PATENT
`
`5150-59500
`
`,-'
`
`"EXPRESS MAIL" MAILING
`LABEL NUMBER EL893866772US
`
`DATE OF DEPOSIT AUGUST 14
`
`EI
`
`HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS
`PAPER OR FEE IS BEING
`DEPOSITED WITH THE UNITED
`STATES POSTAL SERVICE
`“EXPRESS MAIL POST OFFICE TO
`ADDRESSEE” SERVICE UNDER 37
`C.F.R. § 1.10 ON THE DATE
`INDICATED ABOVE AND IS
`ADDRESSED TO THE
`COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS
`AND TRADEMARKS,
`WASHINGTON, D.C. 20231
`4
`
`Derrick Brown
`
`
`
`Measurement System with Modular Measurement Modules
`That Convey Interface Information
`
`By:
`
`Perry Steger
`Garritt W. Foote
`
`David Potter
`
`James J. Truchard
`
`Attorney Docket No.: 5150-59500
`
`Jeffrey C. Hood/MSW
`Conley, Rose & Tayon, P.C.
`P.O. Box 398
`Austin, Texas 78767-0398
`Ph: (512)476-1400
`
`Apple 1069
`
`U.S. Pat. 8,504,746
`
`Apple 1069
`U.S. Pat. 8,504,746
`
`

`

`Title:
`
`Measurement System with Modular Measurement Modules That Convey
`Interface Information
`
`Inventors:
`
`Perry Steger, Garritt W. Foote, David Potter, and James J. Truchard
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`Field of the Invention
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`The present invention relates to measurement, data acquisition, and control, and
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`particularly to measurement devices with adaptive interfaces and modular signal
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`conditioning and conversion devices which convey interface information.
`
`Description of the Related Art
`
`Scientists and engineers often use measurement or instrumentation systems to
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`perform a variety of functions, including laboratory research, process monitoring and
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`control, data logging, analytical chemistry, test and analysis of physical phenomena, and
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`control of mechanical or electrical machinery,
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`to name a few examples.
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`An
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`instrumentation system typically includes transducers and other detecting means for
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`providing "field"
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`electrical
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`signals
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`representing a process, physical phenomena,
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`equipment being monitored or measured, etc. For example, detectors and/or sensors are
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`used to sense the on/off state of power circuits, proximity switches, pushbutton switches,
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`thermostats, relays or even the presence of positive or negative digital logic-level signals.
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`The instrumentation system typically also includes interface hardware for receiving the
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`measured field signals and providing them to a processing system, such as a personal
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`computer. The processing system typically performs data analysis and presentation for
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`appropriately analyzing and displaying the measured data.
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`Often, the field signals may be coupled to high common-mode voltages, ground
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`loops, or voltage spikes that often occur in industrial or research environments which
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`could damage the computer system.
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`In that case, the instrumentation system typically
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`includes isolation circuitry such as opto-couplers for eliminating ground-loop problems
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`and isolating the computer from potentially damaging voltages.
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`Input modules are
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`typically provided for conditioning the raw field voltage signals by amplifying, isolating,
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`filtering or otherwise converting the signals to the appropriate digital signals for the
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`computer system. As one example, the digital signals are then provided to a plug—in data
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`acquisition (DAQ) input/output (I/O) board, or a computer—based instrument which is
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`plugged into one of the I/O slots of a computer system. Generally, the computer system
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`has an I/O bus and connectors or slots for receiving I/O boards. Various computer
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`systems and I/O buses may be used to implement a processing system.
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`Typical DAQ, measurement, and control modules include circuitry or components
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`to provide a standard interface to external systems, such as PCI or PXI boards. The
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`inclusion of these standard interface components on each module may be expensive, and
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`may also substantially increase the size of a given module. Additionally, when multiple
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`modules are used in a single system, such as a PXI based system fielding multiple
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`sensors,
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`the inclusion of PXI interface circuitry on each sensor is redundant and
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`inefficient. Finally, if multiple communication interfaces are desired for the modules, the
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`expense and size of the modules may increase dramatically with the inclusion of each
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`additional interface card.
