Project Small Microcomputer in housing

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ProjectSmall Microcomputerin housing

• Problems and solutions

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What is the product idea?

• A programmable microcontroller
• in a small box with
• LCD
• Keypad
• I/O module

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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

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Problem 1

• No agreement on specifications
• Size of housing
• Material of housing
• Which LCD
• Character/graphic/size/color
• Which microcontroller

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Solution 1

• Make a specification which allows different
  solutions depending on the need of the customer

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Problem 2

• High investments
• To get a low product price
• What will be the return of investment?

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Solution 2

• Make the specification open, so different
  manufactures can decide by themselves to
  implement it yes or no.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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