ES2636650A1 - Device for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit and procedure, computer program, system and computer system to control the device (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

The present description relates to a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit, the device comprising a user module for mounting the electronic circuit, comprising an insertion plate; a communications module for connecting the device to a control system; a signal control module for acquiring at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, and sending to the control system, through the communication module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal, to obtain electronic circuit measurements; a power module to power the modules. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit and procedure, computer program, computer system and system to control the

device

5 This description refers to a device for mounting and measuring electronic circuits.

In addition, the present description refers to a procedure for controlling a device for the assembly and measurement of electronic circuits, and a system, a computer system 10 and a computer program suitable for carrying out the procedure.

STATE OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

The study of electronic technology has always been linked to the use of 15 face-to-face laboratories where a teacher guides students in the use of different devices, assemblies and measuring instruments, to acquire knowledge and professional skills. In the last decades there have been technological advances that have allowed significant changes in the teaching-learning pedagogical models, opening the door to virtual (or distance) teaching of technological competences, among which are those of the electronic field . Currently, both in face-to-face and virtual models, the student has become the fundamental axis of the teaching-learning process and it is essential to provide new tools for the acquisition of these skills.

25 Traditionally, the cost of laboratories has been high and this situation leads to a restrictive use of electronic measuring instruments and assemblies by students. In order to reduce the costs of implantation of hardware laboratories, solutions with different approaches have appeared in recent years, in order to reduce the costs of developing practice environments in educational institutions. These 30 lines of investigation have basically focused on two different areas: the approach

in situ, which aims to develop electronic equipment at an affordable cost to reduce implementation costs; and the remote approach, which allows remote access to the measuring equipment and improves the efficiency of their use, facilitating access to a much higher number of students and in a wider schedule.

In the variety of on-site solutions that have appeared during the last few years, the solutions of the National Instruments company are resizable, especially with two proprietary equipment such as MyDAQ and ELVIS. These two academic solutions allow the development of 5 physical laboratories for educational purposes at a reasonable cost, thanks to the integration of lower performance instruments than those used in the professional field.

MyDAQ is a portable device designed by the National Instruments company for educational purposes, which, fundamentally, provides a whole set of measuring devices in order to analyze electronic circuits outside the classroom and in the laboratory. The device consists of two analog inputs, two analog outputs, eight configurable digital inputs, audio input / output, power supply outputs at ± 15V and + 5V. It offers the possibility of measuring voltages, currents and resistances. The device has a size that allows it to be easily carried in a backpack or in a large pocket and allows measurements to be made through the use of paid licenses from LabView, proprietary software of National Instruments. The purpose of this device is to take the laboratory anywhere and usable at any time, provided that an information system (for example, a personal computer) and a license for its use are available. Despite this, the device does not include any type of hardware support for circuit assembly.

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ELVIS is also a device developed by the National Instruments company that forms a much more complete plate than MyDAQ and that allows the realization of assemblies on an insertion plate (in English, protoboard or breadboard). This device makes available to users a series of physical and virtual instruments, a data acquisition device through a high-speed USB bus and a workstation with a prototype development card, which makes it One of the most complete and versatile tools on the market. The use of this tool allows the design and analysis of circuits for learning analog and digital electronics, data acquisition and signal conditioning among other things. It is provided with a set of virtual instrumentation and proprietary control software from National Instruments. The cost of this device is very high so it can hardly be acquired by a student individually, so that its academic use is oriented to the implementation of the face-to-face laboratory in educational centers or by installing it in a remote laboratory, of so that the student remotely controls

the computer system that governs it.

Another type of devices in the line of the previous ones and of reduced cost are the instrumentation devices by USB. These types of devices are essentially digital oscilloscopes with some extended signal generation function. These devices are low cost (the cost of these devices depends, fundamentally, on their performance, but it is not usually a problem, as it is not usually excessively high), but they have a much more limited functionality than those described above. Basically, they allow to capture signals and perform simple analyzes and visualize them with the computer. However, these devices do not allow mounting directly on them, so they require external platforms that allow it to be performed, which complicates its use in teaching applications because it requires additional hardware. However, these solutions can be a good alternative to have a portable measuring device that can be used on a computer system such as a personal computer.

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More recently, an electronic circuit assembly and measurement system described in the Spanish utility model with number ES 1077336 U is known. This system (referred to hereafter as "Versionl") comprises a platform connected to an information system and powered by a feeder connected to the mains. In addition, the system comprises a power module, with two switched sources and a plurality of linear regulators, connected to the feeder; a microcontroller, with two analog input channels and an analog output channel, with connection to the computer system and the power module; a memory connected to the microcontroller; a signal generation module connected to the analog output channel of the microcontroller 25 and to the user module; a signal capture module connected to the two analog input channels of the microcontroller and to the user module; a user module with an insertion plate that allows the user to mount electronic circuits and with connections to the signal capture module, the signal generation module and the power module.

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More specifically, the electronic circuit assembly and measurement system described comprises elements of both hardware (a practice board connected to a computer system through a USB interface) and software (controls the practice board and runs from the system Person who is dedicated to computer science). The system allows the realization of activities

own practices in the field of electronics without requiring the presence of the student in a traditional electronic measurement laboratory. In this way, students can perform electronic practices at low cost (they do not need to have the equipment of a traditional laboratory) and from practically any localization (only a computer system, such as a personal computer, with USB connection is necessary) . All of this has a significant improvement in their learning process.

However, this electronic circuit assembly and measurement system has important limitations because it cannot work with certain electronic circuits, for example, those whose current consumption exceeds one hundred mA, such as circuits with several LEDs or with Seven Segments.

On the other hand, the system described presents a size that is still excessive to be carried by students with ease.

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Finally, this electronic circuit assembly and measurement system makes all superfluous circuitry easily accessible from the point of view of the student's system management, which can lead to manipulation of this circuitry and its consequent deterioration or malfunction.

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Consequently, there is a need for a device that at least partially solves the problems mentioned above.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

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In a first aspect, a device is provided for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. This device may include:

- A user module for the assembly of the electronic circuit to be measured, which comprises at least one insertion plate;

30 - A communications module configured to connect the device to a system

external control;

- A signal control module configured to:

or acquire at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, and send to the external control system, through the module of

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communications, at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal, to obtain measurements of the electronic circuit;

- A power module configured to power the different modules of the device.

In this way, a device is obtained that allows, connected to an external control system such as a personal computer, to have functionalities (assembly, testing, measurement procedures, signal acquisition, etc.) at low cost typical of a traditional laboratory of electronics.

The signal control module can communicate with both the external control system and the user module.

On the other hand, the acquisition of the at least one first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit may depend on at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired, as will be described later.

According to some examples, the control module may comprise:

- A microcontroller comprising:

or at least one input channel;

or at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to send the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal to the external control system;

- A signal acquisition sub-module configured to acquire at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, this sub-module comprising, for each first voltage signal acquired, a signal conditioning stage, whose input is connectable to the insertion board, and an analog-digital converter connected to the output of the signal conditioning stage, the analog-digital converter output being connected to an input channel of the microcontroller.

In this first scenario, the microcontroller does not comprise analog-digital converters, but instead connects to the microcontroller through its input channels (each analog-digital converter to a different channel).

5 The signal acquisition sub-module implements an oscilloscope. Therefore, this oscilloscope allows, for example, two voltage signals (at least one first voltage signal) to be captured through two analog input channels of the microcontroller (one per channel), after each step through the stage. of signal conditioning and by analog-digital converter.

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The signal conditioning stage has as main objective to correctly scale the amplitude of the signal. In any case, signal conditioning can be understood as scaling, offset correction, noise elimination, filtering, power amplification, etc.

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In some examples, the control module may comprise:

- A microcontroller comprising: or at least one input channel;

or at least one input / output channel for connecting the microcontroller to the communications module, to send the at least one first parameter

representative of each first voltage signal to the external control system;

or at least one analog-digital converter, each of which has its output connected to an input channel of the microcontroller;

25 - A signal acquisition sub-module configured to acquire at least one

first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, this sub-module comprising, for each first voltage signal acquired, a signal conditioning stage, whose input is connectable to the insertion board and whose output is connected to the input channel of the microcontroller.

In this second scenario, the microcontroller comprises analog-digital converters.

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The signal acquisition sub-module implements an oscilloscope. Therefore, this oscilloscope allows to capture, for example, two voltage signals (at least a first voltage signal) through two analog input channels of the microcontroller, after passing through the signal conditioning stage.

The signal conditioning stage has as main objective to correctly scale the amplitude of the signal. In any case, signal conditioning can be understood as scaling, offset correction, noise elimination, filtering, power amplification, etc.

According to some examples, the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired may comprise:

- A sample frame, in which the frame is a portion of the first voltage signal acquired and the samples are the tension values in the frame of the first voltage signal acquired.

In some examples, the signal control module is configured to:

or receive, through the communications module, at least a second parameter generated by the external control system representative of at least a second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit, and to generate, based on this at least a second parameter received , every second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit;

In this way, the control module has the ability to generate second voltage signals, for example, periodic analogs, to be applied to the electronic circuit.

According to some examples, the control module may also include:

- A microcontroller comprising:

or at least one output channel;

or the at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to receive the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal from the external control system;

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- A signal generation sub-module configured to generate each second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit from at least a second parameter received, this sub-module comprising, for each second voltage signal to be generated, a digital converter- analogue, whose input is connected to the microcontroller through an output channel, and a signal conditioning stage connected to the output of the digital-analog converter, this sub-module being connectable to the insertion board through the output of the signal conditioning stage.

