Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 26
ADC with hardware averaging on a PCB 5 × 3 cm²
Fig. 27
Shielded input stage of current measurement placed near to PIMMS in the vacuum chamber
6.8
Firmware and Software
As already discussed, most of the components or groups of components of the
PIMMS periphery are controlled by their own microcontroller. Their independence
enables secure and fast operation. It is also important to keep the functional groups
separate at present stage of development, in order to improve and exchange them
individually. In a final system a higher level of integration can be achieved. Using a
central unit with enough processing power, e.g., an ASIC (Application-Specific
Integrated Circuit) comprising all digital and most analog components will guaran-
tee a very small and cost-effective design, once mass production of PIMMS-devices
is intended. Such an ASIC, e.g., could implement the DDS-core of the TWG, the
