Keeping a Schematic Tidy

Introduction

When drawing a schematic, crossing wires can make the schematic difficult to read and follow signals (see example, Figure 1). This tutorial shows several techniques for keeping your schematic tidy.

• Cadence

KiCad PCB FAQ

1. Why the width of the power traces needs to be larger than the signal traces?

• Because the power traces will need to carry much more current than the signal traces. If not, they may be heat up and potentially melt, which leads to create an open circuit or cause a fire. Usually, we will use 40 mils for the width of power traces and 20 mils for the width of signal traces.

2. Why the traces should be wired on a 45-degree angle, not directly on a 90-degree angle path?

• Because 90-degree wiring can cause problems at high-frequency situations because these points can act as miniature antennas and radiate signals.

LCDs and Buttons

Individual Assignment

Objectives

To develop and demonstrate individual proficiency in:

Level shifters

Introduction: What is a level shifter?

A level shifter either shifts the voltage of a data line up or down depending on what your circuit entails.

• Circuit design
• Level shifters

Make a Project Repository and Website

Introduction

The purpose of this post is to help you create a website to share your work. Sharing your work with the class and the broader community is important, as you should generate a persistent portfolio of class work to demonstrate your abilities when you apply for a job or academic career.

Manual Routing in Cadence PCB Editor

How do I manually route a design in PCB Editor?

Your design should have a board outline and components placed, and blue lines (the “rats nest”) between the components (see example, Figure 1). These blue lines are not traces, but rather points that are connected on your schematic and should be converted to traces in your design.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Measurement in Cadence PCB Editor

How do I measure the spacing between pins to make sure my footprint matches the Datasheet?

See the How to check your footprints using the OrCAD PCB Editor Measurement tool video

Mechanical CAD Software

What is CAD software used for?

Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software is used to capture and simulate designs electronically. It is commonly used for electrical or mechanical designs.

• Asu
• Cad
• Mechanical

Merging Multiple Schematics into a Single Schematic

Merging Multiple Schematics into a Single Schematic

1. Take note of all the files involved in the schematics you are merging, and ensure you have all of them. These include .dsn (design), .opj (project) and .olb (library) files, in addition to .psm (Package symbol, a.k.a. PCB footprint) files.

   • Cadence

Microchip AVR Microcontrollers

What microcontrollers does Atmel specialize in?

Atmel was one of the top IC manufacturers that makes a number of 8-bit, 32-bit, and ARM microcontrollers, including the AVR microcontroller used in the Arduino. Microchip purchased Atmel in 2017 and is maintaining the AVR line of microcontrollers. The following is a list of helpful resources for getting started with Microchip AVR microcontrollers.

• Programming
• Microcontroller