Todd Sumamno
What is design verification?
Design verification is a vital aspect of all new product development. This process tests whether or not your invention functions as you intended it to. It underlies the bulk of the design process for all innovations, ensuring that they are working properly before you press play on manufacture.
Checking that your design is working properly ahead of manufacture helps to ensure that the product is safe for public use.
Design verification and electronics
Design verification is especially important for electronic devices as these have the potential to explode, cause fires, deliver electric shocks or make a machine breakdown – all of which could lead to serious harm.
An example of an electronic device that was poorly verified is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which was banned on multiple airlines for posing a fire hazard as it was liable to explode.
Circuit simulators
Given the potential dangers involved with malfunctioning electronics, there is a risk of harm and damage when testing electronic innovations. This means that the design verification process needs to be as safe as possible.
Rather than having to produce and physically handle a prototype of your design, you can use a circuit simulator to create a virtual version of your electronic device. This advanced computer software allows you to fully test the capabilities of your new design in a safe online environment.
Circuit simulators improve the design verification process in several ways:
- Refined product performance
Creating a virtual playground where you can experiment with product development allows you to refine all elements of the performance with just a few clicks. Examples include increasing the speed, lengthening the battery life, and broadening the range of functions.
- Early identification of errors
Doing such a thorough road test of your product during the design process allows for the early identification of errors in your electronic device. This means you can fix glitches quickly and better safeguard against the risk of dangerous situations during the manufacturing phase.
- Cost-effective strategy
Using a circuit simulator allows you to conduct multiple tests on various versions of your design with no need for costly physical prototypes. It also helps to minimise the risk of flaws in your mass-manufactured product which could lead to a huge loss in sales or claims compensation.
- Streamlined design process
Finally, operating in an online space creates a more streamlined design process. The team can collectively collaborate easily around the shared simulation, compiling their expert knowledge for a fully optimised design.
Brittany
