Portfolio
A few examples of our work are listed below. Hopefully this smattering gives you an idea of what we are about.
DTT Systems
Most recently approximately 2 years has been spent focusing on the latest HDTV transmission standard (DVB-T2), with peripheral work on DVB-T/C and ISDB-T.
This has resulted in a sound knowledge of the standard, its implementation and issues.
Work has included IC design debug, ATE and API development (C/C++, Perl), pan-European field trial setup and execution and Far-East client support (Taiwan / China).
In partnership with Innovative Communications Ltd, developed an embedded development system based on Microchip’s 18F PIC processor series. Programmed in a C-environment the system has Bluetooth, GPS, Graphic Display, Voice, USB, SD-card and serial facilities.
DAB Radio
Receiver sensitivity optimisation / noise reduction and design productionising:
An apparent sensitivity issue turned out to be due to board-level radiation. The board was redesigned to reduce spurious coupling and emissions. This included layout changes, addition of filtering and shielding, component changes and modification of the firmware (firmware modification handled by client).
Facilitated ramp-up at Dong Guan production facility in China.
FPGA-based
Client 1: Designed an FPGA-based emulator system for a multi-function ISO 14443 / proprietary tagging system. Realised through ISE5.2 and Active HDL, utilising Xilinx Spartan chips.
Client 2: Designed an FPGA-based daughterboard for integrating with the client’s ASIC-based motherboard. The daughterboard provided a USB interface, next generation ASIC testing/control and on-the-fly data stream filtering and processing. An Actel FPGA was used.
EMC Compliance
Client 1: Developed in-house sensitivity / characterisation tests. Involved in development and installation of anechoic chamber testing facility (photo), as well as testing of various products.
Client 2: Involved in UK-based product design and EMC pre-compliance testing, followed by China-based compliance testing.
Design of low-cost electronics for the toy industry and RFID sector. Analogue design of robotics sensors, motor drives, inductive tags and inductive / RF transceivers up to 27MHz.
Design of embedded-processor and FPGA circuits. Client / vendor liaison and facilitating production ramp-up in the Far East.
Design of inductive vehicle detectors and associated electronics.
UHF (433MHz) hands-free access control system:
The client’s first venture into RF. Included design of an offset-fed circularly-polarised patch antenna, microprocessor programming and micropower digital/analogue design. The RF path was implemented as a hybrid of microstrip and conventional technology.