In this scenario, the microcontroller does not include digital-analog converters, but instead connects to the microcontroller through its output channels (each digital-analog converter, if there is more than one, that is, if more than one is generated. second voltage signal).

The signal generation sub-module implements a function generator (for example, newspapers). Therefore, this function generator allows the user module to deliver at least a second voltage signal through the analog output channel of the microcontroller, after passing through the digital-analog converter and the signal conditioning stage.

Additionally, apart from the function generator and the oscilloscope, these sub-modules can implement other devices, such as a voltmeter, a frequency meter or a peak detector, from a few changes in the computer program (which will be described later ) that is executed in the external control system or in its electronic configuration. They are also able to implement other measuring devices with different functionalities, such as an ammeter or an ohmmeter, adding only one or two components on the insert plate, depending on the device to be implemented.

Again, the signal conditioning stage has as its main objective to correctly scale the amplitude of the signal (both the first and the second voltage signals). In any case, signal conditioning can be understood as scaling, offset correction, noise elimination, filtering, power amplification, etc.

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In some examples, the control module may comprise:

- A microcontroller comprising:

or at least one output channel;

or the at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to receive the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal from the external control system;

or at least one digital-analog converter, each of which has its output connected to an output channel of the microcontroller;

- A signal generation sub-module configured to generate each second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit from at least a second parameter received, this sub-module comprising, for each second voltage signal to be generated, a conditioning stage of the signal connected to the output of the digital-analog converter through the output channel of the microcontroller, this sub-module being connectable to the insertion plate through the output of the signal conditioning stage.

In this second scenario, the microcontroller comprises the digital-analog converter corresponding to each second voltage signal to be generated.

The signal generation sub-module implements a function generator (for example, newspapers). Therefore, this function generator allows a second voltage signal to be delivered to the user module as a minimum through the analog output channel of the microcontroller, after passing through the signal conditioning stage.

On the other hand, the control module can have a purely electronic configuration, so it could be formed by a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application -Specific Integrated Circuit).

According to some examples, the at least one second parameter may comprise:

- A sample frame, in which the frame is the basic period of the second voltage signal to be generated and the samples are the samples of the basic period;

- The sampling frequency at which the basic period has been calculated.

In addition, the signal generation sub-module may comprise a reconstructor filter connected between the output of the digital-analog converter and the input of the signal conditioning stage. In this case, the at least one second parameter may comprise an indicator that denotes whether the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate each second voltage signal.

The use of this reconstructor filter may be suitable for periodic signals of limited bandwidth (ie finite). Therefore, it can be applied, for example, to sinusoidal signals (in this case, the indicator could be 1, so that the signal control module knows that it has to use the filter to generate every second voltage signal). On the contrary, its use for periodic signals of unlimited bandwidth (ie infinity) is not suitable. Therefore, it cannot be applied, for example, to square, triangular and sawtooth signals, basically (in this case, the indicator could be at 0, so that the signal control module knows that it does not have to use the filter to generate every second voltage signal).

Basically, this reconstructor filter contributes to an increase in the maximum frequency of 20 functions generator work, that is, the filter allows generating signals of higher frequencies (without loss of signal quality) that the same circuitry could generate without the presence of this filter (for example, up to 100 kHz in sinusoidal signals - in general, in limited band periodic signals, as discussed above).

25 More specifically, the filter arranged at the output of the digital-analog converter allows generating periodic signals of much less harmonic distortion and, in the case of limited band periodic signals, allows generating signals of greater bandwidth than in, for example , the "Version1" system.

In some examples, the power module may comprise at least one fixed voltage source, such as a + 5V fixed voltage source. In addition, the + 5V fixed power supply can be configured to deliver a maximum current of 500 mA, as will be described later.

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This voltage of + 5V is intended to be made available to the user in the user module and can be obtained directly from a switched stage, since this source is designed to deliver more power (up to approximately 500 mA). Therefore, the maximum current delivered by this + 5V source is much higher than the one delivered by the “Versionl” system. In this way, this source can supply higher consumption circuits that work at this voltage of + 5V, by examples circuits based on light emitting diodes (hereinafter, LED) or Seven Segments.

According to some examples, the power module may comprise at least one variable voltage source, such as a variable voltage source [+ 5V, + 15V] and / or a variable voltage source [-5V, -15V], so that the user, through the user module, has a greater variety of voltages available with respect to the system described in "Versionl", that is, any voltage between + 5V and + 15V, and between -5V and -15V.

These adjustable voltages are made available to the user through the user module. For example, these tensions can be obtained from linear stages since the aim of these sources is not to deliver a high power. In addition, the fact that they are linear also facilitates that they can be adjustable.

Consequently, the feeding stages have been improved with respect to the "Version1" system, thereby reducing the risk of component overheating and increasing the life of the device.

In this way, the user module can comprise at least one of the following sockets:

- One socket for each variable voltage source, for connection to the insertion plate;

- One socket for each fixed voltage source, for connection to the insert plate;

- One socket for each signal generation sub-module, for connection to the insert plate;

- One socket for each signal acquisition sub-module, for connection to the insert plate;

- A ground connection, for connection to the insert plate.

In addition, the user module can also comprise at least one of the following elements:

- At least one button;

- At least one potentiometer.

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In any case, the user module can comprise any component that can be attached to the insertion plate so that a user can use it in their electronic circuits (n switches, n push buttons, n potentiometers, etc.).

10 On the other hand, the communications module may comprise at least one serial port for connection to the external control system, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet, in the case of wired communications. However, this communications module can also be of a type suitable for establishing wireless communications. In this case, the communications module can be based on the GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G or satellite technology (for example, if the communication is done through a global communication network, such as the Internet). The wireless communication system could also be short range, for example, Bluetooth, NFC, Wifi, IEEE 802.11 or Zigbee. In addition, communications can be secured through, for example, a username / password, cryptographic keys and / or through the establishment of an SSL tunnel.

According to some examples, the device may further comprise a signaling module, which may comprise at least one of the following signaling elements:

25 - A light emitting diode to signal the status of the power module;

- A light emitting diode to signal the status of the communications module.

Basically, this signaling module aims to indicate different states of the device, either from one or several light emitting diodes.

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In some examples, the device may further comprise a printed circuit board, such as a double-sided printed circuit board. Thus, its size is smaller than the "Version1" system, its heat dissipation is more optimal and safer, given that all the circuitry with which the user does not have to work is in the

back of the plate, which minimizes greatly that it can be accidentally damaged by the user, for example by accidental blows. Mainly, the upper face of the device comprises the user module.

5 In a second aspect, a method is provided for controlling a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit such as the one described above. The method may comprise, for at least one first signal acquired in the electronic circuit mounted on the device, to receive from the device, through the communications module, at least one first parameter representative of each first 10 voltage signal acquired.

From the reception from the device of this at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired, it is possible to obtain measurements, such as those described below.

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In addition, the electronic circuit, in order to acquire each first voltage signal, may not be fed, be fed with any of the voltage sources present in the device or be fed with a function generator external to the device (for example, it may be implemented in the external control system, as will be described 20 later).

In some examples, the at least one first parameter representative of each first acquired voltage signal may comprise a sample frame, in which the frame is a portion of the first acquired voltage signal and the samples are the voltage values 25 in the plot of the first voltage signal acquired.

In some examples, the procedure may comprise:

- Receive data representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired;

- Generate at least a third representative parameter of each first signal of

30 tension to acquire;

- Send to the device, through its communications module, the at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired.

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Thus, from this at least third parameter it is possible to determine the configuration of each first voltage signal to be acquired, that is, under normal conditions, these described steps must be done prior to the acquisition of each of the first signals of tension to obtain them thus in a way adapted to the needs established by the user. It is important to indicate that the representative data of each first voltage signal to be acquired can be provided by the user through a user interface (such as a graphic user interface) that is executed, for example, in the control system itself external.

For this, the at least one third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired may comprise:

- The beginning and the end of the acquisition of the first voltage signal;

- Sample rate;

- Pre-scaling value;

- Shooting.

According to some examples, the method may also include obtaining measurements based on each first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired, which can be selected from at least one of the following:

- Signal amplitude measurements;

- Signal frequency measurements;

- Operations applied to the signal.

In this way, from each first voltage signal acquired from the electronic circuit it is possible to obtain measurements, to analyze, for example, the proper functioning of the electronic circuit.

With respect to the amplitude measurements, it includes the visualization of the signal waveform and the calculation of the maximum amplitude, the minimum amplitude, the peak-to-peak amplitude, etc.

As a measure of frequency, it includes both the calculation of the period and the fundamental frequency.

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With respect to the operations applied to the signal, they include channel1 + channel2 of the oscilloscope, channel1-channel2, channel1xchannel2, channel1 / channel2, XY mode, FFT, signal averaging, operations with cursors (signal level markers), etc.

On the other hand, the procedure can also comprise, for at least a second voltage signal to be generated in the device:

- Receive data representative of each second voltage signal to be generated;

- Generate at least a second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data;

- Send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module.

At this point it is important to emphasize that the representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated can be provided by the user through a user interface (such as a graphical user interface) that can be executed, for example, in the own external control system

In this way, it is possible to control the device externally (that is, from the external control system), that is, from the external control system it can be established how both the signal generation sub-module and the sub-module should work of acquisition of signal belonging to the device. The signal generation sub-module can be controlled from the external control system from a first user interface representative of a function generator, which allows the sending of the necessary samples and the configuration of at least a second parameter described . With respect to the signal acquisition sub-module, it can also be controlled from the external control system from a second user interface representative of an oscilloscope.

