Specifications

100
Section 4: Prototype
4.1 Vendors
These vendors serve a special role and purpose in the development of the HVAC
control system as well as have a direct association to our sponsors. All of these
companies provided us essential components for our wireless microcontrollers,
development board, LCD touch screen display, and wireless interfacing to
communicate between the microchip and the router and vice versa. We
researched these companies thoroughly and we thought that they would provide
us a great opportunity to get excellent products that focus on low power
consumption (in BTUs), energy efficiency, and eco-friendly air quality. They also
allowed for satisfactory comfort to the consumer, and to supply heating and
cooling for the commercial or residential unit according to their consumers
preferred temperature and humidity settings. Our Senior Design group as well as
our sponsors wanted to account for each vendor‟s expertise in the area of
microelectronics
4.1.1 Reach Technology Inc.
Reach Technology Incorporated is a corporation based in Fremont, California
that specializes in LCD touch screen displays. Since 1988 they have helped
customers looking for touch displays ranging from hotel room kiosks, medical
control systems, and tugboat engines. Some qualities that Reach Technology Inc
offers are product durability, great display quality, and adequate battery
operation. This company was appealing to us to use because we ordered a 7
inch LCD Display Module for our HVAC control system. This LCD color touch
screen display development kit package incorporates an LCD, SLCD5
microcontroller, software driver, and touch screen. This development kit features
Evervision‟s panel for electronic applications that demand easy access.
4.1.2 Microchip
Microchip Technology is a company whose primary concentration is in the
semiconductor industry. The company‟s base of operations is located in
Chandler, Arizona consisting of approximately 5,000 employees where they
produce electronic appliances such as microcontrollers, memory and analog
semiconductors. Memory products include serial EEPROMS and serial SRAM as
well as other analog devices. The company was basically founded by Steve
Sanghi, J Bjornholt, and Ganesh Moorthyin 1989. Even though it was originally
founded in 1989, they actually existed in 1987 when General Instrument split off
their microelectronic department into their privately owned company. We were
interested in their products because of the wireless interfacing being involved
between the control panel and the router. Our group ordered wireless network
devices on their main website for the integrated circuit chip such as the Zigbee
MRF24WBOMA and the Wi-Fi for the development board inside the HVAC
control panel.