PC Software

We have put a lot of effort into creating applications and interface PC software which, out of the box, supports a very wide range of test needs. For our USB databus testers and ZEUS software we also provide APIs for both `classic' (eg C/C++) and .NET programming by the end user – although mostly people find it more economical to ask us the make the changes for them. Since we designed and developed the software we can quickly and economically tailor it to the needs of a particular application. Depending on complexity there may be a charge for this type of work.  All you have to do is ask.

For some specialist applications it may of course be better to start from scratch. For work of this kind the customer is encouraged to review the design as it emerges and (in many cases)  to participate in software prototyping and similar activities.

Software is in the main written in VB.Net or C++, but we can also handle Pascal/Delphi and Java as required.

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We know how many embedded software problems demand fast, deterministic, responses to real world events. So most of our embedded code is written in assembler, modularised for maintainability and reusability and optimised at the finest level of detail for the hardware with which it must operate. This requires an in depth understanding of both the hardware and the firmware; the reward is the sort of unbeatable performance which can make the difference between a problem solved and an ongoing headache.  

Our most commonly used microcontrollers are (ultra) high performance 8051 derivatives. We also sometimes use various PIC variants. The associated asembler is used in most cases, but C is also an option. For those who want a trip down memory lane we can also handle PL/M 51 :-)

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Hardware/Firmware Coupling

The extent of coupling between the hardware and firmware is often treated as a `given', determined by the obvious interface between the two. While this usually gives the simplest implementation, it is quite often not the best – and sometimes only the best will do. Moving the interface `wiggly line' can sometimes be surprisingly effective; here are a couple of examples:

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Digital Electronics

We buy digital electronics as standard parts whenever it makes sense. (There is limited reward in creating an `in-house' microprocessor!) But for databus encoders/decoders (for example) off-the-shelf components are usually too inflexible. They are, after all, aimed at always working precisely to the associated specification, not for testing what happens when you stray from it. So we design our own logic devices for this type of use. As a result, we don't worry if someone wants a wierdly non-standard word length or 50 Khz `ARINC 429'. And the same approach yields ready solutions for motor control, signal routing, I/O device sequencing and a host of other challenges.

In general we use CPLD and FPGA devices from Altera, but we can if required handle other ranges.

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Analogue Electronics

As for digital electronics, many analogue needs such as line drivers and receivers are (best) met by use of bought in devices. But, again, test systems often demand the ability to generate and measure signals well removed from normal practice. For these and a host of other analogue applications (signal conditioning being but a routine example) we have the design expertise to quickly create effective, high performance, analogue circuits.

Some typical designs include variable amplitude/slew rate bus drivers, LVDT simulators, signal conditioning for a -50V analogue input and a variety of unusual power conditioning circuits.

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Printed Circuit Board Layout

We do all our printed circuit board layout in house. We find that this gives us a number of advantages:

• We know we are going to get results in accordance with our standards.

• We can lay out the PCB in conjunction with the enclosure design, reducing design iterations and project timescale.

• Manufacturability issues can usually be cleared up very easily during layout, saving much time and waste later.

• It is much easier to re-use designs (and we do this much of the time).

• Board layout can begin before all of the circuit design (and sometimes all of the system requirement!) is finalised.

Layout is usually limited to 6 layers maximum, but only because anything more gets frighteningly expensive for the small batches and short timescales we usually need.

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Panels & Enclosures

We machine our own enclosures, not least because this streamlines the interface between our in-house CAD and our machine shop. (Having a couple of NC machines helps here too.) At the simple end of the spectrum this may just be making some connector holes in a bought in panel. But, where it's appropriate, we can and do design and manufacture some quite complex enclosures, many of which take to the air in one form or another. Of course, all of this dramatically speeds up the iterative cycles of CAD, board layout, thermal management, CAD, board la...

CAD outputs can be in .DWG, .DXF, .PLT and .PDF form. In addition to hard copy they feed straight into our NC machines:

•     Heitz Hi-Z 720

•     Dahlgren SEZ 400

 to allow us to go from concept to cut metal in as little as a few hours.

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