Department - Author 1

Computer Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Computer Engineering

Date

3-2010

Primary Advisor

John Y. Oliver

Abstract/Summary

The Universal Test & Observation Power Interface Adapter (UTOPIA) is a device used for hard drive testing by Western Digital. Utopia is designed to provide an interface to communicate with a hard drive and perform power cycling functions on a hard drive.

The purpose of this project is to develop a prototype that retains the features of the previous Utopia boards while including two new features to be used in the next design: voltage margining and improved Serial Input/Output (SIO) drive control.

This document describes the design of version 3.0 of UTOPIA starting with component selection, schematic design and, PCB layout and, manufacturing. Necessary firmware modifications to support the new voltage margining features are described. Finally, testing results of the Utopia 3.0 are shown.

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