Inside every modern instrument is a microprocessor. In fact, most instruments have more than one.
A typical microprocessor runs code that is loaded automatically when the instrument starts.
This code or firmware implements the knowledge and algorithms that the microprocessor needs to control the low-level devices that comprise the instrument:
electronics, sensors, motors, actuators and displays.
Common algorithms include temperature and flow control, data acquisition and filtering, wired and wireless communications and power management strategies.
These systems frequently have hard real-time requirements and must be completely robust.
At DLS, almost half of our software engineering staff have electrical engineering (EE) degrees. We are qualified and experienced in all phases of producing world-class embedded systems.
We can handle tasks ranging from the first back-of-the-envelope block diagrams, through requirements gathering, identifying the right electrical components and firmware tools for a design, and bringing a prototype electronics board to life, through firmware development, production and test.
We speak schematics and gate arrays as well as we speak RTOSs and emulators.
