US 6,219,628 B1Granted

System and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions utilizing conversion of graphical programs into hardware implementations

AssigneeNational Instruments Corporation

InventorsJeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian K. Odom, Cary P. Butler

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Abstract

A system and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element. A graphical program is first created, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function. The graphical program may include a front panel and a block diagram. The method then generates a hardware description based on at least a portion of the graphical program. The hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the graphical program. The method then configures the programmable hardware element in the instrument utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the at least a portion of the graphical program. The instrument then acquires a signal from an external source, and the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal. The front panel may be used by a user to control the instrument during the measurement.

Claims59

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for configuring an instrument to perform a measurement function, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel portion and a block diagram portion, wherein the front panel portion operates as a front panel for the instrument;
generating a hardware description based on the block diagram portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program;
configuring the programmable hardware element in the instrument utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program;
compiling the front panel portion into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;
the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;
the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal;
and
the processor executing the executable code from the memory to present the front panel portion on a display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

5 more elements

A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a CPU, memory and a display;
wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel portion and a block diagram portion, wherein the front panel portion operates as a front panel for the instrument;
wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate a hardware description based on the block diagram portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program;
and
an instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes:
an input for acquiring a signal from an external source;
and
a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is configurable utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is executable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal;
wherein the computer system is operable to compile the front panel portion of the graphical program into executable code and store the executable code in the memory;
wherein the CPU in the computer system is operable to execute the executable code to present the front panel portion on the display while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

7 more elements

A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a CPU, memory and a display;
wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program includes a front panel portion and a block diagram portion, wherein the front panel portion operates as a front panel for the instrument;
wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate a hardware description based on the block diagram portion of the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program;
an instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes:
an input for acquiring a signal from an external source;
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
and
a programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is configurable utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element, wherein the configured hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the block diagram portion of the graphical program, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is executable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal;
wherein the front panel portion of the graphical program is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the memory of the instrument;
wherein the processor in the instrument is operable to execute the executable code to present the front panel portion on the display while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/912,427Filed 18 Aug 1997
Granted: 17 Apr 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 8/34
Creation or generation of source code: graphical or visual programming
G06F 11/2294
Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing: by remote test
G06F 11/2733
Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits: test interface between tester and unit under test
G06F 30/34
Circuit design: for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]