Dave Dunfield - General Test Platform

Period: 2006

Often in the course of my work, I need a test capability that just isn't covered by the off the shelf equipment that I have available. To accomodate these cases, I designed and built this general purpose test platform. An internal connector allows me to easily add or change an interface board to measure or generate exactly the capability I need.

The devices provide this following as "full time available" hardware, which is supplimented by the interface board:

• 8031 processor running at 14.745 Mhz
• 32K ROM containing operating system, and common library routines
• 32K of non-volatile RAM for application specific code and data storage
• RS-232 port for program download, and data upload
• Real-time clock with alarm
• Intel 8253, triple 16-bit timer/counter
• ADC0809 8-channel analog to digital convertor with adjustable reference
• 12 bits programmable digital I/O including 8031 T0/T1/INT0/INT1 signals
• 8 additional bits of digital control output.
• 1 additional bit of digital sense input.
• 500Khz, 1Mhz, 2Mhz and 4Mhz synchronized clocks.
• 20 character LCD display.
• 48 key keypad (salvaged from a scrapped logic analyzer).

By providing custom interface boards, utilitizing the above resources as required, I can create a piece of test equipment customized to a particular need quickly and easily.

Here is a look from the back with the interface board removed so you can see the main controller board.