C. Allen Weekley, Consultant          Home

Some of the projects Mr. Weekley has executed include:
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.
Ormco
The client requested development of software and integration of hardware and software for a system used to characterize the tensile strength and failure characteristics of orthodontic brackets. The system controls a stepper motor using a Microlynx controller communicating with the PC via RS-232, measures load using a load cell and a Futek meter by measuring the analog output of the meter, and position using by using a counter to measure encoded pulses from a Mitutoyo displacement meter. Mr. Weekley developed software to make and scale analog and counter measurements with a National Instruments M Series data acquisition board, to communicate with the Microlynx controller, and to perform user interface and control. The software also features thresholding logic for data recording and display, a real time X-Y plot as the test is conducted, and a highly configurable system interface. The software was implemented using LabVIEW Component Oriented Design (LCOD).
CECO Industries
The client requested development of software and integration of hardware and software for a system to precisely measure the thickness of printed circuit board material. Mr. Weekley developed software to utilize a National Instruments M Series data acquisition board to measure the output of the two lasers, perform scaling, and accept operator control via a foot switch triggering a digital input. The software scales and displays measurements as they are acquired, evaluates and displays pass-fail status, and automatically records data.
CECO Industries
The client requested development of software to perform Statistical Process Control (SPC) analysis of data files acquired by the dual laser thickness measurement system. Mr. Weekley used the LabVIEW SPC Toolkit and developed a highly interactive user interface to allow easy manipulation of parameters and display of the results.
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 software for control of an environmental test chamber. Temperature and humidity profiles are configured in software using an interactive drag-and-drop display. The software logs environmental conditions and automatically conducts tests using an Agilent 34970A at the appropriate times in the cycles.
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.
USC Medical
The client requested software development and integration for a kinesiology study. The objective of the study was to characterize the effects of disease and injury upon motor tracking skills The software features a waveform generator and acquisition and recording capabilities. The subject is presented a waveform for a period of time and then must duplicate the waveform by moving a control arm. The conductor of the experiment can select waveform sets and condition sets that vary display factors and the type of feedback. The software scales the subject waveform to the target waveform and records the error information for analytical purposes.
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.
Endevco
The client requested development of an application to allow user control of an accelerometer simulator over the Internet via a web browser. Mr. Weekley wrote LabVIEW and HTML code to implement this project.
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 communications.
Moog Inc. – Schaeffer Magnetics Division
The client requested availability of a consultant to perform software maintenance and modification on an as-needed basis. Mr. Weekley performed ongoing maintenance, modification, and repair of existing software to control cycling and test of stepper motors for spacecraft solar array deployment arms and antenna positioners.
Moog Inc. – Schaeffer Magnetics Division
The client requested troubleshooting and repair of software for automated life cycle testing of a stepper motor for a spacecraft deployment arm. The software is intended to run continuously for very long periods of time but was shutting down in days or weeks. Mr. Weekley identified several poor programming practices that could lead to unexpected shutdown of the software, and modified the code accordingly.
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.
Advanced Sterilization Products – Johnson & Johnson
The client requested completion of a control and measurement system for a sterilization system utilizing a hydrogen peroxide plasma applied to biological indicators in multiple chambers with precise control of vacuum, RF level, concentration, and temperature. The system is used as a biomedical research device. The control and display software is a very large application with many controls, multiple plots, and a completely graphical process sequence builder. The operator can switch between various sets of controls, indicators, and plots using a tabbed control. Hardware is a 96 channel DIO board, a counter-timer, a 16 channel data acquisition system, and a great deal of custom circuitry to control valves, motors, pumps, and generators. Mr. Weekley assumed the project after a series of programmers had been unable to complete the project with the minimum features and reliability desired by the client. Mr. Weekley successfully repaired and completed the software.
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.
Preece Inc.
