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PCB Trace and Pad Clearance: Low vs. High Voltage PCB Trace and Pad Clearance: Low vs. High Voltage High voltage/high current designs carry safety requirements that need to be met by designers. Similarly, high-speed designs need to have suppressed crosstalk in order to ensure signal integrity. The key design aspects that relate to both areas are your PCB trace clearance and pad clearance values. These design choices are critical for balancing safety, noise suppression, and manufacturability. The IPC 2221 voltage and spacing standards provide Read Article
Via current carrying capacity for PCBs PCB Via Current-Carrying Capacity: Is My PCB Too Hot? What does PCBA too hot mean? It's a common question from designers, particularly new designers that are learning about industry standards, and refers to the PCB via current-carrying capacity of conductors. Trace and via current-carrying capacity are legitimate design points to focus on when designing a new board that will carry high current. The goal is to keep conductor temperatures below some appropriate limit, which then helps keep components Read Article
Will these amplifiers be stable during operation? Here’s what you should know about amplifier stability in your PCB. Amplifier Stability at High Frequencies and Stray Capacitance Amplifiers are one of those critical components that make modern life possible. From wireless communication to power electronics, amplifiers need to run stably and predictably for these products to work properly. Stability analysis is one of my favorite topics in physics and engineering, and it always tends to crop up in places you would least expect. One of these places is in amplifiers. Any time-dependent physical system with feedback and gain Read Article
Near-field vs. far-field radiation from a smartphone Near-field and Far-field EMI: What's Causing Noise Problems in My PCB? If you’re an antenna designer, then you’re likely familiar with all aspects of near-field vs. far-field radiation. Given the litany of radiated EMI problems that cause noise within and outside of an electronic device, one might suddenly realize their new product is acting like a strong antenna. To understand how EMI affects your circuits, it helps to understand exactly how near-field vs. far-field radiation from your PCB affects your ability to Read Article
ADC Sampling Rate and Layout for Mixed Signal Boards ADC Sampling Rate and Layout for Mixed Signal Boards Whenever you’re selecting an ADC, whether it is built into an MCU or as an external component, the sampling rate you will use is a prime consideration as it will determine how well you can reproduce a measured signal. Some RF applications, analog sensor boards, and other mixed-signal devices need at least one ADC with an appropriately chosen ADC sampling rate. If you’re designing with a mixed-signal board, you’ll need to balance the required Read Article
Getting Started in Altium Designer | Changing the Rules! Getting Started in Altium Designer | Changing the Rules! The Altium Designer environment is controlled by rules, which are created using a powerful tool called the “PCB Rules and Constraints Editor”. By creating rules before component placement and routing starts, Altium can warn you or prevent you from making mistakes, depending on how your preferences are set. If rules are changed midstream, Altium’s sophisticated Design Rule Checker can highlight violations based on the revised rules, and report Read Article
Are We Poised on the Brink of a New Age? Are We Poised on the Brink of a New Age? A new material shaped like a one-dimensional DNA helix can be used to build transistors with diameters of only two nanometers. Read Article
The Moon by 2024, Mars by 2040, and Then? The Moon by 2024, Mars by 2040, and Then? It seems the chances are improving that we will one day become a true space-faring species. Read Article
Design Reliable Multiple Stack Microvias Like a Pro Design Reliable Multiple Stack Microvias Like a Pro In this podcast episode , learn how Gerry Partida and his team at Summit Interconnect made a compelling new discovery about the reliability of multiple stacked microvias. Watch it now. Read Article
Online Educational Resources for Mastering PCB Design Online Educational Resources for Mastering PCB Design Ben Jordan, “Dean of Altium Academy”, shares details about the central hub for educational resources: documentation, videos, and tips for mastering your Altium software. Read Article
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