Business Marketing

Marketing Post for PIC-CONTROL

Lease Electronic Hardware & Design | Rental Business Model

Leasing of electronic design and hardware is a form of renting the devices/equipment instead of owning them.

Instead of investing in the project electronic hardware design and owning the hardware, you can consider a leasing business model. You will be able to predict your monthly expense as well as having the technical support to maintain the electronic hardware deployed.

Suitable for,

  • Project operating in a lease or rental modal.
  • Businesses who want a guaranteed cost cap (limit).
  • Businesses who do not have their own technical team/staffs.
  • Long-term deployment on site.

How does it work?

You have a project that needs a new electronic hardware installation. The development, production and maintenance cost can be extremely difficult to determine.

Approach PIC-CONTROL with your project proposal. We can propose you with a leasing model. You can then lease and pay as you use. You manage the project, while we take care of the technical implementation.

Advantages

  • Predictable expense. (Yearly billing in January)
  • Lower initial investment, or pay nothing upfront.
  • Warranty and technical support during the lease period.
  • Less risk when deploying a new design project (design or idea that is not yet tested).
  • Continuous design and hardware update and improvement.
  • No replacement cost of damage electronic hardware.
  • Design and production will be taken care of.

Disadvantages

  • Do not own the design rights of the electronic hardware.
  • Design and production lead time may be slightly longer.
  • Cost is slightly more compare to paying outright to own the electronic hardware over a longer term.
  • Do not have full control over how the hardware is to be deployed.

Project Eligible for Leasing

The criteria in accepting your project for leasing is subjected to a review and approval from PIC-CONTROL.

Due to a possible complication, project application has to be fully disclosed. PIC-CONTROL can only undertake a lease rental model with sufficient information.

The following is some guideline for accepting a project for leasing,

  • Project detail needs to be presented for an assessment.
  • Practical technical implementation.
  • The trend of your project application is fairly predictable.
  • Common application.
  • Design can easily be reused.
  • Potential of deploying more and growing trend.
  • The client must have a good credit record.
  • Is not NDA (non-disclosure agreement) in nature.
  • Close collaboration.

Please note that a detailed understanding of your project is required. Meeting without prior assessment of project information is subjected to consultation charges. Please email us your project detail first.

Contact PIC-CONTROL for further information.

Electronic Hardware Design Service

Electronic hardware design is a very specialised field. It may be tedious to get started at first because you need quite a number of basic tools for building electronic hardware. Anyone can easily pick up this engineer skills in these days, learning through the internet and using Arduino development kit. The difference between a good and poor hardware design is mainly the experience.

PIC-CONTROL specialises in electronic hardware design and is committed to delivering guaranteed working product to our client. The main hardware design involves the following know-how.

If you are looking for electronic design service, please click here to our engineering service pages.

or contact PIC-CONTROL here.

Power Supply Hardware Design

Power supply hardware is the most fundamental knowledge to have when designing electronic. All circuit requires this hardware design in order to function.

These are the 3 basic power supply hardware for electronics circuit that a designer will encounter on a daily basis.

  • Regulated DC Voltage (<24Vdc)
  • Unregulated Power Supply
  • 230Vac to Vdc design

Other Power Supply Type

  • 3 Phase AC Voltage
  • Regulated DC Current
  • Very high DC voltage regulation
  • Very high DC current regulation

Microcontroller and Digital Circuit Design

The microcontroller is the heart of most electronic design these days. A microcontroller is like a mini computer chip that is able to control logic using software codes.

Due to its flexibility, most modern electronic design uses a microcontroller. It is considered a general purpose IC chip that is necessary for modern hardware design.

Features:

  • Digital Logic control
  • Analog Voltage Sensing
  • Standard Data Communication (UART, SPI, I2C)
  • Timer Timing Control
  • Analog Voltage Out

FPGA controller (similar to the microcontroller) can do operations at a much higher speed. For an application that needs computation on the fly, FPGA is an alternative. It is slightly more expensive. Most project applications do not need these extreme features.

Data Communication Design

Depending on the industry that you are in, commonly used data communication are fairly different

  • USB for consumer electronics.
  • RS232, RS485 for industrial electronics.
  • Ethernet network communication for office and new industrial electronics.
  • Wireless. (not recommended for industrial designs)

Analog Electronic Design

Analog design is seldom used in the modern electronic design. Most analogue features are integrated into a specialised IC chip. The integration work becomes more digital. It is easier and more precise when compared to designing our own analogue circuit from scratch.

