Skip to content

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

alt text

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)

alt text

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

  • Download the following Kicad libraries

  • Fab Kicad library

  • Digikey Kicad library
  • Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3/ Kicad library

  • Documents > KiCad > 8.0 > Library (I created this folder) > Download Library (save download library here)
    alt text

  • Open KiCad

  • Preferences > Symbol Library Management
    alt text

  • Click the “+” button, press the folder icon in the library path, select the “fab.kicad_sym” file, and click OK.
    alt text

  • Preferences > “Manage Footprint Library”
    alt text

  • Click the “+” button, press the folder icon in the library path, select the “fab.pretty” folder, and click OK.
    alt text

1.2 Create New Project

Create a new project on the prototype main board for the final project

File > New Project

alt text

1.3 Open the schematic editor to create a schematic diagram

alt text

1.4 Add symbol
Rotate symbols with R key if necessary

alt text

1.5 Added power symbols

alt text

1.6 Add cables to connect components and power supply

alt text

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

alt text

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).

alt text

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.

alt text

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

alt text

Only the marked areas have been changed to the instructor's recommended values.

  • Net Classes (Default)

alt text

  • Pre-defined Size (I added Power line width:0.8 mm, Signal line width: 0.4 mm)

alt text

The instructor recommended this size.

2.1 Move to PCB from Schematic.

alt text

2.2 Update PCB from Schematic, then click close.

alt text

The PCB parts are update.

alt text

2.3 Move the each PCB parts and add wire.

alt text

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.

alt text

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.

alt text

  • Schematic alt text

  • PCB alt text

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.