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`Therefore, improved measurement systems are desired which reduce cost and
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`enhance efficiency.
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`Summary
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`Various embodiments of a system and method for measurement, DAQ, and
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`control operations are described. The system may use small form—factor measurement
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`modules in conjunction with a re-configurable carrier unit, sensors and a computer
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`system to provide modular, efficient, cost-effective measurement solutions.
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`In one
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`embodiment, the measurement module is operable to communicate interface information
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`to the carrier, which in turn informs the computer system how to program the carrier to
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`implement the communicated interface, i.e., how to “talk” to the measurement module.
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`This “adaptive interface” approach allows the measurement module to include only
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`components necessary for providing the required functionality,
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`i.e., the measurement
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`module does not have to include hardware and software implementing standard interfaces
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`for communication with external systems. Said another way, much of the interface
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`responsibilities of the measurement module are assumed by the carrier, which itself is
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`programmed by the computer system, thus the measurement module may be smaller and
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`cheaper than typical functional modules.
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`In the preferred embodiment, the measurement
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`module has a small form factor. For example, in one embodiment, the measurement
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`module may have dimensions less than or equal to approximately 1 inch by 2 inches by 3
`
`inches.
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`In one embodiment,
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`the measurement module may have dimensions of
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`approximately .2 inches by 1 inch by 1 inch or more. Thus, in a preferred embodiment,
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`the measurement module has a compact form factor which may enable deployment in a
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`variety of devices or carriers with minimal space requirements.
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`A typical measurement system using this approach includes a computer system
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`coupled to a measurement or data acquisition (DAQ) device, which may include a carrier
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`and one or more measurement modules. As used herein, the term “measurement device” is
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`intended to include any of various types of devices that are operable to acquire and/or store
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`data, and which may optionally be further operable to analyze or process the acquired or
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`stored data. Examples of a measurement device include various types of instruments, such
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`as oscilloscopes, multimeters a data acquisition device or card, a device external to a
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`computer that operates similarly to a data acquisition card, a smart sensor, one or more DAQ
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`or measurement modules in a chassis, and other similar types of devices. The computer
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`system may couple to the measurement device through a serial bus, such as a USB
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`(Universal Serial Bus), or any other medium including Ethernet, wireless media such as
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`IEEE 802.11 (Wireless Ethernet) Bluetooth, a network, such as a Control Area Network
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`(CAN) or the Internet, serial or parallel buses, or any other transmission means.
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`The host computer may comprise a CPU, a display screen, memory, and one or
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`more input devices such as a mouse or keyboard, and may operate with the measurement
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`device to analyze or measure data from the sensor/measurement device or to control the
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`sensor and/or device. Alternatively, the computer may be used only to configure or program
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`the measurement device, i.e., the carrier, as described below.
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`In one embodiment, the measurement module may include measurement circuitry
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`which is operable to perform signal conditioning and/or signal conversion, e.g., a signal
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`conditioner and/or a signal converter, such as an analog to digital converter (ADC) or a
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`digital
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`to analog converter.
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`The measurement module may also include interface
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`circuitry which is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry, and
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`which may also be operable to communicate an interface protocol to the carrier unit
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`describing the interface, as mentioned above. The measurement module may also include
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`additional transmission lines and/or buses for operation, e. g., a trigger line coupled to the
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`ADC which may receive trigger signals from an external source, such as the computer
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`system, and a power line for supplying power to the measurement module.
