8. Electronics Desgin

Reflection

Group Assignment

Individual Assignment

Checklist for this week:

Workflow for Circuit Design in EasyEDA

The process of designing a printed circuit board (PCB) in your EDA is a meticulous journey from conceptualization to the final product. Here's a step-by-step guide to navigate through this process effectively.

Step Description Key Actions and Considerations
1. Project Creation
Vector Tools
Initiate a new project in EDA for organizing your design files. Create a new project folder within EDA's control panel to keep your schematic and board layout files together.
2. Schematic Design
Vector Tools
Vector Tools
Design the circuit schematic, which is a symbolic representation of your circuit. Use the Schematic Editor to place and connect component symbols. Ensure all components are correctly connected according to your circuit design.
3. Component Selection
Vector Tools
Vector Tools
Choose the physical components for your design from EAD's libraries. Select components based on their electrical characteristics and physical footprint. Use the Library Manager to find or add new components as needed.
4. Board Layout
Vector Tools
Transition from schematic to physical board layout. Switch to the Board Editor, where EDA automatically creates a board from your schematic. Arrange components and route traces, considering optimal placement and signal integrity.
5. Design Rule Check (DRC)
Vector Tools
Vector Tools
Ensure the board layout meets specific design criteria and manufacturing capabilities. Run the DRC tool to check for errors like trace spacing, pad overlaps, and unconnected signals. Adjust your design accordingly to fix any issues.
6. Electrical Rule Check (ERC) Verify the electrical connectivity and logic of your schematic design. Perform ERC to catch any schematic errors, such as unconnected pins or incompatible voltage levels between components.
7. Generating Gerber Files Vector Tools
Prepare files for PCB manufacturing. Once your design passes DRC and ERC, use the CAM processor to generate Gerber files, which are the standard format for PCB fabrication.
8. Bill of Materials (BOM) Creation Vector Tools
Compile a list of all components required for the PCB. Generate a BOM from your schematic, listing all components with their values, package types, and quantities for procurement.
9. Review and Finalization Conduct a final review of your design and files. Double-check your Gerber files and BOM for accuracy. Ensure all components are sourced, and your design files are correctly formatted for your PCB manufacturer's requirements.

This workflow guides you through each critical phase of PCB design in EDA, from initial concept to preparing your design for manufacturing. Adhering to this process ensures a smooth transition from idea to a physical board, ready for assembly and testing.

B2. PCB Components Detailed Overview


Vector Tools
Component Identifier Technical Specification
SW1 (Rotary Encoder)
Vector Tools
An electromechanical transducer that converts angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to analog or digital output signals, featuring detents and a tactile feedback mechanism.
U3 (DC Power Jack)
Vector Tools
An electrical power connector specialized for direct current (DC) power input, designed with internal switches to manage the connection and disconnection of internal batteries to prevent short-circuiting.
U4 (Piezoelectric Buzzer)
Vector Tools
An audio signaling device that utilizes piezoelectricity to generate acoustic waves at a set frequency when an alternating electrical signal is applied across its piezoelectric material.
U5 (Tactile Switch)
Vector Tools
A momentary contact, manual switch that provides tactile feedback and is characterized by a small actuation force and short travel distance for rapid actuation.
U6 (Microcontroller Unit)
Vector Tools
An integrated circuit (IC) that incorporates core features of a microprocessor with peripheral devices including memory and programmable input/output peripherals, executing embedded firmware.
R1, R2 (Resistors)
Vector Tools
Passive electronic components with a fixed or variable resistance value, implemented for current control, voltage division, and signal conditioning within the circuit topology.
LED1 (Light Emitting Diode)
Vector Tools
A semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it, utilized for status indication due to its high luminous efficacy and longevity.
5V, GND, TX, RX (Power and Communication Lines) Standard voltage supply rail (5V) and ground reference (GND), with transmission (TX) and reception (RX) lines for UART or other serial communication protocols.
UPDI, GND, VCC (Programming and Power Interfaces) UPDI interface for in-system programming and debugging of microcontroller units, accompanied by ground (GND) and positive voltage supply (VCC) terminals for circuit biasing.
PA6321 PA pins: 6, 3, 2, 1
C1 (Electrolytic Capacitor)
Vector Tools
A polarized capacitor with a 10µF capacitance, typically used for energy storage, filtering, and decoupling applications, providing low-frequency filtering or supply voltage stabilization.