Sherlock Automated Design Analysis
Sherlock Automated Design Analysis™ is a software tool developed by DfR Solutions for analyzing, grading, and certifying the expected reliability of products at the circuit card assembly level. The software is designed for use by a broad range of design and reliability engineers and managers in the electronics industry. It has applications across industries such as automotive, alternative energy, components, consumer electronics, contract manufacturing, data and telecommunications, industrial/power, medical, military/avionics/space, and portables.
Based on the science of Physics of Failure, Sherlock identifies electronics design weaknesses before prototypes are built.
Sherlock performs several different types of reliability analysis and provides a comprehensive life curve and an overall reliability score – as well as individual scores and commentary for each area of analysis. The analysis takes a few minutes to complete and is delivered both in PDF and HTML format. Depending on the types of analysis run and the data entered to create the analysis, reports can run between 10 and 100 pages in length.
The user interface allows users to examine results, make iterations, and run analysis again. To achieve a desired outcome that contains acceptable levels of projected reliability, design engineers may have to make changes to their designs. These changes would be reflected in the EDA software, where the products are designed, as well as in the data that is manually entered into Sherlock.
Sherlock produces several outputs used in the design process:
- A reliability score –calculates the likelihood that a product will perform reliably in the marketplace.
- Predicted performance over time –product teams can use to help to project the profitability of a product over its lifecycle.
- A physical map of reliability issues –identifies the likely points of failure.
- A histogram – groups parts by degree of risk
- Design recommendations –provide solutions to identified problems for rapid resolution.
Sherlock performs a comprehensive assessment of potential wearout mechanisms from a variety of environments.
- Elevated Temperature
- Thermal Cycling
- Random Vibration
- Sinusoidal (Harmonic) Vibration
- Mechanical Shock
Sherlock Automated Design Analysis™ Version 1.0 launched in June 2010. Sherlock is Java based, web deployable, and uses a modular, open architecture which allows for expansion. Sherlock is third party validated.
DfR Solutions History
DfR Solutions, LLC provides quality, reliability, and durability research, consulting services, and software for the electronics industry in the United States and internationally. The company offers reliability and manufacturing analysis services throughout the product life cycle of electronics. The company was formerly known as Hillman Industries, LLC. DfR Solutions, LLC was founded in 2004 and is based in College Park, Maryland, USA.