technical report uninor

Product DetailsProduct ID: 03G27AXCore Electronics & Firmware: Live GSM Version 1.02Switching Technology: Optically Isolated Solid State using TRIACDisplay Technology: Cluster LED LampsProduct Description: Dynamic LED display board, customized in accordance with Changing Discount Scheme from Uninor(R).

Installed Product Details1. 03G27A1

Countdown Timer Digit: 15’Rate Digit: 40’Installation Sight:

2. 03G27A2Countdown Timer Digit: 20’Rate Digit: 50’Installation Sight: LifeStyle

Significant and Specific Runtime Observations

Display Product: 03G27A2Mon, May 24, 2010: Display Malfunction Reported.

The number 55 was reported to be appearing as 59Wed, May 26, 2010: Reported problems resolved successfully

Fri, Jun 11, 2010: Connection with the display was lost and Hard Reset was requested.This caused the display to show 00% discount.

Sun, Jun 13, 2010: Communication Restored Successfully.

Sun, Jun 20, 2010: Display Malfunction Reported.Three segments, one belonging to a countdown digit, and two belonging to the rates display were reported to be constantly turned ON.

Wed, Jun 23, 2010: Problem Rectified Thu, Jun 24, 2010: Core Component Failure

Display Product: 03G27A2<no significant runtime observations reported>

Fri, May 21, 2010: Both displays (03G27A1 & 03G27A2) installed and verified to be working

Modern Sign Co.TECHNICAL ANALYSIS REPORT

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General Runtime Observations1. Power cuts were reported to be long, and hence the batteries couldn’t charge, leading to

visible malfunctions, such as 00% rate display.2. Weather conditions: highly unfavorable on certain days caused delays in taking actions.3. Connection with the display got broken and was restored due to power issues.

Causes of and Permanent Solutions to the Runtime Errors:

Mon, May 24, 2010: Display (03G27A2) was left on for over 100 hours. It was designed to work formaximum 24 hours and hence a component got overheated which caused the malfunction. All the components of the type that were found burnt were replaced with a twice as higher rated component to avoid any such issuesin the future. Further, this feedback was taken into account while our software team already began to write an upgraded version of the firmwarewhich would incorporate a built in timer to turn off the display to ensureno such problems are faced due to human errors.

Fri, Jun 11, 2010: Due to prolonged unavailability of power, the tranceiver of the systemstopped working because of complete discharge of the batteries. Thesystem was not designed to work under these conditions since information regarding the power supply was assumed to be normal as they are in Delhi.This issue was also taken care of with the new firmware while it was still under development. Further more, a more enhanced charging system and stronger batteries have been included in the upgraded new design.

Sun, Jun 13, 2010: Communication was restored successfully after two days since earlier the weather conditions were unfavorable. Attempting any repairs on sight during heavy rain posed unnecessary and potentially dangerous for the system as the waterproof cover was required to be opened. To avoid any such mishap in the future, the upgraded firmware comes equipped with a built in voltage sensitive reset and automatic communication authentication. These termshave been explained later in this document.

Sun, Jun 20, 2010: The same display was reported to have a similar problem approximately a month back and despite the higher capacity switching devices, the component was found burnt. Even though solid state devices (which have been used here) are supposedly more reliable, due to irregular power the results haven’t been favorable. This issue has been resolved permanently by replacing these components (TRIACs) with their older counterparts, relays in the upgraded design.

Thu, Jun 24, 2010: Core Component Failures are very rare and aren’t generally observed. What exactly caused such a failure is hard to investigate and such issues have only one alternative, replacement. This may even happen to notebooks or even cell phones but as mentioned earlier, the chances are very low. We are predicted the cause of this problem also to be erratic power, since even the best of computers crash for the same reason.

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TECHNICAL ANALYSIS REPORT

So far we’ve resolved from this situation that most reasons due to which the display stopped working, are related to power supply issues. As was observed, the display 03G27A1 worked virtually flawlessly for the same duration when the display 03G27A2 seemed to cause problems. Implying from the fact that two identical devices have produced different results, we’ve concluded it is due to unfavorable external factors.

However, as said before, since we are now aware of the precise external factors causing the problems, we’ve also come up with their permanent solutions. The new upgraded design of this product was being actively developed while we gained critical information and hence should be successfully able to overcome all the issues we’ve faced so far.

