When the necessary precautions are ignored, the hardware design of the printed circuit board and manufacturing processes tend to fail. Carelessness in design, such as inaccurate measurements and insufficient spaces, can lead to problems in the printed circuit board (PCB) that affect the performance of the final product. The catastrophic failures can be due to an excess of engraving and errors in the perforation, as well as to problems of quality in the manufacturing process.
With the knowledge and experience of Freedom CAD Services in PCB manufacturing, we will avoid these common mistakes by identifying problems throughout the process to create an efficient final design.
Common technical problems in the design of printed circuit board hardware
Dark blue PCB: technical problems lead to PCBs with poor performance. We have identified four key technical issues that affect the hardware design of the printed circuit board and we work to prevent them from producing high-performance end products.
High speed long trails
For efficient transmission, high-speed signals must follow the most direct route available. Because of this, these designs should focus on high-frequency crystal routing. While most printed circuit board hardware designs with microcontrollers rarely need numerous high-speed signals, the tracking paths are critical in products that use high-speed microprocessors with an external data and address bus.
Optimization of the design of the power supply
Electronic designs use two types of voltage regulators: linear regulators and switching regulators.
Linear regulators offer lower energy efficiency, but in specific PCB designs, their low cost and simple design make their use attractive. Linear regulators are more critical in applications that involve low noise or high power.
Switching regulators are much more complex compared to linear regulators. While they are more energy efficient, switching regulators require more detailed attention to PCB design. In this case, it is essential to respect the guidelines of the data sheet.
Improper use of decoupling capacitors
The electrical components of PCB require a stable and reliable voltage source. To facilitate stable currents, the hardware design of the printed circuit board incorporates decoupling capacitors in the power supply's rail. The placement of the decoupling capacitors as close as possible to the pin maximizes the efficiency, so that the current can travel through the decoupling capacitor before reaching the pin.
High current currents too fine
If a PCB trace is required to process a current greater than a few hundred milliamps, the minimum trace width is not sufficient to perform this function. Freedom CAD Services engineers guarantee accurate calculations using a trace width calculator. The acceptable temperature increase is also specified for particular traces, allowing engineers to calculate the current load capacity of the trace to select the appropriate copper weight.