Rather than copy-pasting each individual channel, we're using the multi-channel functionality of Altium, which you can see above the sheet symbol for a device channel: REPEAT(MTI,1,4) will create four copies of the sheet, MTIA, MTIB, MTIB, and MTIC Let's take a look!īelow is an excerpt of the schematic that shows the device interface channels. Sure, we could have designed and managed two separate boards, but with Altium's Design Variants functionality, this was a breeze. After launching that product, CDI approached us again to revitalize their EMS device, which connects multiple indicators to a single device to show data, log measurements, and provide an easy interface to a PC or measurement system.ĭMC suggested designing a PCB that could interface with an expansion board to double the channel count without any additional hardware designs. DMC originally connected with CDI to help innovate their flagship electronic dial indicator (you can read more about that project here). DMC recently executed an embedded design for Chicago Dial Indicator (CDI), a company that manufactures (among many other products) high-quality electronic dial indicators. Designs with a matrix of pull-up and pull-down resistors to indicate the PCB/hardware revision to the microprocessor so that it can re-assign I/O addresses or enable/disable functionality accordingly.Prototypes intended to test functionality of two or more similar (but not identical) circuits one example would be evaluating two 5V power supplies for the lowest noise.
Designs with functionality that can be stripped away for "basic" flavors of the product/solution.There are many reasons why a component might be placed on the schematic but not on the final board. So, when do Design Variants come into play? At DMC, we use this tool primarily to manage situations where components that exist on the schematic are not intended to be installed on the PCB. One of these challenges is managing each revision of the electrical schematic and PCB layout in a way that minimizes human error and maximizes automation.Īltium Designer has an excellent tool to assist the embedded engineer in managing changes between revisions and within different variations of a base design: Design Variants (sometimes called Assembly Variants). From unboxing the first prototype all the way to the release of the deluxe commercial model, each revision of the design poses new and interesting challenges. One of my absolute favorite things about embedded design is watching a product evolve over the development cycle.
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