Product Development

Our Product Development Group provides electronic, mechanical and software product development engineering for the consumer, commercial, and industrial market, leveraging many of our building block technologies in the controls and communications fields. We focus on and become involved in the full development cycle, from:

• Concept; the back of the napkin, to
• Proof of concept; a concrete example to gauge initial market or technical reactions to
• Prototype; a preliminary but functioning design to evaluate features and design to
• Pre-production; an identification of hurdles on the road to optimal manufacturability to
• Manufacturing; the realization of the design in final form.

In addition to fulfilling the intended function, much of our design emphasis throughout the process is on manufacturability. So, if you choose, we will provide the maximum in design support and stand behind the design by manufacturing it as well.

Software

Simplicity, maintainability, and portability: We develop application software for both Windows and embedded environments. Program code can be written in C, C++ , Visual Basic, XML and .NET. This software may range from

• embedded system functions
• simple setup utilities, to
• complex, multi-user, networked platforms, to
• web-accessible telemetry interfaces

Our programming philosophy is to emphasize simplicity, maintainability, and portability

Electronics

Design to expand, don't overdesign: Our electronic design is microcontroller-based combining both digital and analog circuitry, usually involving embedded designs with a strong emphasis on the user-interface. Typical design elements involve;

• LCDs and LED displays, Audio and amplifiers
• RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet and CANBUS networking
• PID, closed-loop feedback, constant-current, PWM
• Wireless; IR, RF, RFID, 802.11, Bluetooth
• Analog/Digital conversion, sensors and switches
• PC, PDA or onboard software control

Using through-hole or surface-mount technology, we will progress through prototyping, to production.

Mechanical

Design for manufacturability: Our mechanical engineers have a strong background in ergonomic and user-interface design, Their experience with tool & die, injection mold and fabrication processes further contributes to our design efficiency. Typical design elements involve;

• Physical circuit board optimization
• Mechanical packaging of electronic products
• SolidWorks 3D solid modeling
• Plastic part mechanical design
• Creation of prototypes in SLS, SLA, or machining

Parts designed using solid modeling are typically converted to physical models using a rapid prototyping process such as SLS, SLA, or machining. This approach shortens lead times and confirms design accuracy before proceeding.

Specs

Spend a moment, save a project. The most important part of a successful development effort is a clear product specification. Without it, a product development team has little direction. The time invested in the specification phase will pay for itself many times over throughout the product's lifetime. Because well-defined product specs are uncommon at a project’s inception, our engineers are accustomed to incorporating a marketing and business perspective to further define and refine the product. Our ability to identify and design what you need and not just what you initially ask for is what differentiates our product development team.

Manage

Control but adapt. From concept and prototype, to completed design and manufacturing, to field service and after market support, we provide:

• project engineering and product engineering
• contract engineering and contract manufacturing
• complete turnkey solutions and engineering consulting

Our Product Development Group can manage any or all phases of your product development. Whatever your requirements, you will know what to expect because it will be apart of the project plan at the outset.
Please visit the Intuitive Control Systems website for more information.