Co-op at Visteon
Chris
Experience Information
Employer: Visteon Corporation
Job Title: Hardware Engineering Co-op
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Visteon Corporation purchased my first co-op company, Johnson Controls Electronic Business Unit, and has grown to become a cockpit electronics ecosystems enterprise with more than $3 billion in annual sales and one of the world's three largest vehicle cockpit electronics suppliers. The headquarters is located in Van Buren Township, MI. Some products include: instrument clusters, audio head units, displays, infotainment and connectivity solutions.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
Power supply efficiency testing on Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Back-up battery temperature testing under loading for TCU DTMF signal processing using FFT analysis Prototyping with constant current for LED indicators for TCU integration Prototyping audio amplifiers for TCU integration Prototyping SEPIC/Boost DC-DC converters for TCU integration
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
A better understanding of power supplies Learned more in depth about class-D audio amplifiers Learned the differences in battery composition and how temperature effects each A better understanding of how Fast Fourier Transforms work Low-level circuit design Proficiency in solder and soldering techniques
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this co-op was being able to incorporate my ideas and some circuit design into upcoming projects for the company. Being able to physically test the design and see it though from initial design on paper to prototyping to final implementation is very cool. Another cool part of this co-op was being able to work with many different groups in the company and experience the different strengths that each group has.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Being able to co-op is a great way to gain actual work experience in your field of interest. Just obtaining your degree without getting experience in the "real world" can make getting a job very difficult and when you do get a job you could realize that it's not the type of field you wanted to work in. This co-op experience has helped me understand a little bit more of how an engineering company operates from the inside and has confirmed my interest in becoming an Electrical Engineer.