National Instruments Corporation

William R Pitts

Rodney W Cummings

Craig M Conway

James W Edwards

Brian Keith Odom

Scott B Kovner

Eric L Singer

Eric R Gardiner

Christopher A Clark

Timothy A Stelzer

Zaki Chasmawala

Michael S Butler

Matthew M Brzezinski

Device driven transfer of data from the device to a memory of a host. The device may receive data from one or more data sources. The device may transfer at least a portion of the data to the memory of the host coupled to the device. Transferring may be performed without an initiation of the transfer by the host. Additionally, transferring may include, for each of the one or more data sources, determining a portion of the memory medium corresponding to the data source, determining a latest value for the data source from the data, and storing the latest value for the data source in the portion of the memory. Storing the latest value may include overwriting a previous value of the data source when the previous value exists in the portion of the memory medium.

Single point, device driven data transmission for a real time application

In some embodiments, a user may select an elemental function such as read, write, or configuration from a graphical programming environment. A file may be created that instantiates functionality into a programmable hardware element to allow it to send a command across a serial protocol to peripheral interface circuitry and ultimately to peripheral chips (e.g., network chips on a CAN). The elemental node concept may be generic to any network chip because the node may contain only the general data of a packet (e.g., command type, value of data bytes, etc). The actual interface to a network chip may be handled inside the peripheral interface circuitry. The peripheral interface circuitry may have the details of the network chip in which it interfaces and may abstract details of the network chip from the target programmable hardware element through the serial protocol.

Implementation of packet-based communications in a reconfigurable hardware element

System and method for configuring a second system in a split bridge distributed environment. A host computer system (host) includes a memory operable to store host driver software (drivers) and a CPU operable to execute the drivers. A serial bus couples the host to the second system. The host saves configuration information for the second system. The second system receives user input requesting a power down condition. The drivers enters a quiescent state, generating an indication of a power down condition. The user powers down and reconfigures the second system. The host detects a link down condition between the host and the second system, and monitors a link status between the host and second system. The user powers up the second system. The host detects a link up condition, restores second system configuration, and performs a discovery process on the second system.

System and method for reconfiguring a system coupled to a host computer through a split bridge

A system for interfacing a host computer to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The system comprises a memory, an embedded processor and interface logic. The memory stores program code. The embedded processor couples to the memory and executes the program code. The interface logic interfaces the embedded processor with an interconnecting bus, e.g., the Real-Time System Integration (RTSI) bus. In response to execution of the program code, the embedded processor is operable to perform a CAN event in response to the interface logic receiving a RTSI trigger signal on a selected line of the RTSI bus. A peripheral device also coupled to the host computer assert the trigger signal in response to the peripheral device receiving and/or transmitting data. Furthermore, the interface logic is configured to assert a RTSI trigger signal on a selected line of said RTSI bus in response to the embedded processor performing a CAN event. CAN events include transmission/reception of a CAN frame. The peripheral device may be configured to perform a data transfer in response to receiving the trigger signal.

System and method for interfacing a CAN device and a peripheral device

An improved dual-connector cable for connecting a computer to a serial instrumentation bus. In one embodiment, the serial instrumentation bus is a fieldbus, preferably either a Foundation fieldbus or a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The cable comprises a first terminal located at a first end of the cable for coupling the cable to the computer. The first terminal comprises a device connector which is configured to connect the first terminal to a connector on the computer. The cable also comprises a second terminal located at a second end of the cable for coupling the cable to the serial instrumentation bus. The second terminal comprises interface circuitry for interfacing the cable with the serial instrumentation bus. The second terminal further comprises a first bus connector that is electrically coupled to the serial instrumentation interface circuitry. The first bus connector is configured to connect to a mating connector for coupling to the serial instrumentation bus. The second terminal further comprises a second bus connector that is electrically coupled to the serial instrumentation interface circuitry. The second bus connector is configured to connect to the serial instrumentation bus. In one embodiment, the first bus connector is operable to be connected to the serial instrumentation bus and the second bus connector is operable to be connected to a bus monitor to enable the bus monitor to monitor signals on the serial instrumentation bus.

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Coupland, TX, United States of America

William R Pitts