System and method for configuring an instrument to perform measurement functions utilizing conversion of graphical programs into hardware implementations

• US 6,784,903 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Odom, Brian Keith, Andrade, Hugo, Kodosky, Jeffrey L., Butler, Cary Paul, Schultz, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/891,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 345/771, 345/763, 345/765, 716/1, 716/3, 716/16
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2733 Test interface between tester and unit under test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/343 Logical level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method may operate to configure an instrument to perform measurement functions, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element. The method comprises first creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program may implement a measurement function. A portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element, and a portion may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. The programmable hardware element is thus configured utilizing a hardware description and implements a hardware implementation of at least a portion of the graphical program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring an instrument to perform a measurement function, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

generating a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program;

configuring the programmable hardware element in the instrument utilizing the hardware description, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the graphical program;

the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source after said configuring;

the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises an image acquisition device coupled to a camera;

wherein the graphical program comprises an image processing function;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the camera acquiring an image of an object and the image acquisition device receiving and storing the image;

wherein the image acquisition device comprises the programmable hardware element;

wherein said executing comprises the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device executing to perform the image processing function on the image.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein said executing further comprises:

the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device determining characteristics of the image after performing the image processing function; and

the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device performing an operation based on the determined characteristics of the image.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart camera;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the smart camera acquiring an image of an object and storing the image; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart camera executes to perform an image processing function on the image.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein said executing further comprises:

the programmable hardware element in the smart camera determining characteristics of the image after performing the image processing function; and

the programmable hardware element in the smart camera performing an operation based on the determined characteristics of the image.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart sensor;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the smart sensor acquiring the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart sensor executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart sensor is one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, camera, microphone, flow sensor, position sensor, velocity sensor, acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, electromagnetic sensor, optical sensor, radiation sensor, or environment sensor.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a fieldbus device;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the fieldbus device acquiring the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the fieldbus device executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC);

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the PLC acquiring the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the PLC executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a computer-based instrument, wherein the computer-based instrument is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the computer-based instrument acquiring the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the computer-based instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the instrument comprises a reconfigurable measurement device, wherein the reconfigurable measurement device is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the instrument acquiring a signal from an external source comprises the reconfigurable measurement device acquiring the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the reconfigurable measurement device executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the graphical program includes a user interface portion;

the method further comprising;

presenting the user interface portion on a display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the user interface portion operates as a front panel for the instrument.

14. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

receiving user input to the user interface portion on the display to control the instrument during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

15. The method of claim 12,

wherein the user interface portion includes one or more user interface objects;

wherein said generating includes incorporating a register in the hardware description for at least one of the user interface objects;

wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal includes accessing a register on the programmable hardware element to affect one of said user interface objects.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

compiling the user interface portion into executable code for execution by a processor and storing the executable code in a memory;

the processor executing the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the instrument includes the processor and the memory;

wherein the processor in the instrument executes the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the instrument is coupled to a computer system, wherein the computer system includes the processor and the memory;

wherein the computer system executes the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

19. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

performing analog to digital conversion on the signal after said acquiring and prior to said executing.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument further includes timer/counter logic, the method further comprising:

the timer/counter logic performing one of timing/counting operations during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform a process control function using the signal.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the hardware description into a net list; and

compiling the net list format into a hardware program file;

wherein said configuring the programmable hardware element includes downloading the hardware program file to the programmable hardware element to configure the programmable hardware element.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said converting the hardware description into a net list includes:

utilizing at least one function block from a library of pre-compiled function blocks; and

utilizing hardware target specific information.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating the graphical program includes:

arranging on the screen a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program and interconnecting the plurality of nodes;

creating and storing data structures which represent the graphical program in response to said arranging and said interconnecting;

wherein said generating the hardware description comprises;

traversing the data structures;

converting the data structures into a hardware description format in response to said traversing.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical program includes a plurality of nodes;

wherein said generating the hardware description comprises converting each of said nodes into a hardware description format.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein each of said nodes is converted into a hardware description format including an enable input, a clock signal input, and an enable output;

wherein, for a respective node, said enable input receives an enable signal generated from enable out signals from one or more nodes which provide inputs to the respective node.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the graphical program includes an input terminal;

wherein, for said input terminal, said converting comprises;

determining if data input to the input terminal is from a user interface portion executing on the computer system;

creating a hardware description of a write register, wherein the write register includes one or more data outputs and at least control output.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the graphical program includes a function node;

wherein, for said function node, said converting comprises;

determining inputs and outputs to/from the function node;

generating a hardware description of logic which performs the function indicated by the function node;

traversing input dependencies of the node;

creating a hardware description of an AND gate, including listing connections of said input dependencies of the node to said AND gate.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the graphical program includes a structure node;

wherein, for said structure node, said converting comprises;

determining inputs and outputs to/from the structure node;

generating a hardware description of a control block which performs the control function indicated by the structure node;

