Reference Designs
Shepherd-Wireless works with integrated-circuit manufacturers to develop reference designs and test-fixtures for a broad range of cutting-edge products. Our development team is geared to meet the most challenging manufacturing deadlines, and completes a test platform or reference design before silicon is produced.
A reference design quickly confirms that the IC fulfills requirements for a potential application and then accelerates development of the end-user product. Clients find that providing measurement-ready reference designs to potential customers improve sales and reduce the level of customer support required for a semiconductor product. Sections of a modular reference designs are also reused throughout the product life-cycle as a test-fixture for design verification testing and debugging manufacturing failures.
Shepherd-Wireless offers many custom features to benefit the end user, including:
- Variable configurations for multiple applications
- Intuitive operation
- Illustrated signal pathways
- Computer interface and control software
- Power supply filtering
- ESD protection
- Modular connectivity with peripherals
- Full user guide and development documentation
Upon completion of a contract, the finished product all design documents and all prototypes are the property of the client. This policy allows the client to competitively compare board manufacturers, and to control revisions that may be required later in the product lifecycle. Also, these documents allow the customer to easily modify the design and adapt the reference board for derivative IC products.
Specialized reference designs may be used as a test-bed for design verification testing of an IC during mass production. A stable and well-designed test fixture also shortens debugging time and effort when manufacturing problems occur. Shepherd-Wireless constructs solderless fixtures for IC testing using either plunger-compression or socket mounts. Additional mounting styles are available based upon individual client needs.