The client requested a complete automatic test system for a smart control valve for water flow control for a combustion and fluids experiment on the International Space Station. The product to be tested consisted of a control valve operated by a stepper motor, a flow sensor, and a microprocessor-based controller unit. Mr. Weekley selected equipment, designed interfaces, developed software, and integrated hardware and software based on an HP data acquisition unit, two National Instruments data acquisition boards, a flow computer, a digital I/O board and relay board. An RS-485 serial communications board is used to communicate with a temperature chamber controller. A script-driven test engine was developed, with parameter files read from Excel spreadsheets using ActiveX. Data sheets are also printed from Excel under LabVIEW control. Mr. Weekley simulated the Preece smart valve system and the NASA computer and developed a control algorithm before any prototype hardware was available. Mr. Weekley also set up remote monitoring of test status and temperature control screens. Remote screens are viewable across a network using a standard web browser.
B Squared Technologies
Mr. Weekley developed an automated management and documentation tool for large Labview projects. The tool automatically removes all unused vi’s from the entire directory hierarchy, constructs a formatted list of the directory hierarchy, checks the spelling of the descriptions of each vi, produces a Microsoft Word document containing the name, description, and connector pane of each vi, and places the name, description, and history of each vi in a database. A project containing over 1000 vi’s with about 500 vi’s actually used can be completely processed in a few minutes. The tool features animations and progress bars that continue to run while Labview is occupied, for example in loading a large vi hierarchy into memory. The tool was used internally at B Squared and was planned to be sold as a product.
USC Medical.
The client requested software development and integration for a kinesiology study. The objective of the study was to characterize the effects of disease and injury upon motor tracking skills. The patients were presented with a moving dot on the computer screen, and attempted to track the dot by moving a cursor using a custom made control arm. Tracking waveforms were generated using various polynomial equations. The waveforms were generated in three segments so the effects of repetition and variation of waveform segments could be studied. Waveforms could be generated using either fixed or randomly varying coefficients. The waveform generation software had adjustable limit thresholds for amplitude, velocity and acceleration. Mr. Weekley developed software to automatically generate and manage tracking waveforms, record the target waveform and the patient’s response waveform for each run, and retrieve, view, and compare recorded waveforms. Waveforms can be generated in sets while simultaneously displaying in real time graphs of the three waveform segments as well as graphs of velocity and acceleration.
Engine Electronics Inc.
The client requested upgrade of an engine dynamometer control and measurement system for Harley Davidson motorcycle engines. Mr. Weekley added hardware and modified software to increase the number and type of measurements. Sensors included thermocouples, pressure transducers, strain gauges, and air/fuel ratio meters. The operator can control the engine throttle and the resistive force of the water brake dynamometer by moving controls on the computer screen with the mouse. The screen simultaneously displays head temperature, block temperature, exhaust pressure, air/fuel ratio, rpm, and calculated horsepower and torque.
Corning.
The client requested software development for a new generation test system for fiber optic amplifiers. Mr. Weekley helped the client define the expanded capabilities of the system and performed the development and on-site integration of the software and hardware. The advanced capabilities of LabVIEW were used to give the client very versatile and robust software. The system uses IEEE-488 based electrical and optical instruments, including a relay driver, a Fluke Hydra data acquisition unit, a signal generator, a switch controller, a digital multimeter, a multiple laser diode controller, a tunable laser source, optical switches, a programmable optical attenuator, a lightwave multimeter, and a thermal controller. The system also uses a digital I/O card internal to the computer.
Boeing.
The client ordered a test system to perform high rate production testing of a hand-held military transceiver. Mr. Weekley developed instrument drivers and a test executive, as well as writing the software for individual tests. The acceptance test system tests up to four units simultaneously and the thermal test system tests up to 20 units simultaneously. Software used includes LabVIEW 5.0, LabVIEW 4.1, and C. Hardware for the acceptance test system is based on a GenRad Geneva GR2000 with added RF test equipment. Equipment includes a spectrum analyzer, signal generators, a power meter, a bus emulator, an audio analyzer, a GPS constellation simulator, and a VXI counter and DMM. Hardware for the thermal system includes a scanner, a DMM, and DIO card.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a 12 channel pressure transducer waveform system to monitor the discharge of a fire extinguisher bottle. The client wished to have a system that could be easily re-configured by R&D personnel, and could handle a combination of pressure transducers and thermocouples. Mr. Weekley wrote the software and implemented the system. The software uses the channel configuration capabilities of NI-DAQ and LabVIEW. Hardware is a 32-channel data acquisition card.
Pacific Scientific.
