A Specification For A Next Generation Cad Toolkit For Electronics Product Design

Electronic engineering product design is a complex process which has enjoyed an increasing provision of computer based tools since the early 1980's. Over this period computer aided design tool development has progressed at such a pace that new features and functions have tended to be market driven. As such CAD tools have not been developed through the recommended practise of defining a functional specification prior to any software code generation. This thesis defines a new functional specification for next generation CAD tools to support the electronics product design process. It is synthesized from a review of the use of computers in the electronics product design process, from a case study of Best Practices prevalent in a wide range of electronics companies and from a new model of the design process. The model and the best practices have given rise to a new concept for company engineering documentation, the Product Book which provides a logical framework for constraining CAD tools and their users (designers) as means of controlling costs in the design process. This specification differs from current perceptions of computer functionality in the CAD tool industry by addressing human needs together with company needs of computer supported design, rather than just providing more technological support for the designer in isolation.Racal Reda

JTEC Panel report on electronic manufacturing and packaging in Japan

This report summarizes the status of electronic manufacturing and packaging technology in Japan in comparison to that in the United States, and its impact on competition in electronic manufacturing in general. In addition to electronic manufacturing technologies, the report covers technology and manufacturing infrastructure, electronics manufacturing and assembly, quality assurance and reliability in the Japanese electronics industry, and successful product realization strategies. The panel found that Japan leads the United States in almost every electronics packaging technology. Japan clearly has achieved a strategic advantage in electronics production and process technologies. Panel members believe that Japanese competitors could be leading U.S. firms by as much as a decade in some electronics process technologies

The CADSS design automation system

This research was designed to implement and extend a previously defined design automation system for the design of small digital structures. A description is included of the higher level language developed to describe systems as a sequence of register transfer operations. The system simulator which is used to determine if the original description is correct is also discussed. The design automation system produces tables describing the state transistions of the system and the operation of all registers. In addition all Boolean equations specifying system operation are minimized and converted to NAND gate structures. Suggestions for further extensions to the system are also given

Automated Manufacturability Analysis: A Survey

In the marketplace of the 21st century, there is no place for traditional ``over-the-wall'' communications between design and manufacturing. In order to ``design it right the very first time,'' designers must ensure that their products are both functional and easy to manufacture. Software tools have had some successes in reducing the barriers between design and manufacturing. Manufacturability analysis systems are emerging as one such tool---enabling identification of potential manufacturing problems during the design phase and providing suggestions to designers on how to eliminate them.In this paper, we provide a survey of current state of the art in automated manufacturability analysis. We present the historical context in which this area has emerged and outline characteristics to compare and classify various systems. We describe the two dominant approaches to automated manufacturability analysis and overview representative systems based on their application domain. We describe support tools that enhance the effectiveness of manufacturability analysis systems. Finally, we attempt to expose some of the existing research challenges and future directions.<P

Automation of garment assembly processes

Robotic automation in apparel manufacturing is reviewed and investigated. Gripper design for separation and de-stacking of batch cut fabric components is identified as an important factor in implementing such automation and a study of existing gripper mechanisms is presented. New de-stacking gripper designs and processes are described together with experimental results. Single fabric component handling, alignment and registration techniques are investigated. Some of these techniques are integrated within a demonstrator robotic garment assembly cell automating the common edge binding process. Performance results are reported

Applications of dynamic programming tp problems of routing pipework and cables

Imperial Users onl

EDMD Collaboration and Virtual Prototyping

Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) requires new tools for collaborating electronic and mechanic design phases in its product development. In the first part of this thesis will be introduced Electrical Data Mechanical Data (EDMD) application; the software will be tested within a project to resolve tool’s possibilities and challenges from NSN’s point of view. Results of the study will be used for deciding further usage of the tool. Secondly the thesis will study virtual prototyping as a new working method and also related simulation tools. Tested EDMD tool is one module of the simulation environment. Virtual prototyping will be tested within real product development process and experiences of team members will be utilized to improve NSN’s practices. EDMD tool’s suitability for NSN’s development was tested during short but intensive testing period. Tests were carried out by five experts according to pre-decided testing plan. Virtual prototyping was trialed in project of which team members were instructed to use the new way of working. Simulation tools were tested in same project and collected testing data was analyzed with experts. Testing of EDMD tool succeeded despite of the tide schedule. Tool support was excellent and majority of problems was solved swiftly enabling performance of all planned testing tasks. EDMD tool clearly has potentiality as in addition of visual aid it improves communication between separate design modules. Also new practice of using virtual prototyping received positive feedback from the project team. As a result of the study a conclusive report was presented to NSN for further actions.Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) tarvitsee tuotekehitykseensä uusia työkaluja elektroniikka- ja mekaniikkasuunnittelun yhdistämiseen. Tutkimuksen ensimmäisessä osassa esitellään Electrical Data Mechanical Data (EDMD) sovellus, suoritetaan testaus projektilla ja selvitetään työkalun mahdollisuudet ja haasteet NSN:n käyttöympäristöä ajatellen. Tutkimuksen tuloksena kerättyä tietoa hyödynnetään jatkotoimenpiteistä päätettäessä muun muassa työkalun laajemman käyttöönoton osalta. Toinen osa tutkimuksesta käsittelee virtuaalista prototyyppien kehittämistä toimintatapana ja siinä käytettäviä simulointityökaluja. Ensimmäisessä osassa tutkittu EDMD-työkalu on yksi osa simulointiympäristöä. Tavoitteena on testata virtuaalista prototyyppien tekemistä oikeassa tuotekehitysprojektissa ja saada siitä käyttökokemusta NSN:n toimintatapojen kehittämiseksi. EDMD-työkalun testaus ja sopivuus NSN:n ympäristöön suoritettiin lyhyen mutta intensiivisen testijakson aikana. Testaus suoritettiin NSN:n ympäristössä ennalta mietittyjen testaussuunnitelmien mukaan viiden asiantuntijan ryhmässä. Virtuaalinen prototyyppien kehittäminen suoritettiin oikealla projektilla; projektiin osallistuvat työntekijät ohjeistettiin uuteen toimintamalliin ja simulointityökaluilla kerätty testausdata analysoitiin asiantuntijoiden kanssa. EDMD-työkalun testaus onnistui hyvin tiukasta aikataulusta huolimatta. Hyvän työkalutuen avulla suurin osa ongelmista ratkaistiin nopeasti ja kaikki testaussuunnitelman kohdat ehdittiin käydä läpi. EDMD-työkalussa on selkeästi potentiaalia, sillä visuaalisen avun lisäksi se mahdollistaa paremman kommunikoinnin eri suunnittelualueiden välillä. Myös koeponnistettu toimintatapa virtuaalisesta prototyypin kehityksestä sai positiivista palautetta projektiryhmältä. Tutkimuksen tuloksena laadittiin raportti NSN:lle jatkosuunnitelmien toteuttamista varten

