Astraeus Electronics
About 

  Where to begin............ well I am a freelance electronics design engineer with 35 years of industrial experience, 28 years spent as an employee and the remainder being self employed. I am based in the North East of England. My company name stems from my main hobbies of astronomy and cycling( others being photography and the great outdoors ). I specialise in microprocessor system design and real time embedded systems. This encompasses digital design, analogue signal conditioning and software design at both low and high level. I'm on a continual journey of learning and discovery due to the constant changes in our technology. The links above cover each area of my work in greater detail, feel free to browse and contact me via the web form should you have any potential project work that I may be able to assist you with. I'm interested in positive applications of microprocessor systems and software such as renewable energy, life enhancing social applications and educational projects. I don't undertake work on military/defence applications.  
 
Thanks for visiting.

Electronics Design
Electronic Design 
 
Design services undertaken include:- 
 
Microprocessor/Microcontroller system design( 8 to 32 bit ) 
Digital/Analogue interface circuit design 
Prototype design, build and test 
 
Past design experience with( but not exclusively ):- 
 
Infineon Tricore TC1796, TC1766 
Siemens SAB80C167, SGS-Thomson ST10 
Texas Instruments TMS320F28335, TMS320F28377,TMS320F2812,
TMS320F2407,TMS320F240 
Pic Microcontrollers 
Motorola MC68000 microprocessors
Software Design
Software Design 
 
Software design services include:- 
Real-time embedded software for microcontroller/microprocessor systems 
Communication software utilising CANbus,Ethernet,RS232/485,SPI, I2C 
High level applications for use on PC's, primarily for interface to low level real-time systems 
Mobile applications 
 
Past application areas include:- 
Renewable energy systems 
Battery storage systems 
Grid linked inverters/motor drives/PSU's
Hybrid vehicle drive control/Auxilliary PSU control 
Laser systems 
 
Primary Languages used:- 
C, Java, Python, Pascal, various assembly languages

GUI Design
Graphic User Interface Design 
 
Design services include:- 
Design of high level GUI's primarily using Java/Swing or Python/PyQt 
Design of basic mobile applications 
Web style GUI's 
 
As with software design the multitude of languages in use makes it impossible to have experience or knowledge of all but with a willingless to learn and a little time many projects can be undertaken.  
PCB Layout
PCB Layout 
 
As part of the electronics design process I can also, if required, create the PCB layout. I have experience of Orcad schematic/Layout, Pulsonix/EasyPC and Kicad at a design level. Kicad is my current default for schematic capture and PCB creation. I have created boards up to 6-layers including full power and ground planes. It must be noted that I am not a PCB layout technician rather an electronics engineer who undertakes the task when it is deemed cost or time effective to do so such as when designing an initial prototype for test. 
Past Projects
Past Projects 
 
Past projects and companies I've been involved with include( as employee or self   employed ):-

Industrial laser control systems( Convergent Energy, Lumonics, Laser Ecosse )
100kW Grid linked inverter communications and control system for anaerobic digester
Automotive hybrid drive/APS microcontroller systems( Lotus Proton Gen-2 )
450kW Grid linked power converter microcontroller system design  
Renewable energy projects covering battery storage through to solar roofs
Microcontroller system for control of GaN power converter( Innovate UK project )
Process control software for Diamond semiconductor etch process( Evince Technologies )

Just a small snapshot of 35yrs in industry. 
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