Electronics Design

Discovery:

Our design process starts with research and technical evaluation of your proposed electronics product and its operational specifications. We capture these requirements through concise documentation and sign off. Our back-office systems, which include stage gates, task management, resource management, time estimates, budgets, and cost estimates, ensure efficient project planning. We also perform a technical risk assessment and provide proposals and strategies for addressing risk to support you from the minimal viable product stage to the commercial release of your product.

Example activities: Design research & technical evaluation of proposed electronics and product operational specifications. Capturing electronics design requirements with concise documentation & sign off. Proven back-office systems that support project planning using; stage gates, task management, resource management, time estimates, budgets, and cost estimates. Definition of minimal viable product to commercial release of products, supported by technical risk assessment with proposals and strategies for addressing risk.

Concept:

We take your product from concept to reality by developing and delivering proposals for high-level solution architecture and electronics design concepts. Our team evaluates target devices, benchmarks IC specifications, performs preliminary BOM and cost analysis, and conducts volume studies of electronics to support complex electro-mechanical integration. We also design the architecture of software systems, assess connectivity solutions and workflows, and create user interface hardware concepts. Our proof of concept stage allows us to quickly validate core product concepts, integrate off-the-shelf components, and develop preliminary firmware and software systems.

Example activities: Development, documentation, and delivery of proposals for high-level solution architecture & high-level electronics design concepts.  Target device selection, IC specification benchmarking, preliminary BOM and cost analysis for critical components. Volume study of electronics to support complex electro-mechanical integration, Architecture of software systems, including definition of computing requirements, bare metal or RTOS options for embedded systems and planning of algorithm needs. Assessment of connectivity solutions and workflows – e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, NB-IoT, Cat-M1, mesh networks, LoRa. User interface hardware design concepts including – switches, rotaries, touchpads, LEDs, displays, GUI, microphones, speakers, sensors, IR, connectivity, tactical interface, telemetry + more. Bench tests of key technical risk areas where beneficial.

Proof of Concept:

Example activities: POC device build to validate a core product concept, such as a key technical area, usability concept or devices to gain additional funding. Integration of off the shelf components to accelerate development and lower initial development costs. Quick turn bespoke PCBA development targeted at specific areas of a product. Development of preliminary firmware and software systems.

Development:

Our process involves schematic capture, BOM development, multilayer PCB designs, and PCB layouts using 3D and CAD design tools. We create electronics designs to support COTS sensors and offer power management software and firmware development for extended battery life. We also provide bare metal and RTOS embedded firmware development, RTOS application development, and application-based solutions for SBCs in Python, Qt, and Electron. Our team also designs for manufacture, intrinsic safety, and regulatory compliance, and offers functional prototyping and rapid prototyping services for preliminary design verification. Our fully equipped laboratory test and measurement service verifies the performance and electronics design of your product. Our development processes are fit-for-purpose for the specific product needs and team, including waterfall, V-model, and agile development.

Example activities: Schematic capture and BOM development. Multilayer PCB design services. PCB layouts using 3D & CAD design tools. PCB mechanical design integration with Industrial Design (i.e. Wearables, electronic systems in soft goods, complex rigid-flex PCBAs). IoT, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa & LTE connectivity solutions. Electronics designs to support the use of COTS sensors. Battery powered, LV powered, and mains powered solutions Power management software and firmware development for extended battery life (10+ years). Design and development of heat management solutions. Bare metal and RTOS embedded firmware development based on ARM Cortex M based devices (eg STM32, nRF5) and ESP32 devices. RTOS application development eg. Zephyr, Azure ThreadX/NetX, µC/OS, FreeRTOS. Application based solutions – for SBCs (Single Board Computers) in Python, Qt and Electron. Design for manufacture. Design for intrinsic safety. Design for regulatory compliance. Functional prototyping – PCB fabrication and procurement. Rapid prototyping service for preliminary design verification. Fully equipped laboratory test and measurement service for electronics design & performance verification. Development of software systems to meet the rigorous medical IEC 62304 standard. Design of electronics to meet the requirements of IEC 60601 and its various collateral standards. Development processes fit-for-purpose for the specific product needs and team, such as waterfall, V model or agile development.

Production:

We support you from the production stage by providing factory acceptance test procedures, designing and manufacturing production test jigs, and conducting subcontract vendor QMS audits. Our team offers supplier qualification and validation and handles production process logistics and planning. We also provide subcontract manufacturing handovers to ensure a smooth transition to production.

Example activities: Factory acceptance test procedures – (documentation and training). Design and manufacture of production test jigs. Manufacturing partners: Supplier qualification + validation. Subcontract vendor QMS audits. Production process - logistics and planning. Subcontract manufacturing handovers.

