop iteration from other loop iterations. In one embodiment, the step rate may be changed from one loop period to the next.

Abstract: An improved software architecture for data acquisition (DAQ) driver level software executing in a DAQ system. The DAQ driver level software receives calls from the DAQ user application and is executable to control the DAQ device. The DAQ driver level software includes one or more interpreters which receives calls from the DAQ user application. Each of the interpreters performs functionality which is common for a plurality of DAQ devices, and each of the interpreters is preferably useable for a plurality of different DAQ devices. The DAQ driver level software also includes a plurality of mini-driver primitives which each perform a portion of controlling the DAQ device, i.e., each controls a hardware resource of the DAQ device. In the preferred embodiment, each of the mini-driver primitives present the same application programming interface. The present invention thus comprises an improved architecture for DAQ driver level software.