We’ve already developed the system as per the new design, tested it and have even deployed it to Bangalore for installation. We assure you that if permitted to install, the sign would work flawlessly.

Key Features of the Upgraded Design (version 2)

Ÿ Switching Devices:

Comes equipped with solid state switching devices, TRIACs, rated 8 Amperes for switching less than 1 Ampere average current load. These are used for switching the segments of the countdown timer’s digits.For the Rates’ digit, that require a higher current, sealed Relays pertaining to the highest industrial standard available, have been used to eliminate all kinds of display problems that had been reported earlier.

Ÿ Enhanced Power Backup System:

A pair of Sealed Lead Acid batteries rated 6 Volts, 4.5 Ampere Hour each, have been installed to keep the low current, core electronics powered. With this the back-up time increases four folds. Moreover, an enhanced quick charging circuitry has been included to instantly charge the batteries whenever power supply is available. This shall ensure that under no circumstances, the core program is erased and hence the 00% problem would no longer exist. However, this alone wouldn’t work if there is a powercut for over 24 hours and so to overcome this issue, we’ve also included a smarter power management system.

Ÿ Smart Power Shift System

This upgradation addresses the problem that could be caused due to incomplete charging of batteries and/or complete battery drain due to unavailable power. We’ve incorporated a microcontroller based voltage sensitive reset which monitors the battery voltages when power is available and on the basis of the inputs automatically resets the tranceiver and/or the core system, which it intelligently decides as per the conditions. Further, the firmware has been upgraded with an automatic communication authentication, i.e. it sends an alert in case of any such resets (which could ONLY be caused due to power failure for over 24 hours,) to request re programming of data. This major upgradation ensures that the system runs flawlessly even in the most extreme cases of power cuts.Moreover, to remove any problems that could possibly be caused due to human errors, we’ve completely automated the switching off and turning on of the LED display, synchronized with the clock. This would add to the impact of the display as it will turn off exactly when the count down timer reads 00:00.

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Ÿ Software & Firmware Upgrades/Development:

As mentioned earlier, the Enhanced Power Backup System was designed using a microcontroller and its software was specifically designed to achieve the following tasks:1. Using an ADC, monitor Battery Voltage and implement hard reset and soft reset depending on the situation.2. Hard Reset: Reset both the core system and the tranceiver. This would require the display to be reprogrammed. This even shall occur only in case of prolonged power cut.3. Soft Reset: Reset only the This doesn’t affect the display in any manner. It ensures communication with the host.4. Turn on the LED display at 6:00 AM and turn it off at 1:00 AM, in sync with the count down timer.

The core system was upgraded in accordance with the received observations. Beginning from June 11, multiple upgrades were made and numerous pre release versions have been created. The following is a list of the targets achieved with each version.

File Name: Live GSM Firmware 2.01Updates:1. Increase Tone Delay2. Remove Test Mode3. Tone Return Verification

File Name: Live GSM Firmware 2.02Updates:4. Security Code Length5. 24/0 Hour Midnight Issue6. 11 Digit Phone Number

File Name: Live GSM Firmware 2.04Updates:7. Core : Time Setting Security Upgrade8. Tranceiver startup 5 minute delay for charging

File Name: Live GSM Firmware 2.07Updates:9. Request Message in case of Soft and Hard Reset10. Synchronize with the Power Shift System to turn on/off the LED display

Ÿ Electronics & circuit redesign:

The PCB for Smart Power Shift was redesigned over its predecessor that we’d used in version 1 of this project, to include quick charging circuitry, relays for display switching and resetting, and a communication IC to sync turning off of LED display.The core electronics was also modified in order for it to carry out reset alerts and transmission authentication.

tranceiver.

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After such a rigorous upgrade, we haven’t left any scope for mistakes in the new version and have taken care of all possible issues, even in the most adverse conditions. We are confident that this newly upgraded system would work up to your expectations. As a temporary solution to the problems we were facing earlier, we’d requested for a UPS to be installed that could easily provide backup for over 5 hours in case of power failure. However, due to a plausible misunderstanding, the operation was never carried out which further intensified the difficulty of the situation.

We apologize for this and request you to kindly allow us to continue with the installation of the upgraded innovative display.

+91143542019Head Office: 4317/3 Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002www.ModernSignCo.com /5


Modern Sign Co.TM

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