Electronics Design
Group assignments
- use the test equipment in your lab to observe the operation
- of a microcontroller circuit board
My group assignments
Individual Assignments
- use an EDA tool to design a development board
- that uses parts from the inventory to interact
- and communicate with an embedded microcontroller
Have you answered these questions?
- Linked to the group assignment page
- Documented what you have learned in electronics design
- Checked your board can be fabricated
- Explained problems and how you fixed them.
- Included original design files (Eagle, KiCad, etc.)
- Included a ‘hero shot’
PC working environment
- PC: MacBook Pro(16-inch,2019)
- OS: Sonoma 14.7.2
- Terminal: zsh
hero shot
design a development board
1.KiCad
KiCad is open source EDA software for designing electronic circuits and creating printed circuit boards (PCBs)
1.0 Installation (already installed in advance study : ver 8.0)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Schematics | Schematic Design (symbols, footprints, wiring methods) |
| PCB | for PCB design (layout) |
1.1 library
A library is a collection of data on parts (symbols, footprints, 3D models, etc.) used in KiCad. Register the library in KiCad. The procedure is as follows.
process
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Download the following Kicad libraries
- Digikey Kicad library
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Documents > KiCad > 8.0 > Library (I created this folder) > Download Library (save download library here)
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Open KiCad
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Preferences > Symbol Library Management
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Click the “+” button, press the folder icon in the library path, select the “fab.kicad_sym” file, and click OK.
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Preferences > “Manage Footprint Library”
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Click the “+” button, press the folder icon in the library path, select the “fab.pretty” folder, and click OK.
1.2 Create New Project
Create a new project on the prototype main board for the final project
File > New Project
1.3 Open the schematic editor to create a schematic diagram
1.4 Add symbol Rotate symbols with R key if necessary
1.5 Added power symbols
1.6 Add cables to connect components and power supply
1.7 Add global label
1.8 Added no connection flag on unused pins
1.9 annotation
Automatically assign a number to each component in the schematic. If you change a part, you need to start over again
1.10 Footprint Assignment
Select the actual part to be used here. On the left side, select the footprint library, and on the right side, select the part you want to use (be careful about the size at this point).
1.11 ERC
EERC (Electrical Rules Check) is a function that detects design errors such as wiring errors in schematics and power and GND mismatches, which are important for creating circuits that work correctly. After a schematic is created or edited, it can pass through the ERC to verify that the schematic is electrically correct.
I added power flags to power and GND and did an ERC check and got some Warnings as shown above, but I ignored them because I talked to the installer and he advised me that there was no problem.
2.PCB
2.0 Design rule
- Constraints
Only the marked areas have been changed to the instructor's recommended values.
- Net Classes (Default)
- Pre-defined Size (I added Power line width：0.8 mm, Signal line width: 0.4 mm)
The instructor recommended this size.
2.1 Move to PCB from Schematic.
2.2 Update PCB from Schematic, then click close.
The PCB parts are update.
2.3 Move the each PCB parts and add wire.
If wires cross, use 0Ω to bridge the crossing point.
2.4 Add Edgecuts
I chose the circle shape to use for the Final project.
NOTE: I was advised by Rico at Asia Review that “adding GNGs to the available pins would make it easier to use”. So I decided to edit it.
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Schematic
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PCB
compleat!
3.data file
impressions
- I am not good at this task, but I think I was able to proceed more smoothly than usual because I had learned about it beforehand.
- I heard that it is easier to design if you first write on a piece of paper and check what and where you are going to connect what and where.