Data Acquisition

I need a PCB designed, that takes a straightforward "system on a chip" type intel 386 compatible processor, and also place some high speed A/D IC and glue logic together. The A/D can talk to the CPU via PCI or any other extremely highspeed method. data transfer has to be via DMA, into system RAM. So using existing schematics, etc of systems with PCI bus, is probably the way to do it. The A/D will be in the 40 Million Samples / Second, this could be one that does 40Ms/s or 2 that do 20Ms/s, etc. A open source schematic of high speed A/D in operation is here: [login to view URL] There also needs to be a standard set of digital outputs, and this can be integrated with the control logic that would have to send out data to configure the A/D's. So with the A/D unit(s) there also needs to be some highspeed digital I/O, for not only configuring the A/D chips (i.e. they need to have setting for sample rate, polar/bi-polar, type of sampling, scaling, etc,) but also to have some digital I/O to control some other future logic. This digital I/O would of course be high speed as well, as it would essentially be hooked close to the PCI bus, and its speed. Since this project at this stage is a proof of concept, and what is created will not be directly marketed, any opensource,schematics can be used for this with out any legal issues, as this device will never be sold, its strictly for internal use and proof of a concept, that later will involve a dedicated device and re-design. The PCB has to be a fully functioning computer that would boot linux from a IDE drive (bus) as part of it, or if one prefers, it can boot from USB drive. The PCB must also have a ehternet 10/100 port. No monitor, keyboard, mouse, sound, etc would be needed, the plan would be to boot it with a copy of linux that would have drivers for the ethernet card, detect it, and then allow access via network. The only other device on the PCB that needs to get access is the A/D unit(s) and the Digital I/O via PCI bus. Also the networking could be achieved by just having a slot on the PBC to the PC and put in a standard ethernet card that way, if that is preferable to schematic'ing one on to the PCB. The linux will have to be able to control the a/d units, and get , for example, 40M s/s data over DMA and into RAM. The PCB can have either DDR type ram sockets on it, or DDR ram soldered right to it, since I would like to perhaps put 2 or more GB of ram on the PCB, perhaps it should just use a typical memory controller logic and DDR ram slots, and allow expansion. I am not sure what bios is available to use, but i have to assume generic PCB board intel 386 compatable computer designed schematics are out there for free, or provided by chip manufactures, like AMD and intel (and VIA, etc) so one can work with their products. the only real "new" work on this project is interfacing a A/D unit(s) to the PCI bus and getting the data to the RAM of the computer. As well as controlling Digital inputs/outputs. It would probably be preferable to have a daughter card with the A/D unit(s) on it, so the function of the computer can be diagnosed independant of the A/D. So that if the A/D circuit doesnt work, or is buggy, only it would have to be re-etched, but the main computer part would be be isolated, and not have to be fab'd. Creating the computer part with a daughter card interface, a IDE bus and a ethernet and PCI bus should be a standard available schematic, and layout files out there, again the real work comes in making a A/D unit to attach to it. The quote would involve the following being provided: 1) final schematic and layout file for PCB to be etched 2) necessary documentation to back up the design, and essentaily proof that it should work. It would then be prefered that the designer also take delivery of the fabricated product from a etch/solder shop, and assemble, and install linux, check that ethernet is working and have connectivity, as well as test for necessary data capture, in effect testing the whole creation. The quote would not include any material cost or fabrication cost. The quote just needs to include: 1) design, 2) assembly of fab'd pcb, i.e. plug in i.e. pentium 4 PRocessor into cpu socket, plug in ram, also mount pcb board to a typical housing, for protection and workability. 3) write a small amount of code, probably in C (there is A/D pci card open source code in linux kernel for talking with other manufacturers pci based A/D boards, and working with typical PCI data interface), and thus getting the A/D captured data into the systems RAM. This project could be divided into 3 seperate and paid for pieces, upon each ones completion, i.e. 1) research, getting right components (i can aid in this). 2) design schematic and PCB layout file that a fab shop accepts 3) assemble and test It also might be appropriate that two people work on this, one that has more board level and PCB knowledge, and another with C/linux device coding skills. For a very experienced person who has done all this for others, this might be less then 2 weeks of work, it could also be 3-4 weeks, for a lesser experienced person. I think it would be important, to assure good sucess in this project, to acquire known working schematics, and pcb files for a working PCB intel compatible system (with pci) and a schematic for a a/d unit (i included a link to one above), and have a good feeling that this is more about glueing together known existing working technology then re-inventing the wheel. I choose the ($1500-$5000) large budget setting but i don't believe it should be nearly as high as $5000, nor is it necessarily as low as 1500$, however a person who has essentailly already done this kind of work, could easily do it for that, given its just pulling from past work and experience. And remember, all part cost and PCB fabbing, is covered, and not to be included in the quote. This type of project is very specialized, so i will mark it as 35 days, and then repost, i am not in a hurry, so this could make some nice part time hobby work for someone, even a college student, etc.