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

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