Instrumentation for laser physics and spectroscopy using 32-bit microcontrollers with an Android tablet interface

TL;DR

This paper presents the development of modular, low-pin-count 32-bit microcontroller-based lab instruments with an Android tablet interface, enabling flexible and accessible laser physics and spectroscopy experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a modular hardware design and a versatile Android app for controlling and configuring high-performance lab instruments using easily-modifiable C code.

Findings

Successful implementation of microcontroller-based instruments with USB communication

Compact waveform generator and DDS on small daughter boards

Effective control via Android tablet with parameter upload and graphical data

Abstract

Several high-performance lab instruments suitable for manual assembly have been developed using low-pin-count 32-bit microcontrollers that communicate with an Android tablet via a USB interface. A single Android tablet app accommodates multiple interface needs by uploading parameter lists and graphical data from the microcontrollers, which are themselves programmed with easily-modified C code. The hardware design of the instruments emphasizes low chip counts and is highly modular, relying on small "daughter boards" for special functions such as USB power management, waveform generation, and phase-sensitive signal detection. In one example, a daughter board provides a complete waveform generator and direct digital synthesizer that fits on a 1.5" X 0.8" circuit card.