When Trevyn Rayner-Canham, a BA Industrial Design and Technology student in her final year at Brunel University, realised that she needed guidance with the electronic elements of her personal stress sensor design, she turned to Newbury Electronics. With her project deadline looming, Trevyn needed to work with a company that could translate her rudimentary design specifications into a fully functioning PCB in just one week.
The initial, mock-up electrical circuit was fabricated using connected stock electronics. However, after discussing the requirements in more detail, it was suggested that using micro-electronic components would deliver a far more precise level of biodata capture. The challenge, then, was to get the board not only manufactured in time, but also to ensure that the electronic component would sit within a specified graphical shape that was key for the aesthetics of the sensor. This is highly unusual as many products are designed to fit around the PCB.
Trevyn explains further: “The function of the fabricated PCB is to detect when an individual is experiencing acute fear or stress. It does so by collecting biodata through the corresponding sensors on the PCB. I had previously made a mock-up electrical circuit for my project, however the functionality of the final PCB far exceeded that of my mock-up (which contained all the same components, but in the form of connected stock electronics instead of microelectronic components). The final PCB can sense the required biodata with a high level of precision. I put this down to the Newbury Electronics team and the company’s PCB design and fabrication capabilities. I am just starting out in the industry, but can say, without a doubt, that Newbury Electronics will be my first port of call whenever I need any electronics-based services.”
Looking ahead, Trevyn hopes to progress with the product (which she has termed the “Knot Patch”) by cultivating the design and ensuring that it is sufficiently developed for the wearables market.
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