For basic analogue design, it is hard to avoid using the op-amp component. It is a basic component used in the analogue design. There are many different types of the op-amp to select from depending on the nature of your project.

Industrial Standard

Difference electronic hardware designer think differently. Their design evolves over the years in their own industry. Other designers also start to copy to keep their product compatible with their industry. Over time a pattern can be observed from the electronic hardware that is designed in a particular industrial.

The electronic hardware in an oil and gas industry is different from the automotive industry. Building offices and home consumer products have their own standard hardware design.

The following are some of the evolution points to take note of when evaluating hardware design across the various industries.

Electronic Hardware Design in Singapore

For electronic hardware design, you can contact PIC-CONTROL. Send us your electronic hardware requirements to us, and we will translate your idea into a working hardware design for you.

 

 

Stacking PCB Board IC Tray Design

PCB reflow tray for testing IC chipsQFN 3x3mm reflow tray for IC chip using PCB boards

Reflow Tray for IC Chip Baking Temperature Testing

PCB tray design for temporary IC chip baking testing. Suitable for testing IC chip under reflow soldering temperature.

There is a limit of PCB tray reuse. PCB tray is not suitable for repetitive usage.

Features

  • For QFN IC chips
  • Holder on board for 280pcs
  • Stacking screw/nut design
  • A top cover to protect IC chip from blowing away.

Stackable Tray Design

The baking IC Tray is designed to be stackable with a cover on the top.

stacking IC Tray PCB boards with covering  

Stacking IC Tray PCB boards

Contact PIC-CONTROL for your custom reflow tray for IC chips.

 

Connector Adapter PCB Board

IDC connector to terminal block wires output connector (adapter PCB board)Spring release terminal block for wires output. IDC to wires converter board.

IDC to Spring-cage Wire Connector Adapter Board

This adapter board helps convert your ribbon cables IDC connector to individual wire terminal connection. The wire output is inserted via the spring release terminal connector. Simply push the lever with a sharp tool (for example a screwdriver), insert your wire and then release the lever. Quick and simply for individual pin wire connection.

Features

  • 60 pins IDC Connector with a quick connector release lever.
  • 4 pins 3.81mm pluggable terminal vertical connector. (power input connector)
  • 6 blocks of 10 pins Spring-cage wire connectors.
  • Design for DIN rail bracket mounting.

DIN rail hole mounting for IDC and wire terminal block connectorsSpring cage connector to lever release IDC connector converter board

Custom Connector Converter PCB Board

For other custom PCB board design for connector conversion adapter board, please provide us with further details.

Contact PIC-CONTROL for Custom Connector Converter DIN rail mounted adapter board.

DIN 41612 to IDC connector adapter PCB board

 

High Voltage Measurement Probe Circuit

High voltage electrical pulse probe measurement

High Voltage Electrical Pulse Probe Digital Meter

Operate by a 9V battery, pulse probe digital meter detects high voltage pulse and measures the energy if the electrical pulse.

The measurement range from 1KVolt to 10KVolt.

High voltage pulse electronic circuit board

The main probe that is mounted onto the PCB board will be used for touching the line with the high electrical pulse. The wired probe is extended and will be inserted into the ground earth for reference.

The device also displays the battery lifespan and blinks when the battery level is too low.

There is no on/off button. The device will be automatically switched on when a battery is inserted or when a high voltage pulse is detected on the probe. When the detected voltage is >10KVolt, the meter will display “HI” to indicate that the detected voltage has exceeded the measurement range. (high voltage sensor)

Contact PIC-CONTROL to custom design and develop a high voltage pulse measurement electroic sensing device.

Card Edge PCI to IDC Connector Adapter

Card Edge connector adapter board

PCI to IDC Connector Adapter Board

Adapter board is designed for Card Edge board.

This adapter is custom design to convert 120pins PCI connector for access via a 60pins IDC connector.

Card edge PCI connector adapter PCB

Finger Connection Edge Pins

Card edge connector is designed to fit PCB edge finger connection pins. PCB board is typically 1.6mm in thickness.

The pins design is embedded on the PCB itself (board to board connection), saving you the need to buy and install a connector on the PCB board. This is much more cost-effective solution.

The PCB card is easy to plug in and out, making it suitable for hot-swap and mass test connection.

Typical Application

  • Mass testing of assembled PCB.
  • Extension of board functionality.
  • General purpose I/O processing board.
  • Hotswap electrical connection.