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`The measurement module may be further operable to couple to a sensor or
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`actuator. The sensor may receive signals from a device or unit under test (UUT) and may
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`send sensor signals to the measurement module for one or more of signal conditioning
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`and signal conversion. For example, the sensor may measure a phenomenon, such as
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`temperature, pressure, voltage, current, or any other phenomenon, and send signals to the
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`measurement module. The signal conditioner comprised in the measurement module
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`may then perform signal conditioning on the signals, where signal conditioning may
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`include one or more of protection, isolation, filtering, amplification, and excitation, or
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`other signal conditioning operations. The conditioned signals may then be processed by
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`the signal converter, also comprised in the measurement module, which may be operable
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`to perform one or more of analog to digital (A/D) conversion and digital to analog (D/A)
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`conversion of the signal, depending on whether the signal is analog or digital. The
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`conditioned, converted signals may then be transmitted by the interface circuitry to the
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`carrier using the specified interface protocol.
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`In other words, the measurement module
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`may transmit the conditioned, converted signals to the carrier over the serial transmission
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`medium SP1. The carrier may then further analyze the signals or transmit the signals to
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`an external system, such as computer system.
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`In the preferred embodiment, the carrier includes a fimctional unit, e.g., a processor
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`and memory or a programmable hardware element, which may be programmed by the
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`computer system. As used herein, the term “processor” is intended to include any of types
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`of processors, CPUs, rnicrocontrollers, or other devices capable of executing sofiware
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`instructions. As used herein, the term “programmable hardware element” is intended to
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`include various types of programmable hardware, reconfigurable hardware, programmable
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`logic, or field-programmable devices (FPDS), such as one or more FPGAS (Field
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`Programmable Gate Arrays), or one or more PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), such as
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`one or more Simple PLDs (SPLDS) or one or more Complex PLDs (CPLDS), or other
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`types of programmable hardware.
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`As mentioned above,
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`the carrier unit is operable to receive interface protocol
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`information fiom the measurement module specifying how to operate or interface with the
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`measurement module. The carrier unit may then communicate the interface protocol
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`information to the computer system. Alternatively,
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`the measurement module may
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`communicate the interface protocol information directly to the computer system. Based on
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`the interface protocol information, the computer system may program or configure the
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`functional ur1it on the carrier unit
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`to implement
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`the interface as specified by the
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`measurement module. In other words, the measurement module may tell the carrier how to
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`“ta ” with it, and the carrier may then tell the computer system how to program the carrier
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`to communicate with the measurement module accordingly (or the measurement module
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`may tell the computer system directly how to program the carrier). The computer system
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`may then program the carrier (i.e., the carrier’s functional unit), thereby implementing the
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`interface specified in the interface protocol information communicated by the measurement
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`module.
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`This process may be referred to as
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`initialization of the measurement
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`module/carrier. The configured carrier and the measurement module may then be operable
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`to perform measurement and data acquisition operations using the sensor and/or the
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`computer system.
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`In other words, the measurement module and the programmed carrier
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`unit together may be operable to perform a measurement device (including a DAQ
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`device), and/or a control device.
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`In one embodiment, the computer system may also store a program implementing
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`one or more measurement functions,
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`i.e., a measurement program. The measurement
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`program may be a graphical program implementing the one or more measurement functions.
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`The computer system may be operable to execute the measurement program to perform the
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`one or more measurement functions, preferably in conjunction with operation of the carrier
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`and/or measurement module, including analysis of data or signals received from the carrier,
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`control of carrier and/or measurement module operations, and user interface functions,
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`among others.
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`In another embodiment,
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`the computer system may be operable to deploy the
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`measurement program onto the functional unit of the carrier unit.
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`In other words,
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`in
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`addition to, or instead of, programming the carrier unit to implement the interface, the
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`computer system may download the measurement program onto the functional unit of the
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`carrier, after which the carrier may be operable to execute the measurement program to
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`perform the one or more measurement functions, preferably in conjunction with operation of
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`the measurement module, and possibly the computer system. The configured carrier and the
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`measurement module may then be operable to perform measurement and data acquisition
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`operations using the sensor and/or the computer system.