According to some examples, the representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated may comprise at least one of the following:

- Data referring to the type of each second voltage signal to be generated;

- Data referring to the waveform of each second voltage signal to be generated.

More specifically, the data referring to the type of second voltage signal to be generated in the device may comprise data referring to a periodic analog signal, while the data referring to the waveform of the second voltage signal to be generated may comprise at least one of the following:

5 - Data referring to a type of sinusoidal signal;

- Data referring to a type of square signal;

- Data concerning a type of triangular signal;

- Data concerning a type of sawtooth signal;

- Data referring to a type of periodic signal of arbitrary basic period;

10 - Data concerning a sweep of fundamental frequency periodic signals

variable whose period is sinusoidal, square, triangular or sawtooth.

According to some examples, the representative data of the second voltage signal to be generated may comprise at least one of the following:

15 - Data concerning the fundamental frequency of the signal;

- Data referring to the peak signal amplitude;

- Data referring to the offset level of the signal;

- Data referring to the work cycle, when the type of signal is square.

20 For the type of arbitrary basic period periodic signal, this data does not apply.

With respect to the periodical signal scanning, the user determines the type of signal (discussed above), the initial fundamental frequency, the final fundamental frequency, the number of scanning steps (it may not be necessary, since it can be determined by the Initial and final fundamental frequencies if the generator works with a preset bank of fundamental frequencies that can travel the scan) and the scan time. Thus, in the scan mode, the data referring to the fundamental frequency of the signal function as described, while the rest of the described data also applies to the scan mode.

On the other hand, the generator can generate the scan dramatically, until the user stops it through a corresponding user interface.

In addition, the at least one second parameter representative of the second voltage signal to be generated may comprise:

- A sample frame, in which the frame is the basic period of the second voltage signal to be generated and the samples are the samples of the basic period;

5 - The sampling frequency at which the basic period has been calculated (that is, the

sample time to which the second voltage signal to be generated must be generated).

In arbitrary mode, the user gives the function generator (that is, the signal generation sub-module), through the corresponding user interface, both the basic period (ie the described frame) and the frequency of sampling.

According to some examples, in the case that the signal generation sub-module of the device comprises a reconstructor filter, the at least one second parameter representative of the second voltage signal to be generated can also comprise an indicator that denotes whether the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate the second voltage signal.

In arbitrary mode, the user also gives the generator the filter indicator.

20 According to a third aspect, a computer program is provided. This computer program may comprise program instructions to cause a computer system to perform a procedure, such as that described above, to control a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit.

Said computer program may be stored in physical storage media, such as recording media, a computer memory, or a read-only memory, or it may be carried by a carrier wave, such as electrical or optical.

According to another aspect, a system is provided for controlling a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. This system may comprise, for at least one first signal acquired in the electronic circuit mounted on the device, means for receiving from the device, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

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In addition, the system may also include:

- Means to receive representative data of each first voltage signal to be acquired;

- Means to generate at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired;

- Means to send to the device, through its communications module, the at least one third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired.

On the other hand, the system can also comprise means for obtaining measurements based on each first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

In some examples, the system may also comprise, for at least a second voltage signal to be generated in the device:

- Means to receive representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated;

- Means to generate at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data;

- Means to send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module.

In addition, the system may comprise, for at least a first signal acquired in the electronic circuit mounted on the device, means for receiving from the device, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

Basically, the system for controlling a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit must be able to reproduce the procedure described above, for example, by electronic and / or computer means. Said electronic / computer means may be used interchangeably, that is, one part of the described media may be electronic media and the other part may be computerized media, or all of the described media may be electronic media or all of the described media may be computerized media. .

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Examples of a system comprising only electronic means (i.e., a purely electronic configuration) may be a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)

An example of a system for controlling a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit comprising only computer means may be an computer system comprising a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute a procedure, such as the one described above, to control a device for the assembly and measurement of an electronic circuit, that is, in order to generate the various actions and activities for which the system It has been programmed.

A system for controlling a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit that combines electronic and computer means may comprise a processor, in which memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute at least part of a procedure to control a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit, such as the one described above. In addition, the system may comprise electronic circuits designed to execute those parts of the procedure that are not implemented by the computer instructions.

In some examples, the system may also comprise a communications module configured to connect the system to the device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit. The communications module may comprise at least one serial port for connection to the external control system, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet, in the case of wired communications. However, this communications module can also establish wireless communications. In this case, the communications module can be based on GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G or satellite technology (for example, if the communication is done through a global communication network, such as the Internet). The wireless communication system could also be short range, for example, Bluetooth, NFC, Wifi, IEEE 802.11 or Zigbee.

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In addition, communications can be secured through, for example, a username / password, cryptographic keys and / or by establishing an SSL tunnel.

On the other hand, the communications module may also comprise communication libraries.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a method is provided for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. This procedure may include:

- Receive data representative of each second voltage signal to be generated;

- Generate at least a second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data;

- Send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module.

According to another aspect, an informatic program is provided. This computer program may comprise program instructions to cause a computer system to perform a procedure, such as described above, to control the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one circuit. electronic.

The computer program may be stored in physical storage media, such as recording media, a computer memory, or a read-only memory, or it may be carried by a carrier wave, such as electrical or optical.

According to yet another aspect, a system is provided to control the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. This system may include:

- Means to receive representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated;

- Means to generate at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data;

- Means to send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module.

5 Thus, the system for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit must be able to reproduce the procedure described above, for example, by electronic means and / or computer. Said electronic / computer means may be used interchangeably, that is, one part of the described means may be electronic means 10 and the other part may be computer means, or all described means may be electronic means or all described means may be media informatics

Examples of a system comprising only electronic means (ie, a purely electronic configuration) may be a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application- Specific Integrated Circuit).

An example of a system for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for the assembly and measurement of an electronic circuit comprising only computer means may be an computer system, which may comprise a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute a procedure, such as that described above, to control the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for assembly and measurement of an electronic circuit.

A system for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit that combines electronic and computer means may comprise a processor, in which memory 30 stores executable computer program instructions by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute at least part of a procedure to control the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit, such as described above. In addition, the system may comprise electronic circuits designed to

execute those parts of the procedure that are not implemented by the computer instructions.

According to another aspect, a method is provided for controlling the acquisition 5 of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. The method may comprise receiving from the device, through the communications module, at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

10 According to yet another aspect, a computer program is provided. The computer program may comprise program instructions to cause a computer system to perform a procedure, such as described above, to control the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one circuit. electronic.

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This computer program may be stored in physical storage media, such as recording media, a computer memory, or a read-only memory, or it may be carried by a carrier wave, such as electrical or optical.

In another aspect, a system is provided to control the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. The system may comprise means for receiving from the device, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

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Thus, the system for controlling the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit must be able to reproduce the procedure described above, for example, by electronic means and / or informatics Such electronic / computer means can be used

Indistinctly, that is, one part of the described media may be electronic media and the other party may be computer media, or all of the media described may be electronic media or all of the media described may be computer media.

Examples of a system comprising only electronic means (i.e., a purely electronic configuration) may be a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)

5

An example of a system for controlling the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit comprising only computer means may be an computer system, which may comprise a memory and a processor , in which memory stores instructions from

10 computer program executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute a procedure, such as that described above, to control the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit.

A system for controlling the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit that combines electronic and computer means may comprise a processor, in which memory stores executable computer program instructions. by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities to execute at least part of a

20 procedure for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit, such as described above. In addition, the system may comprise electronic circuits designed to execute those parts of the procedure that are not implemented by the computer instructions.

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Other objects, advantages and features of embodiments of the invention will become apparent to the person skilled in the art from the description, or they can be learned with the practice of the invention.

30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Particular embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram at the hardware level of a device for mounting and analyzing an electronic circuit, according to some examples;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram at the hardware level of a power module that is part of the block diagram of Figure 1, according to some examples;

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the device for mounting and analyzing an electronic circuit, with a detail of the signal control module according to some examples;

Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface referring to a function generator for the control of the signal generation sub-module shown in Figure 3, according to some examples;

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface referring to an oscilloscope for the control of the signal acquisition sub-module shown in Figure 3, according to some examples.

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DETAILED EXHIBITION OF MODES OF EMBODIMENT

Next, a description of some examples of a device for the assembly and measurement of electronic circuits (one or more) will be made. In these examples, the device has an educational objective, that is, it allows the realization of practical activities of the electronic field, without requiring the presence of the student (user) in a traditional electronic measurement laboratory.

To do this, the device described below, which is in operation, is connected to an external control system in charge of obtaining from the user, through a suitable user interface (see Figure 4) described below, the second signal of voltage to be applied to the electronic circuit mounted on the device. In the present examples, only a second voltage signal is used. In the same way, the user can also define, through the corresponding user interface (see Figure 5) that will be described later, the configuration of the first voltage signals from which he intends to make measurements of the electronic circuit. In the present examples, two first voltage signals are acquired.

