227-0651-00L  Applied Circuit and PCB-Design

SemesterAutumn Semester 2017
LecturersA. Blanco Fontao
Periodicityevery semester recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish


AbstractParticipants learn how to design a predefined electronic circuit and how to lay out the pertaining circuit board. CAE and CAD activities for design and simulation are carried out with the aid of Altium Designer.
ObjectiveThe goal is to become acquainted with all those practical aspects of electronic circuit and PCB design by working through a modest but complete application example. This involves analysis of specifications, the evaluation of electronic parts, efficient testing and failure search, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), the usage of industrial CAE/CAD tools for circuit simulation and PCB layout, generating production data for the board manufacturer, board mounting, testing and start up.
ContentContent:

- Understanding circuit, system, and product specifications
- Guidelines, standards, and regulations
- Design and development flow

- Introduction to the Altium Designer environment

- Selection of components and circuit sizing
- Preparing schematic symbols and footprints for CAE/CAD
- Working with database component libraries

- Logically structured schematic circuit diagrams
- Capturing a predefined circuit
- Definition of net classes and layout rules in schematics
- Design for EMC
- Checking schematic data
- Simulation of mixed signal circuits using Spice
- Hints for improved testing and debugging

- Component placement on the PCB
- Turning circuit diagrams into a workable layout
- Manual and automatic interconnect routing
- Definition of layout rules
- RF- and EMC-guidelines for circuit wire routing
- Differential pairs and impedance-controlled routing

- Introduction to PCB manufacturing
- Preparation of production and assembly data
- PCB and device assembly (component mounting)
- Final circuit testing and start up
LiteratureAll necessary documents will be available as electronic documents (PDF).
Prerequisites / Notice- The course is recommended to all students who plan to design an electronic circuit or a PCB in an upcoming term project or as part of their master thesis. Attending this course during the term before will ensure they are optimally prepared and will allow them to fully focus on their project.

- The number of participants is limited.

- For their own students and staff, the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering provides electronic components and consumables free of charge. All other participants have to bear a 200 CHF fee for those items.