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Architecting for identical PCBs in a larger system requires coordination both on the board design side and with the software engineers to ensure that each board is treated uniquely. A very common approach is to stuff resistors on unique footprints during pick and place, so each board has its own configuration. DIP switches are also a popular option. Most of these options, however, require physical intervention with your boards. This means that if...

Design reviews are an essential part of the product development process. They provide a design evaluation method to align with the project goals. These milestones empower teams to detect potential problems early, preventing them from escalating into larger issues.  When conducted effectively, design reviews offer several key benefits: they enhance clarity, foster collaboration, and improve the quality of the final product. Unfortunately, a...

Ein Blockschaltbild oder auch Übersichtsschaltbild ist eine vereinfachte und abstrahierte Darstellung der Funktionen und Beziehungen zwischen Komponenten und Baugruppen eines komplexeren Schaltplans. Blockschaltbilder helfen allen Beteiligten, bei komplexeren Projekten den Überblick zu behalten. In diesem Artikel gehen wir auf folgende Fragen in: Welche Vorteile haben Blockschaltbilder bei komplexeren Projekten? Welche Tools eignen sich, um...

The electronics manufacturing market is projected to hit USD 666.97 billion by 2025, with much of the growth driven by high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) production. HMLV prioritizes flexibility, customization, and rapid iteration. Unlike high-volume manufacturing with stable supply chains, HMLV demands sourcing strategies that can adapt to shifting BOMs, short lead times, and strict compliance requirements. Suppliers often describe HMLV sourcing as...

The semiconductor industry is projected to reach USD 697 billion by 2025 and could exceed USD 1 trillion by the end of the decade, fueled by growth in generative AI, EVs, 5G, and connected devices. But behind the strong growth outlook is a supply chain challenge rooted in the recent global chip shortage: overordering. From 2020 to 2023, long lead times and supply uncertainty led many companies to place duplicate orders with multiple suppliers to...

Supervisor and reset ICs ensure predictable system operation. They monitor voltages, timing, and processor activity, generating resets or controlling logic. This prevents inconsistent behavior from discrete components. Integrating these functions offers deterministic control and avoids undefined processor states during power-up or supply transients. Supervisor ICs vary, offering voltage monitoring, watchdog timers, sequencing, or backup...

Performing system reset and startup goes beyond power sequencing, which is only one of the important functions for system bring-up. System reset ICs can implement a series of monitoring and toggling tasks, including supervising power rails, clearing logic states, and monitoring important signals while a system comes online. This kind of controlled bring-up is an important part of application initialization and controlled power distribution that...

Mechanical engineering has grown increasingly complex, with cross-functional collaboration now a core priority in electronics design. The need to consult various stakeholders, from neighboring PCB designers to procurement teams and manufacturers, brings with it more insight into workflow bottlenecks. But recognizing these challenges does not mean engineers should accept the time and cost constraints of outdated processes. Instead, they should...

Medical OEM buyers face unique pressures: strict compliance, lifecycle stability, and patient safety. Octopart centralizes sourcing, ensuring every part is easy to find, meets regulatory, availability, and traceability requirements. The Pressures Facing Medical OEM Buyers From surgical monitors to implants, medical devices are required to function flawlessly 24/7 in hospital environments and the human body itself. For purchasing teams at...