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Tech Center-SET

SET/Product Development Partnerships

We have a long and successful history of providing companies with focused, cost-effective outsourcing solutions, ranging from rugged, reliable temperature, pressure and differential pressure instrumentation, to the outstanding measurement capabilities of our wireless systems for industrial settings.

Whether by establishing unique product development partnerships based on our Standard Element Technology (SET) process, by taking advantage of traditional OEM relationships, or through private-label opportunities, our approach allows our customers to use their in-house resources more efficiently, and to take better advantage of the changing market demands.

What is SET?

SET, or Standard Element Technology, is a unique approach to the process of product development and marketing.

In today's fast-moving and unforgiving process control marketplace, you need to stay ahead, introducing new products or product enhancements on a steady basis, while remaining profitable. What are the obstacles that more often stand in your way?

Time - a tight window of opportunity.

Resources - your brightest people are otherwise engaged and over-committed.

Money - the company needs to fund other ventures.

The solution? SET

How does SET work?
SET takes advantage of proven, pre-existing technology and products, and puts you on the road and ready to go, a lot faster. SET offers Input, Output, and Software pre-engineered electronic elements, designed to integrate with each other, fast, reliably, and cost-effectively.

The Stages

The SET timetable typically includes the following stages:

  • Product Simulation - a PC-based, "live," actual shape and size presentation of your product; with functional menus, and actual display.
  • 3D Mechanical Conceptualization
  • First Working Prototype - built from the existing standard elements, and with the approximate final characteristics, size and shape of the final product.
  • Final Prototype - with the product and software fully customized.
  • Initial Production - for which we utilize our own production and calibration facilities.
  • Full Production - as needed.

SET Advantages

SET allows you to jumpstart the process, and get closer to your objectives.

Reduced risk

It is estimated that 75% of all high-tech new product development projects are late or are never completed to specification. The SET approach virtually eliminates the development expense risk, since its elements are pre-existing.

Lower development costs

The SET approach puts over 80% of the development cost on a shared development base, at a low license fee.

Minimized product cost

High-volume production allows us to access low-cost sources for materials and circuit board fabrication and assembly.

Shorter time-to-market

Generally, the product simulator can be completed in less than a month, and the first prototypes are available in less than a month following product simulation approval.

Built-in state-of-the-art technology

All the standard elements are built at the leading edge of performance, and are updated as the technology becomes commercially available.

SET Elements

Whatever combination you choose, and whether or not you add your own technology to our pre-engineered electronic modules, SET allows you to jumpstart your new product development process and eliminate many of the hurdles presented by the conventional development approach. Our unique SET development approach offers you three major types of elements:

Input - You may select from pre-engineered Millivolt and Thermocouple, RTD and OHM, Strain Gauge and Custom modules.

Output - Options include HART 4-20mA, Fieldbus, Display, Modbus RS-485 and Wireless modules.

Software - Embedded OS/Error Correction; Graphical User Interface/Product Simulator.

Input

Whatever combination you choose, and whether or not you add your own technology to our pre-engineered electronic modules, SET allows you to jumpstart your new product development process, and eliminate many of the hurdles presented by the conventional development approach. Our unique SET development approach offers you three major types of elements:

Input - You may select from pre-engineered Millivolt and Thermocouple, RTD and OHM, Strain Gauge and Custom modules.

Output - Options include HART 4-20mA, Fieldbus, Display, Modbus RS-485 and Wireless modules.

Software - Embedded OS/Error Correction; Graphical User Interface/Product Simulator.

Strain Gauge

The strain gauge input element provides bridge excitation as well as extremely precise resistance resolution.