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As can be seen in Figure 1, the device 10 for mounting and measuring electronic circuits comprises the following modules:

- A module 11 for feeding the different modules of the device 10;

- A communications module 12 configured to connect the device 10 to an external control system;

- A signal control module 13 configured to receive, through communications module 12, a plurality of second parameters generated by the external control system representative of the second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit, and to generate, based on at this plurality of parameters received, the second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit; and to acquire two first voltage signals generated by the electronic circuit, and send to the external control system, through communications module 12, a plurality of first parameters representative of each first voltage signal, to obtain measurements of the electronic circuit. This module is connected to power module 11 and communications module 12;

- A user module 14, for the assembly of the electronic circuit to be measured. This module is connected to the power module 11 and the signal control module 13.

More specifically, the communications module 12 can establish communication between the device 10 and the external control system in a wired or wireless manner. In the case of a wired communication, this communications module can comprise at least one serial port for connection to the external control system, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet. In the case of wireless communications, the communications module 12 may be based on GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G or satellite technology (for example, if the communication is done through a global communication network, such as the Internet ). The communications module, if wireless, could also be short range, for example, Bluetooth, NFC, Wifi, IEEE 802.11 or Zigbee. In the present examples, the communications module comprises a serial port of the USB type, which guarantees the necessary speeds and can be considered the most extended host-peripheral communication standard.

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In addition, communications between the device 10 and the external control system can be secured by, for example, a username / password, cryptographic keys and / or by establishing an SSL tunnel.

With respect to the power module 11, as can be seen in Figure 2, from a voltage of 24V, this module generates a wide variety of voltages available in the power supplies, to feed the different modules that are part of the device 10. Thus, in the present examples, the power module comprises:

- A voltage of 3.3V, generated by a switched stage 20, for the supply of a microcontroller that governs the device 10 and which will be described later, with the signal control module;

- A first power supply with adjustable linear voltages [+ 5V, + 15V] generated by a linear stage 25. The fact that it is linear is because this source is not intended to provide high power and also facilitates the possibility of it being adjustable. This source is available to the user in user module 14, as will be described later;

- A second power supply with adjustable linear voltages [-5V, -15V] generated by a linear stage 24. The fact that it is linear is because this source is not intended to provide high power and also facilitates the possibility of it being adjustable. This source is available to the user in user module 14, as will be described later;

- A + 5V power supply that is obtained from a switched stage 29. This source has the relevant characteristic that it is capable of delivering high power (up to approximately 500 mA). With this power you can power electronic circuits with higher consumption and work at this voltage, such as electronic circuits based on light emitting diodes (LEDs) or Seven Segments. This + 5V power supply is available to the user in user module 14, as will be described later;

- The voltage of + 18V, which is obtained from a switched stage 21, aims to obtain -18V from another switched stage 22 and obtain the variable voltage source of [+ 5V, + 15V] generated by stage 25 linear;

- The voltages of + 18V (obtained from a linear stage 26), of -18V (obtained from the switched stage 22), of + 15V (obtained from a linear stage 27)

and of -15V (which is obtained from a linear stage 23) are aimed at feeding different operational amplifiers used in signal conditioning stages comprised in signal control module 13, as will be described later;

5 - The voltage of + 1.65V, obtained from a linear stage 28, generates a voltage of

reference which is also used by the cited signal conditioning stages (in fact, the + 5V voltage is also used as the reference voltage in these signal conditioning stages).

10 With respect to the + 5V source, this source is capable of delivering greater power (up to approximately 500 mA) because, as can be seen in Figure 2, it comes from a branch dedicated exclusively to it, that is, this source of + 5V directly picks up the output of the + 24V power supply and passes from + 24V to + 5V in a single switched stage, which causes the current that this + 5V source can deliver to be

15 greater, since the switched stages consume less than the linear ones.

On the contrary, the variable sources [+ 5V, + 15V] and [-5V, -15V] are obtained in other branches from linear stages, which consume more (although they have a much lower cost than the switched ones), and, therefore, can deliver less current.

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Therefore, it is important to note that the configuration of the power module 11 (that is, of the obtained voltages) depends basically on the design of the signal control module 13, that is, depending on the design of this control module, some tensions or others.

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On the other hand, the configuration of the power module 11 also depends on the power sources that wish to be made available to the user in the user module 14, so that they are used by the user to power the electronic circuit.

30 Similarly, the starting voltage of + 24V supplied by the power source to which we connect the device 10 can also vary depending on the design proposed. It is possible that another design involves the use of a power supply that supplies a different starting voltage. In this way, this starting voltage could come from the communications module 12 itself if it is, for example, a serial port

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of the USB type, so that the device 10 is powered from the external control system. In that case it is necessary to make the following considerations:

- The device 10 should always be connected to the external control system, whether or not the generation of the second voltage signal is required (for example, the second voltage signal is not required if the power supply of the electronic circuit has to be continuous ). This is not the case with an "autonomous" voltage source such as the one described above of + 24V;

- The voltage (and power) provided by the communications module would be limited to what the control system could offer through its communications module (for example, USB type).

As can be seen in Figure 3, the signal control module 13, in the present examples, comprises:

- A microcontroller 30 comprising:

o Two input channels 30a, one for each first voltage signal to be acquired;

o An output channel 30b, for the second voltage signal to be generated;

o An input / output channel 30c for the connection of the microcontroller to communications module 12, to receive the plurality of second parameters representative of the second voltage signal from the external control system and to send the plurality of first parameters representative of each first voltage signal to the external control system;

or A digital-analog converter (not shown), whose output is connected to the output channel 30b of the microcontroller 30;

o Two analog-digital converters (not shown), each of which has its output connected to one of the input channels 30a of the microcontroller 30;

- A signal generation sub-module 32 configured to generate the second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit from the plurality of second parameters received, this sub-module 32 comprising, for the second voltage signal to be generated, a stage signal conditioning connected to the output of the digital-analog converter through channel 30b of the microcontroller output

30, this sub-module 32 being connectable to the insertion plate through the output of the signal conditioning stage;

- A sub-module 31 of signal acquisition configured to acquire two first voltage signals generated by the electronic circuit, this sub-module 31 comprising, for each first voltage signal acquired, a stage of

conditioning of the signal, whose input is connectable to the insert plate and whose output is connected to one of the input channels 30a of the microcontroller 30.

10 At this point it is important to note that the presence of signal generation sub-module 32 is not necessary unless the application to the mounted electronic circuit of a periodic voltage signal (for example, sinusoidal, square, triangular, is required) of sawtooth, etc.). In case of a continuous voltage, any voltage source present in the user module 14 can be used, such as those described above. It is also possible to use an external function generator, to generate the periodic voltage signal.

In the present examples, an STM32F107VC from ST Microelectronics is used as microcontroller 30. It contains an ARM Cortex M3 72 MHz core and is accompanied by a small EEPROM memory (model M24512, also from the company ST Microelectronics), which allows data to be stored and also allows the microcontroller firmware to be updated from, for example, a computer personal, preferably through a USB or mini USB port. The capacity of this memory is 512 Kbytes and can be communicated by means of I2C communication lines with microcontroller 30. The 25 functions performed by the microcontroller, essentially go through generating and acquiring the signals that are delivered and received, respectively, in the user module (through the two analog input channels 30a and the analog output channel 30b); configure device parameters; and manage the entire communication process with the external control system through the USB port (communications module 12).

Additionally, an integrated circuit can be mounted to protect the microcontroller against possible electrostatic discharge.

The firmware of the microcontroller 30 can be defined as the software that governs the behavior of the signal control module 13. Its main objective is to be in charge of managing the flow of data through communications module 12, such as signal control module 13.

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For signal generation, the firmware is responsible for configuring and controlling the internal elements of the module in order to generate the signals that the user wishes to create. The firmware receives instructions (i.e., the plurality of second parameters and the plurality of third parameters described below) from the user from the external control system 10 through the communications module 12 and treats them both to configure the signal generation that You have to reach the user module 14 to configure the acquisition of signals that have to arrive from the user module.

For signal acquisition, the firmware is responsible for configuring and controlling internal elements 15 of module 12 to adapt them to the voltage signals received from user module 14. The firmware makes signal acquisitions from the user module and sends the captured data (ie, the plurality of first parameters) through the communications module 12 so that they are treated in the external control system.

20 The hardware directly associated with the microcontroller consists of a quartz crystal, for example 25 MHz, necessary to generate the microcontroller's clock signal; a JTAG connector (Joint Test Action Group, IEEE 1149.1-1990 standard) to implement programming and depuration tasks (although, with the intention of reducing costs and safety problems (short circuits caused by contact between the legs of this connector), 25 could be eliminated); and a whole set of decoupling capacitors needed

to reduce switching noise levels.

The hardware associated with the EEPROM memory consists only of two polarization resistors to raise the voltage of the I2C communication lines, which are directly connected to the microcontroller 30.

Sub-module 32 of signal generation implements a generator of periodic functions. Thus, this sub-module is configured to deliver to the user module 14 the second voltage signal through the analog output channel 30 of the microcontroller 30,

after passing through a signal conditioning stage. For the generation of this second voltage signal, microcontroller 30 receives two parameters (at least one second) from the external control system:

- A plot of samples. This plot is the basic period of the second signal of periodic tension that the user wishes to generate. So, for example, if you want to generate

A sinusoidal signal of 1 kHz and 1.5V amplitude, the external control system generates the basic period of this sinusoidal signal (obviously, digitized at a certain sampling frequency). The samples of this plot are the samples of this basic period;

10 - The sampling frequency (or time between samples) at which the

basic period and, therefore, to which the signal generation sub-module 32 (more specifically, the digital-analog converter) would have to work to generate the second signal of the desired analog voltage (following the example, a signal 1 kHz sinusoidal and 1.5V amplitude) from the received frame.

