-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssuePower Integrity
Current power demands are increasing, especially with AI, 5G, and EV chips. This month, our experts share “watt’s up” with power integrity, from planning and layout through measurement and manufacturing.
Signal Integrity
If you don’t have signal integrity problems now, you will eventually. This month, our expert contributors share a variety of SI techniques that can help designers avoid ground bounce, crosstalk, parasitic issues, and much more.
Proper Floor Planning
Floor planning decisions can make or break performance, manufacturability, and timelines. This month’s contributors weigh in with their best practices for proper floor planning and specific strategies to get it right.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Setting Design Constraints Effectively
July 31, 2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute

PCB design requires controlling energy within the medium of a PCB. The manner in which we control the chaos of energy is by implementing and utilizing physical and electrical rules, known as constraints, along with a specific structure and material(s) that make up what is known as the foundation of the design. These rules govern everything within the PCB structure and generally fall into two camps: performance and manufacturability. Setting this foundation correctly is extremely important and the key to success.
At times, especially with very complex designs, it’s no easy task to make sense of these rules while creating and implementing these design constraints. It can be daunting and time-consuming. How many times during the initial phase of the design process have we heard project management ask, “What is taking so long? Why haven’t you started placing components and routing? Why do you even need constraints?”
I’m sure many can relate to such questions. The goal for any PCB design is to be “correct by construction,” where you have the highest potential for first-pass success. This means that revision 1 works with no respins required, and there are no interruptions in the process of getting the product to market as fast as possible. This is accomplished by implementing and utilizing design constraints along with industry best practices, which are vital toward achieving PCB design success.
Design constraints are typically derived from customer requirements. Depending on the intended function of the end product, how it needs to function and under what conditions it needs to operate are the keys to deriving the specific details of the actual constraints to be implemented in your design. Make sure you work closely with your manufacturers (both fabrication and assembly) from the very beginning of the project and throughout the design process. I cannot stress enough that close collaboration with your manufacturers, also known as your external stakeholders, is key to downstream success.
To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
SEMICON Japan 2025 to Spotlight Sustainability in AI and Semiconductor Innovation
10/22/2025 | SEMISEMICON Japan 2025, the largest gathering of leaders from the microelectronics manufacturing supply chain in Japan, will bring together more than 1,200 exhibitors showcasing semiconductor solutions from December 17-19 at Tokyo Big Sight.
Zuken Announces ZIW Americas 2026 in Dallas
10/21/2025 | ZukenZuken USA, Inc., a global leader in electrical and electronic design automation, announced Zuken Innovation World (ZIW) Americas 2026, the company’s premier global conference dedicated to advancing the future of electrical and electronic product design. ZIW 2026 will be held June 9-11 in Dallas, Texas.
Keysight Completes Acquisition of Synopsys’ Optical Solutions Group and Ansys’ PowerArtist
10/17/2025 | Keysight Technologies, Inc.Keysight Technologies, Inc., announced the completion of its acquisitions of the Optical Solutions Group from Synopsys, Inc., and PowerArtist from Ansys, Inc.
RT-Labs Joins STMicroelectronics Partner Program to Accelerate Industrial Communication
10/16/2025 | RT-LabsRT-Labs, a leading provider of real-time software solutions for industrial automation, announces that it has joined the STMicroelectronics Partner Program to integrate its Ethernet-based industrial communication stacks into ST’s development environments and microcontroller platforms.
ASC Sunstone Circuits Adds New Options to OneQuote While Maintaining Real-Time Pricing on Core PCB Features
10/16/2025 | ASC Sunstone CircuitsASC Sunstone Circuits, a leading U.S. PCB manufacturer, today announced a significant expansion of its OneQuote online quoting tool, giving design engineers more control over complex PCB configurations — making it easier for the quote team to quickly clarify and verify specifications, reducing delays from manual quote reviews.