Undergraduate Research | George R. Brown School of Engineering

Undergraduate Research | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University

Undergraduate Research in Engineering at Rice

Randall Holman, Senior Electrical and Computer Engineering student
Working for the Center for Multimedia Communication
with Dr. Patrick Frantz
As a recent ELEC 424 student, I learned many aspects of high-speed systems design, including schematic entry, PC board layout, documentation, and testing. I truly enjoyed the course and wanted to further my understanding of hardware design, which is what I did during the summer of 2002.
Working under Patrick Frantz, I began the summer by helping to straighten up the lab, which included installing several new computers, categorizing electronic parts, and general cleanup of the lab, in order to provide a clean workspace for our work over the summer. This allowed for more workstations at which to work and really facilitated the work we did. After getting the lab ready to work, it was time to begin working on the projects that we needed to get done.
My first project was to design the 3rd revision of BlueGPS, a PC board integrating Bluetooth and GPS onto a developer board (I’ll use devboard from here on out), from Axis Communications, which houses the ETRAX 100LX microprocessor. I had worked with the ETRAX 100LX MCM (multi-chip module) in ELEC 424, so I was an ideal candidate to work on this project. We had several meetings throughout the first couple of weeks to discuss general block diagrams and plans of action to get me started with schematics.
The next phase was part selection and schematic entry. We used the same Bluetooth module and GPS system as in the previous revision, so we were left with the task of finding parts for power, the USB system, and other additional logic components. I came up with an idea to attach BlueGPS directly to the devboard by using female header on the bottom of BlueGPS to connect to the male header already on the devboard. We wanted to be very sure that this board worked, so we also met several times to check schematics, data sheets, and symbols, to make sure that the schematics matched the parts we had selected, and that we had added any additional circuitry to make each part function correctly. In addition, I created a cover page for the schematics (including a table of contents) and a pinout of the PLD, including pin descriptions and necessary default values. After several iterations of schematics, we were finally done, and I could begin working on the layout of the PC board.
Perhaps the most difficult part of the layout was to precisely place the female header and mounting hole on BlueGPS. We wanted it to fit snugly onto the devboard so precision was definitely necessary. After placing the header and mounting hole, locking them into place, I had the task of placing the rest of the components on a 3-inch by 4-inch board. Though the placement was not difficult, the routing proved to be a challenge as well, since it was only my 2nd board to route. But, after the course of several weeks, the schematics, parts placement, and layout were finished. We checked part footprints, placement, routing, and spacing several times, to make sure it was all right, then we sent the board out to be fabricated and assembled.
When we got the boards back, we found a problem: we had used a right-angle switch footprint, but I had connected the switch in schematics like a vertical switch, which has different electrical connections. We solved this problem by simply snipping a pin on the right-angle switch. I programmed the device, then tested both the Bluetooth module and the GPS system. Both functioned correctly! I was beginning to run out of time, but I still needed to work on another project.
Another team had worked on GNOMES, a wireless sensor array, but was unable to finish the schematics before some of the members when back home. So, along with a couple of other students, we worked out some power issues, finished the schematics, and checked over them many times. This project was going to be used in several students’ theses, so it was important for it to be perfect. Schematics being done, others worked on the layout, then the board was sent off. We had little time over the summer to test it, but GNOMES, along with BlueGPS, will be thoroughly tested throughout both Fall 2002 and Spring 2003.
This summer definitely improved my knowledge of PC board design processes. I learned value skills in part selection, reading data sheets, schematic entry, layout, and troubleshooting. I learned how to work in a team, and also be the leader of a team, delegating multiple tasks so everything could get done. This was a highly valuable experience that I will always remember and I definitely appreciate the opportunity I had to work for Rice University and extend the knowledge that I have already learned.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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George R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice University grbsoe@rice.edu