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`In one embodiment, the carrier may also process and/or analyze the signals, and
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`send the results of the processing or analysis to the computer system for storage and/or
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`further analysis.
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`
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`::::::§;
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`In various embodiments, the measurement module may also include a functional
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`unit, e.g., a processor (or microprocessor) and memory, or a programmable hardware
`
`element (e.g., an FPGA), which may be operable to implement the module side of the
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`specified interface and/or control module operations. Thus, the measurement module
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`may include measurement circuitry, e.g.,
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`the signal conditioner and/or the signal
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`converter (e.g., ADC or DAC), which may be operable to perform one or more of signal
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`conditioning and signal conversion, as well as interface circuitry (including the functional
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`unit) which is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry. More
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`specifically, the functional unit of the measurement module may retrieve the interface
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`protocol information fiom memory and communicate the interface protocol information
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`to the carrier.
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`In one embodiment, the measurement module may include signal input terminals
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`for receiving analog inputs, e.g., from a sensor, and for optionally receiving a Transducer
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`Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) describing the functionality of the transducer (e.g., sensor)
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`Is
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`in machine—readable form. The measurement module may further include isolation
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`circuitry which may be operable to protect the components of the measurement module
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`from spurious signals, signal noise, harmful voltage and/or current surges, impedance
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`mismatches, and the like.
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`The measurement module may also include terminals for communicating with
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`external systems such as the computer system, including SPI, trigger line(s), power and
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`ground lines, among others.
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`In one embodiment,
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`the measurement module may be in the form of a
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`measurement cartridge and the carrier in the form of a cartridge carrier which is operable
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`to receive one or more of the measurement cartridges. For example, the carrier unit may
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`comprise a chassis, a backplane comprised in the chassis providing for electrical
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`communication, and one or more slots comprised in the chassis. Each of the one or more
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`slots may include a connector that is coupled to the backplane, where each of the one or
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`more slots may be adapted for receiving a measurement module. Thus, the carrier may
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`host a plurality of measurement cartridges, each of which may provide measurement
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`and/or control functionality for a measurement or control operation or task. The carrier
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`may be operable to communicate with each measurement cartridge (i.e., module) and be
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`programmed or configured (e.g., by the computer system) to implement the respective
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`interface of each measurement cartridge.
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`In this manner a suite of sensors may be
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`fielded, each of which feeds signals to a respective measurement cartridge which in turn
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`communicates through a respective interface (protocol) with the cartridge carrier. The
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`cartridge carrier may in turn couple to a computer system. Thus, the carrier may support
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`a heterogeneous plurality of interfaces without having to include a heterogeneous set of
`
`interface hardware components.
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`In a preferred embodiment, the measurement modules (or cartridges) may be
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`easily removed, added, and replaced.
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`In other words, measurement modules may be
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`exchanged to change the configuration or capabilities of the measurement system. In one
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`embodiment,
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`the measurement module may be replaced without powering down the
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`measurement system,
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`i.e.,
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`the measurement module may be “hot-plugged” into the
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`carrier, where the measurement module may communicate the interface protocol
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`information to the carrier upon attachment, and the carrier is programmed in response, as
`
`described above.
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`In another embodiment, the measurement module and/or carrier may
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`require a reboot or reset after attachment to perform the described initialization. Thus,
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`the interface circuitry (i.e., the measurement module) may be operable to communicate
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`20
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`the interface protocol
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`to the carrier unit upon one or more of attachment of the
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`measurement module to the carrier unit, reset of the measurement module, reset of the
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`carrier unit, reboot of the measurement module, and reboot of the carrier unit.
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`In one embodiment,
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`the carrier may comprise a PXI card,
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`i.e., may be
`
`implemented on a PXI card. The PXI card may be operable to plug into a PXI chassis or
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`a suitably equipped computer system, and may implement the carrier fimctionality
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`described above, i.e., the PXI card may include (in addition to PXI interface circuitry,
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`memory, etc.) a functional unit which is programmable or configurable to implement an
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`interface based on interface protocol
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`information transmitted from a coupled
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`measurement module, as described above.
