Generating a Data Stream from Cartridge Controllers Using a Plurality of Measurement Cartridges

• US 20070245086A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Odom, Brian Keith, Castro, Rafael, Bryson, Kyle, Kellam, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

System and method for controlling cartridges to perform industrial operation(s). The system may include cartridge controllers coupled to the cartridges, timing and data routing logic coupled to the cartridge controllers, and controlling software coupled to the timing and data routing logic. Each of the cartridge controllers may be operable to detect and establish communications with a respective cartridge based on information retrieved from the cartridge, and adapt input/output signals of the respective cartridge according to instructions specified by the timing and data routing logic. The timing and data routing logic may be operable to synthesize data stream(s) from the adapted input/output signals, wherein each of the data stream(s) includes a respective subset of the adapted input/output signals received from a corresponding subset of the cartridges, and transmit the data stream(s) to the controlling software. The synthesized data stream(s) may appear as corresponding device(s) to the controlling software.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of cartridge controllers;

timing and data routing logic coupled to the plurality of cartridge controllers;

a plurality of cartridges, each of the cartridges coupled to a respective one of the cartridge controllers, wherein each of the cartridges is operable to perform a measurement and provide signals to its respective cartridge controller; and

wherein each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to adapt signals received from a respective cartridge, thereby producing adapted signals;

wherein the timing and data routing logic is operable to;

synthesize one or more data streams from the adapted signals, wherein each of the one or more data streams comprises a respective subset of the adapted signals received from a corresponding subset of the plurality of cartridges; and

transmit the one or more data streams;

wherein the one or more data streams appear as corresponding one or more devices.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory medium which stores controlling software for controlling the plurality of cartridges, wherein the memory medium is coupled to the timing and data routing logic, wherein the controlling software is operable to use the one or more data streams provided by the timing and routing logic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to adapt the signals based on instructions specified by the controlling software.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is further operable to detect and establish communications with the respective cartridge based on information received from the cartridge.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, to detect and establish communications, each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to:

query the respective cartridge for cartridge type using an identification protocol;

determine a communication protocol based on the cartridge type; and

establish communications with the respective cartridge based on the communication protocol.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the corresponding one or more devices appears as a single device with I/O types of the corresponding subset of the plurality of cartridges.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to detect coupling and/or decoupling of the respective cartridge during operation, and wherein, after coupling, each of the cartridge controllers is operable to perform said adapting I/O signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, to adapt the I/O signals of the respective cartridge, each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to:

provide a memory map to the timing and data routing logic that is substantially generic to the cartridge type of the respective cartridge, wherein the memory map stores one or more of;

information received from the respective cartridge;

information to be transmitted to the respective cartridge;

information for configuring the respective cartridge;

or

information for configuring the system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein, to adapt the I/O signals of the respective cartridge, each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to:

format the I/O signals received from the respective cartridge into a consistent signal format;

calibrate the I/O signals received from the respective cartridge; and

/or

perform one or more sign extensions on the I/O signals received from the respective cartridge.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the timing and data routing logic is operable to provide instructions to the plurality of cartridge controllers regarding timing and/or triggering for synchronized operation, and wherein, in response to receiving the instructions, each of the plurality of cartridge controllers is operable to perform said adapting the I/O signals of the respective cartridge.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, during synchronized operation, in response to the provided instructions, the plurality of cartridge controllers are operable to implement a plurality of related sampling rates, and wherein the related sampling rates have ratios with respect to each other.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the timing and data routing logic is operable to select from a plurality of synchronization schemes to implement the synchronized operation.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of cartridge controllers and/or one or more of the plurality of cartridges implement one or more analog to digital and/or digital to analog conversions.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein, if data from the respective cartridge is received at a slower rate than is required by the timing and data routing logic, each cartridge controller is operable to provide data to the timing and data routing logic at a rate matched to the timing and data routing logic, and wherein the provided data appears to the timing and data routing logic to be sampled at a required rate.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein each cartridge controller is operable to provide phase shifting of timing and/or triggering signals to align with system timing requirements specified by the timing and data routing logic and/or to provide coherent sampling across multiple cartridges.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the timing and data routing logic is operable to dynamically calculate a system timing rate.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the timing and data routing logic is operable to dynamically calculate the system timing rate based on feedback from a subset of the plurality of cartridge controllers.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cartridge controllers and/or the timing and data routing logic is comprised in a programmable hardware element (PHE).

19. A method, comprising:

a plurality of cartridge controllers adapting I/O signals of a plurality of respective cartridges in accordance with received instructions to generate adapted I/O signals;

synthesizing one or more data streams from the adapted I/O signals, wherein each of the one or more data streams comprises a respective subset of the adapted I/O signals received from a corresponding subset of the plurality of cartridges; and

transmitting the one or more data streams, wherein the one or more data streams appear as corresponding one or more devices.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising each cartridge controller:

querying a respective cartridge for cartridge type;

determining a communication protocol based on the cartridge type; and

establishing communications with the respective cartridge based on the communication protocol.