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Products


Since our founding in 1980, MICRODESIGNS has developed a number of unique OEM and end-user products for Global Positioning System (GPS), Panasonic TLD Reader accessory and industrial microcomputer board and system applications. Most of these products were designed to meet requirements that could not be economically met by any other commercial solution at the time.

Click on the following links for descriptions and photos of our products. Note that information on discontinued products is generally provided for reference purposes only, although small quantities of some products may still be available. For datasheets and other information, please contact us.
 

QwikFlash Development Kits and Accessories - MICRODESIGNS is pleased to be working with Dr. John Peatman of Georgia Tech by offering assembled QwikFlash development boards and accessories which can be used in an upper-level university lab or class in support of his newest textbook Embedded Design with the PIC18F452 Microcontroller
 

Global Position System (GPS) Receivers for in-vehicle mobile and rackmount base station applications

GPS-100 Mobile GPS Receiver (G8 Sensor) (discontinued)
GPS-101 Mobile GPS Receiver (A12 Sensor) (discontinued)
GPS-102 Mobile GPS Receiver (B12 Sensor) (discontinued)
GPS-103 Mobile GPS Receiver (AC12 Sensor) (discontinued)
GPS-200 Reference Receiver (discontinued)


Panasonic Thermoluminescent Dosimetry (TLD) Reader Accessories  - MICRODESIGNS has been developing and refining glow-curve acquisition technology since 1984 and has the largest installed base of Panasonic-compatible glow-curve products and accessories in the world

GCI/1 Glow-Curve Interface (discontinued)
GCI/2 Glow-Curve Interface
GCI/3 Glow-Curve Interface
TCA/1 Thermal Curve Adapter
LMP-7900 Lamp Bias ControlNEW


Industrial Single-Board Computer Expansion (SBX) boards conforming to the IEEE-959 standard for SBX I/O modules

uDX-221 Multifunction Multimodule (Dual Serial I/O, Clock/Calendar and CMOS RAM)
uDX-241 Clock and Quad Serial Multimodule
uDX-342 Quad Serial Multimodule
uDX-488 GPIB (IEEE-488) Multimodule
uDX-548 Buffered 48-line/Centronics Multimodule
uDX-549 Bit-Programmable Multimodule


Industrial Single-Board Computers/Cabinets - software-compatible with Intel Multibus-I 8085 and 8086 single-board computers as well as original designs

Multiboard-85/Multibox-85 (discontinued)
Multiboard-86/Multibox-86 (discontinued)
Multiboard-88/Expansion board
Multiboard-535


Global Positioning System (GPS) Receivers

The MICRODESIGNS series of GPS Receivers are designed around OEM GPS engines manufactured by Magellan Navigation. Formerly marketed under the Ashtech® and Magellan brands, these GPS engines are the core of our family of products that may be used to evaluate GPS for your application or as end-user products in their own right.
 

GPS-100 Mobile GPS Receiver (G8 Sensor) (discontinued)

An inexpensive 8-channel receiver designed for mobile application. Built around the now-discontinued Ashtech® G8 GPS engine, the GPS-100 provides a rugged enclosure, an RS-232 interface, status display and power conditioning for demanding mobile environments. This product has been superseded by the GPS-101.
 

GPS-101 Mobile GPS Receiver (A12 Sensor) (discontinued)

An inexpensive 12-channel receiver designed for mobile application. Built around the Magellan Navigation A12 GPS engine, the GPS-101 provides a rugged enclosure, an RS-232 interface, status display and power conditioning for demanding mobile environments. The GPS-101 is the replacement for the discontinued GPS-100. Manufactured for Magellan Navigation by MICRODESIGNS, A12 Sensor details and a PDF-format datasheet may be found here.
 

GPS-102 Mobile GPS Receiver (B12 Sensor) (discontinued)

An inexpensive 12-channel receiver designed for mobile application. Built around the Magellan Navigation B12 GPS engine, the GPS-102 provides a rugged enclosure, an RS-232 interface, status display and power conditioning for demanding mobile environments.
 

GPS-103 Mobile GPS Receiver (AC12 Sensor) (discontinued)

An inexpensive 12-channel receiver designed for mobile application and featuring raw GPS carrier phase measurements. Built around the new Magellan Navigation AC12 GPS engine, the GPS-103 provides a rugged enclosure, an RS-232 interface, status display and power conditioning for demanding mobile environments. Manufactured for Magellan Navigation by MICRODESIGNS, AC12 Sensor details and a PDF-format datasheet may be found here.
 

GPS-200 Reference Receiver (discontinued)

This sophisticated 12-channel receiver is based on the powerful Magellan Navigation G12 GPS engine and is intended to be used as the position reference receiver in an automated vehicle location (AVL) system, providing location correction data to increase the accuracy of positions reported by mobile vehicles. The GPS-200 is provided in a 1U rack mount enclosure for use in 19" system racks.
 