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Additionally, this signal generation sub-module 32 may comprise a reconstructor filter connected between the digital-analog converter and the signal conditioning stage. The use of this reconstructor filter may be suitable for periodic signals of limited bandwidth (ie finite). Therefore, it can be applied, for example, to 20 sinusoidal signals. On the contrary, its use for periodic signals of unlimited bandwidth (ie infinity) is not suitable. Therefore, it cannot be applied, for example, to square, triangular and sawtooth signals, basically.

For example, this reconstructor filter may be a sixth-order Butterworth filter, with a cutoff frequency of approximately 150 kHz and a gain of 1. At this point it is important to note that this cutoff frequency is directly linked to the frequency of maximum sampling (fmmax) to which the different converters work (fc = fmmax / 2) present in the signal control module 13, in the case of a single filter. In the case at hand, since in the present examples there is a single filter (and not a bank 30 of filters) and the fmmax is 300 kHz, the cutoff frequency is approximately 150 kHz.

On the other hand, in the case of a filter bank, one or the other could be applied depending on the sampling frequency (fm) at which the converters work in each

moment. In general, it would be necessary to select that filter that had the cutoff frequency (fc) closest to fm / 2, given the fm at which it is working at all times.

Basically, this reconstructor filter contributes to an increase in the maximum frequency of 5 functions generator work (up to 100 kHz in sinusoidal signals - in general, in periodic signals of limited band, as discussed above).

In the event that the signal generation sub-module 32 comprises this filter, the microcontroller 30 also receives another second parameter from the external control system 10 relative to an indicator denoting whether the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate the Second voltage signal. In this way, the indicator could be at 1 (or 0), so that the signal control module 13 knows that it has to use the filter to generate the second voltage signal and the indicator could be at 0 (or 1), so that the signal control module 13 knows that it does not have to use the filter to generate the second voltage signal.

According to some examples, the voltage signal can always be filtered by this reconstructor filter and depending on the value of the filter indicator, the signal generation sub-module 32 can select the filtered signal or the unfiltered signal from the converter. digital-analog

More specifically, in the present examples, the operation of the function generator is as follows. The microcontroller 30 comprises a digital-analog converter that can generate voltages between 0 and 3.3 V. In order to have negative voltages, the converter output signal 25 passes through an operational amplifier that adds a negative offset. Thus, at the output of the operational voltages between -1.65 and +1.65 V are obtained. Next, a variable gain amplifier is placed (that is, the signal conditioning stage) that allows to obtain output voltages of 15V peak Both positive and negative. The final part of the signal generation sub-module 32 comprises a class AB power stage, which provides the required current (with a maximum of 50 mA). As a measure of protection, a positive temperature coefficient (or polyswitch) resistance of 50 mA is included in the output of sub-module 32 to limit possible short circuits or possible excess consumption.

The signal acquisition sub-module 31 implements an oscilloscope which, in the present examples, allows two voltage signals to be captured through the two analog input channels 30a of the microcontroller 30, after passing through signal conditioning stages. For the acquisition of each first voltage signal, the microcontroller 30 receives four variables (the at least a third parameter) from the external control system:

- The beginning and end of the acquisition of each first voltage signal;

- The sampling frequency at which the analog-digital converter of signal acquisition sub-module 31 must work;

10 - The pre-scaling value;

- The shot.

Basically, it is necessary to configure the capture speed of the input signals (sampling frequency of the analog-digital converters that the microcontroller has), 15 the levels of the signal conditioning stages to adjust the signal voltages to volts by division selected in the oscilloscope and the trigger conditions (level, channel and type of trigger, which determine the moment at which the measurement starts) of the signal capture process.

20 For this purpose, the oscilloscope (that is, sub-module 31 of signal acquisition) consists of three blocks. For each of its two signal acquisition channels, it first comprises a buffer that guarantees a very high input impedance, in order to avoid falls due to impedance mismatch of the input voltage. Next, there is the signal conditioning stage of the channel, the gain of which is adjusted according to the level of signal 25 present at the input so as not to saturate it. Since the input channels 30a of the microcontroller 30 do not accept voltages higher than 3.3V, this signal conditioning stage must be adjusted under the premise that there is no more than 3.3V from peak to peak at its output. As a protection measure, a positive temperature coefficient (or polyswitch) resistance of 50 mA is included in its output to limit possible 30 short circuits or possible excess consumption. Finally, there is another operational amplifier that adds an offset to the signal in order to guarantee a signal between 0 and 3.3 V at the input of the microcontroller 30.

In the present examples, the equivalence between the level of voltage captured by the oscilloscope and the signal received in the analog-digital converter of the microcontroller 30 is as follows:

 Tension in the user module

 Tension in the analog-digital converter

 -15V

 0V

 0V

 + 1.65V

 + 15V

 + 3.3V

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As discussed above, both the signal generation sub-module 32 and the signal acquisition sub-module 31 comprise signal conditioning steps. In the case of the signal generation sub-module 32, it comprises a signal conditioning stage, while the signal acquisition sub-module 31 comprises two signal conditioning stages, one for each first voltage signal acquired ( it is important to remember that in the present examples the oscilloscope has the ability to acquire two voltage signals).

These conditioning stages have all the circuitry necessary to ensure that the analog signals that are delivered (from the external control system through the microcontroller 30) to the user module 14 and also those received from said module 14 (back towards the external control system, after passing through the microcontroller 30) move in the range of amplitude that is required in each case (depending on, for example, the peak-to-peak voltage selected in a generator of 20 periodic functions, of the selected full scale in a multimeter or of the volts per division selected in an oscilloscope - the interfaces of all these devices can be implemented in the external control system and will be described later).

On the one hand, the signal conditioning stages of the 25 signal acquisition sub-module 31 (there are two, one for each input channel 30a of the oscilloscope) are located between the output signal jacks of the user module 14 and the inputs of the analog-digital converters integrated in the microcontroller 30, and are necessary to be able to implement oscilloscopes or other measuring devices (such as, for example, a voltmeter or a multimeter) that need to acquire analog signals of the user module 14 of 30.

On the other hand, the signal conditioning stage of the signal generation sub-module is located between the output of the digital-analog converter integrated in the microcontroller 30 and the input signal socket of the user module 14, and it is necessary 5 to be able to implement periodic function generators or other devices (such as, for example, an ohmmeter or a modulated signal generator) that need to deliver analog signals in user module 14.

In the case that the signal generation sub-module 32 comprises a reconstructor filter 10, this signal conditioning stage is arranged between this filter and the input signal socket of the user module 14.

The respective circuits of the signal conditioning stages are based on two parts. The first consists of an operational amplifier that amplifies the signal in function of the second part, the variable resistance. This variable resistor consists of two analog switches of four positions each (governed by microcontroller 30) with which different resistance values can be selected. This selection is what allows the output voltage level to be generated, depending on the voltage scale background on which the user wishes to work.

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With respect to at least a first representative parameter of each first signal acquired from the electronic circuit, generated by the signal control module 13 (more specifically by the signal acquisition sub-module and the microcontroller 30), it comprises a sample frame , in which the plot is a portion of the first acquired voltage signal and the samples are the tension values in the frame of the first acquired voltage signal. From this sample frame, the external control system can obtain measurements of each first voltage signal acquired, such as:

- Signal amplitude measurements;

- Signal frequency measurements;

30 - Operations applied to the signal.

At this point it is important to note that in the present examples the microcontroller 30 comprises the different analog-digital and digital-analog converters, but in other examples these converters may not be included in the microcontroller. In this

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In this case, converters should be added, but everything described in this description is applicable to this possible configuration.

On the other hand, in the present examples a fully informative configuration of the signal control module 13 is described. In other examples, this module 13 could be implemented electronically, through, for example, the use of a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)

In addition, the signal control module 13 could also present a hybrid configuration between computer and electronics. In this case, the module should include a memory and a microcontroller to implement a part of its functionalities, as well as certain electronic circuits to implement the rest of the functionalities.

With respect to the user module 14, this comprises, in the present examples, an insertion plate (for example, of the protoboard or breadboard type) in which the user can assemble the electronic circuit he wishes to measure. In addition, in the present examples, this module 14 also comprises a plurality of connection sockets, both of the different power sources available to the device 10 and of the different devices implemented therein.

More specifically, user module 14 basically comprises the following sockets:

- A socket associated with the + 5V power supply, connectable to the insert plate;

- An outlet associated with the first variable power supply [+ 5V, + 15V], connectable to the insert plate;

- An outlet associated with the second variable power supply [-5V, -15V], connectable to the insert plate;

- A socket associated with sub-module 32 of signal generation (function generator), connectable to the insert plate;

- A first socket associated with sub-module 31 of signal acquisition (oscilloscope-first channel), for the acquisition of a first voltage signal of the electronic circuit, connectable to the insert plate;

- A second socket associated with signal acquisition sub-module 31 (oscilloscope-second channel), for the acquisition of another first voltage signal of the electronic circuit, connectable to the insertion plate;

- A ground connector, connectable to the insert plate.

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The connection of these sockets to the electronic circuit (that is, to the insertion plate) can be carried out by means of single-wire cables (for example, 0.28 mm section) that are inserted into the desired holes of the insertion plate or through suitable connectors for it.

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With respect to the ground connector, its presence is adequate because, in the present examples, the power supplies and signal generation and acquisition sockets are of common mass (that is, the masses of each of them are all connected between yes, that is, they are not independent masses).

