System solution for spectrophotometers
HEITEC has applied its extensive expertise to design and manufacture the electronics for a laboratory device for a leading specialist supplier of spectrophotometers. The customer manufactures spectrophotometric instruments for analysing samples in very small volumes, which are used in particular in biological, chemical and pharmaceutical laboratories.
Brief technical description
- Customised design housing
- D x W x H: 200 mm x 200 mm x 120 mm
- SMARC 2.0 CPU module with Intel Celeron N3350
- Customised carrier board
- Embedded FPGA from Lattice
Powerful thermal management
Realisation
HEITEC designed the electronic hardware for the spectrophotometer based on the defined system requirements and was responsible for selecting all the electronics. While the previous version was already developed by HEITEC on the basis of a Qseven plug-in module, the latest device fulfils the need for more powerful graphics and more performance and uses a plug-in processor module in the SMARC 2.0 form factor of a technology partner, which can be plugged in using a simple mechanism. In order to realise extensive functionality in the smallest possible space, the design of the carrier board was based directly on the shape of the housing.
The end device (NanoPhotometer®) is used, for example, to determine the concentration of nucleic acids or proteins in industrial and research laboratories. While the previous device was only able to measure one sample, up to 12 liquid samples can now be applied in parallel and measured one after the other using a motorised analysis unit. The compact size of just 200 mm in depth and width and 120 mm in height and a battery life of up to 3 hours are particularly important for mobile use.
Compactness, cost and energy efficiency played just as important a role in the selection of the electronics and their components as the technical requirements. Extensive functions and numerous interfaces had to be implemented for control, data management and precise analysis results, such as a touch controller interface, an LVDS interface to the TFT panel, the integration of an audio codec for encoding audio streams, HDMI, WLAN, USB, LAN and controlled film heating. Some of these functions are covered by the integrated embedded FPGA. Powerful thermal management and energy-efficient operation were also important requirements, as the device can be battery-operated and is also designed to be maintenance-free, meaning it must function reliably.
HEITEC is responsible for the project's supply chain management, creating the documentation, complete production and testing of the carrier board.
Customer benefits
- Prototype development and production from a single source
- Support and development across evolution cycles
- Support with thermal design and EMC testing
- Selection of suitable components
- Future-proof, thanks to SMARC 2.0 standard