Panasonic Thermoluminescent Dosimetry (TLD) Reader Accessories

The MICRODESIGNS series of Glow-Curve Interfaces acquire detailed information about the radiation dose read from a Thermoluminescent Dosimetery badge by a Panasonic TLD badge reader. The GCI digitizes phosphor glow-curve and timing data and saves the reader's measurement string for analysis and long-term storage by a host computer. Programmed using English-like command mnemonics, our GCIs are supported by third-party software vendors, managing glow-curve data as port of a complete personnel dose data managment package.
 

GCI/1 Glow Curve Interface (discontinued)

Real-time data acquisition system in a 19" rackmount cabinet for Panasonic UD-710A Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) Readers. The GCI/1 provides glow curve, timing and dosage information from the TLD reader to a host computer via a GPIB (IEEE-488) interface.
 

GCI/2 Glow Curve Interface

GCI/2 Glow-Curve InterfaceThe GCI/2 operates with Panasonic UD-710A and UD-716AGL automatic TLD readers along with the UD-702E, UD-705 and UD-706A manual readers and is our most economical solution to glow-curve acquisition requirements. Functionally similar to the GCI/1, the GCI/2 is a compact single-board GCI which is installed in an ISA/EISA-compatible PC/AT, 386, 486, or Pentium personal computer host. A detached indicator pod provides GCI status information. Information is transferred between the GCI/2 and the host via the host's internal ISA backplane bus. The GCI/2 is suitable for PCs running Windows 95/98/ME or MS-DOS only; use a GCI/3 for PCs operating under Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
 
 

GCI/3 Glow Curve Interface

GCI/3 Glow-Curve Interface (front view)Functionally identical to the GCI/2, the GCI/3 is a glow-curve capture device in a small stand-alone desktop cabinet which communicates to a host computer via an RS-232C serial interface. Because it is self-contained and uses the industry-standard RS-232C serial interface, the GCI/3 can be easily interfaced to a wide array of computers and operating systems. Dosimetry management systems which use PCs, workstations, or notebook computers as hosts are candidates for the GCI/3.

NEWThe GCI/3 now supports the Panasonic UD-7900 Reader; contact MICRODESIGNS for details.
 
 

TCA/1 Thermal Curve Adapter

TCA/1 Thermal Curve Adapter (front view)The TCA/1 is an accessory fixture that allows direct measurement of the badge heating cycle in a Panasonic TLD reader. When used with a MICRODESIGNS or Panasonic glow-curve interface, the digitized thermal curve generated by the TCA/1 may be observed on a host computer's graphics display, analyzed and stored for later reference. The TCA/1 displays the base and peak temperatures of an observed heating cycle on a four-line alpha-numeric LCD display, allowing stand-alone use.

NEWThe TCA/1 now supports the Panasonic UD-7900 Reader; contact MICRODESIGNS for details.
 
 

LMP-7900 Lamp Bias ControlNEW

LMP-7900 Lamp Bias ControlThe LMP-7900 Lamp Bias Control is a reader accessory that manages the heating lamp bias current in Panasonic’s flagship UD-7900 TLD reader. Requiring only screwdrivers for installation, the LMP-7900 allows manual adjustment of the bias current and also permits measurement of the lamp voltage and current waveforms by service technicians.

The Panasonic UD-7900 TLD reader uses an advanced computer-controlled power supply to operate the heating lamp, which allows the UD-7900 to operate in UD-710A heating mode, UD-716AGL heating mode, or anywhere in between. However, an unfortunate side effect of the new technology is the loss of the lamp bias constant-current feature provided in those older Panasonic readers.

Installed between the lamp power supply and the UD-7900’s heating lamp, the LMP-7900  restores the missing lamp bias constant-current feature. The LMP-7900’s operation is simple: if the lamp voltage supplied by the reader is greater than 2.5 Volts (lamp “on”), then the LMP-7900 applies the full voltage to the lamp; if the lamp voltage is less than 2.5 Volts (lamp “off”), then the LMP-7900 switches to bias constant-current mode. The LMP-7900’s bias current level is set manually with an internal screwdriver control — similar to the adjustment in the UD-710A — and is factory-preset to a value of 2.0 Amps.
 
 

Industrial Single Board Computer Expansion (SBX) Boards

Intel developed the SBX Multimodule concept in the early 1980s as a method for easily expanding the on-board resources of industrial single-board computers. Intel allowed SBX to be an open architecture standard and encouraged their customers and competitors to design specialty I/O boards. Eventually becoming IEEE Standard 959, the SBX standard defines two PC board sizes: the "single wide" measuring 2.85 x 3.70 inches and the "double wide" measuring 2.85 x 7.50 inches; both sizes attach to the host board using a special locking connector and one or more nylon spacers with screws. Although not as widely used as they were in the 1980s and early 1990s, SBX modules continue to be used today in many legacy computer systems.
 

uDX-221 Multifunction Multimodule (Dual Serial, Clock/Calendar and CMOS RAM)

uDX-221 Multifunction MultimoduleAn SBX board providing two independent RS-232C or RS-422A/449 serial ports with individually programmable baud rates; a battery-maintained clock/calendar with programmable periodic, time-of-day alarm and power fail interrupts; and 8K, 32K or 128K bytes of battery-maintained CMOS RAM. Available in mixed TTL/MOS/CMOS logic or all-CMOS for low operating power applications. Double-wide SBX module.
 
