| US 7,478,006 B2 | ||
| Controlling modular measurement cartridges that convey interface information with cartridge controllers | ||
| Brian Keith Odom, Georgetown, Tex. (US) | ||
| Assigned to National Instruments Corporation, Austin, Tex. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 12, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/402,446. | ||
| Application 11/402446 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/195051, filed on Jul. 12, 2002. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/312254, filed on Aug. 14, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0184335 A1, Aug. 17, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 3/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 702—127 [702/188; 710/100; 717/124; 717/149] | 68 Claims |
| 1. A cartridge controller, comprising:
interface circuitry, wherein the interface circuitry is operable to provide an interface between a cartridge coupled to the
cartridge controller and the cartridge controller;
detection circuitry coupled to the interface circuitry, wherein the detection circuitry is operable to detect coupling of
the cartridge to the cartridge controller via the interface circuitry; and
a processor interface, operable to provide information regarding configuration, status, interrupts, and/or direct memory access
(DMA) to a first processor coupled to the cartridge controller;
wherein the interface circuitry is further operable to:
query the cartridge for a cartridge type of the cartridge;
determine a communication protocol from a plurality of communication protocols based on the cartridge type, wherein the communication
protocol is required to communicate with the cartridge; and
establish communications with the cartridge based on the determined communication protocol;
wherein the cartridge is operable to implement one or more of:
one or more data-acquisition (DAQ) operations;
one or more control operations;
one or more analysis operations;
one or more measurement operations;
one or more user interface operations;
one or more image-acquisition operations; or
one or more automation operations.
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