The client wished to continuously monitor the environment in an X-Ray room, and record the temperature, humidity, air pressure, and magnetic field on an around-the-clock basis. Mr. Weekley selected the various transducers, conditioning modules, housing, power supply, etc., and supervised the construction of a compact sensor unit. Mr. Weekley wrote the software in LabVIEW. Hardware includes Analog Devices 6B signal conditioning and A/D modules.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested automation of a complex manual procedure to measure pressure response under a variety of conditions on a space vehicle pressure regulator. Mr. Weekley developed the software and selected and integrated the hardware. The application features a scrolling strip chart display, continuous streaming of pressure and temperature data to disk, automatic acquisition at higher data rates at appropriate times without operator intervention, and the use of LabVIEW to control Microsoft Excel through OLE. Hardware includes a 32 channel data acquisition board and an analog output board. The analog output board was used to simulate the output of pressure transducers and thermocouples so the application software could be developed without the use of the actual pressure test stand.
Pacific Scientific.
The client wished to replace a plotter and oscillograph with a PC-based automatic data acquisition system. The system is used for testing of a missile pressure regulator. Mr. Weekley selected transducers, designed interface circuitry, and selected the computer and peripherals. Mr. Weekley wrote the software using LabVIEW and the LabVIEW SPC toolkit. Hardware includes an 8 channel data acquisition board, fast response pressure transducers, and a sound card and speakers.
Pacific Scientific.
The client wished to perform SPC analysis on accumulator weight data. Mr. Weekley developed software to read data from an Excel spreadsheet using DDE, automatically make calculations and display data in a run chart and a histogram. Mr. Weekley used LabVIEW and the LabVIEW SPC toolkit to develop a stand-alone executable that does not require the LabVIEW development system.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a system to measure high speed temperature waveforms at twelve points in a temperature chamber during the discharge of a fire extinguisher bottle. Mr. Weekley specified the thermocouples and the data acquisition hardware and wrote custom software filters to produce a fast response without excessive noise on the signals. The programming language was LabVIEW and the hardware was a 32 channel data acquisition board.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a portable system to measure gas concentration in an aircraft engine nacelle. Mr. Weekley selected the hardware and developed the software using LabVIEW. The system uses a laptop PC and a PCMCIA data acquisition card to measure the analog voltage output from a gas analyzer instrument and control six solenoids to route the gas flow to the analyzer. The solenoids are operated from the parallel port of the PC. Data is automatically placed in a pre-constructed Excel worksheet and chart.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a system to monitor a temperature/humidity chamber for acceptance test of the chamber and later use in product testing. Mr. Weekley wrote the software in the LabVIEW language. The chamber controller is communicated with using a GPIB interface card.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a fire detector acceptance test system. The system measures voltages and resistances for acceptance test of a continuous thermocouple type of fire detector wire. Mr. Weekley developed the application using LabVIEW. The hardware includes a GPIB interface card, a digital I/O board, a DMM with an integral 10-channel scanner, and an 8-channel relay board.
Pacific Scientific.
The client requested a system to perform in-process test of a continuous thermocouple fire detector wire. The system controls a stepper motor that pulls the fire detector wire through a tube oven, stops at the specified length interval, and soaks at a specified time before taking measurements. Mr. Weekley developed the application using LabVIEW. The system uses a GPIB interface card to communicate with two DMM’s, and communicates with the stepper motor indexer through a serial port.
Miscellaneous.
Mr. Weekley has also performed system design, estimated costs and schedules, and prepared proposals for a semiconductor test system, a first stage hydraulic test system, a mobile pressure calibration system, a satellite attitude control electronics test system, a microwave oscillator test system, an electrographic printer test system, a spa heat and flow controller test system, a motor controller circuit board test system, a cargo handler power drive unit test system, and a power distribution circuit board test system. Development has been primarily in LabVIEW with heavy use of GOOP, VI Server and ActiveX controls on some projects. Instrumentation and equipment includes CompactRIO, IEEE-488 (GPIB), VXI, RS 232, RS 422, RS 485, PCI, PXI, SCXI, FieldPoint, Analog Devices 3B, 5B, and 6B, PC based data acquisition boards, machine vision products, and motion control products.

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