What tasks are required to complete
my product development,
and what will you deliver to me?
A typical electronic product development can be
broken down into the following broad categories:
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Electronic/PCB Design |
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Software/FPGA Design |
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Enclosure Selection/Design
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Manufacturing |
We specialize in the top two categories, but still have to
consider enclosure design as it will apply to the circuit card
assembly. We outsource PCB fabrication and assembly to shops
that are expert in this field. When we provide a quote to you, each task which applies to your development will be listed with an
estimate of hours required for completion. The costs for PCB
manufacture, components, and assembly will also be included. A general summary of design tasks are listed in the tables below.
Electronic Design Tasks
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Design Task
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Deliverable
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Notes
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1) Product
specification and requirements. |
Sample_spec.doc |
Supplied by customer
or created as part of the development. See the
Request Quote page for details of what this document should contain.
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2) Detailed physical
circuit design. |
Sample_block_diag.ppt
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Block diagram of all
circuits and parts selected. Adds detail to any existing
specification diagrams as submitted by customer. |
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3) CAD parts library
coding |
Sample.lbr |
CAD part coding of
non-standard and special components. |
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4) Order components |
Parts kit |
Long lead components
start after library coding. Will finish up at end of PCB layout. Also order programming cables or special lab supplies.
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5) Schematic capture. |
Sample.sch |
Circuit design is
finished at completion of this task. |
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6) Design of physical
PCB. |
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Define overall design
rules (trace width and clearances)
Power planes, copper
requirements, mechanical design, routing, cutouts, tooling holes,
component clearance.Test-points, Layer stackup, Controlled impedance,
Special trace requirements (differential spacing, ground plane
proximity).
Special PCB shape to fit off-the-shelf enclosure
or custom enclosure? |
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7) PCB layout |
Sample.brd |
Implement PCB outline
and tooling holes, place components, manual route critical signals
and power, auto route bus and local groups, auto route remainder,
clean traces, clean silkscreen. |
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8) Layout verification |
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Run DRC and verify all
errors, manual check of PCB footprints against components or data
sheets, manual check of critical nets. |
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9) Gerber and
fabrication drawing preparation and checking. |
Sample_gerb.zip
Sample_stackup.txt
Sample_fab_top.pdf
Sample_fab_bot.pdf |
Gerber files for board
build.
Read-me file defining layer stackup.
Fabrication drawing to include auto dimensioning of board, with
.pdf creation of top-side views. Diagram of required
layer stack-up and definition of controlled impedance requirements. Definition of any other special mechanical
requirements (routing, cutouts, etc). |
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10) Select PCB
fabrication vendor and transfer build files. |
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Include electrical
test of bare board. |
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11) Initial component
assembly |
Assembled PCB |
Prototype for design
verification. |
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12) Design
Verification |
Working PCB |
Debug of design in
lab.
May require compliance testing (over temp/voltage). |
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13) Schematic cleanup |
Sample.sch
New revision |
New revision of the
schematic. |
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14) Layout clean up |
Sample.brd
New revision |
New revision of the
PCB layout. |
Manufacturing Tasks
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1) Manufacturing test
design |
Test software/files.
Test fixtures |
Generate functional
test procedures and required testing code. Will utilize working
prototype board and test fixture to provide tests. Emphasis also place on
self diagnostics built into the design.
Provide ICT (in circuit
test) and fabricate test fixturing
for larger production runs. |
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2) Packaging diagram
and user documentation |
Sample_user_manual.doc
Sample_pack_diag.ppt |
Will make use of
specification document and circuit block diagrams, as well as
manufacturers data sheets for components.
Include example
source code listings.
Packaging diagram and specifications for manufacturer
(packaging for shipment or display to end user). |
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3) Manufacturing parts
kit and ship |
Manufacturing parts
kit |
"Jelly-bean" parts
generally supplied by manufacturer. Integrated circuits ordered and
shipped to manufacturer. Can provide domestic or overseas
assembly. |
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4) Manufacturer
support per build. |
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Have manufacturer
pre-build one board for testing prior to large production run
(more than 10 units). |
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5) Receive and
test/inspect each board prior to customer delivery (one to
hundreds of units) |
Working boards for
customer |
Functional test may
have already been run at manufacturers site (depending on
production quantity). Full functional testing must be
specified. |
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6) Warrantee and
return policy. |
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Who and how will
returns be repaired? |
Enclosure Design Tasks (as applicable to the PCB design)
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1) Select
off-the-shelf unit or specify design of custom enclosure.
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Manufacturers part
number or mechanical drawings for custom enclosure |
This data will
specify the shape and location of tooling holes on PCB. Generally plastic, aluminum, steel, fiberglass materials.
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2) Sub-system fit. |
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Preliminary analysis
of the sub-systems mechanical assembly. Might include
batteries, cabling, displays, panel buttons, antennas,
cover-plates, etc. |
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3) Cosmetics. |
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Any special
requirements as far as color (painting), transparency, lighting.
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4) Indicators. |
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Selection, fit and
feel of buttons, switches, displays, etc. for user operation.
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5) Environmental
analysis |
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Ability of mechanical
design to keep electronics within required operating range with
respect to shock, temperature and vibration |
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6) Compliance |
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FCC, EMI, UL |
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