How to get the most out of an electronic design – Guide
A circuit is a loop through which matter is transported. In an electronic circuit, the matter transported is the electronics charge, and the source of these electrons is the positive terminal of the voltage source. When this charge flows from the positive terminal through the loop and reaches the negative terminal, the circuit is considered closed. However, this circuit consists of several components that affect the flow of charge in different ways. Some can impede the flow of charge, while others store or dissipate charge. Some require an external power source, while others provide power.
A circuit needs a few other components to ensure proper load flow and process the load supplied by the source so that an appropriate amount of load flows into the load.
How to get the most out of an electronic project
Title block and block diagram usage
Electronic design is all about creating schematics and diagrams that accurately reflect the architecture and schema of a circuit. This helps users understand the function of the circuit and how it all fits together. ..
A schematic is an important part of any electronic project. It contains the essential notes and details for building the circuit layout on a PCB or breadboard. By including the designer’s name, you give the schematic a more professional look. ..
I/O signal placements
The conventional layout for electronic circuits is to have the ground wire at the bottom and the power supply wire at the top. This can make it difficult to read the circuit, as it can be confusing which wire goes where. By following a different layout, called “signal flow,” it is easier to see which signals are going where. ..
Layout design is an important process in the design of websites. Each designer must take care in the placement of components, arranging similar components in the same and single direction, especially components polarized in a single column or row. Most ECAD programs offer simpler options for positioning pins and components to allow grid editing in the layout editor.
Make clear connections
In circuit design, it is necessary to represent and distinguish networks to identify whether these networks intersect or are connected. To solve this problem, the designer must use the dot convention method to get a clear idea of the circuit connections. It is recommended that at least a single grid point be moved before changing direction if symbol pin connections are involved. This action ensures that each network in the layout is visible in your list when the PCB project layout is created.
To create a more clear scheme that increases readability for the user, use buses to group signals. Most good ECAD tools support this signal grouping function. To make different connections between different wires, a designer can add a symbol or global connector to indicate common signals and invisible power connections such as power and ground.
Use network labels and brief reference designators
All networks must be marked for the necessary signals in the circuit diagram. This step mainly helps with troubleshooting or running certain simulations. While marking the networks is not required, it saves the designer more time, especially when designing the PCB layout. In addition, labeling networks increases readability for the user, as it connects distant terminals that are not even physically connected by wire. ..
Reference designators can be used to properly represent and label components in circuit design. Reference designators should be indicated near the component in the schematic, depending on the type of pattern the designer chooses for the entire project.
Use of coupling/decoupling capacitors
In electronic devices, the power supply is unstable and provides a fluctuating output voltage that can affect the circuit. To prevent this, the designer uses different types of capacitors to filter the input and output signals. A decoupling capacitor is connected in parallel close to the power supply during circuit design to ensure a pure DC power supply. These decoupling capacitors are used to decouple incoming AC signals from DC signals. When the Vcc voltage level is reached, the current stops flowing through the capacitor because this decoupling capacitor keeps this charge flowing until there is a drop in the Vcc source voltage.
Coupling capacitors are used to couple different types of amplifier circuits. They allow smooth, limited flow of both the DC and low-frequency noise in the output signals. This allows for clear sound without any AC noise. Bypass capacitors help to remove noise within and between systems, diverting it to ground.
Make use of pull-down/pull up resistors
When working with digital IC circuits and microcontrollers, designers should consider using pull-up and pull-down resistors to help avoid floating states. This basic principle helps to ignore and manage the occurrence of these states.
When a digital IC is in a logic 1 or high state, the voltage range from +0V to +0, 8V is considered as a logic 0 or low state. On the other hand, when the digital IC is in a logic 0 or low state, the voltage range from +0V to +2.7V is considered as a floating or indeterminate state and the logic state is considered high (1) or low (0). To work around this scenario, designers use pull-up and pull-down resistors to force the proper voltage across input pins of digital ICs so circuits behave correctly. ..
Microcontroller-based circuit design
Microcontrollers help the designer to save time and minimize layout size by removing many components involved in analog-to-digital conversion.
Microcontrollers have become a popular choice for many tasks that are difficult or expensive to do with traditional microprocessors. They offer advanced features at a fraction of the cost of traditional microprocessors, and can be used in more places.
Use of PWM signals for lower power consumption
To reduce the amount of power used by an application, designers should use a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme with a reliable microcontroller or IC NE555. This will improve the energy capacity of the circuit.
Selecting suitable patterns for designing component symbols
To begin the schematic design, it is important to consider the component symbols used in the layout drawing. Although these symbols are used internationally, they may be represented differently in other parts of the world. To solve this problem, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created several standards that designers can use for commonly used components. ..
This includes the IEEE 991 standard, which is used for logical schematics; IEEE Standard 315, which contains labels and graphic symbols for various electrical and electronic diagrams; and IEEE Standard 91, which contains various graphic symbols for various logic functions.
Selecting the proper CAD tool
When designing a circuit, it is important to use the correct electronic computer aided design software. This software can be used to create schematics and PCB layouts as well as artwork.
Some EDA companies and developers offer free ECAD tools like KiCAD while others offer paid ECAD tools like Altium Designer, OrCAD, etc. It depends on the designer which software is suitable for circuit design. Ultimately, it’s best to master the ECAD tool that works well for the designer. Although it’s good to know how to using EDA software, it is better to learn the technique of designing and building the circuit. ..
Final note
How to get the most out of an electronic design can be a daunting task. This guide will help you understand the basics of electronic design and how to use it to your advantage. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us. Finally, share this article with your friends so they can learn too! ..
