Reconfigurable test system

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable digital circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the measurement function;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on at least a portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable digital circuitry in the device;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable digital circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable analog circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the measurement function;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on at least a portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable analog circuitry in the device;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable analog circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a first block diagram, wherein the first block diagram specifies a first portion of the measurement function;
• creating a second block diagram, wherein the second block diagram specifies a second portion of the measurement function;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first portion of the block diagram;
• generating a reconfigurable circuitry configuration file based on the second portion of the block diagram, wherein the reconfigurable circuitry configuration file describes a configuration for the reconfigurable circuitry;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device utilizing the reconfigurable circuitry configuration file;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram, wherein the block diagram specifies the measurement function;
• generating configuration information based on at least a portion of the block diagram, wherein the configuration information describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device utilizing the configuration information, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A reconfigurable measurement system, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;
• wherein the memory stores a block diagram, wherein the block diagram implements a measurement function;
• wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate configuration information based on the block diagram, wherein the configuration information describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram;
• and
• a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• an input for acquiring a signal from an external source;
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element in the device is configurable utilizing the configuration information;
• and
• reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, wherein the reconfigurable circuitry in the device is configurable utilizing the configuration information;
• wherein after being configured the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry implement a hardware implementation of the block diagram;
• wherein the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry are operable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the measurement function;
• receiving user input specifying a first portion of the block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element and a second portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second portion of the block diagram;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a first block diagram in response to user input, wherein the first block diagram specifies a first portion of the measurement function;
• creating a second block diagram in response to user input, wherein the second block diagram specifies a second portion of the measurement function;
• receiving user input specifying the first block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element and the second block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second block diagram;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, reconfigurable circuitry, and a processor and memory, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the measurement function;
• receiving user input specifying a first portion of the block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element, a second portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry, and a third portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the processor;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second portion of the block diagram;
• storing a software program based on the third portion of the block diagram in the memory for execution by the processor;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element, the reconfigurable circuitry, and the processor in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, reconfigurable circuitry, and a processor and memory, the method comprising:

• creating a first block diagram in response to user input, wherein the first block diagram specifies a first portion of the measurement function;
• creating a second block diagram in response to user input, wherein the second block diagram specifies a second portion of the measurement function;
• creating a third block diagram in response to user input, wherein the third block diagram specifies a third portion of the measurement function;
• receiving user input specifying the first block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element, the second block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry, and the third block diagram to be implemented by the processor and memory;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second block diagram;
• storing a software program based on the third block diagram in the memory for execution by the processor;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element, the reconfigurable circuitry, and the processor and memory in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, reconfigurable circuitry, and a device processor and device memory, wherein the device is coupled to a computer system which includes a host processor and a host memory, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies the measurement function;
• receiving user input specifying a first portion of the block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element, a second portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry, a third portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the device processor, and a fourth portion to be implemented by the host processor;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second portion of the block diagram;
• storing a device software program based on the third portion of the block diagram in the device memory for execution by the device processor;
• storing a host software program based on the fourth portion of the block diagram in the host memory for execution by the host processor;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element, the reconfigurable circuitry, the device processor, and the host processor executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform a measurement function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the measurement function;
• executing a utility to automatically specify a first portion of the block diagram to be implemented in the programmable hardware element and a second portion of the block diagram to be implemented by the reconfigurable circuitry;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on the first portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the first portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device based on the second portion of the block diagram;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• and
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

A computer-implemented method for configuring a device to perform an automation function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element, wherein the device also includes reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

• creating a block diagram in response to user input, wherein the block diagram specifies at least a portion of the automation function;
• generating a hardware architecture file based on at least a portion of the block diagram, wherein the hardware architecture file describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the programmable hardware element in the device utilizing the hardware architecture file, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implement a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the block diagram;
• configuring the reconfigurable circuitry in the device;
• the device acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
• the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry in the device executing to perform the automation function on the signal;
• and
• the device generating a control signal in response to said executing.

A reconfigurable automation system, comprising:

• a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;
• wherein the memory stores a block diagram, wherein the block diagram implements a automation function;
• wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate configuration information based on the block diagram, wherein the configuration information describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram;
• and
• a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes:
• an input for acquiring a signal from an external source;
• an output for generating a control signal;
• a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element in the device is configurable utilizing the configuration information;
• and
• reconfigurable circuitry coupled to the programmable hardware element, wherein the reconfigurable circuitry in the device is configurable utilizing the configuration information;
• wherein after being configured the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry implement a hardware implementation of the block diagram;
• wherein the programmable hardware element and the reconfigurable circuitry are operable to perform the automation function on an acquired signal and generate a control signal in response thereto.