Card Edge PCB board connection pins

Finger connector pins on card edge PCB board

PCI connector pins on the board edge

Custom Card Edge Adaptor Board

PCI to IDC connector adapter for card edge PCB board

Contact PIC-CONTROL for your custom Card Edge PCB board design and fabrication.

We design for any type of card edge board connection.

Card Reader for CEPAS Ezlink NetsFlashPay CAN Number

Check out this Card Reader for reading out the CAN number of local Singapore CEPAS cards, Ezlink or NetsFlashPay.

This card reader reads out the CAN number. A CAN number is a unique number which can uniquely identify the card.

Standard CEPAS CAN Card Reader Products

Card Key Holder

(Energy Saving)
Product code: PIC-345
1) Dry Contact

Door Access

(Wall Mounted)
Product code: PIC-346

1) Wiegand
2) RS485
3) RS232

Desktop Reader

(Guest Registration)
Product code: PIC-347

1) USB Keyboard [PIC-347-HID]
2) USB Com Port [PIC-347-COM]

 
Ezlink CAN Card Holder CEPAS Reader (Energy Saving) CEPAS Door Access Card Reader HID Desktop USB CEPAS CAN Card Reader (Guest Registration)
CEPAS NetsFlashPay CAN Card Holder Reader (Energy Saving) CEPAS Door Access Card Reader HID USB CEPAS CAN Card Reader (Guest Registration)

CEPAS CAN Number Card Reader

Circuit Board (Custom OEM)

This reader allows you to use publicly available cards (Ezlink, NetsFlashPay cards) for your own unique card ID application. It will save you the cost of issuing your own unique ID cards (which easily can cost you $50 per card holder). User also need not have to carry multiple cards with them.

Typical Application

  • Protect your visitor/customer privacy. Obtain unique ID of visitors or customers without revealing their identity card.
  • Using easily available CEPAS card for permanent or temporary access to private rooms without issue new cards.
  • In-house gaming or credit point system.
  • Guest visitors registration.
  • Membership registration and tracking.

If you are looking you are looking for a card payment terminal for your automated cashier, [you can click here and check out this page].

CAN number reader for NetsFlashPay and Ezlink card

Features

  • Communication connection (Custom option for Wiegand, RS232, RS485, Ethernet, USB Virtual Com Port, USB Keyboard Wedge)
  • Instant readout of the CAN number (ASCII text) of the card.
  • Buzzer feedback
  • Read light indicator
  • No need to install any software or driver (for USB Keyboard Wedge).
  • Can act as an HID keyboard for spreadsheet or text file data entry (keyboard wedge application like a barcode scanner)
  • User mode switch to select the operation mode
  • Can be customised to read any type of 13.56MHz HF RFID cards.

This card reader can be custom programmed by our engineer to read other types of 13.56MHz RFID cards/tags. Some of the cards/tags are as follows,

  • Mifare Ultralight (U1X), Ultralight C (U2X)
  • Mifare Classic Mini (S20), Classic (S50), Classic (S70)
  • Mifare Plus S (SPLUS 60), Plus S (SPLUS 80)
  • Mifare Plus X (PLUS 60), Plus X (PLUS 80)
  • Mifare DESFire EV1
  • Sony Felica, Felica Lite
  • NFC tags, NFC phone/device
  • Emulate mode to emulate RFID tags
  • ISO/IEC14443-3 Type A, ISO/IEC14443-4 Type A
  • ISO/IEC14443-3 Type B, ISO/IEC14443-4 Type B
  • NFC IP-1 mode

API and Software Technical Support

Guarantee software support to ensure everything works as you intended to be. Our engineer is ready to support and ensure that the reader that you purchase works on any of your software platform. We are here to make it work for your application.

Ezlink Card (CEPAS CAN number)

Ezlink card
CAN number behind Ezlink card

FlashPay Card (CEPAS CAN number)

NetsFlashPay card
CAN number behind NetsFlashPay card

CEPAS Compliance Cards (Co-brand)

The following types of cards can be CEPAS compliance. They can be used just like the card from Ezlink and FlashPay.

  • Passion Card membership card
  • Autopass Card (for Foreign Vehicle entering into Singapore)
  • Selected Credit Card (Standard Chartered Unlimited, Citibank SMRT, POSB Everyday Card, FEVO)

CAN Number Allocation for CEPAS Cards in Singapore

A CAN number is unique allows you to identify the cardholder group category in Singapore. This helps to identify if the card is a normal transportation payment card or a concession card. Information is obtained from Transit Link Pte Ltd.