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`It should be noted that other card based
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`implementations besides the PXI card implementation are also contemplated,
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`for
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`example, PCI, VXI, Infiniband, or other protocols or platforms may be used to implement
`
`a carrier, the PXI card embodiment being but one example.
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`In one embodiment, the carrier unit may comprise or be coupled to a Personal
`
`Digital Assistant (PDA). Thus the PDA may comprise the carrier unit and include one or
`
`more slots for measurement modules. Alternatively, the carrier unit may be in the form
`
`of an optionally detachable carrier module, which may in turn couple to a measurement
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`module. The measurement module may in turn be operable to couple to a sensor or
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`actuator, as described above.
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`In one embodiment, the PDA may be operable to program
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`10
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`the carrier (i.e., the carrier unit’s functional unit) with the interface protocol information
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`15
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`provided by the measurement module, as described in detail above, and may be further
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`operable to provide functionality related to a measurement, and/or control
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`task or
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`operation.
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`In another embodiment, the PDA may be used as an interface to another
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`computer system.
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`For example, a suitably equipped PDA may provide wireless
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`communication for the carrier/measurement module.
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`In one embodiment, the measurement system may include a measurement module
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`coupled to a “RIO” Reconfigurable I/O carrier. As used herein, the term “RIO” carrier
`
`refers to a carrier which includes not only the adaptive interface functionality described
`
`above, but also includes or may be configured to include one or more measurement
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`and/or control functions. The RIO carrier may in turn be operable to couple to any of
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`various products or platforms, as indicated.
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`In
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`one
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`embodiment,
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`the RIO carrier
`
`may
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`include
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`the
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`carrier
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`components/functionality described above, and may also include a register set, through
`
`which communication with the products/platforrns may be effected.
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`In Various
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`embodiments, the RIO carrier may provide additional functions which may include I/O
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`scanning, timing and triggering, power-on states, logic, digital I/O timing/counting, data
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`transfer and support for parallel and scanned backplanes, among others. Various
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`products and platforms may provide means for the carrier to communicate with external
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`systems. For example, an Application Programming Interface (API) may allow external
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`systems to read and/or write to the registers in the register set to communicate and/or
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`control the measurement system. For another example, a processor, e.g., a micro-
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`controller, and a network interface card may couple the registers to a network through
`
`which communications with external systems may be facilitated.
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`In one embodiment, RIO based systems, i.e., a RIO carrier, may be extended with
`
`external I/O expansion, i.e., with additional I/O connections for coupling to a plurality of
`
`measurement modules. A RIO cartridge or card may provide connectors for analog I/O
`
`and/or digital I/O. The digital I/O may be coupled to an I/O expansion device, such as a
`
`breakout backplane, which may provide connectivity for a plurality of measurement
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`10
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`module cards or cartridges, and may thereby be operable to facilitate external,
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`synchronized, and conditioned I/O for the measurement system.
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`In another embodiment, the R10 card or device may couple to an addressable
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`backplane, for example, through an SPI with slot select capabilities, and which may
`
`provide a plurality of individually addressable slots for a plurality of measurement
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`modules or cartridges, which may each be individually targeted for communication by
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`the carrier. Additionally, the addressable backplane may be expandable, i.e., additional
`
`addressable backplanes may be coupled to the addressable backplane to provide
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`additional slots for additional measurement modules.
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`In yet another embodiment,
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`the R10 card or device may couple to a
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`20
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`“measurement module in the cable”, where a measurement module may be comprised in
`
`a cable connector.
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`In other words, the features of a measurement module, as described
`
`above, may be included in one or both connectors of a cable which may be coupled to the
`
`RIO device or to a sensor/actuator, as desired.