 
 

uDX-241 Clock and Quad Serial Multimodule

uDX-241 Clock and Quad Serial MultimoduleThe MICRODESIGNS uDX-241 Clock and Quad Serial Multimodule contains circuitry for a battery-maintained real-time Clock/Calendar and four independent RS-232C or RS-422A/485 multi-protocol serial I/O channels on a dual-width SBX expansion board. Each channel may be individually configured for synchronous or asynchronous operation, baud rate, and RS-232C or RS-422A electrical interface. The uDX-241 attaches directly to any SBX-compatible host board which supports a double-wide module, and is available in mixed TTL/MOS/CMOS logic or all-CMOS for low operating power applications.
 

uDX-342 Quad Serial Multimodule

uDX-342 Quad Serial MultimoduleAn  SBX board providing four independent RS-232C or RS-422A/449 serial ports with individually programmable baud rates. Available in mixed TTL/MOS/CMOS logic or all-CMOS for low operating power applications. Your choice of 8080/85 or 8086/88 software drivers is included. Double-wide SBX module.
 
 
 
 
 

uDX-488 GPIB (IEEE-488) Multimodule

uDX-488 GPIB MultimoduleAn SBX IEEE-488 (GPIB, HPIB) interface providing talker, listener and controller functions using the industry-standard Texas Instruments TMS-9914A GPIB controller chip set. Provides full GPIB capability, including proper DMA operation. A GPIB-compatible flat cable with metric hardware and your choice of 8080/85 or 8086/88 software driver is included. Single-wide SBX module.
 
 
 
 
 

uDX-548 Buffered 48-line/Centronics Multimodule

uDX-548 Buffered 48-line/Centronics MultimoduleA fully buffered 48-line parallel I/O SBX board which provides twice the capacity of the industry-standard SBX-350 while maintaining connector and functional compatibility. The uDX-548 makes parallel printer interfacing particularly easy through pre-wired sockets and a simple interconnecting cable. Double-wide SBX module.
 
 
 
 
 

uDX-549 Bit-Programmable Multimodule

uDX-549 Bit-Programmable MultimoduleThe MICRODESIGNS uDX-549 provides 48 bit-programmable lines of buffered TTL-compatible parallel I/O on a single-wide SBX board. Each line is individually software programmable as an input or output, so the user is not required to configure lines in groups of 4 or 8 input/outputs. Each line is terminated with a 1.0 KOhm pull-up resistor, and, when configure as an output, is an open-collector TTL driver capable of sinking 24 milliamperes. The uDX-549's two 50-pin I/O connectors are compatible with OPTO-22-type industrial interface racks and modules. To ease software programming, previously written output values can be read back. The uDX-549 improves on competitive SBX modules by offering twice as many parallel lines, I/O direction bit-programmability, and high current TTL buffering while retaining a single-wide SBX board form factor.
 

Industrial Single Board Computers/Cabinets

Multiboard-85/Multibox-85 (discontinued)

An industrially packaged 8085-based single board computer system providing all features of Intel's iSBC-80/24 (ROM, RAM, parallel I/O, RS-232C serial I/O, interrupt controller, counter/timer) plus the following enhancements: added EPROM and RAM capacity, prototype area, RAM is battery-maintained CMOS, packaged with power supply in a 3½" rack-mountable cabinet. A very economical package for small micro-based systems.
 

Multiboard-86/Multibox-86 (discontinued)

Multiboard-86Software-compatible with Intel's iSBC-86/14 Multibus-I single-board computer, Multiboard-86 is an industrially packaged 8 MHz zero-wait-state 8086-based single board computer that provides up to 256K bytes of EPROM, up to 128K bytes of battery-maintained CMOS RAM, an optional math coprocessor, RS-232C serial I/O, parallel I/O, counter timers, 4 SBX sites and a prototype area. Available packaged in a 3½" rack-mountable cabinet with power supply. A powerful full-featured industrial computer for dedicated applications.
 

Multiboard-88/Expansion Board

Multiboard-88A compact 6 MHz zero-wait-state 8088-based single board computer providing up to 128K bytes of EPROM, up to 128K bytes of RAM, RS-232C serial I/O, parallel I/O, counter timers, one SBX site and a prototype area. Excellent CPU for embedding in intelligent instruments or for use in distributed control applications. An expansion board available which provides up to 72 lines of bit-configurable parallel I/O and additional SBX expansion sites (up to four single-wide or two double-wide).
 
 

Multiboard-88 Expansion board
Multiboard-88 Expansion board

Multiboard-535

A compact 12 MHz 80C535-based single board computer providing up to 64K bytes of EPROM, up to 32K bytes of RAM, up to 8K bytes of EEPROM, RS-232C serial I/O, parallel I/O, counter timers, an eight-input A/D converter, one SBX site, prototype area and on-board DC power supply. The 80C535 is a highly integrated superset of the 8051 family of single-chip microprocessors. Excellent internal CPU for intelligent instruments.

 



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MICRODESIGNS, Inc.
1979 S. Bibb Dr.
Tucker, GA  30084
(770) 493-6318
(770) 493-7270 FAX
Last updated 09/07/2011