Problem:

A manufacturer of optical and laser systems asked us to develop a new generation laser etching system. It needed to be based on a hand-held device with an easy to use pen-based application. The application had to control laser power levels, selection and editing of marker shapes and editing of galvanometer parameters. To meet these requirements we developed both a Windows Mobile 5.0 application running on a HP iPaq and an embedded system module. The multi-threaded Windows application features a series of easy to use custom tabbed dialogs for laser control, marker editing and system configuration. The application communicates via a BlueTooth link to a custom embedded system utilizing a Silicon Lab's microprocessor for lower-level laser and galvanometer control. Video can also be sent back from a camera mounted on the microscope for visual feedback.

Custom embedded system utilizing a 100 MHz C8051F120 with A/D, D/A, opto I/O, RS-232 and BlueTooth module providing communications, stepper motor control, and laser firing control.

Solution:

To meet these requirements we developed both a Windows Mobile 5.0 application running on a HP iPaq and an embedded system module. The multi-threaded Windows application features a series of easy to use custom tabbed dialogs for laser control, marker editing and system configuration. The application communicates via a BlueTooth link to a custom embedded system utilizing a Silicon Lab's microprocessor for lower-level laser and galvanometer control. Video can also be sent back from a camera mounted on the microscope for visual feedback.