Building compliant systems with Athens Consulting

Engineers don’t have time for surprise recertifications. That’s why Locked-BOM matters. When you design a system, you expect it to last. But too often, an unexpected End-of-Life notice forces a redesign, retesting, and expensive recertifications. Delkin’s Locked-BOM Assurance eliminates that risk. With up to 7 years of guaranteed component consistency, you can lock your design, avoid disruptive changes, and keep your system running without costly surprises. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gwVF7-ph #EngineeringExcellence #HardwareDesign #FlashStorage #IndustrialComputing #MissionCritical #DelkinDevices

Our new guide explains why thinking "beyond the palletizer" is crucial for true efficiency and how to choose a partner who delivers an integrated system, not just another piece of hardware. Get the 5 critical questions now: https://hwll.co/yz61r294

💣 How to fix the setup violations after post routing.... Closing setup violations after routing is one of the most critical (and challenging!) parts of physical design. Here’s a structured approach I follow to tackle them effectively: here is the approach 👇 👉 Step 1: Validate Issue Check if it’s a real issue or a constraint issue. If it’s constraint-related → analyze and inform the constraint team. If real issue → proceed with timing analysis. 👉Step 2: Buffering Check Over-buffered path → too many buffers/inverters, excessive cell delay. Under-buffered path → long nets, poor slew, high RC delay. 👉Step 3: Clock Analysis If start point & endpoint are on different clocks: Check the number of failing endpoints. If many are failing → use pushing/pulling (useful skew). 👉 Step 4: Path Topology Single start point → multiple endpoints → Forward trace till the divergent point. Multiple start points → single endpoint → Back trace till the convergent point. Multiple start points ↔ multiple endpoints → Analyze each path, fix common segments first. 👉Step 5: Datapath Analysis Check for the cell which contributes most to delay: Analyse the reasons for more delay: 📍 If delay is due to Tran-limited → upsize driver / add repeater. 📍If delay is due to Cap-limited → buffer split / higher metal / shorten route. 📍 If delay is due to Fanout issue → clone drivers / repartition loads. 📍 If delay is due to Crosstalk delta → shielding / spacing / re-route. 📍 If delay is due to Net-dominant → insert buffer if net delay > cell delay. 👉 Step 6: Cell Optimization Check for low drive strength cells → upsize (after checking hold margin). Swap HVT → LVT for speed (watch leakage/IR). 💡 Extra Concept – No Clock & Unconstrained Endpoints No Clock → Flops that are not connected to any defined clock. Unconstrained Endpoints → Paths not covered by proper constraints (missing input/output delays, false/multicycle paths not defined). 💣💣This structured flow helps in debugging setup violations effectively without random trial-and-error. #VLSI #PhysicalDesign #TimingClosure #Semiconductors #SetupViolations

I received this question from an Atola customer:  Swapping a damaged HDD's PCB. Does it work these days? For older drives it might, but not for modern drives released in the last 10 years (approx). The modern ones use unique calibration data stored in the PCB's firmware. Replacing the PCB with an identical one usually results in incompatibility unless the original firmware is transferred to the new board. On top of that, many modern drives also have hardware encryption. This makes it impossible for a new PCB to interpret the data correctly. Matching the donor board is mandatory but not sufficient, additional measures are required: - ROM chip transfer from an old PCB to a new one - Manual firmware adjustment Overall, it is a complex process that requires a lot of hands-on experience. So when PCB swap is necessarry, I recommend using the services of an experienced data recovery company. #HDD #DataRecovery #DigitalForensics #DFIR

Greenliant's high capacity (up to 8TB) industrial temp (-40°C to +85°C) #SSDs give #businesscritical applications #reliable #datastorage with on-chip adaptive RAID, hardware based #encryption, power loss protection circuitry https://lnkd.in/gGz2bexg https://lnkd.in/gqXhAnKc

🔵🟡🔴 New from Turck Banner – K50 3-Colour Indicators Rugged. Reliable. Ready to Perform. Turck Banner’s latest K50GRYPQ, K50BRYPQ, and K50GRBPQ indicators are now available, offering a simple and effective solution for industrial signalling. ✨ Key Highlights: •Three-colour LED combinations for flexible application use •Plug and play operation – no programming required •Built for harsh environments with IP66, IP67 and IP69K ratings •Ideal replacements for legacy K50 models Whether you're upgrading existing systems or deploying new ones, these indicators deliver trusted performance with minimal setup. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ePNdD5b3 #TurckBanner #IndustrialAutomation #K50Indicator #SmartManufacturing #IIoT #FactorySolutions #AutomationInnovation #bannerengineering #ledlighting #indication

RS-485 Communication: A Tale of Two ICs I'm sharing some of my notes on RS-485 communication, specifically comparing two popular ICs: the ILX485 and the MAX485. I used the ILX485 to design a custom circuit with minimal components. It's an excellent choice for projects where simplicity and a quick build are key. For an industrial-grade solution, I turned to the MAX485. This IC is incredibly robust and reliable, making it a go-to for professional applications where performance in noisy environments is critical.

Winmate G-WIN IP67 Panel PC Series: Rugged, High-Performance Industrial Panel PCs for Demanding Environments In today’s industrial and embedded computing landscape, reliability, durability, and performance are crucial. The Winmate Inc. G-WIN IP67 Panel PC Series delivers cutting-edge technology in a fully ruggedized design, ensuring seamless operation in harsh environments. Available in both X86 and ARM configurations, these panel PCs are engineered to withstand dust, water, and extreme temperatures, making them the ideal solution for mission-critical applications. https://buff.ly/1vQQvCo #EmbeddedSystems #IndustrialComputing #OEMDesign #SystemIntegration #UKManufacturing #CustomHardware #BVM

Standardization and documentation are crucial, but they have their limits. Remember the promise to return later and tidy up those patch cords? Each cable must be correctly positioned, and labeling is essential to assist both end users and your internal IT team. #ITInfrastructure #Efficiency

Hard Disk Sentinel is a multi-OS SSD and HDD monitoring and analysis software. Its goal is to find, test, diagnose, and repair hard disk drive problems and report and display SSD and HDD health, performance degradations, and failures. Hard Disk Sentinel provides a comprehensive textual description, offers valuable tips, and shows the most detailed information about hard disks and solid-state drives.