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In generic terms, each of the shots is double, since it includes the taking of the signal in question and its reference to mass. Thus, for example, the + 5V source has two physical sockets, the positive terminal of the source (where the + 5V is) and the negative terminal (which is its reference to ground), so that this source delivers, in terminals , a voltage difference 20 of + 5V. Therefore, the term "take" is understood to comprise both the positive and the negative terminal. In the present examples, all the sockets only include the positive terminal, since the negative terminal of all of them is the same (common mass): that there is only one negative terminal in the entire user module 14. Thus, all the sockets deliver or acquire, in terminals, what corresponds to them, only that the negative terminal 25 of all of them is the same.

In addition, apart from the insertion plate on which the user assembles the electronic circuit and the sockets corresponding to the devices and the power supplies described, the device contemplates the possibility of also integrating other components of variable behavior in the user module 14. For example, a button for the study of circuits with transient behaviors, or a potentiometer (for example, of the multiturn type), preferably of 10 kQ, for being a manually variable resistance very useful for, for example, modifying the gain in circuits amplifiers or adjust the cutoff frequencies in the filters.

As can also be seen in Figure 3, in some examples, the device 10 may also comprise a signaling module 33 which may comprise a plurality of status indicators, for example LEDs. In the present examples, the 5-signal module comprises a set of three LEDs (one red, one green and one yellow), all of them connected to the microcontroller 30. The device 10 uses these LEDs to transmit to the student certain information that encodes through a color code. The different states that are contemplated in these examples are:

- The USB is not detected or the connection to the control system cannot be established

10 external. The microcontroller does not start (three LEDs off);

- The device is ready to be used. There is a USB connection with the external control system (the first LED off, the second yellow, the third green);

- Firmware is being loaded in EEPROM memory (the first red LED and blinking, the second yellow, the third green);

15 - A checksum (or checksum) of EEPROM memory (the

first red LED, the second yellow, the third green);

- The microcontroller memory is being programmed (the first LED off, the second green and flashing, the third off).

20 A fourth LED can also be included, for example a red one on the opposite side of the insert plate, to indicate the presence (on) or absence (off) of power.

According to some examples, the device 10 comprises a printed circuit board on which the different modules that make up the device are mounted. This printed circuit board has a double-sided configuration, so that on one side the device comprises only the user area, while on the other side the device comprises all the superfluous circuitry from the point of view of handling of the device by the user. In this way, the risk of this circuitry being accidentally hit or of accidentally damaging essential parts of the circuitry 30 for the device to function properly is reduced. To further improve the protection of this circuitry, it is possible to incorporate a housing that protects it, and can be fixed to the plate.

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As previously mentioned, the operation of the device 10 is controlled by the external control system. Since this control system must communicate with the device 10, it must comprise a communications module compatible with the communications module 12 thereof. Thus, this communications module of the external control system must be able to establish communication with the device 10 in a wired or wireless manner, depending on the communications module of the device. In the case of a wireless communication, this communications module may comprise at least one serial port for connection to the external control system, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet. In the case of wireless communications, the communications module may be based on GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G or satellite technology (for example, if the communication is carried out through a global communication network, such as the Internet) . The wireless communications module could also be short range, for example, Bluetooth, NFC, Wifi, IEEE 802.11 or Zigbee. In the present examples, the communications module comprises a serial port of the USB type or any other port compatible with the serial port of the USB type present in the communications module 12 of the device 10.

In addition, as discussed above, communications between the device 10 and the external control system can be secured by, for example, a username / password, cryptographic keys and / or by establishing an SSL tunnel.

On the other hand, this external control system can comprise data storage means such as magnetic disks (for example, hard disks), optical disks (for example, DVD or CD), memory cards, flash memories (for example, pendrives) or solid state drives (RAM-based SSDs, flash-based, etc.). These storage means can be part of the system itself and / or can be arranged remotely to the system and connected wired or wireless to it. In the case of being arranged remotely, the communication established between the system and the storage media can be ensured by, for example, username / password, cryptographic keys and / or by means of an SSL tunnel established in the communication between the system and Storage media In the present examples, these storage means are a solid state unit comprised in the external control system itself.

The data can also be stored on the storage media in a secure manner, for example, by using a username / password or encrypted. Thus, for example, if they are encrypted, an electronic fingerprint can be obtained that can comprise a cryptographic hash value, by applying a cryptographic hash function 5 on the stored data. Basically, a cryptographic hash function is a deterministic procedure that takes stored data and returns a fixed-size bit string, the value of the hash, so that an accidental or intentional change of the data causes a change in the value of it.

10 One hash function that can be used is the SHA-256 (a universal cryptography algorithm of the National Security Agency (NSA / CSS) of the United States) that belongs to the set of standard SHA-2 cryptographic hash functions, although it could Use another hash function if, for example, in the future it is shown that SHA-256 is not safe enough. For example, SHA-1 and MD5 were initially considered in the context of these examples but were eventually discarded due to some reported security flaws. Thus, despite the fact that SHA-256 is currently used in the context of these examples (the probability of collision for said hash function is approximately 1 to 1015, while the probability that a given file generates two different hash codes it is zero), it can be replaced in the future by another hash function 20 with better collision resistance (i.e., more secure), such as, for example, SHA-3, which is a new hash standard currently in development.

For communication with the device, the external control system must include in these examples communication libraries, whose objective is to provide the 25 functions and libraries necessary to allow the establishment of a communication, through its communication modules, between the system and the device 10 and govern its operation externally. These libraries can be understood as a bridge between the firmware of the microcontroller 30 of the device 10 and the control system (through a computer control program, in case the external control system is a computer system 30) from which The user communicates with the device and controls it. These communication libraries can be stored for example in the solid state unit described above.

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More specifically, these libraries are responsible for sending and receiving the data packets that, through the communications modules, are exchanged between the firmware and the control system. Basically, they comprise a series of functions, corresponding to each of the functionalities that the firmware implements, that allow to implement a communication protocol between the device 10 and the external control system: establish communication, close communication, send data frame, reception of data frame, etc.

Whatever the configuration of this external control system, it must be configured to execute a procedure to control the device 10. This procedure may comprise, for the second voltage signal to be generated in the device:

- Receive data representative of the second voltage signal to be generated;

- Generate a plurality of second parameters representative of the second voltage signal to be generated from the received data;

- Send the plurality of second parameters representative of the second voltage signal to be generated to the device 10 through its communications module 12.

The stage of receiving data representative of the second voltage signal to be generated may comprise:

- Receive data referring to the type of the second voltage signal to be generated (for example, data referring to a periodic analogue signal);

- Receive data referring to the waveform of the second voltage signal to be generated (for example, data referring to a type of sinusoidal signal; data referring to a type of square signal; data referring to a type of triangular signal; reference data to a type of sawtooth signal; data referring to a type of periodic signal of arbitrary basic period; and / or data referring to a sweep of periodic signals of variable fundamental frequency whose period is sinusoidal, square, triangular or tooth Mountain range).

In addition, the representative data of the second voltage signal to be generated may also comprise data concerning the fundamental frequency of the signal; data concerning the signal peak amplitude; data referring to the offset level of the signal; and / or data referring to the work cycle, when the type of signal is square.

All this data can be provided by the user through a user interface, such as a graphical user interface, which can be generated in the external control system itself or in any other system, provided it communicates with the control system external to pass the data provided by the user. An example of a graphical user interface 5 can be seen in Figure 4.

This representative interface 40 of a function generator comprises function selection buttons 41 that allow generating sine, square, triangular or sawtooth waves; buttons 42 for generating parameters that allow adjusting the signal frequency, the peak amplitude, the signal offset, and / or the duty cycle (only for square waves); an arbitrary option button 43, which allows generating a periodic signal from a specified basic period, for example, in a text or binary file (the file must specify the values of the samples of the basic period of the signal to be generated, as well as the sampling frequency (in Hz) at which this signal should be generated); a button 44 of Sweep mode, which allows to generate a frequency sweep, specifying the initial sweep frequency (in Hz), the final sweep frequency (in Hz), the number of steps or jumps of the sweep and / or the total duration of the sweep (in seconds). In addition, interface 40 also includes right and left buttons 45 to change the digit whose value is being modified, up and down buttons to increase or decrease the digit that is being modified, and a central button used to interact with menus when using Sweep mode; and a general dial 46 which, when moved clockwise, increases the value of the selected digit and, when moved counterclockwise, decreases the value of the selected digit. All of this can be seen on a visualization screen 47.

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Therefore, from this interface 40, the user can provide all the necessary data so that the external control system can generate the plurality of second parameters sent to the device 10 to cause the generation of the second voltage signal to be applied to the electronic circuit.

30

For the generation of this plurality of second parameters representative of the second voltage signal, it is necessary to take into account the microcontroller that is used in the signal control module 13. For the microcontroller described above, the function

which adjusts the sample time (or sampling frequency) of the second voltage signal that you want to generate, understand the configuration of two parameters:

- PSC (the signal conditioning stage of the internal timer of the microcontroller); Y

5 - ARR (the self-start register of the internal timer of the microcontroller.

The values of these two parameters must necessarily be integer numbers between 0 and 255 and must allow determining the time between samples (the fundamental frequency of the second analog voltage signal generated depends on the sampling frequency and the number of samples of the period basic of this signal).

