System Engineering

System Engineering provides the master plan for tying all the parts of a product together. Our approach for complex designs is to divide the functions among the components and minimize interface complexity. This keeps a high degree of modularity which makes it easier to design, debug and reconfigure.

This philosophy is carried through the electrical, software and mechanical design. We make rapid progress in developing our designs since the building blocks can be brought to life one at a time, then integrated into the larger system.

Software

Wherever possible, we design our systems to use C as the preferred language. Because we try to use familiar processor and system architectures in our designs, we have accumulated an impressive library of routines and techniques. Our software usually contains built in debugging modes, serial or flash program loading and configuration parameters saved in nonvolatile memory. By including the debugging and upgrade mechanisms in each program, it makes it very practical to modify and upgrade software in-situ, allowing more efficient development.

Electrical Engineering

With our emphasis on industrial, scientific and medical products we have to provide safe and reliable electrical designs. Our experience spans the voltage, power and frequency spectrums, and we can provide expertise in low level, medical-isolation analog as well as 3000 W servo amps.

We know what it takes to build and calibrate complex devices, so we provide clearly marked PCBs and convenient test points. Our design tools and documentation are all done with CAD. We use Orcad for schematics, PADS for PCB, and Solidworks for mechanical design.

Mechanical Design

Maintaining control over the physical aspects of a design has been greatly simplified since we started using Solidworks 6 years ago. PCBs, enclosures and overlays all line up precisely. We now have done several advanced packaging techniques including aluminum extrusions and short run epoxy and urethane castings. Sometimes our clients provide the industrial design inputs, and we can take the renderings and control drawings and generate the 3D model for fabrication.

We will share whatever part of the packaging task the client has in mind.

Scientific Analysis

Many projects need some up-front science before the product can be designed. We have developed algorithms for locating biopsy targets in 3D coordinates by using stereo pairs of 2D images. Our motion control systems have an option for real-time collision avoidance calculations. An automated altimeter calibration station needed to characterize thermal and pressure responses from low cost sensors and generate linearizing coefficients for calibration constants.

We enjoy the intellectual challenge of solving interesting problems. Tap into our decades of experience to help with your R & D.