  • 1000 xxxx xxxx xxxx (Adult CEPAS card)
  • 1009 xxxx xxxx xxxx (Adult Co-Brand)
  • 1111 xxxx xxxx xxxx (NETS Flashpay)
  • 8000 xxxx xxxx xxxx (Concession cards: Child, Pri, Sec, Ter, NS, Senior Citizen)
  • 8009 xxxx xxxx xxxx (Concession cards: Child, Pri, Sec, Ter, NS, Senior Citizen)
  • 8008 xxxx xxxx xxxx (Concession cards: Child, Pri, Sec, Ter, NS, Senior Citizen)
  • xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx (SG Enable, Concession cards issue for the disability)

*** Note:
All concession cards do not allocate any specific CAN number for the different type of concession cards. This means that card number allocated by SG Enable  will be the same number range as the other types of concession cards. For the specific organization card number range, please write in to that specific organization for more information.

Transportation Card Around The World

More transportation card around the world for your card reader customisation.

  • Ezlink, FlashPay Card (Singapore)
  • Octopus Card (Hong Kong)
  • Touch ‘n Go (Malaysia)
  • Edy, nanaco, taspo, Waon (Japan)
  • Flazz (Indonesia)
  • Metro Card (United States)
  • Myki, Opal Card (Melbourne, Sydney)
  • PayPass, PayWave, FarePay (Credit Card Payment Network)

For the cards that you want to custom the read, you can send in 3 or more card samples. Please write down the data or text that is contained in the card that you want to read.

Custom RFID reader

Contact PIC-CONTROL for your custom RFID reader today.
We can design the communication to fit into your system. It can be Ethernet, Wifi, Modbus, Zigbee, etc…

Other RFID Products

Audio Trigger Relay (Light Indicator)

PIC-024 Audio Activated Light Indicator

Audio/Sound activate relay device

Audio trigger relay cable gland to LED light indicators

This device can detect the audio/sound from a computer system or any audio devices. Any sound detected will trigger a relay to turn “ON” which you can use to turn on a light indicator or your machinery to automate a process.

This device is also an audio triggered switch, converting audio sound into a switch output.

Features

  • Sound Input Stereo Audio 3.5mm Jack.
  • Power Input USB type B socket
  • Solid State Relay Output
  • Manual Control AC Switch
  • Indicators for power, audio input and relay activated output

Convert the audio output from computer to a relay output for controlling lights     Controller controls tower light (Green, Amber and Red).

Application

  • Call Center Queue & Contingency LED Controller
  • Convert a warning sound, or alarm from a computer to a light indicator (silent)
  • Control external automation equipment when a sound is detected
  • Convert audio from a computer to relay output.
  • Convert from sound to any I/O signal for your controller.

Example 1 :

Sometimes you need the computer system to trigger an external device when the software is sounding an alarm. For old legacy software, you may not have the source code which you can edit or do further improvement and development work. With this device, your legacy software can still trigger the alarm through the audio speaker. This device will detect the audio alarm and activate an output to trigger external system or switch on indicator or buzzer.

Example 2 :

Your existing sounder alert system can be noisy and disturbing. You can use this device to convert an existing sounder alert system into a light indicator alert. You can get your alert without disturbing others.

USB Powered

USB powered, 3.5mm Audio plug input, Power relay control.     audio input detection activated relay for light indicator

Device can be powered up from a USB port or an USB power adaptor (5V). Input socket is a USB type B.

The audio input is a 3.5mm stereo audio socket, typically use on the computer audio cable.

Manual AC Power Switch (Manual Control)

Manual overwrite AC switch to activate LED indicator lamps     LED control audio detection

Switches on the device is available for user to control the light indicator directly.

This switch will manual overwrite the audio detection function. The output will be permanently switched On.

Built-in Solid State Relay to switch 230Vac LED lamps

Audio sound triggered relay circuit board.

The circuit is built-in with a solid state relay controlling LED indicator or lamps up to 230Vac 3A.

The output can be configured to switch on the LED indicator lamp or allow the lamp blinking to get the attention of your operator.

The circuit control can also customize to power up external DC voltage devices or indicator lights.

Dry contact output to activate external equipment is also available.

Customised Sound Audio Activated Lighting Device

Contact PIC-CONTROL for customising a sound activated indicator light.

