Abstract: An electrical system including a linear motor in which energized forcer and thruster coils are used for the field and armature elements. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, one or more thruster coils may be provided on a shaft with opposing single or multiple fixed forcer coils. Using coils as the electromagnets for forcer and thruster coils advantageously provides necessary power while also minimizing system weight and decreases in magnetism typically encountered with permanent magnets with rising temperature, resulting in higher and more controllable magnetic forces over varying temperatures. Ferrous elements, such as a ferrous system housing and/or open ferrous containers for the thruster coils may be further included to advantageously focus the magnetic forces. Additionally, multiple forcer and thruster coils may be disposed in various arrangements along the shaft. Exemplary applications include use of such a system for controlling oscillations of a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed that allows user to quickly find and select (assign) specific items from a large data source that is housed in the cloud. The GUI includes a first and second grid that display unassigned and assigned items, respectively. Each of the first and second grids allows the user to filter each grid by typing in the search criteria and forwarding the criteria to the server. Items in each of the first and second grids may be moved between the two grids to quickly change the assigned state of moved items.

Abstract: An electrical system including a linear motor in which energized forcer and thruster coils are used for the field and armature elements. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, one or more thruster coils may be provided on a shaft with opposing single or multiple fixed forcer coils. Using coils as the electromagnets for forcer and thruster coils advantageously provides necessary power while also minimizing system weight and decreases in magnetism typically encountered with permanent magnets with rising temperature, resulting in higher and more controllable magnetic forces over varying temperatures. Ferrous elements, such as a ferrous system housing and/or open ferrous containers for the thruster coils may be further included to advantageously focus the magnetic forces. Additionally, multiple forcer and thruster coils may be disposed in various arrangements along the shaft. Exemplary applications include use of such a system for controlling oscillations of a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed that allows user to quickly find and select (assign) specific items from a large data source that is housed in the cloud. The GUI includes a first and second grid that display unassigned and assigned items, respectively. Each of the first and second grids allows the user to filter each grid by typing in the search criteria and forwarding the criteria to the server. Items in each of the first and second grids may be moved between the two grids to quickly change the assigned state of moved items.

Abstract: A system and method for defining a route through one or more switch devices based on signal requirements and/or resource dependencies. The user may interact with a graphical user interface to specify required signal characteristics for the route, such as signal bandwidth, voltage, carry current, etc. The required signal characteristics may then be used when selecting or determining channels to include the route. The required signal characteristics may affect both automatically selected channels and user-selected channels. For example, if the user specifies a portion of a route and the switch executive core automatically completes the route for the user, the switch executive core may choose a route including only valid channels, according to the required signal characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically determining a route through one or more switch devices at program execution time. A program operable to perform a programmatic request to dynamically determine a route may be created. For example, the request may specify a first endpoint (e.g., channel) of a first switch device and a second endpoint (e.g., channel) of a second switch device. In response to the request, the system may dynamically determine a route from the first endpoint to the second endpoint during execution of the program. Information indicating the determined route may be returned to the program.

Abstract: A system and method for defining a route through one or more switch devices based on signal requirements and/or resource dependencies. The user may interact with a graphical user interface to specify required signal characteristics for the route, such as signal bandwidth, voltage, carry current, etc. The required signal characteristics may then be used when selecting or determining channels to include the route. The required signal characteristics may affect both automatically selected channels and user-selected channels. For example, if the user specifies a portion of a route and the switch executive core automatically completes the route for the user, the switch executive core may choose a route including only valid channels, according to the required signal characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically determining a route through one or more switch devices at program execution time. A program operable to perform a programmatic request to dynamically determine a route may be created. For example, the request may specify a first endpoint (e.g., channel) of a first switch device and a second endpoint (e.g., channel) of a second switch device. In response to the request, the system may dynamically determine a route from the first endpoint to the second endpoint during execution of the program. Information indicating the determined route may be returned to the program.

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 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 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 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 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 system and method for creating a program for controlling an instrument independent of the interface type of the instrument, in a graphical programming environment. The system comprises a computer system including a display screen and input device, an instrument coupled to the computer system, and a graphical programming environment for creating and executing programs to control the instrument. The programming environment comprises a session control, function nodes and attribute nodes, an object manager and block diagram and front panel editors used to create a virtual instrument. The method for controlling the instrument comprises displaying on the screen session icons, function nodes, and attributes nodes and wiring them together to create the virtual instrument. Virtual instruments, or graphical programs, may be created which are portable across different possible I/O interface types, such as GPIB, VXI, and asynchronous serial interfaces, for coupling the instrument to the computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a program for controlling an instrument independent of the interface type of the instrument, in a graphical programming environment. The system comprises a computer system including a display screen and input device, an instrument coupled to the computer system, and a graphical programming environment for creating and executing programs to control the instrument. The programming environment comprises a VISA session control, VISA function nodes and VISA attribute nodes, an object manager and block diagram and front panel editors used to create a VISA virtual instrument. The method for controlling the instrument comprises displaying on the screen VISA session icons, VISA function nodes, and VISA attributes nodes and wiring them together to create the VISA virtual instrument.