By Tracey Windley and Jasper Nance

Professor Herb Hess

Kevin Buck

2006 ASEE Annual Conference

6/19/2006

Instant Data Gathering, Processing, and Display for Industry Sponsor Using Interfaced Software Packages

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IntroductionOverview

• Microelectronics Research Communications Institute (MRCI) Background

• Data Acquisition Problems in the MRCI• Data Formatting and Storage• Data Retrieval and Presentation

• Data Acquisition Solutions • LabVIEW Instrument Automation• Data organization with a MYSQL Database• Data Presentation with the MRCI Data Website

• Future Work & Summary

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MRCI Background• The MRCI is a multidisciplinary research center that supports research from many

different departments and programs

• Electrical Engineering • Computer Science• Chemistry/Chemical Engineering • Bio-Systems Engineering• Computer Engineering • Mechanical Engineering

• The MRCI develops technologies in microelectronics, power electronics, microwave ferrite research, battery development, intelligent control, computer security, communications systems, and neural networks.

• MRCI has received several million dollars from governmental and private sources alike over the past 9 years.

• NASA EPSCOR • Navy • BOEING • Homeland Security• BAE Systems • Schweitzer• Honeywell • National Science Foundation

• At present, MRCI supports 43 undergraduate researchers, 44 graduate research assistants, 11 irregular help graduate researchers, 4 post-doctoral researchers, 3 R&D engineers, 4 research engineers, and 1 scientific aide.

• Visit http//:www.mrc.uidaho.edu for more information

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Data Acquisition

Data Acquisition Has Two Main Parts:

1. Data Collection

2. Data Organization and Presentation

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Data Collection Problems at MRCI

• The MRCI Collects a lot of Data• High Researcher Turnover rate can make testing difficult• 640 transistors tested for Boeing last summer

• Measurement Error• Novice researchers can make mistakes during measurement.

(and Experienced ones too!)

• Long periods of data collection may cause researchers to become inattentive

• Time Costly• Data collection can be costly and labor intensive.

• Solution• Automation!

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Problems With Data Organization and Data Presentation

• Poor data formatting could result in data loss or corruption

• Solution

• Data must be recorded and stored uniformly

• Data must include information about the conditions of the test and about the Researcher

• Data must be easily searchable

• Data must be easily presentable to project sponsor and supervisors ???

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Data Gathering System

We Built a System…

• That is easy to use and understand• Necessary for new researchers and sponsors alike

• That is fully automated• Huge time and money saver• Major Productivity win

• That enforces uniform data formatting• Helps solve problem with researcher turnover rate• Improves data organization

• That Stores data in an environment that is easily accessible and allows for easy Data presentation

• Provides fast turn around time from data collection to data presentation

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Data Gathering System Diagram

• LabVIEW Controls Data Acquisition and Data insertion into the Database

• Website allows user access to the database through the Internet

LabVIEW

MYSQL Drivers

Website

Device Under Test

MYSQL Database

Web Page Linked to Database

User/Sponsor

Labview WorkstationControlling Test Automation

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LabVIEW

• Requires little syntax or previous coding experience!

• Graphical Coding Language Developed by National Instruments

• Uses boxes and wires to represent functions in a flowchart like form

• Allows user program control using buttons and Textboxes on the front panel

• Comes with Toolboxes for MYSQL Database communication, Signal Processing, and GPIB Instrument Communication Protocol

Database

Table

error in

Data

error out

This Funciton opens the Database Connection

Requests a List of Fields in the Requested Table

Inserts Data Into the Selected Fields

Closes the Database Connection

Data to be Inserted into the Database

Why LabVIEW? Its EASY!

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Web Interface

• Price• All open source software….FREE!• Constructed and maintained by Undergraduate Students

• Security• Users have controlled access permissions to keep sensitive

material contained• Necessary for International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) and Non-

Disclosure Agreements (NDA) agreements• Speed

• Data is uploaded automatically after acquisition allowing for near instant data presentation to sponsor

• Accessibility• Users only require an Internet connection to view Data• Interface is understandable and easy to use

Our Website Has…

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Web Interface• MYSQL

• MYSQL is an open source database software with built in optimized

search and table joining capabilities

• PHP• PHP Code allows for page creation on-the-fly that can respond to user

input and database interaction.

• Built in MYSQL Support

• They are Open Source

Date Project IDRaw Data

Measurement Device

Data Entry 1

Data Entries Data Entry 2 Date Project IDRaw Data

Measurement Device

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Web Interface

• Users can create graphs from hundreds of separate traces

Website allows for fast Data access and Presentation

• Easy interface for Data searching and Retrieval

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Web Interface

• CSV text files can be imported

• Old data or custom data can be entered

Import Data function allows for alternate data insertion

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Summary and Future Work

• Summary• Solutions to common data acquisition problems

• MRCI Data Acquisition System is a huge time and money saver and productivity win

• Website Interface was constructed by undergraduates using free open source software

• Website has the ability to provide near instant access to the data via the Internet

• Future Work• Constant improvements to the Website interface

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Questions

• Questions?