A Company-led Methodology for the Specification of Product Design Capabilities in Small and Medium Sized Electronics Companies

It is the aim of the research reported in this thesis to improve the product design effectiveness of small and medium sized electronics companies in the United Kingdom. It does so by presenting a methodology for use by such firms which will enable them to specify product design capabilities which are resilient to changes in their respective business environments. The research has not, however, concerned itself with the details of particular electronics component technologies or with the advantages of various CAD or CAE products, although these are both important aspects of any design capability. Nor is it concerned with the implementation of the product design capability. The methodology, which represents a significant improvement on current practice, is a structured, company-driven approach which draws extensively upon the lessons of international design best practice. It uses well-proven tools and techniques to guide firms through the entire process of creating such capabilities - from the development of an appropriate Mission Statement to the identification of cost effective and appropriate design system solutions which can readily be translated into action plans for improvement. The work emphasises the importance of adopting a holistic, systems approach which acknowledges the interrelationship between the management of the design process, as well as its operational and supporting activities. The research has been structured around the experiences of companies which have implemented electronics design systems and which "own" the problem in question. Hence, a research strategy was adopted which was based upon a case study approach and upon the development of close collaborative links with two leading design automation tool vendor companies. Case study interviews were undertaken in 18 U.K. and European electronics companies and in 11 U.S., Japanese and Korean electronics firms. The work proceeded in two distinct phases. Firstly, the author participated with other researchers to jointly develop a functional specification of an electronics designers' toolset to support the process of product design in an integrated manufacturing environment. The first phase provided the context for Phase 2, the development of the AGILITY methodology for specifying product design capabilities which represents the author's individual contribution. The contribution to knowledge made by the research lies in the creation of a process methodology which, for the first time, will help U.K. electronics companies to define for themselves product design capabilities which are robust and which support their wider business objectives. No such methodology is currently available in a form which is both accessible and affordable to smaller firms. Furthermore, the author has uncovered no evidence of the existence of such a methodology even for use by large electronics firms. Validation of the methodology is subject to an ongoing process of feedback.Racal Redac Lt

Development of an Integrated Platform for Modular Prototyping: the ‘Mod Duino’

One crucial portion of a design project involves the design and build of a prototype. Prototypes are advantageous because they help to reduce a project’s time and cost, identify and address problems early on in the design process, and increase user involvement by confirming a common vision among users and developers. These factors all contribute to delivering a better quality final product. Embedded electromechanical prototypes use programmed electronics and a mechanical device to perform a specific function. Microcontrollers are small computers on integrated circuits that are often used to control the electronics of these embedded prototypes. One set of problems with these prototypes is that the breadboard circuitry can easily become messy and the connections between sensors/actuators and the microcontroller are not reliable. These factors make it difficult to troubleshoot the prototype when a wire accidentally gets disconnected and also makes it difficult to create a portable prototype. There are not many existing products that focus heavily on the integrity of the connections between the main prototyping platform, such as an Arduino microcontroller, and the sensors and actuators used to create the operational portion of the prototype. Previous research indicates that one line of products, the Tibbo Project Systems, focus on robust connections. However, the Tibbo products are complicated to use and are not open source. The widespread popularity and ease of use of the Arduino microcontroller for these simple electromechanical applications make it a perfect candidate for use in a comparable platform. The objective of this research project is to create a robust, easy-to-connect prototyping system for embedded products that can be used with a variety of sensors and the Arduino Uno microcontroller board. The product is expected to form a rigid and clean looking platform that provides a reliable connection between the Arduino and any number of additional modules needed to complete an embedded electromechanical prototype.No embargoAcademic Major: Mechanical Engineerin