  • Standard Bridge Resistance elements from 350 _ to 5,000 _ ranges, others available
  • Standard bridge temperature compensation via bridge temperature or secondary temperature sensor
  • Linearization capabilities for custom curves
  • 22 point User-Configurable curve
  • Factory configured with accuracy to 5th order polynomial curve fit
  • Accuracy to ±0.1% of reading
  • Operating range -40 to 85șC, Temperature stability better than ±0.1% of reading
  • Long Term stability to ±0.1% of reading

Custom

With this set of standard input modules, it is normally easy to design custom sensor input modules dedicated to the precise needs of a given sensor. Please give us a call to discuss your specific needs and requirements.

Output

HART, 4-20mA

4-20mA analog output elements are available with HART Protocol. The intrinsically safe board design includes super efficient power supply with an internal charge pump delivering power to other SET modules.

  • Low Power requirements
  • Less than 9V loop voltage
  • 24 bit D/A resolution
  • Operating range -40 to 85șC
  • Update rate better than 20 times per second
  • Up to 6MHz microprocessor clock speed
  • Suitable for harsh and hazardous locations
  • Standard and custom Device Descriptions and command sets for quick and easy implementation of your device

Fieldbus

Fully registered hardware and software solutions for quick, easy, and cost effective way to get a Fieldbus product.

  • Low Power requirements
  • Less than 15mA at 9V
  • National Instruments FF Device Stack
  • Function Block Shell with standard and custom applications available
  • FDIP (Fieldbus Device Implementation Package) available for integration into your existing HART device hardware
  • Suitable for harsh and hazardous locations
  • Operating range -40 to 85șC

Display

Choose from PC Windows configuration, with an easy-to-use display data window; the handheld terminal; or Plug-in Display configuration, a great option for local readouts of process parameters.

  • Suitable for harsh and hazardous locations
  • Operating range
  • -20 to 70șC Full visibility
  • -40 to 85șC reduced visibility

RS-485, Modbus, RTU, TCP

An industry-standard RS-485 Element is also available as an Output.

  • Easy integration into existing process plant controllers
  • Use Modbus protocol or multi-vendor industrial wireless protocol
  • RTU & TCP outputs available

Wireless

The first true no-field-wires solution for industrial environments. Offering you the capability to install your equipment where you want it and still get the reliability, security and flexibility you need for running your plant.

  • Reliable 900MHz Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) on license free ISM band
  • Complete package, ready to go
  • Up to 250 Field Units per Base Radio with updates every second
  • User configurable update rates
  • Every unit is a transceiver - all transmissions are received and acknowledged
  • Battery operated Field Units with up to 5 year battery life
  • Transmission range up to 3000 feet
  • Suitable for harsh and hazardous locations
  • Operating range -40 to 85șC

Software

Embedded microcontroller OS / Error correction

Standard and custom software elements are available including Embedded Operating System modules that are written in "C" code to be microprocessor-independent.

  • The "C" code allows pre-written and field-proven OS modules to be readily compiled into new products. Easy integration into existing process plant controllers
  • Tabular variable definitions pass data between various modules without the need for hard coding
  • Minimum power consumption in sleep mode and rapid wake-up in less than 6 microseconds support battery power operation
  • Watchdog reset functionality allows for real-time monitoring of system including:
    • Hardware, electrical noise, power supply brownout protection
    • Watchdog functionality for transparent restart and reset to correct for detected faults

Graphical User Interface (GUI) / Product Simulator

A standard GUI is available for use with a Windows PC as a product configuration tool or stand-alone monitoring system

  • Intuitive design for easy customer navigation and use
  • Written in Visual Basic, allowing easy modification and customization
  • Monitoring and exception based control and reporting, with user settable alarms and limits.
  • Includes Microsoft Access database to store configurations and for reports
  • Easy integration into various report formats

Product Simulation Software allows for easy product definition and manipulation BEFORE the project has "gone too far".

  • Standard tools allow for graphic interpretation of product, menu structure, and operation for easy PC simulation of new product actual operation.
  • Collaborative approach assists rapid product definition, and convergence of Marketing Requirements and Engineering Specifications.
  • Allow for test marketing as well as use as a 'Training Tool' when the product is finished.