Reconfigurable measurement system utilizing a programmable hardware element and fixed hardware resources
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable measurement system, comprising:
- a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
wherein the memory stores a measurement program, wherein the measurement program specifies a measurement function;
wherein the memory also stores a program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the measurement program; and
a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes;
a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element; and
one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the measurement function;
wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the measurement function; and
wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the measurement function.
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Abstract
A system and method for configuring a device to perform a function, where the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources. A program is stored which represents the function. A hardware configuration program is generated based on the program, specifying a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and usage of the fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function. A deployment program deploys the hardware configuration program onto the programmable hardware element, where, after deployment, the device is operable to perform the function, where the programmable hardware element directly performs a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element invokes the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. An optional measurement module couples to the device and performs signal conditioning and/or conversion logic on an acquired signal for the device.
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Citations
105 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable measurement system, comprising:
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a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
wherein the memory stores a measurement program, wherein the measurement program specifies a measurement function;
wherein the memory also stores a program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the measurement program; and
a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes;
a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element; and
one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the measurement function;
wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the measurement function; and
wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the measurement function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A reconfigurable control system, comprising:
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a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
wherein the memory stores a control program, wherein the control program specifies a control function;
wherein the memory also stores a program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the control program; and
a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes;
a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element;
one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the control function;
wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the control function; and
wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the control function. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for configuring a device to perform a function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources, the method comprising:
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creating a program, wherein the program represents the function;
generating a hardware configuration program based on the program, wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function; and
configuring the programmable hardware element utilizing the hardware configuration program;
wherein, after said configuring, the device is operable to perform the function; and
wherein said device being operable to perform the function comprises the programmable hardware element being operable to directly perform a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element being operable to invoke operation of one or more of the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A reconfigurable measurement system, comprising:
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a computer system comprising a processor and a memory;
wherein the memory stores a program, wherein the program specifies a function;
wherein the memory also stores a program which is executable to generate a hardware configuration program based on the program; and
a device coupled to the computer system, wherein the device includes;
a programmable hardware element, wherein the hardware configuration program is operable to be deployed onto the programmable hardware element; and
one or more fixed hardware resources coupled to the programmable hardware element;
wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function;
wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function; and
wherein, after the hardware configuration program is deployed onto the programmable hardware element, the device is operable to perform the function. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80)
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81. A memory medium comprising program instructions which are executable to configure a device to perform a function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein the memory medium stores:
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a program, wherein the program specifies the function;
a hardware configuration program generated based on the program, wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function; and
a deployment program executable to deploy the hardware configuration program onto the programmable hardware element;
wherein, after deployment, the device is operable to perform the function, wherein said device being operable to perform the function comprises the programmable hardware element being operable to directly perform a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element being operable to invoke operation of one or more of the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A memory medium comprising program instructions which are executable to configure a device to perform a function, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element and one or more fixed hardware resources, wherein said program instructions are executable to perform:
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creating a program, wherein the program implements the function;
generating a hardware configuration program based on the program, wherein the hardware configuration program specifies a configuration for the programmable hardware element that implements the function, and wherein the hardware configuration program further specifies usage of the one or more fixed hardware resources by the programmable hardware element in performing the function; and
deploying the hardware configuration program onto the programmable hardware element;
wherein, after said deploying, the device is operable to perform the function, wherein said device being operable to perform the function comprises the programmable hardware element being operable to directly perform a first portion of the function, and the programmable hardware element being operable to invoke operation of one or more of the fixed hardware resources to perform a second portion of the function. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A programmable hardware element which is configured with a hardware configuration program to perform a function, wherein the hardware configuration program comprises:
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a first portion which is executable in the programmable hardware element to directly perform a first portion of the function; and
a second portion which is executable in the programmable hardware element to invoke operation of one or more of the fixed hardware resources to perform the second portion of the function. - View Dependent Claims (105)
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Specification