traversing input dependencies of the node;

creating a hardware description of an AND gate, including listing connections of said input dependencies of the node to said AND gate.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the graphical program includes an output terminal;

wherein, for said output terminal, said converting comprises;

determining if data output from the output terminal is to a user interface portion executing on the computer system;

creating a hardware description of a read register, wherein the read register includes one or more data inputs and at least control input.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical program comprises a data flow diagram.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware description;

the method further comprising;

compiling a second portion of the graphical program into machine code for execution by the processor.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

executing the machine code to perform functionality indicated by the second portion of the graphical program;

the programmable hardware element performing functionality indicated by the first portion of the graphical program;

wherein said executing the machine code and the programmable hardware element performing functionality operate to perform functionality indicated by the graphical program.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the programmable hardware element, the method further comprising:

storing the hardware description into the non-volatile memory;

wherein said configuring the programmable hardware element comprises transferring the hardware description from the non-volatile memory to the programmable hardware element to produce the programmable hardware element.

35. A computer-implemented method for configuring an instrument to perform a measurement function, wherein the instrument includes a programmable hardware element, the method comprising:

creating a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements the measurement function, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

generating a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program;

configuring the programmable hardware element in the instrument utilizing the hardware description, wherein after said configuring the programmable hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the graphical program;

wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is operable to perform the measurement function on a received signal.

36. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument is operable to acquire a signal from an external source after said configuring;

wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

37. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises an image acquisition device coupled to a camera;

wherein the camera is operable to acquire an image of an object, and wherein the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

38. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart camera;

wherein the smart camera is operable to acquire an image of an object and store the image; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart camera is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

39. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart sensor;

wherein the smart sensor is operable to acquire a signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart sensor is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the smart sensor is one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, camera, microphone, flow sensor, position sensor, velocity sensor, acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, electromagnetic sensor, optical sensor, radiation sensor, or environment sensor.

41. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a fieldbus device;

wherein the fieldbus device is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the fieldbus device is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

42. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC);

wherein the PLC is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the PLC is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

43. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a computer-based instrument, wherein the computer-based instrument is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the computer-based instrument is operable to acquire the signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the computer-based instrument is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

44. The method of claim 35,

wherein the instrument comprises a reconfigurable measurement device, wherein the reconfigurable measurement device is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the reconfigurable measurement device is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the reconfigurable measurement device is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

45. A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;

wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program;

wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program; and

an instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes;

an input for acquiring a signal from an external source; and

a programmable hardware element coupled to the input, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is configurable utilizing the hardware description, wherein after being configured the programmable hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the graphical program, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is executable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal.

46. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument is operable to acquire a signal from an external source after being configured;

wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

47. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises an image acquisition device coupled to a camera;

wherein the camera is operable to acquire an image of an object, and wherein the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

48. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart camera;

wherein the smart camera is operable to acquire an image of an object and store the image; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart camera is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

49. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart sensor;

wherein the smart sensor is operable to acquire a signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart sensor is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

50. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the smart sensor is one of a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, camera, microphone, flow sensor, position sensor, velocity sensor, acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, electromagnetic sensor, optical sensor, radiation sensor, or environment sensor.

51. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a fieldbus device;

wherein the fieldbus device is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the fieldbus device is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

52. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC);

wherein the PLC is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the PLC is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

53. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a computer-based instrument, wherein the computer-based instrument is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the computer-based instrument is operable to acquire the signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the computer-based instrument is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

54. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the instrument comprises a reconfigurable measurement device, wherein the reconfigurable measurement device is configured as a card inserted into a slot of a computer system;

wherein the reconfigurable measurement device is operable to acquire the signal from the external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the reconfigurable measurement device is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

55. The measurement system of claim 45,

wherein the graphical program includes a user interface portion;

wherein the user interface portion is operable to be presented on a display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

56. The measurement system of claim 55,

wherein the user interface portion operates as a front panel for the instrument;

57. The measurement system of claim 55,

wherein the user interface portion is operable to receive user input to control the instrument while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

58. The measurement system of claim 55,

wherein the user interface portion includes one or more user interface objects;

wherein, in generating a hardware description based on the graphical program, the software program is executable to incorporate a register in the hardware description for at least one of the user interface objects;

wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is operable to access a register on the programmable hardware element to affect one of said user interface objects.

59. The measurement system of claim 55,

wherein the user interface portion is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the memory for execution by the processor;

wherein the processor is operable to execute the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display.

60. The measurement system of claim 55, wherein the instrument includes a second processor and a second memory;

wherein the user interface portion is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the second memory in the instrument for execution by the second processor in the instrument;

wherein the second processor in the instrument executes the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

61. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument further comprises:

analog to digital conversion logic coupled to the input and to the programmable hardware element for performing analog to digital conversion logic on an acquired analog signal to produce a digital signal.

62. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument further includes timer/counter logic;

wherein the timer/counter logic performs one of timing/counting operations while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

63. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform a process control function using the signal.

64. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the software program stored in the memory of the computer system is further operable to convert the hardware description into a net list;

wherein the computer system is operable to configure the programmable hardware element utilizing the net list.

65. The measurement system of claim 64, wherein the software program stored in the memory of the computer system is further operable to compile the net list format into a hardware program file;

and

wherein the computer system is operable to download the hardware program file to the programmable hardware element to configure the programmable hardware element.

66. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the programmable hardware element comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

67. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the computer system includes a bus and also includes one or more expansion slots coupled to the bus adapted for receiving expansion cards;

wherein the instrument comprises an expansion card inserted into an expansion slot of the bus.

68. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument is an external instrument coupled to the computer system.

69. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the memory of the computer system stores a graphical programming system for creation of the graphical program;

wherein the graphical programming system is executable to arrange on the screen a plurality of nodes comprising the graphical program and interconnect the plurality of nodes in response to user input;

wherein the graphical programming system is further executable to create and store data structures which represent the graphical program in response to said arranging and said interconnecting;

wherein the software program is executable to traverse the data structures and convert the data structures into a hardware description format in response to said traversing.

70. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein a first portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware description;

wherein the computer system is operable to compile a second portion of the graphical program into machine code for execution by the CPU.

71. The measurement system of claim 70,

wherein the programmable hardware element is operable to perform functionality indicated by the first portion of the graphical program;

wherein the computer system is operable to execute the machine code to perform functionality indicated by the second portion of the graphical program;

wherein said executing the machine code and the programmable hardware element performing functionality operate to perform functionality indicated by the graphical program.

72. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the programmable hardware element;

wherein the non-volatile memory is operable to store the hardware description;

wherein the non-volatile memory is operable to transfer the hardware description to the programmable hardware element to produce the programmable hardware element.

73. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument performs data acquisition/generation functions.

74. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument is a GPIB instrument.

75. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument is a VXI instrument.

76. The measurement system of claim 45, wherein the instrument is a serial instrument.

77. A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;

wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, wherein the graphical program also comprises a user interface portion;

wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program; and

an instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes;

an input for acquiring a signal from an external source; and

a programmable hardware element coupled to the input, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is configurable utilizing the hardware description, wherein after being configured the programmable hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the graphical program, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is executable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal;

wherein the user interface portion of the graphical program is operable to be presented on a display during the programmable hardware element in the instrument executing to perform the measurement function on the signal.

78. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the user interface portion is operable to receive user input to control the instrument while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

79. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the user interface portion is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the memory of the computer system for execution by the processor of the computer system;

wherein the processor is operable to execute the executable code from the memory to present the user interface portion on the display.

80. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the instrument includes a second processor and a second memory comprised in the instrument;

wherein the user interface portion of the graphical program is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the second memory of the instrument;

wherein the second processor in the instrument is operable to execute the executable code to present the user interface on the display while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to perform the measurement function on the signal.

81. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the instrument comprises an image acquisition device coupled to a camera;

wherein the camera is operable to acquire an image of an object, and wherein the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

82. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart camera;

wherein the smart camera is operable to acquire an image of an object and store the image; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart camera is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

83. The measurement system of claim 77,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart sensor;

wherein the smart sensor is operable to acquire a signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart sensor is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.

84. A measurement system, comprising:

a computer system comprising a processor, memory and a display;

wherein the memory stores a graphical program, wherein the graphical program implements a measurement function, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, wherein the graphical program also comprises a user interface portion;

wherein the memory also stores a software program which is executable to generate a hardware description based on the graphical program, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the graphical program; and

an instrument coupled to the computer system, wherein the instrument includes;

an input for acquiring a signal from an external source;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor and the input; and

a programmable hardware element coupled to the input, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is configurable utilizing the hardware description, wherein after being configured the programmable hardware element implements a hardware implementation of the graphical program, wherein the programmable hardware element in the instrument is executable to perform the measurement function on an acquired signal;

wherein the user interface portion of the graphical program is operable to be compiled into executable code and stored in the memory of the instrument;

wherein the processor in the instrument is operable to execute the executable code to present the user interface on the display while the programmable hardware element in the instrument executes to pergorm the measurement function on the signal.

85. The measurement system of claim 84,

wherein the instrument comprises an image acquisition device coupled to a camera;

wherein the camera is operable to acquire an image of an object, and wherein the programmable hardware element in the image acquisition device is operabl to perform an image processing function on the image.

86. The measurement system of claim 84,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart camera;

wherein the smart camera is operable to acquire an image of an object and store the image; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart camera is operable to perform an image processing function on the image.

87. The measurement system of claim 84,

wherein the instrument comprises a smart sensor;

wherein the smart sensor is operanle to acquire a signal from an external source; and

wherein the programmable hardware element in the smart sensor is operable to perform the measurement function on the signal.