By Tracey Windley and Jasper Nance

1
Instant Data Gathering, Processing, and Display
for Industry Sponsor Using Interfaced Software
Packages

• By Tracey Windley and Jasper Nance
• Professor Herb Hess
• Kevin Buck
• 2006 ASEE Annual Conference
• 6/19/2006

2
Introduction

• Overview
• 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

3
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 RD engineers, 4
  research engineers, and 1 scientific aide.
• Visit http//www.mrc.uidaho.edu for more
  information

4
Data Acquisition

• Data Acquisition Has Two Main Parts
• Data Collection
• Data Organization and Presentation

5
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!

6
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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7
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

8
Data Gathering System Diagram

• LabVIEW Controls Data Acquisition and Data
  insertion into the Database
• Website allows user access to the database
  through the Internet

MYSQL Drivers
LabVIEW
Website
9
LabVIEW
Why LabVIEW? Its EASY!

• 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

10
Web Interface
Our Website Has

• 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

11
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

12
Web Interface
Website allows for fast Data access and
Presentation

• Users can create graphs from hundreds of separate
  traces

• Easy interface for Data searching and Retrieval

13
Web Interface
Import Data function allows for alternate data
insertion

• CSV text files can be imported
• Old data or custom data can be entered

14
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

15
Questions

• Questions?