Communications and Electronic Systems Design

Click on an item below for more information on IIW's capabilities.

Electronic Systems Design

IIW's engineering team is both broad and deep, encompassing a variety of skills to deliver mission critical solutions to our customers. Some of our capabilities related to electronic systems development include:

• FPGA design
• Digital hardware design
• Digital signal processing
• Embedded software development including teal-time systems
• Antenna design, manufacture, and test
• RF and Microwave circuit and system design
• Acoustic circuit design and signal processing
• Custom packaging

Custom Communications Systems

At IIW, we develop and maintain complete communication systems customized to our customers' specific needs. These systems typically consist of remote devices along with a control post. The remote devices can be miniaturized and delivered in a highly customized package. Additionally, in many cases we will design systems with multiple independent communication links to increase availability and reliability. We have developed systems that communicate over a variety of links including:

• Custom short range and medium range wireless links
• Satellite links
• Public wired infrastructure such as the Internet or telecom networks
• Public wireless infrastructure such as cellular networks

Electronic Systems Reverse Engineering

At IIW, we reverse engineer complete electronic systems for a variety of customer-specific needs. There is no limit to the type or size of electronic device we can reverse engineer. A fully reverse engineered system will result in documentation completely describing the system's functionality and capabilities, a recreated copy of all electronics schematics, and recreated source code with comments from any embedded software.

Communications Protocol Analysis and Design

We develop and analyze communication protocols. We have addressed protocols intended for both wireless and wired communication links and at all layers of the OSI model. We have created protocols from the bottom up as well as modified existing protocols to suit specific needs. Some of the considerations of developing a custom protocol include:

• Link speeds
• Payload size
• Link efficiency
• Security requirements, such as the need for encryption or authentication
• Resistance to reverse engineering techniques, such as packet inspection or replay attacks
• Reliability considerations, such as tolerance to bit errors, latency, packet reordering, and packet loss

Tagging, Tracking, and Locating Systems

IIW has extensive capabilities in a range of Tagging, Tracking, and Locating (TTL) Systems. Our TTL devices can be targeted to a specific host or made generic and small to fit into an arbitrary host. We employ sensors, such as audio and motion, to provide more information about the host than just location. We also provide geofencing capabilities to allow mission profiles to be customized by location. We have extensive experience in several locating mechanisms such as:

• GPS with a wireless communications path
• RF beacon with a handheld locator
• Leveraging the communications infrastructure to provide location data such as cell tower or satellite beam

Our TTL devices are tracked with one or multiple communication links. Oftentimes, multiple independent communication links are employed to increase availability. Links we currently use for our TTL systems include:

• Custom short- and medium-range wireless links
• Satellite links
• Public wireless infrastructure, such as cellular networks

Circuit Miniaturization

With over twenty years of process development and production experience, IIW is a leader in miniaturization and packaging of electronic circuits and systems. Utilizing both bare die and packaged parts, we can provide any level of miniaturization from standard surface mount printed circuit boards to modules using stacked die. We routinely place passive components down to 0201 as well as chip-scale integrated circuits. We also have developed technologies that include die thinning, die depackaging, controlled height wire bonding, and flip-chip attachment, and are capable of utilizing a wide array of substrates at densities that push the limits of state-of-the art.

Antenna Design, Manufacture, and Test

IIW has a long history of designing, implementing, and delivering embedded and concealed antennas. Our products range from single-band electrically short antennas to dual-band patch antennas to conformal slot antennas providing multi-band coverage. We combine state-of-the-art 3D electromagnetic modeling using HFSS™ and other programs, fabrication capabilities that include a fully- equipped machine shop, and extensive test capabilities with experienced and creative engineering to develop antenna systems that provide exceptional performance.

RF/Analog Hardware Design

For over twenty years. IIW has been creating state-of-the-art systems incorporating radio frequency (RF), microwave, and analog electronics. Our designs emphasize performance, miniaturization, and minimization of power consumption for use in portable and embedded applications.

RF and Microwave circuit and system design:
With an emphasis on communications applications, we have created unique designs ranging from micropowered miniaturized receivers to high-power portable transmitters.

Acoustic circuit design and signal processing:
Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we have a long history of designing acoustic and ultra-sonic sensors, as well as interface and signal processing electronics.

Power supply design:
IIW develops highly-specialized power supplies, mainly for embedded applications and often with unusual form factors, including off-line switching supplies, DC-DC converters, and very low noise linear supplies, to name a few.

Sensor Design and Fabrication

IIW has developed and deployed many sensors over the past 20 years. Unique sensing applications are thoroughly analyzed and simulated (e.g., using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software). The best sensor technology is chosen from a tradeoff analysis amongst different sensor performance criteria, such as size, power consumption, sensitivity, environmental ruggedness, and cost. The best choice sensor (in tandem with its interface and signal processing electronics) is designed, built, and thoroughly tested. IIW has developed a wide variety of acoustic, ultrasonic, vibration, electric, magnetic, and optical sensors.

Specialized Battery Pack Design

Within IIW, we continually explore and utilize cutting-edge energy solutions for remote/wireless electronic systems. Our expertise includes system level power design, battery pack design and manufacturing, and characterization and production level testing of battery systems. Specific customer needs range from long life, recharging, high current delivery, pulse operation, and harsh environment operation. Some specific areas of focus include:

• Primary battery technology
• Secondary (rechargeable) battery technology
• Super (ultra) capacitor technology
• Future energy storage technology such as micro fuel cells
• Interface power electronics for discharging and charging
• Custom battery pack design, manufacturing, and testing