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`Thus,
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`the use of measurement modules in combination with a variety of
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`platforms, carrier units, and computer systems provides a broad range of approaches for
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`efficient and affordable measurement systems, including established platforms such as
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`PCI/PXI and FieldPoint, generalized carriers such as RIO, new USB/Ethernet devices,
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`and small networked measurement nodes (e.g., smart sensors) for highly distributed
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`measurement systems. These systems may provide for efficient, low-cost, modular, data
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`acquisition, control, and integrated signal conditioning and conversion, as well as
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`interfaces to sensors and actuators, including plug and play (PnP) sensors, and may do so
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`using a small form factor.
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`Brief Description of the Drawings
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`A better understanding of the present
`
`invention can be obtained when the
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`following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction
`
`with the following drawings, in which:
`
`Figure 1A illustrates a measurement system, according to one embodiment of the
`
`invention;
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`Figure 1B is a block diagram of a networked measurement system, according to one
`
`embodiment of the invention;
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`Figure 2 is a block diagram of a computer system, according to one embodiment of
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`10
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`the invention;
`
`Figures 3A and 3B are block diagrams of embodiments of a measurement module;
`
`Figure 4 illustrates a hardware layout of a measurement module, according to one
`
`embodiment of the invention;
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`Figure 5A is a block diagram of a carrier with multiple measurement modules,
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`15
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`according to one embodiment of the invention;
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`Figure 5B illustrates a cartridge carrier with measurement cartridges, according to
`
`one embodiment of the invention;
`
`Figure 6A illustrates a PXI carrier card, according to one embodiment of the
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`
`
`invention;
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`Figure 6B illustrates a PDA based measurement system, according to one
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`embodiment of the invention;
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`Figure 7 is a block diagram of a measurement system using re-configurable I/O
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`(RIO), according to one embodiment of the invention;
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`Figure 8 illustrates various embodiments of a RIO based system with 1/0 expansion;
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`Figure 9 illustrates various sensor/measurement systems according to the present
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`invention;
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`Figure 10 illustrates the use of measurement modules in the context of current
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`measurement systems;
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`Figure ll is a flowchart of a method for configuring a measurement system,
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`according to one embodiment;
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`Figure 12 is a flowchart of another method for configuring a measurement system,
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`according to one embodiment; and
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`Figure 13 is a flowchart of a method for performing a measurement fimction,
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`according to one embodiment.
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`While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms
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`specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be
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`described in detail.
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`It should be understood however,
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`that drawings and detailed
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`description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed.
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`But on the contrary the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative
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`following within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
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`claims.
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`Detailed Description of the Embodiments
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`Incorporation by Reference
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`The following U.S. Patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by
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`reference in their entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.
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`U.S. Patent No. 4,914,568 titled "Graphical System for Modeling a Process and
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`Associated Method," issued on April 3, 1990.
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,219,628 titled “System and Method for Configuring an
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`Instrument
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`to Perform Measurement Functions Utilizing Conversion of Graphical
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`Programs into Hardware Implementations”.
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,173,438 titled “Embedded Graphical Programming System”
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`filed August 18, 1997, whose inventors are Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Darshan Shah, Samson
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`DeKey, and Steve Rogers.
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`U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/891,571 titled “System and Method for
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`Configuring an Instrument to Perform Measurement Functions Utilizing Conversion of
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`Graphical Programs into Hardware Implementations” filed on June 25, 2001, whose
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`inventors are Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Hugo Andrade, Brian Keith Odom, Cary Paul Butler,
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`and Kevin L. Schultz.
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`U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/745,023 titled “System and Method for
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`Programmatically Generating a Graphical Program in Response to Program Information,”
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`filed December 20, 2000, whose inventors are Ram Kudukoli, Robert Dye, Paul F. Austin,
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`Lothar Wenzel and Jeffrey L. Kodosky.
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`U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/595,003 titled “System and Method for
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`Automatically Generating a Graphical Program to Implement a Prototype”, filed June 13,
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`2000, whose inventors are Nicolas Vazquez, Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Ram Kudukoli, Kevin
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`L. Schultz, Dinesh Nair, and Christophe Caltagirone.
