Design

The hardware design phase is broken down into a high level and a low level phase. The high level phase involves creating a block diagram of the hardware problem. Each block or module can then be defined in more detail. This includes defining all the electrical interface requirements between modules which facilitates efficient parallelism in group design. Engineers can then focus on their respective modules. A peer review is recommended at the completion of the high level design phase.

• Digital electronics
• Analog and RF electronics
• Microcomputer or microcontroller board- or box-level product
• Embedded systems
• Upgrading/enhancing existing equipment using modern technology
• Component/system evaluation, specification, interfacing
• Consulting and hardware/software evaluation

High Level Deliverables include:

• Hardware High Level Design (HLD) documentation
• Preliminary Bill of Material

The Low level design includes the creation of schematics, parts database, and PCB layout. Where required we insert a peer design review after the completion of the low level design documentation and schematics prior to PCB Layout. When we are not responsible for mechanical enclosure design, the printed circuit board (PCB) outline drawing, typically a DXF or DWG file supplied by the client, is used used as the starting point for PCB layout.

Low Level Deliverables include:

• Hardware Low Level Design (LLD) documentation
• Schematics - Altium Files
• Bill of Materials - Parts & Vendors Database
• PCB Design Database - Gerber Files, etc.

Interfacing

• Standard or custom interfaces

Product development/documentation

• Assembled printed-circuit prototypes
• Full development documentation (available in PDF format):
  • Schematics
  • Parts lists
  • Assembly drawings
  • Fabrication drawings
  • Operation and maintenance manuals
  • User's manuals
• Drafting and printed circuit board layout from single-sided to multi-layer
• Working relationship with talented mechanical designers

Software

• Disciplined software engineering approach: requirements, specification, design, code & test, as-built design, fully commented listings
• Analytical/application
• Consulting and instruction
• Communications
• Drivers for hardware/software interfacing
• General-purpose utilities Instrument/system test
• Machine or process control
• Self-test with error handling
• Algorithm design and implementation
• Maintenance: analysis and correction, enhancements and upgrades
• Software for personal computers, microcomputers and microcontrollers
• Languages and CPU families:
  • Microchip PIC: MPLab
  • Atmel AVR: HPInfoTech CodeVisionAVR C and assembler
  • MSP430: IAR C and assembler
  • x86 (and PC): Visual Basic/C/C++/ C# (Visual Studio), LabView, PL/M-86, ASM-86, QuickBASIC, Java
  • 68HC11: ASM11 (assembler)
  • Motorola 68xx: C and Assembler