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The proposed project addresses common problems faced by computer and electronics engineers in hardware design. By creating a programmable microcontroller housed in a compact box with an LCD, keypad, and modular I/O interfaces, we provide a solution that allows engineers to prototype quickly and efficiently without hardware design skills. An open specification standard will encourage manufacturers to adopt flexible designs, ultimately lowering costs and speeding up time to market. This approach simplifies prototyping, enables easier upgrades, and drives quicker new product sales.
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ProjectSmall Microcomputerin housing Problems and solutions
What is the product idea? • A programmable microcontroller • in a small box with • LCD • Keypad • I/O module
Why do we need it? • Computer engineers do not have hardware design skills • Electronics engineers prefer not to use a soldering iron • Shorter time to market: • Quicker prototype • Quicker pre-production
Problem 1 • No agreement on specifications • Size of housing • Material of housing • Which LCD • Character/graphic/size/color • Which microcontroller
Solution 1 • Make a specification which allows different solutions depending on the need of the customer
Problem 2 High investments • To get a low product price • What will be the return of investment?
Solution 2 • Make the specification open, so different manufactures can decide by themselves to implement it yes or no.
How can it be done? • Publish the specification on a website • It may be called a “standard” (like PC/104) • When a manufacturer makes a new board, the manufacturer can make it according to the standard • The extra costs for manufacturer and customer are very low
Advantages for the customers • Making a prototype is easier and quicker, because • The board will fit in a housing without modifications • LCD, keypad and I/O modules just need to be plugged in • No need to design and produce a board to make a pre-production or small production series
More advantages • Computer engineers or software engineers can start developing without the need to first design and produce hardware • No need for wiring or breadboarding • Just plug-in to make your product
Advantages for the manufacturers • A microcontroller board does not need to have I/O • Use can be made of exsisting I/O modules • Boards and modules are not only used for prototyping but also for small production series • Result: higher sales
More advantages • A product of a customer can be easily upgraded with a new microcontroller (because the board will fit and I/O is the same) • Upgrade with a new sensor is also easy (because the module will fit and I/O is the same) • Result: more and quicker sales of new products