US 6,983,391 B2
Modular system with synchronized timing
Stanley P. Woods, Cupertino, Calif. (US); Hans J. Sitte, San Jose, Calif. (US); and Bruce Hamilton, Menlo Park, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif. (US)
Filed on May 09, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/853,112.
Prior Publication US 2002/0169993 A1, Nov. 14, 2002
Int. Cl. G06F 1/12 (2006.01); G06F 1/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 713—400 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
22. A modular system, comprising:
first instrument bay for holding a first set of modules each capable of communication via a first set of network communication links, the first set of modules each having a clock and means for synchronizing the clock in response to messages on the first set of network communication links, the first set of modules each performing a function such that the functions of the first set of modules are coordinated by a synchronized time in the clocks in the first set of modules, the first instrument bay holding a first communication device that enables communication among the first set of modules via the first set of network communication links and that enables communication via a communication network;
second instrument bay for holding a second set of modules each capable of communication via a second set of network communication links, the second set of modules each having a clock and means for synchronizing the clock in response to messages on the second set of network communication links, the second set of modules each performing a function such that the functions of the second set of modules are coordinated by a synchronized time in the clocks in the second set of modules, the second instrument bay holding a second communication device that enables communication among the second set of modules via the second set of network communication links and that enables communication via the communication network such that the synchronized time in the clocks in the first and second sets of modules enables placement of one or more modules of the first and second sets of modules outside of the first and second instrument bays with no change to an underlying functionality in the modules.