Please provide us with the detail of your application and describe how you would like the audio relay operation to function. If you have a sample of the audio sound, please send it to us for our assessment.

Alternative Product

<- Click here for more information about this alternative audio activation device

Check out the other related products,

Custom Cable Tester

Cable tester, custom design for cable harness assembly production.

Custom cable tester electronic kit

An operator can just simply plug in the cable connector to the tester to check for the cable harness assembly automatically.

An audible beep will be sound immediately after the operator plug-in the connector. This indicates that the cable’s wiring is correct. The operator can simply focus their vision on the manual connection work.

If there is no sound heard after plugging in, the cable’s wiring is probably incorrect or faulty. There will be LED indicator (orange colour) for each of the respective wiring. If any LED remains lighted up after plugging in the connector, they indicate a wiring fault. The fault due to the following,

  • incorrect pin connection.
  • the wire break resulting in a broken electrical connection.
  • the connector is not properly crimped or soldered.

Wire harness connection tester device

This custom tester has a monitoring mode which is designed to catch intermediate break wire connection that may be potentially existing in your the cable assembly. Intermediate wire connection fault can be due to a broken wire or cable that is not properly assembled. The fault may occur when the cable is touched or bend too much.

When all the connectors are connected to the cable tester, the tester will automatically enter into a monitoring mode. You should be able to hear 2 special beep sound which indicates that the tester is now in the monitoring mode. In this mode, all connectors are connected to the tester. Any connection break in the process of monitoring will trigger an error from the cable tester device.

To test your cable assembly in this mode, you can simply shake up the whole cable. The shaking can help to bring out any intermediate connection problem if there is any. You should see an error LED indicator (Red) lights up together with a long Error tone if an intermediate connection break is detected. The respective wire connection indicator (Orange LED) will also be displayed to indicate the exact wire that is having the intermediate connection problem.

Features of the Cable Tester [PIC-023]

Wire connectivity indicator lights up for faulty wires


  • Simple to use.
  • Instant audio beep and flashing LED light (Green) when the cable is plugged in, to indicate that the cable has passed the checking.
  • LED indicator (Orange) will remain lighted to pinpoint faulty wires
  • Able to catch potential intermediate connection fault in the cable.
  • LED (Red) and long buzzer tone to indicate detected cable problem.
  • Portable and can be designed to power up from USB power supply or from the battery.

Operating Procedure

Test for intermediate cable connection fault

  1. Plug in USB power cable, or insert batteries.
  2. Switch on the cable tester to power up. A test sequence will run to show that the buzzer and all the LED are working.
  3. Plug in one side of the cable onto the tester.
  4. Plug in the other side of the cable. The cable tester will detect the connection and begin testing the cable.
  5. A double beep sound and flashing Green LED indicates that the cable is tested ok.
  6. The respective LED indicator (Orange) for each of the wiring will diminish if the connection is mated correctly.
  7. If there is no sound heard after plugging in the cable, the cable is probably faulty. Check on the respective wire indicator (Orange LED) to determine the exact wire that is faulty. 1 or more LED should be lighted up which indicates incorrect or no connection.
  8. After the cable is all connected to the cable tester and has passed the wire connection test, the tester will enter into a monitoring mode. You should hear 2 special beep, followed by a blinking light from the green indicator, which tells you that the tester is now in the cable monitoring mode.
  9. In this cable monitor mode, you can continue to test the wired connection of your assembled cable harness. Shake your cable to see if there is any intermediate connection fault can be caught. If a glitch is detected due to the intermediate connection break, the cable tester device will be able to catch it. A long beep and error indicator (Red LED) will be lighted up. The respective wire indicator (Orange) will also be lighted up to pinpoint the exact wire that is causing this intermediate connection problem.
  10. The caught wire glitch fault will remain until all the wires are disconnected. The cable tester will then reset the test procedure.
  11. The operator can proceed to test the next cable harness set.

Other Optional Specialised Test Features

For dedicated wiring for precision/importance use, there are optional test that we can design to help you detect potential faults in your cable harness wiring.

The following are some of the specialised test that you may need to test on your assembled cable beside the basic connectivity check.

  • Ohm test or resistivity test for your wires and connectors, to check if the wires are crimped or fasten properly.
  • High voltage test, to ensure the wires are properly insulated.
  • High-speed data or RF test to ensure signal integrity quality of your assembled cable.

Custom Electronic Tester

Contact PIC-CONTROL for further information for your custom cable tester.

custom cable harness tester design