Measurement system with modular measurement modules that convey interface information
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a measurement module, comprising;
measurement circuitry, wherein the measurement circuitry is operable to perform one or more of signal conditioning and signal conversion; and
interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry; and
a carrier unit, operable to couple to the interface circuitry of the measurement module;
wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate an interface protocol describing the interface;
wherein the carrier unit comprises one or more functional units which are programmable to interface with the measurement module in accordance with the communicated interface protocol; and
wherein the measurement module and the programmed carrier unit are together operable to perform as one or more of a DAQ device, a measurement device, and a control device.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
100 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a measurement module, comprising; measurement circuitry, wherein the measurement circuitry is operable to perform one or more of signal conditioning and signal conversion; and interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry; and a carrier unit, operable to couple to the interface circuitry of the measurement module; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate an interface protocol describing the interface; wherein the carrier unit comprises one or more functional units which are programmable to interface with the measurement module in accordance with the communicated interface protocol; and wherein the measurement module and the programmed carrier unit are together operable to perform as one or more of a DAQ device, a measurement device, and a control device. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A measurement module, comprising:
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measurement circuitry, wherein the measurement circuitry is operable to perform one or more of signal conditioning and signal conversion; and interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to couple to a carrier unit, and wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate an interface protocol to the carrier unit describing the interface; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate signals with the carrier unit in accordance with the communicated interface protocol; wherein the measurement module is operable to perform as at least a portion of one or more of a measurement device, and a control device. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A system, comprising:
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a measurement module, comprising; measurement circuitry, wherein the measurement circuitry is operable to perform one or more of signal conditioning and signal conversion; and interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry; and a carrier unit, operable to couple to the interface circuitry of the measurement module; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate an identifier (ID) for the measurement module, and wherein the ID is usable to reference an interface protocol describing the interface; wherein the carrier unit comprises one or more functional units which are programmable to interface with the measurement module in accordance with the interface protocol; and wherein the measurement module and the programmed carrier unit are together operable to perform as one or more of a DAQ device, a measurement device, and a control device. - 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, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A measurement module, comprising:
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measurement circuitry, wherein the measurement circuitry is operable to perform one or more of signal conditioning and signal conversion; and interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface for the measurement circuitry; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to couple to a carrier unit, and wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate an identifier (ID) to the carrier unit, wherein the ID is usable to reference an interface protocol describing the interface; wherein the interface circuitry is operable to communicate signals with the carrier unit in accordance with the referenced interface protocol; and wherein the measurement module is operable to perform as at least a portion of one or more of a measurement device, and a control device. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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Specification