Advancell Isotopes Lead-212 Generator

AdvanCell is an Australian clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company with a platform technology for a revolutionary cancer treatment called Targeted Alpha Therapy. AdvanCell's Generator is a world-first alpha isotope generator which addresses the greatest unmet need in targeted alpha therapy – the reliable and scalable supply of isotope. In just under two years, AdvanCell has grown from a small group with specific scientific, clinical and commercial expertise to attracting global investment and partnerships as a result of its medical innovations developed here in Australia. In order to take their technology to market, AdvanCell engaged D+I as a proven turnkey product development solution, leveraging the company's full-service in-house capabilities which included Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering and Electronics Design (ISO 13485:2016 Certified for the compliant development of medical devices).

“The expansion of the D+I electronics team has meant we were able to guide AdvanCell through the complete product development process in under 12-months. From initial design concepts, through to the development and integration of several complex sub-assemblies, with bespoke PCB design and microprocessor firmware. All these elements then needed translation to ensure a volume production-ready outcome. The isotope generator is the realization of a world’s first technology platform and the embodiment of a clever design concept that is destined to save lives.” – John Lancken (Head of Electronics: Newcastle & Sydney, D+I)

D+I CAPABILITIES: Project Management. Research. Concept. Industrial Design. Mechanical Engineering. Electronics Design. Embedded Firmware. Design for Manufacture. Management into Production.

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Lenexa Medical - LenexaCARE

D+I is proud to have been one of Lenexa's key development partners, designing electronics hardware, firmware, software on embedded Linux, GUI design, mechanical enclosure and waterproof + technical fabric sensor sheet design (under our ISO 13485:2016 certification). This combination of in-house expertise meant D+I was able to support Lenexa Medical from initial concept through to market-ready production — translating this idea into a commercial solution.

D+I CAPABILITIES: Project Management. Research. Concept. Industrial Design. Mechanical Engineering. Electronics Design. Embedded Firmware. Design for Manufacture. Management into Production.

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Alcolizer Virulizer™

Virulizer™ is non-invasive, faster, cheaper and able to detect COVID-19 in under 10-minutes. Clinical study findings have confirmed that the Virulizer™ platform is at least 1000x more sensitive than commercially available antigen test kits currently on the market. Alcolizer, D+I and Lastek undertook the development from concept to delivery of functional devices for initial clinical trials in just 100 days. The rapid development consisted of the complete conceptual design + engineering development + delivery of an all-in-one diagnostic system. Areas of involvement included; product styling and design, tactile device + digital user interface development, improvements to laser + optical systems, improved camera selection, thermal management + integration of cooling systems, implementation of remote server access + enabling over-the-air updates.

D+I CAPABILITIES: Project Management. Research. Concept. Industrial Design. Mechanical Engineering. Electronics Design. Embedded Firmware. Design for Manufacture. Management into Production.

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Wireless Innovation: HyphaCAP

HyphaCAP (Communications Access Point) is a portable handheld device targeted at enabling critical communication channels to stay live in and around regular communication blackspots. HyphaCAP’s key users are teams of people who are operating in such areas where a dependable network connection is paramount to public and personal safety. The key technology driving the HyphaCAP is HyphaMESH; an IP transparent network, based on the COFDM waveform, that can operate independently or integrate back to a central core or wider network. This extends coverage for WiFi or Bluetooth-enabled devices, sensors, and cameras into challenging environments such as backcountry, urban or underground areas of operation. HyphaCAP is built tough: reliable, portable (stowing and clipping + tether points), durable, simple to operate, ruggedised design, IP67 protection, drop resistant and hot-swap battery feature ensures connectivity is never lost in mission critical environments.

D+I CAPABILITIES: Project Management. Research. Concept. Industrial Design. Mechanical Engineering. Electronics Design. Embedded Firmware. Packaging. Design for Manufacture. Management into Production.

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ilume - Dog Health and Wellbeing Suite

Ilume™ and D+I have brought HealthTech to PetTech — providing a personalised data-driven way for owners to ensure they are providing the best life possible for their dogs. The Ilume™ offering integrates nutrient-rich chef prepared subscription meals, with smart IoT technology and a simple to use smartphone application. D+I worked with Ilume™ to design and develop the Dog Wellbeing Technology suite: collar-based Activity Tracker, Electronic Smart Bowl and Data-Hub/Tracker Charging Station. Together these help owners to increase their interactions with and optimise the diet, frequency, portions + activities enjoyed by their dog to promote an overall improvement in quality of and length of life.

D+I CAPABILITIES: Project Management. Research. Concept. Industrial Design. Mechanical Engineering. Algorithm Development. Electronics Design. Embedded Firmware. Packaging Design. Design for Manufacture. Management into Production.

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