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`Figure 1A — A Measurement System
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`Figure 1A illustrates a computer system 102 coupled to a measurement or data
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`acquisition (DAQ) device 107, according to one embodiment. As used herein, the term
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`“measurement device” is intended to include instruments, smart sensors, data acquisition
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`devices or boards, and any of various types of devices that are operable to acquire and/or
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`store data. A measurement device may also optionally be fiirther operable to analyze or
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`process the acquired or stored data. Examples of a measurement device include an
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`instrument, such as a computer—based instrument (instrument on a card) an external
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`instrument a data acquisition card, a device external to a computer that operates similarly to
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`a data acquisition card, a smart sensor, one or more DAQ or measurement modules in a
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`chassis, an image acquisition device such as an image acquisition board or smart camera, a
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`motion control device and other similar types of devices. Exemplary instruments include
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`oscilloscopes, multi-meters, and GPIB, PCI, PXI, and VXI instruments, among others. As
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`Figure 1A shows, the computer system 102 may couple to the measurement device through
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`a transmission medium, e.g., a serial bus, such as a USB 109.
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`It should be noted that
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`although a USB 109 is shown in this example, any other transmission medium may be used,
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`including Ethernet, wireless media such as IEEE 802.11 (Wireless Ethernet) or (Bluetooth, a
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`network, such as a fieldbus a Control Area Network (CAN) or the lntemet, serial or parallel
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`buses, or other transmission means.
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`Thus, Figure 1A illustrates an exemplary data acquisition or measurement system.
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`As Figure 1A shows, the measurement device 107 may in turn couple to or comprise a
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`sensor or actuator 112, such as a pressure or temperature gauge, a thennocouple, an imaging
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`device, (e.g. a camera), or any other type of sensor or actuator. As shown in Figure 1B, the
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`measurement device 107 may include a measurement module (or multiple measurement
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`modules) comprised in a chassis for performing one or more measurement (including) or
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`processing functions as described below.
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`The host computer 102 may comprise a CPU, a display screen, memory, and one or
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`more input devices such as a mouse or keyboard as shown. The computer 102 may operate
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`with the measurement device 107 to analyze or measure data from the sensor 112 and/or
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`measurement device 107 or to control the sensor 112 and/or measurement device 107.
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`Alternatively, the computer 102 may be used only to configure or program the measurement
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`device 107, as described below.
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`Figlre 1B — Block Diagram of a Measurement System
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`Figure 1B is a block diagram of a measurement system, according to another
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`embodiment of the invention. As Figure 1B shows, the measurement device 107 may
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`comprise a carrier 110 and a measurement module 108. The sensor 112 may be coupled to
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`the measurement module 108 which may in turn be coupled to the carrier unit 110, also
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`referred to as carrier 110. The carrier 110 may be coupled to computer system 102 via a
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`network (e.g., the Internet) 104 as shown, or, as mentioned above, may be coupled to the
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`computer system 102 by other transmission means, including serial or parallel bus, wireless,
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`and CAN, among others.
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`The measurement module 108 and the carrier 110 together may provide the
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`functionality of the measurement device 107 of Figure 1A.
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`For example,
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`in one
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`embodiment, the measurement module 108 may be operable to perform signal conditioning
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`and/or signal conversion on the signals sent by the sensor 112, and to transmit results of
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`such processing on to the carrier 110. In one embodiment, the carrier 110 may be operable
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`to receive data from the measurement module 108 and communicate the data (possibly in a
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`different format or form) to the computer system 102, e.g., over the transmission medium
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`104. For example, the canier 110 may receive signal data in a proprietary format from the
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`measurement module 108 and format the data for transmission over wireless Ethernet to the
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`computer system 102.
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`In the preferred embodiment, the carrier 110 includes a functional