Measurement system including a programmable hardware element and measurement modules that convey interface information

US6823283B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• National Instruments Corporation · US

Inventors

• Perry Steger · Georgetown, US
• Garritt W. Foote · Austin, US
• David L. Potter · Austin, US
• James J. Truchard · Austin, US
• Hugo Andrade · Austin, US
• Joseph E. Peck · Round Rock, US
• Brian Keith Odom · Georgetown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 12, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 23, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G16H40/40
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

System and method for measurement, DAQ, and control operations. A measurement module includes measurement circuitry for performing signal conditioning and/or signal conversion, and interface circuitry which provides an interface for the measurement circuitry. A carrier unit couples to the interface circuitry of the module. A computer system couples to the carrier unit and stores one or more hardware configuration programs. The interface circuitry communicates an interface protocol describing the interface, e.g., to the carrier unit or the computer system. The computer system provides a hardware configuration program in response to the communicated interface protocol, and programs one or more programmable hardware elements on the carrier unit with the hardware configuration program. After being configured, the programmable hardware elements interface with the measurement module in accordance with the communicated interface protocol. The measurement module and the programmed carrier unit may perform together as a DAQ device, measurement device, and/or control device.