Configuring Programmable Hardware on a Device to Communicate with Cards Based on ID Information of the Cards

• US 20070233418A1
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Potter, David, Steger, Perry, Odom, Brian, Truchard, James, Foote, Garritt
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

System and method for measurement, DAQ, and control operations which uses small form-factor measurement modules or cartridges with a re-configurable carrier unit, sensors, and a computer system to provide modular, efficient, cost-effective measurement solutions. The measurement module includes measurement circuitry, e.g., signal conditioner and/or signal conversion circuitry, and interface circuitry for communicating with the carrier unit. The module communicates interface information to the carrier unit, which informs the computer system how to program or configure a functional unit on the carrier unit to implement the communicated interface, or sends the information directly to the computer system. The computer system programs the carrier unit with the interface, and the programmed carrier unit and measurement module together function as a DAQ, measurement, and/or control device. The carrier unit may receive multiple cartridges, each having a respective interface protocol, where the carrier unit is configurable to support the respective protocols sequentially and/or in parallel.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a computer system;

a first device coupled to the computer system, wherein the first device comprises a programmable hardware element;

one or more cards coupled to the first device;

wherein the first device is operable to provide identification information of each of the one or more cards to the computer system;

wherein the computer system is operable to configure the programmable hardware element of the first device based on the identification information, thereby enabling the first device to communicate with the one or more cards;

wherein after said configuring, the first device and the one or more cards are together operable to perform a function.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a server computer system coupled to the computer system over a network, wherein the computer system is operable to provide the identification information of each of the one or more cards to the server computer system, and wherein the server computer system is operable to provide a hardware configuration file to the computer system for configuring the programmable hardware element of the first device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is operable to configure the programmable hardware element of the first device using a hardware configuration file, and wherein the hardware configuration file comprises one or more interface protocols for communicating with the one or more cards.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein after said configuring, the first device is operable to communicate with the one or more cards using the one or more interface protocols.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to query each of the one or more cards for the identification information.

6. A method for configuring a system to perform a function, comprising:

coupling one or more cards to a first device in the system, wherein the first device comprises a programmable hardware element;

providing identification information of each of the one or more cards;

accessing a computer system based on the provided identification information;

the computer system storing a hardware configuration file, wherein the hardware configuration file specifies logic for operating with the one or more cards;

configuring the programmable hardware element in the first device with the hardware configuration file, thereby enabling the first device to communicate with the one or more cards;

wherein after said configuring, the first device and the one or more cards are together operable to perform the function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said providing the identification information of each of the one or more cards is performed by the first device, and wherein said providing comprises providing the identification information of each of the one or more cards to the computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the computer system providing the identification of each of the one or more cards to a server computer system; and

the server system providing the hardware configuration file to the computer system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the hardware configuration file comprises one or more interface protocols for communicating with the one or more cards.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the first device querying each of the one or more cards for the identification information.

11. A system, comprising:

a server computer system;

a first device coupled to the computer system over a network, wherein the first device comprises a programmable hardware element;

one or more cards coupled to the first device;

wherein the first device is operable to provide identification information of each of the one or more cards to the server computer system;

wherein the server computer system is operable to provide a hardware configuration file for configuring the programmable hardware element of the first device based on the identification information, thereby enabling the first device to communicate with the one or more cards;

wherein after said configuring, the first device and the one or more cards are together operable to perform a function.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware configuration file comprises one or more interface protocols for communicating with the one or more cards.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein after said configuring, the first device is operable to communicate with the one or more cards using the one or more interface protocols.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first device is operable to query each of the one or more cards for the identification information.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the function comprises a measurement function.

16. A method for configuring a system to perform a function, comprising:

coupling one or more cards to a first device in the system, wherein the first device comprises a programmable hardware element;

providing identification information of each of the one or more cards;

accessing a server computer system over a network based on the provided identification information;

the server computer system providing a hardware configuration file over the network, wherein the hardware configuration file specifies logic for operating with the one or more cards;

configuring the programmable hardware element in the first device with the hardware configuration file, thereby enabling the first device to communicate with the one or more cards;

wherein after said configuring, the first device and the one or more cards are together operable to perform the function.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said providing the identification information of each of the one or more cards is performed by the first device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the hardware configuration file comprises one or more interface protocols for communicating with the one or more cards.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

the first device establishing communication with the one or more cards using the one or more interface protocols.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

the first device querying each of the one or more cards for the identification information.