Craig M Conway

US Patent:

6418504, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Jun 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/876003

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Round Rock TX
Kevin L. Schultz - Georgetown TX
B. Keith Odom - Georgetown TX
Glen O. Sescila - Pflugerville TX
Bob Mitchell - Austin TX
Ross Sabolcik - Austin TX
Robert Hormuth - Cedar Park TX

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 1320

US Classification:

710313, 710306, 710314, 710315, 710 62, 710 63, 710 69, 710 71

Abstract:

A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus. The secondary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the second PCI bus.

US Patent:

6425033, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/092342

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Round Rock TX
Kevin Schultz - Georgetown TX
B. Keith Odom - Georgetown TX
Glen Sescila - Pflugerville TX
Bob Mitchell - Austin TX
Ross Sabolcik - Austin TX
Robert Hormuth - Cedar Park TX

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 1338

US Classification:

710128, 710129, 710107, 710 62, 710 63

Abstract:

A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus. The secondary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the second PCI bus.

US Patent:

6950440, Sep 27, 2005

Filed:

Mar 18, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/271691

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

H04L012/43

US Classification:

370458, 370466

Abstract:

A Wide Area Serial PCI system for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. The WASP system includes a host computer system connected through a serial bus to a remote device. The serial bus can range from several meters to several kilometers or more. The host computer system includes a CPU and memory, and also includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also referred to as the local PCI bus. A primary bridge according to the present invention is coupled to the first PCI bus. The primary bridge includes PCI interface circuitry for interfacing to the first PCI bus. The remote device is located remotely from the computer system and comprises a second or remote PCI bus and one or more peripheral devices coupled to the second PCI bus. The remote device also includes a secondary bridge coupled to the second PCI bus.

US Patent:

6957239, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Nov 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/998759

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Leander TX, US
Brian Keith Odom - Georgetown TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F001/02

US Classification:

708272

Abstract:

A system for generating waveforms may include a memory configured to store a plurality of waveform segments, a plurality of waveform segment queues each coupled to receive waveform segments output by the memory, and a selection unit coupled to each of the waveform segment queues and configured to read waveform segments out of a selected one of the waveform segment queues. Each of the waveform segment queues may be configured to store a series of one or more waveform segments. The selection unit may be configured to access the first waveform segment queue during a first time period and to access the second waveform segment queue if a first trigger occurs.

US Patent:

6968464, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Jan 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/043402

Inventors:

Eric R. Gardiner - Austin TX, US
Craig M. Conway - Leander TX, US
Christopher A. Clark - Austin TX, US
Scott B. Kovner - Cedar Park TX, US
William Pitts - Coupland TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F001/26

US Classification:

713300, 710305

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

7149093, Dec 12, 2006

Filed:

Apr 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/410092

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Leander TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

H01R 12/16

US Classification:

361788, 361760, 361686, 361792

Abstract:

The coupling apparatus couples two circuit cards to fit into a larger chassis. A coupling element can connect two similar sized circuit cards or two different sized circuit cards together by coupling the first circuit card and the second circuit card to effectively form a combined circuit card of a larger size. The larger size may allow for more features, may make it easier to dissipate heat, may make the circuit cards easier to shield, and/or may allow for the use of larger and less expensive components on the circuit cards.

US Patent:

7240231, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

Sep 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/260597

Inventors:

Craig M. Conway - Leander TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 1/00

US Classification:

713401

Abstract:

Trigger reception on different instrumentation devices may be synchronized by each instrumentation device generating one or more trigger enable signals and delaying performance of an operation in response to a trigger signal until a transition in a trigger enable signal. An instrumentation system may include several instrumentation devices and a communication medium coupling the instrumentation devices. One of the instrumentation devices may process data in response to a sample clock signal. That instrumentation device may also generate a trigger enable signal and delay performing an operation in response to a trigger signal transmitted via the communication medium until a transition in the trigger enable signal occurs. The trigger enable signal is not the sample clock signal. The trigger enable signal may be synchronized to another trigger enable signal generated by another one of the instrumentation devices.

US Patent:

7451049, Nov 11, 2008

Filed:

Mar 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/801103

Inventors:

Neil S. Feiereisel - Cedar Park TX, US
Craig M. Conway - Leander TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 68, 324 7611, 702 57, 702 66, 702 67, 702 89

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a system comprises a delay determining unit that may be operable to determine a relative delay between the first signal provided by the first source and the second signal provided by the second source, based upon a travel path of the first signal and a travel path of the second signal. In addition, a delay circuit, comprised within the waveform generator, may be configured to be programmed to delay output of the first signal to output the first signal at a predetermined position with respect to output of the second signal, based on the determined relative delay. More specifically, in one embodiment, the delay circuit may be configured to be automatically programmed to add the relative delay to the output of the first signal to automatically align the output of the first signal with respect to the output of the second signal.