Core Services and Technical Capabilities

Digital Signal Processing DSP Help    Top >>

At the core of our capabilities, TechEn has performed substantial digital circuit design work in the many industries that require the latest implementation of the very fast digital signal processing. Our expertise includes:

• Signal Processing and Algorithm Design
• Embedded DSP Processor Product Design
• Medical, Military, Industrial and Telco Equipment Design
• Audio Equipment Design
• Legacy software code
  • Replace processor and code
  • Verify functionality

TechEn is a third party consultant for Analog Devices (Tiger Sharc, Sharc), Texas Instruments, Microchip (DsPIC) and Atmel. We have developed products using a variety of chips. Examples of some of the TechEn experience, specific projects, and capabilities that may be relevant to this project include:

(1) TechEn developed a DSP based Control System for use with high frequency RF plasma control. In its’ final form, the system uses two SHARC DSPs, providing control loop bandwidths over 1 MHz, and using DFT techniques to provide monitoring and SOA control of the power drive stage. The control operates in close proximity to the 5 KW 13 MHz power amplifier, careful electrical design was required to achieve a successful low-noise product design.

(2) TechEn has developed an electrical impedance tomography instrument using multiple SHARC DSPs for control and signal acquisition. This system uses multiple boards (shown at right), each with two DSPs and two Xilinx FPGAs to provide four analysis channels. The FPGAs provide programmable signal generation (from 1 KHz to 3 MHz) and timing.

(3) The module shown above right incorporates a SHARC DSP with 8 Mbytes of Ram and 2 megabytes of Flash. The module provides signal generation, and dual 1MHz 16 bit A/D channels to analyze optical DWDM signals at real-time rates.

(4) The module shown at right implements a 500 HP brushless motor control. It integrates a TechEn developed digital/DSP core with customer developed analog/interface circuitry. TechEn developed special bootloader code (allowing multiple boot configurations and field firmware updates), and a C-language framework to support the customer application.

(5) As well, TechEn’s staff has developed and provided embedded DSP processor algorithms for acoustic room equalization, medical ultrasound, diffuse optical tomography, EEG signal processing, sonar (search and side-scan) signal beamforming, automated sonar target tracking, motor and motion control, and, RF Plasma control.

(6)In the product shown at right, TechEn has developed a two processor controller for a power converter system. The host/control processor is a Microchip dsPIC device. TechEn is a third party consultant for Microchip and tools and technology are made available to Techen.

(7) TechEn developed the automotive amplifier shown below at the right. This unit operates from the MOST automotive optical ring network and provides eight 40W speaker drives, and sub-woofer signal level outputs.

Embedded MicroProcessors including Microchip, Texas Instruments and ATMEL

TechEn has developed a broad range of Microchip based products. These products span the spectrum from low volume high power plasma controls to high volume low-cost consumer products. TechEn has experience with the PIC12, PIC14, PIC16 and PIC18 families. In additions, TechEn is an early adopter of the new dsPIC family of products. TechEn has available development tools for most Microchip parts. The Microchip PIC based Filter Check Timer product (shown at right) was developed for The Holmes Group.

Embedded DSP processor algorithms for acoustic room equalization, medical ultrasound, brushless motor control, diffuse optical tomography, EEG signal processing, sonar (search and side-scan) signal beamforming, automated sonar target tracking, motor and motion control, and, RF Plasma control.

Other Areas of Expertise

Data Acquisition    Top >>

TechEn develops real-time digital signal processing hardware (9) and software to provide fast, accurate and reliable high speed data acquisition. As an example, we have developed an optical brain imaging system that uses 32 lasers and 32 detectors. The proprietary DSP algorithms perform Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on all 32 channels. The system is capable of making 1024 FFT calculations per second, providing output signals at a very high rate of 100 Hz.

Low Power    Top >>

TechEn has developed a number of low-power commercial products. Examples of these products include extremely low-power components for an industrial RF communication system; a long-life battery powered auto-correcting utility (natural) gas meter, and a loop-powered pressure control switch. This pressure switch product “One Switch” is shown at right. Operating from less than 100 uA, the One Switch provides extensive set-up and diagnostic capabilities that are a first for this type of unit.

Motor Control    Top >>

Other TechEn designed product includes the low cost treadmill power control board (10) developed for Cybex International; the compressor/temperature control for laser chiller unit (11) and the audience response (900 MHz) wireless keyboard.

Low Cost Consumer Production:    Top >>

TechEn has developed a broad range of low-cost consumer products. Products have developed using microprocessor solutions from Microchip, Atmel, Texas Instruments and others. The Filter Check Timer product (shown at right) utilizes a Microchip device to provide a HEPA filter life timer function for The Holmes Group.

The “filter-check” electronics were designed by TechEn for use in a number of models in a Home Air Purifier product line. The design goals were to develop new low cost control that tracks usage for filter replacement. A picture of one of the pre-production prototypes is shown at right.

Test Equipment for Production, Quality and Acceptance    Top >>

TechEn has performed substantial work for testing of products during production. We develop test systems for clients that include:

• Functional Test Equipment including Manual, Automated, and Special Purpose Custom Design
• High Volume Consumer Product Design

Examples of some of the TechEn experience, specific projects, and capabilities that may be relevant to this project include:

TechEn developed a series of high-volume functional testers for Fax International (Unify Telecom). This type of system used off-the-shelf computer and instrumentation coupled with fully customized fixturing and a Visual Basic control program. A typical system is shown at right. Note that this system is very similar in configuration to the system described in this proposal.

TechEn engineers developed a series of simple functional testers for Watts, a major valve company. Watts had a requirement for extremely simple equipment for functional test of their Laundry Shutoff valve PCB assembly. A typical non-computerized system is shown at right.

TechEn developed a set of automatic functional test equipment to support test of standard and USB audio headset system. Systems were installed in production facilities in Singapore, and support a variety of product under a flexible software system built around LabWindows CVI. The test system was also used by the US based engineering group to improve quality and functionality of the units. A system is shown in the picture at right.

TechEn has developed life test equipment and special purpose equipment. A special purpose test system developed for Philips Medical is shown at the lower right.