Beyond Design: High-speed Rules of Thumb
Global PCB Connections: A Technical Overview of Long-flex Printed Circuit Boards
The Shaughnessy Report: A Handy Look at Rules of Thumb
Three Ways to Improve High-Speed PCB Signoff, Part 1
September 6, 2023 | Brad Griffin, Cadence Design SystemsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) are top priorities for engineers designing today’s high-speed, high-density circuit boards, and faster signoff of designs can be achieved by uncovering SI/PI issues early in the design process, before costly respins are required. Three key issues engineers need to overcome to sign off on high-speed PCB designs include power analysis, serializer/deserializer (SerDes) link compliance, and double data rate (DDR) memory interface compliance.
The power delivery network (PDN) must be sufficient, efficient, and stable, and the signal quality must meet memory interface and serial link compliance specifications. This article highlights a PCB design methodology that empowers PCB design teams to create successful products on time and on budget without waiting for SI and PI specialists who may not be readily available.
Design Analysis Frameworks
There are several important frameworks to consider when designing PCBs (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Design analysis frameworks.
The design begins with the schematics, followed by the layout, and then, late in the layout phase, a detailed analysis is done to ensure the layout functions properly. During the design cycle tasks, priorities and focus change, but one critical rule of thumb is that the earlier problems are uncovered and corrected, the better.
Electronic product development has traditionally embraced a workflow in which the detailed simulation, analysis, and optimization takes place at a very late stage in the design process, often as the final step of verification and signoff. However, this delay inevitably leads to costly issues that derail budgets and delay time to market. Defects in requirements and performance are uncovered that require additional cycles to address these issues, which could have been discovered and mitigated earlier in the design phase.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the August 2023 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
HPC Customer Engages Sondrel for High End Chip Design
11/25/2024 | SondrelSondrel, a leading provider of ultra-complex custom chips, has announced that it has started front end, RTL design and verification work on a high-performance computing (HPC) chip project for a major new customer.
Rules of Thumb for PCB Layout
11/21/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007The dictionary defines a “rule of thumb” as “a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on experience or practice rather than theory.” Rules of thumb are often the foundation of a PCB designer’s thought process when tackling a layout. Ultimately, a product spec or design guideline will provide the detailed design guidance, but rules of thumb can help to provide the general guidance that will help to streamline the layout process and avoid design or manufacturing issues.
PCB Design Software Market Expected to Hit $9.2B by 2031
11/21/2024 | openPRThis report provides an overview of the PCB design software market, detailing key market drivers, challenges, technological advancements, regional dynamics, and future trends. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2024 to 2031, the market is expected to grow from USD 3.9 billion in 2024 to USD 9.2 billion by 2031.
KYZEN to Spotlight KYZEN E5631, AQUANOX A4618 and Process Control at SMTA Silicon Valley Expo and Tech Forum
11/21/2024 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Silicon Valley Expo & Tech Forum on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley in Fremont, CA.
Flexible Thinking: Rules of Thumb: A Word to the Wise
11/20/2024 | Joe Fjelstad -- Column: Flexible ThinkingIn the early days of electronics manufacturing—especially with PCBs—there were no rules. Engineers, scientists, and technicians largely felt their way around in the dark, making things up as they went along. There was a great deal of innovation, guessing, and testing to make sure that early guidelines and estimates were correct by testing them. Still, they frequently made mistakes.