Portable Benchtop densitometers

Portable Benchtop densitometers: (new product line – 1982 to 1994)

o   Intel 8048 assembly language

o   Intel 8051 assembly language

o   Intel 80251 assembly language

o   Keil C compiler

o   Intel ISIS2 development system

o   Intel Intellec ICE51 in-circuit emulator for debugging.

o   Serial communication (RS232) for data reporting and device control.

o   Removable NiCad battery

o   Single line LCD display, 4 buttons for input.

o   DC Motor control with coarse optical encoder (1st series only)

o   Single sensor and quad sensor modules with fiber optics

Summary: 3 families with device technology updates each time:

1st series: 2 CPU (1 8051 and 1 8048 CPUs) Reflection color measurement devices, fixed memory space via EPROM. Small RAM space. Measurement via single optical sensor, through a rotating disc of optical filters. 4 buttons and switch inputs. Printed output, RS232 communication to QC computers options. 9V NiCad battery packs. English only.

20k LOC total, assembly language, 5 products (12-month initial development)

2nd series: Use of FPGA technology removed 2nd 8048 CPU PCB, fixed memory space via EPROM. Small RAM space. Measurement via multiple optical sensors. Removed mode switch input. 9V NiCad battery packs.14 languages.

25K LOC total, assembly language, 7 products (8-month initial development)

3rd series: Faster 80251 CPU, converted to C Language code, much smaller case design. 9V NiCad battery packs. 14 languages

20K LOC total, C language, 5 products (8-month initial development)

Instrument costs $1000 to $5000 with accessories

         Starting in June 1982, Cosar started to market a portable, handheld reflection densitometer, the Pressmate series. There were 3 families of handheld devices, the first based on the Intel 8051 and 8048 microcontrollers, the second and third were based on the Intel 80251 microcontroller. The first two family’s firmware was written in over 100K line of assembly code, no RTOS required. The third family was ported to Keil C programming language, again with no RTOS required. These instruments were translated to 16 languages, including Japanese and Chinese. The main differences between the families were the optical systems used for color measurement. First family contained same optics as existing Cosar benchtop instruments, single detector with automatic filter wheel selection of color response. The later families were multiple detectors and fiber optic driven color responses. All families have battery power and LCD results displays. Development continued until March 1994. Service support ended in 2002. Mark was sole developer of these 3 families of instruments.