Plextek Ltd - System Integration

Plextek provides electronic system integration services, in particular communications system integration, including: Integration of multiple wireless communications system standards such as GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth and 802.11b, electronic system integration for Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), simulation of communications system interactions, software drivers and profiles for system integration, multiple type-approvals for communications system integration projects.

System Integration

As a design house with a proven track record in the development of standards based products (e.g. GSM/GPRS, GPS , Bluetooth, DECT, 802.11, etc) and which has also successfully developed a range of full-custom systems from scratch, Plextek is uniquely positioned to perform complex electronic system integration tasks. Our communications system integration expertise is exemplified in our Marvel series of PCMCIA form factor cards combining GPRS with Bluetooth or 802.11b and in the 2.5G multimedia cellphone development undertaken with Alphacell, which includes image capture and transmission via MMS. A photograph of this product and a block diagram detailing the electronic system integration are shown below.

Another example of Plextek's system integration experience is the development of custom ATE systems. This requires the integration of test instrumentation from a number of different suppliers, control software and associated test jigs. We have developed ATE systems for the production testing of multi-media handsets, gaming consoles, tracking devices and Bluetooth equipment. These systems have been successfully installed and operated in various manufacturing facilities around the world. The 19" rack in the photograph to the right is an example of one such system, which was used in the factory test of a transceiver for stolen vehicle recovery.

The key experiences that we can bring to bear in a system integration development include:

Experience of combined electronic system design issues

A detailed understanding of system interactions arising from: -

RF circuit architecture and frequency plans

PCB layout effects

Magnetic and electric field coupling

Power regulation

Sharing of key resources such as power supplies, line interfaces, antennas & transducers

Modifications and enhancements to existing software protocols

Generation of software drivers and profiles

Factory selection and introduction to manufacture

Design of specific manufacturing functional test equipment

Complex multiple type-approvals

When this is combined with full-custom system development, exceedingly powerful combinations of integrated electronic systems can be conceived and developed in relatively short time scales. For example we have carried out the integration of Bluetooth wireless links into a range of custom product developments including:

PCMCIA cards

USB PC dongle

Car hi-fi hands-free

Computer games controller

The combination of these different standards into individual product offerings is limited only by your imagination. If you would like to discuss the possibilities in more detail please contact us.

System level block diagram and photograph of multi-media handset