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In the present examples, in the case of the microcontroller 30 used in the device 10, the relationship between the sample time (Ts) and the PSC and ARR parameters corresponds to the following formula:

(PSC + 1). (ARR + 1) 72 MHz

in which the 72 MHz correspond to the frequency of the internal clock of the microcontroller 30. Thus, for example, to generate a periodic signal of 100 Hz of fundamental frequency (f0) from a basic period of 512 samples the first is 20 Calculate the time between samples (Ts):

T0 1 1 11

Ts = —-------; ------------- = —.—---------------------- = -----.-— = 19.53 useg

number ae samples f0 number ae samples 100 512

From the obtained value it is already possible to apply the first equation described:

T =

(PSC + 1). (ARR + 1) 72 MHz

Ts. 72 MHz

ARR = 4 ——— - 1 PSC + 1

A degree of freedom appears in the calculation: the value of the PSC parameter. By setting it, for example, to 20, the corresponding value of the ARR parameter is obtained:

19.53.10 “6. 72,106

ARR = --------------------- = 65.96 = 66

20 + 1,

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The only limitation when determining the values of the PSC and ARR parameters is that they must meet the following inequality:

72 MHz

(PSC + 1). (ARR + 1)

<351 kHz

where the 351 kHz corresponds to the maximum sampling frequency at which the device can work. Thus, from the computer program that is executed in the external control system, it is possible to optimize this calculation to obtain the two integer values 10 for the PSC and ARR parameters that, respecting this inequality, better approximate the value of Ts.

Thus, these second parameters generated by the external control system may comprise:

15 - A sample frame, in which the frame is the basic period of the second signal

of tension to be generated and the samples are the samples of the basic period;

- The sampling frequency at which the basic period has been calculated;

- An indicator that denotes if the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate the second voltage signal (in case the device 10 comprises this filter).

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With these three parameters, the signal control module 13 (by means of the microcontroller 30 and the signal generation sub-module 32) generates the second voltage signal in the form of the periodic signal desired by the user, performing the digital conversion / analog of the basic period of the signal (the plot) iteratively (that is, of

25 dclic form: [frame frame frame frame ...]) at the indicated sampling frequency, whether or not the filter is applied to the output, and delivers the second voltage signal to the user module 14 with the intention that the user can inject this second voltage signal into a point of the electronic circuit chosen by the user (for example, by connecting the corresponding connector to the desired point of the circuit).

On the other hand, the method for controlling the device 10 may also include receiving, through the communications module, at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired.

5 This at least one first parameter, for each first voltage signal acquired, comprises a sample frame in which the frame is a portion of the first voltage signal acquired and the samples are the tension values in the frame of the first signal of acquired tension.

10 Prior to the acquisition of the first voltage signals, the procedure may include:

- Receive data representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired;

- Generate at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired;

15 - Send to the device, through its communications module, the at least one

third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to acquire.

In this way, the acquisition of each first signal can be configured based on the conditions established by the user, that is, the at least a third parameter.

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This at least a third parameter may comprise, for each first voltage signal to be acquired, at least one of the following:

- The beginning and the end of the acquisition of the first voltage signal;

- The sampling frequency;

25 - The pre-scaling value;

- The shot.

The representative data of each first voltage signal to be acquired can be obtained from the graphical user interface shown in Figure 5.

30

This interface 50 representing an oscilloscope (apparatus that allows the graphic representation of electrical signals, such as the first voltage signals acquired from the electronic circuit, in whose representation the horizontal axis represents times and the vertical axis represents voltages) comprises a multifunction dial 51 ; indicators 52 of the

vertical position; a screen 53 in which the first acquired voltage signals are represented; 54 Volts / div, time base and trigger indicators (trigger); a screen menu 55 and menu control buttons; a zone 56 to select the Volts / div and the vertical position; a zone 57 to select the Time / div and the horizontal position; a trigger zone 58 (in English, trigger); and a 9 button access to menus. At this point it is

Importantly, the oscilloscope of the present examples comprises two simultaneous channels, as described above.

In this way, the user can connect each socket relative to the acquisition of each first 10 voltage signal to a point in the electronic circuit from which means are desired (since the oscilloscope is two simultaneous channels, the user can click on two different points of the circuit and, therefore, the oscilloscope can capture two signals simultaneously). The signal control module 13, through the acquisition sub-module 31 and the microcontroller 30, performs an analog / digital conversion of the first acquired voltage signal 15 and is dedicated to sending frames of this first voltage signal already digitized (also in a cyclical and non-stop way: [frame plot ...] to the external control system. This external control system receives these frames and, for example, displays them on the oscilloscope screen 53 (each time it receives a new frame and the sample is when the first voltage signal shown on the screen of the oscilloscope is refreshed.) The sampling frequency at which the analog-digital converter works is determined by the external control system, for example. In the case of the oscilloscope, the control system decides the sampling frequency from the time base selected by the user through the user interface 50. Thus, if the user selects a time base of 1 msec / div through the elements of zone 57, each 25 signal frame shown on the screen therefore covers 10 msec. The frames are 2048 samples, so that the sampling frequency at which it should work is 204.8 kHz and, each time it changes, it is sent to sub-module 31 of signal acquisition with the intention of modifying the frequency of the analog-digital converter.

30 The generation of at least a third representative parameter of each first signal of

The voltage to be acquired again depends on the type of microcontroller 30 used in the device 10. Thus, with the intention of capturing the samples and configuring the parameters of each first voltage signal, the user, through the interface 50 representative of an oscilloscope, you can set the capture rate of each first voltage signal (it is

that is, the sampling frequency of each analog-digital converter comprising the microcontroller), the level of each signal conditioning stage to adjust the voltage of the first signal to the volts per division selected at interface 50, and the conditions of triggering of the acquisition of each first voltage signal (that is, the 5 conditions that determine the moment at which the acquisition begins).

With respect to the sample time (or sampling frequency) of each analog-to-digital converter in the controller, the way to obtain it is analogous to that used for the signal generation sub-module. The calculation conditions of the PSC and ARR parameters are identical to those present in the case of the signal generation sub-module, with the only difference that the sampling frequency of each analog-digital converter must be set instead of the time between the samples generated by the digital-analog converter. Knowing that the sampling frequency at which the device 10 can work is 351 kHz, if, by way of example, it is desired to guarantee a minimum of 10 samples per period, 15 the maximum analog frequency to be handled from module 14 of 35.1 kHz signal user.

The trigger conditions for the capture of each first voltage signal are set according to several parameters. A first parameter indicates on which input channel the trip is applied; a second parameter indicates the type of trip, which can be set for a trip by rising edge or for a trip by falling edge, and another parameter indicating the level of pre-trip (between 0 and 100%).

Finally, a final parameter encodes the trigger level (adopting values between 0 and 4095 25 resulting from coding in a 12-bit word the trigger voltage level

normalized). To calculate this code, both the pre-scaler level (the signal conditioning stage) selected and the offset of + 1.65V added to the signal must be taken into account before attacking each analog-digital converter of the microcontroller 30. Thus, if for example it is desired to set a trigger level of 2.5V 30 with a pre-scaler of 0.566 (200 mV / div) being configured, the value of this parameter is

Calculate as follows:

(0.556.2.5V) + 1.65V

Trip = ---------—---------. 4095 = 3772.36 = 3772

From the plurality of second parameters representative of each first voltage signal acquired, the control system can obtain measurements. These measurements can be amplitude measurements of the first signal; frequency measurements of signal 5 and / or operations applied to the signal.

From everything described so far it is clear that the external control system comprises an electronic and / or computer part representative of the intelligence of the system, capable of executing the procedure described above.

10

In the event that the control system is purely computer, the system may comprise a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities for executing a procedure for controlling the device 10, as described previously.

The computer program executed by the processor may be stored in physical storage media, such as recording media, a computer memory, or a read-only memory, or it may be carried by a carrier wave, such as electrical or optics. In this case, the physical storage means may be, for example, the solid state unit itself described above.

The computer program may be in the form of a source code, an object code or an intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the described procedures.

The carrier medium can be any entity or device capable of carrying the program.

For example, the carrier medium may comprise storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a hard disk (for the present examples, it could be the own solid state unit). In addition, the carrier medium can be a carrier medium

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Transmissible such as an electrical or optical signal that can be transmitted via electrical or optical cable or by radio or other means.

When the computer program is contained in a signal that can be transmitted directly by a cable or other device or medium, the carrier medium may be constituted by said cable or another device or medium.

Alternatively, the carrier means may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is encapsulated (embedded), said integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in carrying out the relevant procedures.

In the event that the representative part of the intelligence of the control system is purely electronic, this part may be a programmable electronic device such as a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC ( Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), capable of implementing the procedure to control the device 10.

In the event that the representative part of the intelligence of the control system is a combination of computer and electronic elements, this part may comprise a processor and a memory that stores the instructions for the part of the computerized procedure, as well as those electronic circuits intended to implement the rest of the stages of the procedure that are not computerized.

Although only some particular embodiments and examples of the invention have been described herein, the person skilled in the art will understand that other alternative embodiments and / or uses of the invention are possible, as well as obvious modifications and equivalent elements. In addition, the present invention encompasses all possible combinations of the specific embodiments that have been described. The numerical signs relating to the drawings and placed in parentheses in a claim are only intended to increase the understanding of the claim, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim's protection. The scope of the present invention should not be limited to specific embodiments, but should be determined only by an appropriate reading of the appended claims.

