Services

Summarized below are some of the different types of services which Ciholas is pleased and qualified to bring to our clients. Our engineers are fully committed to bringing the highest level of quality into their work, and the highest level of satisfaction to those we work with.

Advanced Development

Every project can be broken down into a problem that needs a solution. At Ciholas we specialize in innovative solutions that meet the needs of a variety of different applications. Our experience with every aspect of the design process allows us to provide unique solutions to today's problems using the technology of tomorrow.

Design

Conceiving of a solution to a problem is only the beginning of the process. The critical portion of the process is design, where time is spent evaluating different solutions to new issues. Ciholas has a proven track record of implementing unique solutions. During the design phase of a project we use several different CAD packages and simulation tools to ensure that the design is robust and works properly on the first try. We pride ourselves on elegant production ready solutions often eliminating the need for costly prototype builds and design revisions.

Layout

Many companies and engineers find PCB layout to be time consuming and often outsource the work. We believe that PCB layout is an integral part of the design process and as such we do all of our board layout in-house. This allows us to design at a level above our competition, creating designs that are extremely integrated mechanically and electrically. Ciholas' practice of doing layout in concert with design, allows us to pursue innovative solutions to problems such as heat sinking, high-speed signaling, ESD, and more. Many of our designs are highly space constrained and would otherwise remain unrealized without the advent of intimate knowledge of the circuit board layout.

Logic

In today's high speed world many designs require programmable logic to meet specifications. FPGAs provide a high degree of design flexibility and can be used to move complicated time-consuming digital operations away from the central processor in a design. Ciholas has experience using FPGAs for many different applications including; digital signal processing, high speed network handling, PCI network translation, motor control, and more.

Software

Many of our projects incorporate processing units ranging from the simple low-level microcontroller to the complex Pentium-class processor. Whether the need is for embedded software control or application software to interface with a design Ciholas has skilled programmers ready with a solution.

Mechanical

Mechanical integration can often be a nightmare for even the most skilled hardware engineer. At Ciholas mechanical development is done hand-in-hand with hardware development. The design tools that we use allow us to create models of the electronics and place them in the mechanicals before either exist. When time for mechanical integration comes around our hardware engineers can rest easy with a confidence that the design will "just work."

Testing

At Ciholas we realize the importance of having quality equipment for testing and debugging. Our battery of test equipment allows us to quickly test hardware and identify problem areas. We maintain several hardware labs, and possess enough portable equipment that our engineers can run tests at their desks. No design leaves our doors without a complete verification of all circuits.

Standards Compliance

Testing does not stop with electronics verification. Many designs are required to comply with specifications regarding ESD, emissions, and temperature. Our facilities at Ciholas include an RF screen room, a temperature and humidity chamber, and an ESD generator. These facilities allow us to identify problem areas in designs obviating the need for expensive repeat visits to certified test facilities.

Documentation

Proper documentation is essential to any project. Ciholas has a great deal of experience with industry standards for documentation. We provide our clients with appropriate schematics, block diagrams, Gerber and board assembly files, mechanical drawings, assembly procedures, and any other documentation that is required by the design. We pride ourselves on clear concise documentation that completely describes the project.

Design Support

We provide continued support for all of our projects. Contact us over the phone or via email and you will be connected with an engineer or technician who is prepared to answer your questions.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property is the cornerstone of the electronics industry. We produce more than just a product that can be sold in the stores or in a trade magazine. Ciholas creates intellectual property that can be added to the knowledge base of your company. We have several patents held with the United States Patent Office and are always looking for new innovative solutions that will create revenue for our clients.

Manufacturing

Ciholas has in-house turnkey manufacturing services including printed circuit boards and small quantity prototype product assembly. We also include initial and final testing and reworking of all production issues. Our expertise and relationships with several well-known board houses provide you with quality service and our willingness to work with the manufacturer of your choice.

Manufacturing Support

Many times companies will develop a solution for a problem that is so specialized as to not be ready for mass production. Ciholas can take that design and turn it into a marketable mass producible product. With our expertise, we can streamline your design and even debug and diagnose failed products to find errors in your production line.