Wearable Electronics Until recently, wearable accessories had one primary purpose-- to be fashionable. Sure, watches are useful for keeping time and staying punctual, but that's about as far as things went for functionality. Today, we have a rising selection of wearable electronics, many of which can be directly credited with a rise in health and lifestyle improvements. They track distance and time on your runs, help assess whether you're getting the right amount of Read Article Rigid Flex PCBs Between the Internet of Things (IoT), wearable electronics, and flexible displays, there is an increasing demand for flexible and rigid flex PCB technology in the electronics industry. If PCB designers don't want to be left in the dust, it's of the utmost importance to learn and adapt to this new tech, where PCBs must be compact, nearly (or completely) wireless, and-- most obviously-- flexible. Through proper design planning, utilization of space Read Article PCB Layout As electronics get smaller and more complex, so too must the boards (PCBs) that make them function. Because of this, your PCB layouts matter more than ever before. While a PCB with a poor layout may still function, a well-planned layout will go a long way to ensure efficiency, minimize risk, and even save you money in your production budget. The care you put into your PCB layout can give your product a strategic edge over competition through Read Article 3D PCB Design When it comes to designing circuit boards, you know that being able to properly visualize your spacing, sizing, and layout is crucial to a successful finished product with minimal setbacks. While standard PCB design software has its place, 3D PCB software allows you to get a detailed look at your routing, components, and overall layout BEFORE you send your design out for a physical prototype. As 3D environments become more advanced, they become Read Article PCB Design Techniques to Reduce EMI Reduce EMI in your PCB designs. This presentation will discuss multiple ways good PCB design can help manage EMI interference on your board. It covers tips and tricks for basics and beyond, including: using EMI cans for shielding, proper grounding techniques, trace length, isolating AC and DC signals and differential pair routing. Click the PDF above to read more about PCB design techniques to reduce EMI in this presentation. Or view the original Read Article How to Work with Your PCB CAD Software Support Technicians Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to help someone, but they don’t understand what you are talking about? You want to help them through their difficulties, but the two of you seem to be from different worlds. If that scenario doesn’t sound familiar to you, then you’ve probably never raised teenagers. If it does ring a bell, then you may be a seasoned parent, or you may even be a customer support technician. I firmly believe Read Article Essential PCB Design Tips: How to Implement a Watchdog Timer in Your PCB Design When you work from home there are some perks of the job. You can make your own meals, slot in some laundry over lunch, and drink all the tea you want. I use a stove-top kettle to boil water for my tea, so when I get in the writing zone, I rely on its high-pitched whistle to tell me when it’s done. Sometimes when I’m careless, I don’t fit the lid on properly. As a result, the kettle remains silent despite the fact that the liquid water inside of Read Article The Top Reasons Why PCB Design Software with Auto Routing Can Save You Time I’ve been designing printed circuit boards long enough that my family has sadly grown accustomed to me spending more time at work than at home. When deadlines are looming, everyone knows I’ll be working late nights at the office. Modern PCB design software with auto-routing tools can help you cut down your routing time, but not everyone is a fan of these features. I know all the arguments against using an auto-router because I’ve been using them Read Article PCB Design: An Optocoupler Tutorial for Your PCB Layout Are you guilty of hitting the snooze button at least twice before you reluctantly wake up from your blissful sleep? My wife claims that I probably have the world record time for hitting the snooze button since I do it without even opening my eyes. But there are times when the third snooze alarm mysteriously doesn’t go off and it is a losing battle to get my day started on time. In electronics, embedded systems often rely on optocoupler circuits Read Article Thermal Relief Guidelines for PCB Layout Sometimes, thermal reliefs are a DFA measure for a new PCB. Here’s when you should use thermal pads in a PCB. Read Article 3D PCB Design 3D PCB Design takes board design to the next level, especially when it comes to Multi-board system design. Learn tips and techniques to approach 3D PCB design that will help you take your unified design process to the next level. Being able to properly visualize your spacing, sizing, and layout is crucial to success. Learn more from this 3D PCB Design presentation, and click the PDF above to read more in this presentation overview. Or view the Read Article PCB Layout Become an expert in PCB Layout when you use Altium Designer software. Benefits to the Unified Data Model Approach include not just time savings, but the potential of simultaneous design that is available with the integrated schematics and PCB layouts offered in Altium Designer. Simultaneously consider the big picture and the very details that impact your projects' success. Click the PDF above to read more about PCB Layout in this presentation Read Article Protect Your PCB From ESD From computers and televisions, to automobiles and kitchen appliances, PCBs are found in nearly every aspect of our lives-- many of our devices would not be possible without them. They are the brains of our electronics, and as such, it is of the utmost importance to do everything in our power to ensure our designs are protected from potentially catastrophic threats. Proper routing and schematics, component placement, and special attention to Read Article How PCB Software Performance Affects Power Planes and Ground Planes Positively and Negatively The detective on your favorite police television show will often be looking for the plain facts of the case. In PCB design tools, we have some “plane” facts to look for. One of those would be getting a better understanding of what it takes to create a power plane and a ground plane. As designers, we know that planes provide power and ground to the components on our boards. We also know how to manipulate our tools in order to create those planes Read Article The Different Types of Support for Circuit Building Software My 10-year-old son came to me a couple of weeks ago with a problem that he needed my help with. His bicycle wouldn’t shift out of the upper gear and therefore he wasn’t able to ride it. As it turned out, all I needed to do was to straighten a bent derailleur and add some lubricate. A few minutes later my son was pedaling happily down the street to meet with the rest of his friends. That got me to thinking, the help that my son needed from me is Read Article PCB Design Tips: Should You Include an External or Internal Watchdog Timer (WDT) in Your Board Design Would you invest in an external mouse, keyboard, and a high-definition monitor when your laptop comes equipped with these features? It’s a personal choice, especially when you want to turn your laptop into a portable workstation. My girlfriend, who’s starting her career as a professional accountant, dismissed my choice as a waste of money. In electronics, deciding whether to include an external watchdog timer (WDT) in your PCB design can be an Read Article Why You Should Include Mechanical Parts in Your Bill of Materials Template Have you ever put together a project where there weren’t enough to finish the job? I have, and I know how frustrating it is to have to wait for the missing to be replaced. Meanwhile, that partially completed bookshelf or bicycle just sits there mocking you. You can’t use the bookshelf, and nothing in life hurts worse than the scolding face of an 8-year-old who can’t ride their new bike. This problem can also happen during the manufacturing of Read Article Pagination First page « First Previous page ‹‹ Page168 Current page169 Page170 Page171 Page172 Page173 Next page ›› Last page Last » Load More
