BARNARD MICROSYSTEMS LIMITED

creating ideas, original software and innovative products...

Background to Barnard Microsystems Limited

Barnard Microsystems Limited was established in 1986, to develop and market scientific software, for use in the design of microwave Integrated Circuits. The applicability of the  WaveMaker software was then extended to support the design of:

• microwave circuits
• semiconductor devices and integrated optics components
• metallisation interconnect patterns on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

With support from an European ESPRIT Program and Lucent Technologies in the USA, a unique time domain simulator was developed, in which frequency domain information, in the form of S parameter data, can be used in a time domain simulation of the waveforms, in a non-linear circuit. The non-linear circuit can consist of step recovery diodes and non-linear transmission lines. This robust simulator can also predict the unexpected onset of oscillations in a non-linear microwave circuit, something no other simulator can do.

WaveMaker has subsequently been extensively used at BML in the design of optoelectronic modules, operating at multi-gigabit-per-second speeds.

The WaveMaker software has been developed over many years to enable the simulation and design of microwave and optoelectronic circuits, to enable the user to avoid both time consuming and costly iterative design cycles, to achieve desired circuit operation. This software enables the user to design circuits that either can not, or can not easily, be designed using any other software. The focus on circuit simulation, as part of the design process, has enabled our customers to reduce their design costs by using a more intelligent computer based design approach, as opposed to a far more costly set of matrix experiments, in which expensive fabrication equipment and materials are used, followed by the use of even more expensive test equipment.

The WaveMaker LAYOUT software enables the user to define the layout of semiconductor devices, microwave integrated circuits, interconnect tracks on Printed Circuit Boards and integrated optics circuits. The software supports the definition of arbitrary paths and polygons and allows the user to embed elements of the layout, in hierarchical structures. The software supports the GDS II Stream, Gerber, DXF and HPGL data formats.

WaveMaker Waveform includes a linear microwave circuit simulator, that supports the prediction of Scattering (S) and noise parameter circuit transfer responses, as a function of frequency. The microwave circuits can contain resistances, capacitances, inductances, transformers, S parameter data blocks, microstrip, stripline and coplanar circuit elements. Additionally, the simulator can be used to optimise the values of the components in the circuit being designed, to achieve a performance that better matches the design objectives.

WaveMaker WAVEFORM is a novel time domain simulator, that enables the prediction of the large signal voltage waveform, at each node, in a non-linear circuit that can contain:

• resistances, capacitances and inductances
• a wide variety of diodes, including step recovery, PIN and varactor diodes
• heterojunction bipolar transistors and field effect transistors
• frequency domain S parameter data, to describe a passive network.

The software can predict autonomous circuit behaviour, such as the onset of unexpected oscillations in a microwave amplifier. The important point concerning this circuit design capability is that we are in the very fortunate position of being able to enhance our software, to make sure we can always predict the performance of any circuit we might wish to design, no matter how non-linear. The WaveMaker Waveform software is the subject of continuous development.

In order to prove the useability of the Wavemaker software and the accuracy of both the models and the simulated circuit performance, we have designed numerous  test circuits and  optoelectronic transceivers. We use advanced  microwave test equipment to characterise the performance of our  test circuits and systems.

We attend the major international technical conferences, such as the Optical Fiber Conference 2007 in Anaheim, so we are up to date with the latest technical advances, and are aware of the latest optoelectronic and microwave components.

In 2005, BML started work  on the design of navigation, flight control and sensor systems, for use on small Unmanned Air Vehicles, to be deployed in both pipeline surveillance and geophysical surveys, for the oil and gas Exploration and Production businesses and in the search for mineral deposits.  Small, high performance, UAVs depend on the application of the latest technologies:

• Communication systems

• Free Space Optics based, high data rate, communications link
• Satellite communications link
• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

• Navigation systems

• High sensitivity GPS unit
• Precision Inertial Measurement Unit

• Autonomous flight control

• Laser based LIDAR
• Advanced, adaptive, flightcontrol algorithms

• Data bias and distortion correction, fusion and interpretation software

• Automated fusion of many items of data, from different sensors
• Support for concurrent, interactive, users in a Network Centric infrastructure.

Barnard Microsystems Limited is contributing to EuroCAE Working Group 73, specifically in the areas of Command and Control, and data link security. The European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment, EuroCAE, has established WG73 UAV to start addressing the standards required for civilian UAVs to fly in non-segregated airspace.

WG73 is tasked with reviewing all the work resulting from a range of recent activities. The initial three deliverables from the WG are an inventory of 'UAV-related elements concerning the Operational Concept', a Work Plan for the development of the Operational Concept and finally the Operational Concept itself.

Thereafter further activities will be tasked to deal with standards and equipment requirements, development, production, deployment and monitoring. The WG has prepared a draft 'road map' to provide a high level description of these subsequent activities. WG73 is organised into three groups, airworthiness, operations and air traffic management.

WG73 is a Working Group of the European Organization for Civilian Aircraft Equipment. It is a 40-ish year old standards writing body which recommends standards to the European authorities, Eurocontrol and EASA (formerly JAA). WG73 is focused on civilian regulation and on UAVs with a mass greater than 150kg.

EUROCAE HQ is in Malakoff in Paris, but the main meetings of the WG73 have taken place at Eurocontrol in Brussels. WG73 is working closely with RTCA SC203 in the USA and is liaising with ASTM F38, also in the USA.

Barnard Microsystems contribution at UAV 2007 in Paris.

We are also an active contributor at technical conferences on UAVs and  exploration geophysics, and contribute technical articles to various publications, such as Hart E& P.

Unmanned Air System  aims

• Our aim is to contribute to the introduction of environmentally more sustainable and less costly Unmanned Air Vehicles, for aerial reconnaissance and geophysical survey work. A fleet of UAVs will consistently provide reliable, high quality information, in a timely manner. We are developing advanced navigation, communication and sensor systems. The importance of focusing on a multi-role mission for the UAV, is to increase the volume of UAVs to be constructed, to enable the cost of each UAV to be reduced, through the economies associated with volume manufacturing.
• A critical aspect of the work is the development of the data processing software, to manage the enormous amount of data that can be derived from many UAVs operating in parallel. This software needs to correct for system aberrations, such as ambient light level, colour and lens distortions, then intelligently fuse the data blocks, such as image frames, after which the signal-to-noise ratio of the data is improved, through the application of data averaging.
• The development and application of data processing and interpretation software, to identify the most promising locations of minerals, oil and gas deposits.

© Barnard Microsystems Limited 2006 - 2007