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Examples
of Typical Project Level Service Engagements
This section
describes some typical projects that we have been involved
with in the past. The examples include the background, what
was done to assist the project and the results.
Examples
of Projects
Company
needed a PCB Designed quickly but had insufficient Design
Personnel
Situation
Company
needed a PCB designed quickly but had insufficient Design
Personnel for all projects presently scheduled.
Tasks
Performed
Generated System Tester Functional Specification,
assembled outside team, created Plan and Estimate to
Complete. Designed a PCB with 16 DSPs and an FPGA to
interface to a Motherboard. Created Schematics, BOMs, FPGA
Spec and FPGA Design. Interfaced with outside layout house,
Tested and Debugged Circuit. updated Final Documentation.
All work except the final test was performed out of
house.
Results
Working Printed Circuit Board and complete documentation
on a rapid schedule. Worked with in house Firmware
programmers to create functional test system.
Key
Technical Electronic Design Person Leaves on Short
Notice
Situation
A key technical electronic design person left the
company on short notice. Several attempts were made to hire
an employee in a short time frame, but they were not
effective. The design was a Motherboard PCB that was just
entering final schematic capture phase. Design was seriously
behind schedule, and client had great concerns about project
completion.
Tasks
Performed
Acted as lead engineer and coordinated the Design
completion with another engineer and internal client
personnel. This included schematic capture, final BOM
generation, interface with outside PCB layout house.
Responsible for completion of Fab and Assembly of PCB,
Debug, Test and Test Documentation. Created Acceptance Test
Procedures, Theory of Operations, and all design
documentation.
Results
Completed design and documentation sufficient for client
to generate additional prototypes and demonstrate the
product successfully at a critical trade show.
Company
was expanding its engineering capacity
quickly
Situation
Company was expanding its engineering capacity quickly
in a tight labor market. Limited supply of engineers with
correct skills were available. It had an important and very
complex new design in the process of being architected.
Final goal was the creation of a new system level product.
The specification of the design underwent numerous changes
in market conditions and customer requirements.
Tasks
Performed
Analyzed existing products that were much less complex
than new product. Investigated ways to improve upgrade
design to meet the needs of the new product. Created an
overall Hardware Block Diagram and architecture for the
system, working with other experts at the company. This
included both software and firmware engineers. The final
system required very wide system throughput and a very large
amount of data flow. Each constituent PCB contained a very
large number of DSPs and Microcontrollers working together
and interfacing to external circuits. They also included
multiple FPGAs to create the required interfaces. Also,
included participation in Multiple Design Reviews with upper
management and other project team members.
Results
Created a workable system architecture that was later
implemented into a final PCB design.
Immediate
Help Needed on FPGA Design
Situation
An associate had a large number of projects underway for
his clients. He needed some immediate help on a large FPGA
design. We started with a functional specification. The PC
card that used the FPGA was going to be completed in a short
time, and the FPGA was critical to its operation.
Tasks
Performed
Refined the specification. Created Block Diagram, and
split the design between myself and my associate. Create
about 50% of the FPGA circuit design, including simulation.
We jointly Debugged and Tested the FPGA code when the PCB
was completed. We also made design modifications to improve
the circuit performance. Created final documentation for the
client. Conducted two training classes to pass the design on
to the client's employee so they could maintain the
design.
Results
A working circuit that is operating in a functioning in
a system.
Client
just received a large contract to deliver a prototype very
quickly
Situation
Client just received a large contract to deliver a
prototype unit of a large system very quickly. They had only
a very limited in-house staff, with a narrow expertise that
did not include microcontroller based designs and related
systems experience. They also lacked software expertise and
sufficient hardware technician support.
Tasks
Performed
Created the Functional Specification and Block Diagrams
for the electronic portion of the system from their overall
specification. Located Embedded Controller Firmware and
Software Engineer, and Technician help. Quickly created and
designed a simulation breadboard to allow firmware debug to
get started quickly. Then performed electronic design of the
electronic controller card, including BOMs. Interfaced the
design through PCB layout, assembly, debug and test. Got
prototype up and running the real firmware very quickly.
Developed test procedures and fixtures to test the multiple
boards that would be generated in the future. Updated and
released all documentation.
Results
A complete prototype was produced for the client in
record time. The firmware and software were debugged to make
the prototype operational.
Need
for a detailed circuit analysis of a mass produced
electronic assembly
Situation
The client had a need for a detailed circuit analysis of
a mass produced electronic assembly. They lacked adequate
in-house staff with the required skills.
Tasks
Performed
Defined and refined the circuit to be analyzed.
Researched semiconductor models. Captured Model Circuits.
Ran Analysis in Spice. Created report and presented to
design review. After circuit is implemented made
measurements to assure compliance of analysis with
simulation. Run further analyses using variation in
parameters. Produce final report and review of this analysis
for manufacturing variations.
Results
Much greater confidence that the circuit would work very
effectively in volume production. Design entered volume
production.
Turnkey
design needed for a sophisticated electronic driver
circuit
Situation
Mechanical Engineering firm needed a turnkey design for
a sophisticated electronic driver circuit to be designed for
one of their customers. Their customer wanted a prototype
design to be tested and integrated into a new large
system.
Tasks
Generated Specification, Block Diagram and Plan to
perform the design. Implemented the design, including
schematics and BOMs. Interfaced with Purchasing, Fab and
Assembly houses to get prototype units built. Debugged and
tested the prototypes and assisted the customer with
integrating the units into their system.
Results
Design was completed on a rapid schedule and delivered
to the ultimate customer. The unit worked very well when
integrated into their new system.
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