Team E Design Plan:

Project Approach

Our project has been broken down into different modules. These modules are assigned to different team members. The team leader is responsible for the system integration and is, therefore, involved with all the individual modules assigned. The modules are as follows:

- Interfacing between controller and system (I/O Bus)

- Web Page development

- Documentation

- Microprocessor coding and implementation

- DAC and ADC interfacing, accuracy, and linearization

- PGA interfacing and functions

- Strain Gauge Simulator

- System Integration

We have broken down our project into different categories assigning specific tasks to individual team members. The reason for this division of labor is to allow the individual to become highly specialized in each area of interest to our project. This in turn implies that each individual on the team will play a vital role in the outcome of the project due to the fact that final design is an integration of each other’s contributions. This also means that each member must perform in order to achieve success.

In order to insure individual success, the team leader will observe and obtain feedback from the individual members throughout the process. Due to the knowledge of the individual projects, it will also be the duty of the team leader to supervise the final integration of the product after the completion of the individual stages. Below is a breakdown of the different applications the team members will take responsibility for.

This listing is by no means limited to or exclusively for the individual assigned to the task, but rather a responsibility for which they are accountable.

Project philosophy

Our philosophy is to develop, on schedule, a functioning, reliable system (microprocessor controlled strain gauge amplifier) with accuracy that meets or exceeds specifications.

Individual Category Description

Our project has been divided into eight sub-modules. The first category is the microprocessor. The microprocessor is responsible for receiving and sending data to and from the system. It also functions as the “smarts” of the system.

The second category is the programmable gain amplifier (PGA), specifically its interface and functionality. The PGA amplifies an input signal to produce an output signal specified to a preset gain. It contains gains of x1, x2, x4, and x8.

Third is the interfacing (I/O Bus) for communication between the different components and the microprocessor. The host communication will be through a serial connection, while the rest of the interfacing has a number of possibilities for their connections, some being unidirectional and others being bi-directional.

The fourth category is the strain gauge simulator from which we receive our simulated input signals. This module will produce a range of voltages in order to accommodate for the many different types of signals that strain gauges produce.

The fifth category is the web site development and maintenance. The web site will be used to promote our project and provide updated information on the project.

The sixth category consists of the documentation. The documentation section contains resources for information on research, testing, and implementation.

The seventh category is the DAC and ADC interfacing, accuracy, and linearization. The DAC and ADC will be used exclusively for converting signals. Due to the error introduced by these devices, linearization may be necessary to promote accuracy.

The last category is the integration of the system as a whole. The main purpose of this module is to connect all of the previously mentioned modules into a working system.

Below is a summary of the individual team members assigned to the above-mentioned categories.

Listing of categories assigned to team members:

Scott Hancock:

- Interfacing between controller and system (I/O Bus)

- Web Page development

- Documentation

Vishal Golia:

- Microprocessor coding and implementation

Donnie Yazzie:

- DAC and ADC interfacing, accuracy, and linearization

- PGA interfacing and functions

Greg Sitrick:

- Strain Gauge Simulator

- System Integration

Figure 1.1, a block diagram of the different modules.

Schedule Summary

The research and documentation will begin immediately. Most of it will continue through May 2000. Following soon after will be the component selection, project control, and testing which will begin in late November and continue through December 1999. The next phase will be the purchase of the components. This will begin in December 1999 and continue into the spring semester. Next semester will primarily be utilized in finalizing the testing of each of the components of the system and building the amplifier. The final demonstration of the product will follow.