C. Allen Weekley, Consultant
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INSTRUMENTATION
Alpha Technics
The client
requested modification of the Smart Probe calibration software to use
the Alpha Technics line of CompactRIO modules. Mr. Weekley developed
LabVIEW FPGA software to communicate with the SPI bus on the
instrument module, LabVIEW Real Time software for the cRIO
controller, and client software on the Windows platform to interface
between the Real Time instrument module and the calibration software
application.
Alpha Technics
The client
requested development of a software to handle high volume calibration
of the Smart Probe line of precision temperature sensors. Mr. Weekley
developed software that automatically detects the calibration
standard instrument model and sensor models of the attached
equipment, queries a data base for appropriate model information and
determines which tests and what temperatures to run, reads constants
from sensors, performs calculations of new constant values, and
downloads the new constant values to the sensors. The software
simultaneously calibrates multiple probe types. The software was
written using Endevo’s Graphical Object Oriented Programming
(GOOP)
Inheritance Toolkit.
Alpha Technics
The client
requested software to perform test and calibration of the Low Cost
Thermometer, an inexpensive handheld digital thermometer. Mr.
Weekley developed software to communicate with the instrument under
test via a RS-232 serial port and a programmable resistance decade
box via GPIB, and developed the overall test and calibration program.
Alpha Technics
The client requested software to perform calibration of a Dispense
Volume Tool module. To accomplish the calibration the operator uses
tweezers to drop calibrated weights into a cup connected to
electronics that measures weight very precisely. The software uses
voice instructions so that the operator does not have to watch the
screen and can focus on dropping the weights. Voice instructions
were implemented using the Microsoft Agent® text-to-speech
engine.
Alpha Technics
Mr. Weekley
supervised a team of programmers and software testers to develop the
Mobile Calibration System software. The software accompanies field
kits for temperature verification of thermal cyclers using Alpha
Technics high precision multi channel temperature instruments.
Alpha Technics
The client
requested development of ThermalView-TVS®, an extension of the
ThermalView® software with extensive analysis and additional
display features. An entire data set is displayed as a waveform. The
user can select a segment of the waveform via cursors and the
program automatically displays statistical information for that
segment for each channel, and also displays intensity graphs. The
program works with high precision temperature instruments used for
temperature verification of thermal cyclers that are utilized in
genetics testing.
Alpha Technics
The client requested development of easy-to-use software for
distribution with Alpha Technics’ line of high precision
temperature instruments. Mr. Weekley developed the ThermalView®
software product for data acquisition, recording and playback.
ThermalView® features a very interactive tabbed user interface;
an interactive scheduling feature that allows triggering based on
time, duration, or level; user programmable alarms; automatic update
of temperature units indication on all plots and displays; real-time
plotting of each channel during recording; and playback plotting that
may be paused and restarted.
Eutechnics – Alpha Sensors
The client requested development of a semi-automated test station for
calibration of 4-20 mA transmitters. Mr. Weekley developed software
to change settings of a programmable resistance decade box and read
values from a digital multimeter, and an algorithm to arrive at the
correct current value in the smallest number of steps.
Multi Sensor Technologies
The client requested a program to monitor temperature, pressure, and
humidity levels with pressurized gas cylinders during the filling
process. Mr. Weekley developed a LabVIEW GUI with tabbed interface
to allow easy setting of measurement parameters and visibility of
measurement data. FieldPoint modules were utilized with Ethernet.
Eutechnics – Alpha Sensors
The client
requested development of automated calibration software for single
channel and 16 channel precision temperature measurement instruments.
Mr. Weekley developed a highly automated calibration system that
automatically queries different types of instruments and runs the
appropriate tests for the instruments that are connected. The system
features a sophisticated architecture involving queue driven state
machines and object oriented techniques to simultaneously handle up
to 256 units with different model numbers, different numbers of
calibration points, and different bath temperatures. The operator
can connect the units to be calibrated to any combination of serial
ports and the software automatically detects the model numbers of the
instruments connected and sets itself up accordingly.
Eutechnics – Alpha Sensors
The client requested development of a
LabVIEW serial (RS-232) driver and an example application for a high
precision sixteen channel temperature measurement system. Mr.
Weekley developed both the driver and three example applications in
less time than allocated and under budget.