Claims (45)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 1. Device for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit, the device comprising: - A user module for the assembly of the electronic circuit to be measured, which comprises at least one insertion plate; - A communications module configured to connect the device to an external control system; o A signal control module configured to acquire at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, and send to the external control system, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal , to obtain measurements of the electronic circuit; - A power module configured to power the different modules of the device. 2. Device according to revindication 1, in which the control module comprises: - A microcontroller comprising: or at least one input channel; or at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to send the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal to the external control system; - A signal acquisition sub-module configured to acquire at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, this sub-module comprising, for each first voltage signal acquired, a signal conditioning stage, whose input is connectable to the insertion board, and an analog-digital converter connected to the output of the signal conditioning stage, the analog-digital converter output being connected to an input channel of the microcontroller. 3. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the control module comprises: - A microcontroller comprising: 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 or at least one input channel; or at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to send the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal to the external control system; or at least one analog-digital converter, each of which has its output connected to an input channel of the microcontroller; - A signal acquisition sub-module configured to acquire at least a first voltage signal generated by the electronic circuit, this sub-module comprising, for each first voltage signal acquired, a signal conditioning stage, whose input is Connectable to the insertion board and whose output is connected to the input channel of the microcontroller. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired comprises: - A sample frame, in which the frame is a portion of the first voltage signal acquired and the samples are the tension values in the frame of the first voltage signal acquired. 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the signal control module is configured to: or receive, through the communications module, at least a second parameter generated by the external control system representative of at least a second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit, and to generate, based on this at least a second parameter received , every second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit; 6. Device according to revindication 5, in which the control module further comprises: - The microcontroller comprising: or at least one output channel; or the at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to receive the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal from the external control system; 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 - A signal generation sub-module configured to generate each second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit from at least a second parameter received, this sub-module comprising, for each second voltage signal to be generated, a digital converter- analogue, whose input is connected to the microcontroller through an output channel, and a signal conditioning stage connected to the output of the digital-analog converter, this sub-module being connectable to the insertion board through the output of the signal conditioning stage. 7. Device according to revindication 5, in which the control module further comprises: - The microcontroller comprising: or at least one output channel; or the at least one input / output channel for the connection of the microcontroller to the communications module, to receive the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal from the external control system; or at least one digital-analog converter, each of which has its output is connected to an output channel of the microcontroller; - A signal generation sub-module configured to generate each second voltage signal applicable to the electronic circuit from at least one second parameter received, this sub-module comprising, for each second voltage signal to be generated, a conditioning stage of the signal connected to the output of the digital-analog converter through the output channel of the microcontroller, this sub-module being connectable to the insert plate through the output of the signal conditioning stage. 8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the at least one second parameter comprises: - A sample frame, in which the frame is the basic period of the second voltage signal to be generated and the samples are the samples of the basic period; - The sampling frequency at which the basic period has been calculated. 9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the signal generation sub-module comprises a reconstructor filter connected between the output of the digital-analog converter and the input of the signal conditioning stage. 5 10. Device according to claim 9 when it depends on claim 8, wherein the at least a second parameter comprises: - An indicator that denotes if the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate the second voltage signal. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the module of alimentation comprises at least one fixed voltage source. 12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the fixed voltage source is + 5V. 15 13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the + 5V fixed power supply It is configured to deliver a maximum current of 500 mA. 14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the power module comprises at least one variable voltage source. twenty 15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one variable voltage source comprises at least one of the following: - A variable voltage source [+ 5V, + 15V]; - A variable voltage source [-5V, -15V]. 25 16. Device according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the user module comprises at least one of the following sockets: - One socket for each variable voltage source, for connection to the insert plate; 30 - One socket for each fixed voltage source, for connection to the insertion plate; - One socket for each signal generation sub-module, for connection to the insert plate; - One socket for each signal acquisition sub-module, for connection to the insert plate; - A ground connection, for connection to the insertion plate. 17. Device according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the user module comprises at least one of the following elements: 5 - At least one button; - At least one potentiometer. 18. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the communication module comprises at least one serial connection port to the control system 10 external, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet. 19. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a signaling module. 15. Device according to claim 19, wherein the signaling module comprises the minus one of the following signaling elements: - A light emitting diode to signal the status of the power module; - A light emitting diode to signal the status of the communications module. 21. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising A printed circuit board. 22. Device according to claim 21, wherein the printed circuit board is double-sided. 25 23. Method for controlling a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit, the method comprising, for at least a first signal acquired in the electronic circuit mounted on the device: 30 - Receive from the device, through the communications module, at least a first representative parameter of each first voltage signal acquired. 24. Method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired comprises: 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 - A sample frame, in which the frame is a portion of the first voltage signal acquired and the samples are the tension values in the frame of the first voltage signal acquired. 25. Method according to any one of claims 23 or 24, further comprising: - Receive data representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired; - Generate at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired; - Send to the device, through its communications module, the at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the at least one third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired comprises: - The beginning and the end of the acquisition of the first voltage signal; - Sample rate; - Pre-scaling value; - Shooting. 27. Method according to any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising: - Obtain measurements based on each first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired. 28. Method according to claim 27, wherein the measurements obtained based on each first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired are selected from at least one of the following: - Signal amplitude measurements; - Signal frequency measurements; - Operations applied to the signal. 29. Method according to any one of claims 23 to 28, comprising, for at least a second voltage signal to be generated in the device: - Receive data representative of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Generate at least a second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data; - Send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module. 5 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated comprises at least one of the following: - Data referring to the type of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Data referring to the waveform of each second voltage signal to be generated. 10 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the data referring to the type of second voltage signal to be generated in the device comprise data referring to a periodic analog signal. 15 32. Method according to any one of claims 30 or 31, wherein the data referring to the waveform of the second voltage signal to be generated comprise at least one of the following: - Data concerning a type of sinusoidal signal; - Data referring to a type of square signal; 20 - Data referring to a type of triangular signal; - Data concerning a type of sawtooth signal; - Data referring to a type of periodic signal of arbitrary basic period; - Data referring to a sweep of periodic signals of variable fundamental frequency whose period is sinusoidal, square, triangular or sawtooth. 25 33. Method according to any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated comprises at least one of the following: - Data referring to the fundamental frequency of the signal; 30 - Data referring to the peak signal amplitude; - Data referring to the offset level of the signal; - Data referring to the work cycle, when the type of signal is square. 34. The method according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the at least one second parameter representative of the second voltage signal to be generated comprises: - A sample frame, in which the frame is the basic period of the second signal 5 of tension to be generated and the samples are the samples of the basic period; - The sampling frequency at which the basic period has been calculated. 35. Method according to claim 34, wherein, in the case that the signal generation sub-module of the device comprises a reconstructor filter, the at least one 10 second parameter representative of the second voltage signal to be generated also includes: - An indicator that denotes if the use of the reconstructor filter is required to generate the second voltage signal. 15 36. Computer program comprising program instructions to cause a computer system perform a method according to any one of claims 23 to 35 to control a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. 20 37. Computer program according to claim 36, which is stored in media of recording. 38. Computer program according to any one of claims 36 or 37, which is carried by a carrier signal. 25 39. System for controlling a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit, the system comprising, for at least a first signal acquired in the electronic circuit mounted on the device: 30 - Means to receive from the device, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired. 40. System according to claim 39, further comprising: 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 - Means to receive representative data of each first voltage signal to be acquired; - Means to generate at least a third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired; - Means to send to the device, through its communications module, the at least one third parameter representative of each first voltage signal to be acquired. 41. System according to any one of claims 39 or 40, further comprising: - Means to obtain measurements based on each first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired. 42. System according to any one of claims 39 to 41, comprising, for at least a second voltage signal to be generated in the device: - Means to receive representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Means to generate at least a second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Means to send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module. 43. Computer system comprising a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities for executing a method according to any one of claims 23 to 35 for controlling a device according to a any one of claims 1 to 22 for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. 44. System according to any one of claims 39 to 43, further comprising a communications module configured to connect the system to the device for mounting and measuring an electronic circuit. 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 45. System according to claim 44, wherein the communications module comprises at least one serial port for connection to the external control system, such as USB, micro USB, mini USB, Firewire or Ethernet. 46. System according to any one of claims 44 or 45, wherein the communication module further comprises communication libraries. 47. Method for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit, the method comprising: - Receive data representative of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Generate at least a second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data; - Send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module. 48. Computer program comprising program instructions to cause a computer system to perform a method according to claim 47 to control the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for assembly and the measurement of at least one electronic circuit. 49. System for controlling the generation of at least a second voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit, the system comprising: - Means to receive representative data of each second voltage signal to be generated; - Means to generate at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated from the received data; - Means to send the at least one second parameter representative of each second voltage signal to be generated to the device through its communications module. 50. Computer system comprising a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities for executing a method according to claim 47 to control the generation of at least a second signal of tension in 5 a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit. 51. Procedure for controlling the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for assembly and assembly. 10 measurement of at least one electronic circuit, the procedure comprising: - Receive from the device, through the communications module, at least a first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired. 52. Computer program comprising program instructions to cause a computer system to perform a procedure according to claim 51 to control the acquisition of at least a first voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit. 20 53. System for controlling the acquisition of at least one first voltage signal in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for mounting and measuring at least one electronic circuit, the system comprising: - Means to receive from the device, through the communications module, at least one first parameter representative of each first voltage signal acquired. 25 54. Computer system comprising a memory and a processor, in which the memory stores computer program instructions executable by the processor, these instructions comprising functionalities for executing a method according to claim 51 for controlling the acquisition of at least a first signal of tension in a device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 for the assembly and measurement of at least one electronic circuit.