Flexible Thinking: Rules of Thumb—A Word to the Wise
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Connect the Dots: Five Best Practices for Designing Flex and Rigid-flex PCBs
The Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Specialties of PCB Design
March 19, 2024 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
We’ve witnessed a progression of the various roles in PCB design over the decades due to the ever-evolving field of electronics. These roles, which are key to PCB design, can be described as the all-encompassing domain of printed circuit engineering (PCE), which involves multiple disciplines and their respective domains, and plays a pivotal role in shaping the technology landscape. As technological advancements accelerate, the multi-disciplines within PCE face myriad challenges while simultaneously encountering exciting and promising opportunities.
What were once specialties have become more generalized over time—PCB designers must learn about design automation, signal integrity (SI), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), complex high-speed design, mechanical design, and manufacturability/producibility. Design engineers must learn about layout, simulation, and supply chains—and in their place new specialties have emerged, like multi-gigabit SerDes channel design, advanced manufacturing, IoT, and multi-physics system verification. Across the board (no pun intended), good engineering teams have learned to collaborate outside their siloed specialties, which increases their individual and collective value. Yet, it’s not only designers grappling with this evolution but also numerous tech companies across several industries that must bolster their engineering resources to close the growing talent gap.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the March 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
The Shaughnessy Report: A Stack of Advanced Packaging Info
12/10/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportIt’s only fitting that this issue on advanced packaging and stackup features a “stackup” of “packages” on the cover. There’s certainly a lot to “unpack” in this issue. As advanced packaging moves further into the mainstream of PCB design, more PCB designers and design engineers are realizing this isn’t a plug-and-play technology. As we see in this issue, advanced packaging can have an impact on the entire design—the stackup in particular.
I-Connect007 Releases New Episode of Meet the Author Podcast: Spotlight on Complex PCB Design
12/10/2024 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is thrilled to announce the latest installment of its Meet the Author podcast series, hosted by Nolan Johnson. In this episode, Johnson interviews Scott Miller and Brian White of Freedom CAD, who share their expertise on complex PCB design.
Advanced Packaging and Stackup Design: December 2024—Design007 Magazine
12/09/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn this month's issue,, we asked our expert contributors to discuss the impact of advanced packaging on stackup design—from SI and DFM challenges through the variety of material tradeoffs that designers must contend with in the arena of HDI and UHDI. And with a little research, planning, and collaboration with the fabricator, any seasoned PCB designer can utilize advanced packaging.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
12/06/2024 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week’s must-reads include a discussion on innovation and embedded components within the layers of a PCB with Accurate Circuit Engineering. We revisit the real cost to manufacture in a case study on how a seemingly small design error can have a dramatic effect on your end customer’s costs. Dan Beaulieu provides this month’s book review highlighting the criticality of fostering creativity in the workplace. Bert Horner of The Test Connection discusses his decision to launch a new, complimentary business venture, The Training Connection; and Ramon Roche of NCAB talks about electric vehicle charging.
If You Can Define It Right, You Can Design It Right
12/05/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007Design engineer Chris Young is known for his optimized design process. As lead hardware engineer with Moog Space and Defense Group and owner of Young Engineering Services, Chris collects data like it’s going out of style, and he leaves nothing to chance. With that in mind, I asked Chris to discuss his views on rules of thumb—which ones work, which ones should be avoided, and how rules fit ideally into the PCB design process.