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Circuit Symbols: Key to Understanding Electrical and Electronic Diagrams

Circuit symbols are essential in electrical and electronic diagrams for representing complex circuits and components in a standardized and simplified manner. These symbols are crucial for engineers, electricians, and technicians to understand circuit functions without documentation. Universal recognition of these symbols ensures consistent interpretation across languages and regions, aiding education and training. Circuit diagrams consist of various components like switches, capacitors, resistors, and......

Aug 27, 2024

What is Chip-on-Board (COB) in PCB Design? Full Guide to Benefits and Manufacturing Process

In this tutorial, we will get the detailed concept of "Chip On Board" or COB. If you have ever thought about how cheaper, durable and compact electronic devices are made, the answer is chip-on-board technology. Chip on board is a solution from chip manufacturing to prototyping and development board. Today we will provide a deep understanding of COB and profitable insights for the electronic miniaturization future. A finished semiconductor wafer is cut into dies. Each die is then physically bonded to t......

Understanding PCB Resistance: Key Factors, Testing Methods, and Design Best Practices

How easily current flows through a circuit board is determined by its resistance. Although some resistance is provided by each trace and component on the board, the objective is to reduce it. When the material that electrons pass through blocks or slows down their flow, resistance results. Energy is lost as a result of this obstruction, frequently as heat. Trace resistance is a crucial factor in determining the circuit's operational current in power-related circuits, such as amplifier units. To guaran......

What is a Blank Circuit Board (Bare PCB) and How is it Used

A printed circuit board (PCB) that doesn't have any electronic parts on it is called a blank PCB, bare PCB. A PCBA, on the other hand, is a PCB that has all the electronic parts that it needs. Because there is a layer of copper covering the circuit board, blank PCB boards are sometimes called "copper clad" circuit boards. A blank PCB is a computer board that is made up of layers of epoxy fibreglass, copper foil, and PCB inks. Before the copper sheets, there are non-conductive prepreg layers on a blank......

A Beginners Guide to Tented vs Untented Vias

Via’s are important, If working at high speed design and HDI boards then they become super important. Choosing a type of via during PCB manufacturing matters. Via’s are basically joining two or more layer traces together. Shape, size and track length guidelines became more interesting at high frequency and high speed signals. Today in this article we will explore a fabrication side, the decision to use tented or untented vias. This beginner-friendly guide explains what tented vias are, the differences......

Role of Prepreg in Multilayer PCB Manufacturing

A PCB stackup arrangement includes layers, planes, cores, base, substrate, laminate, and prepreg. From Core we can say FR4, Aluminum, Rogers and all. On the other hand prepregs are the dielectric material between the adjacent cores or the core and a layer. In multilayer PCBs, prepreg is a vital part that holds the PCB core and layers together. Once the difference between prepreg and core is clear, what exact material should you use for your application? How do the important electrical parameters chang......

What are IoT Devices? How They Work, Types & Key Challenges

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized modern technology by enabling everyday objects to connect, communicate, and share data over a network. The term IoT, or Internet of Things, refers to the collective network of connected devices and the technology that facilitates communication between devices and the cloud, as well as between the devices themselves. The Internet of Things integrates everyday “things” with the internet. Computer Engineers have been adding sensors and processors to everyda......

What is a HDMI RF Modulator? A Complete Guide

1. What is an HDMI RF Modulator? An HDMI RF modulator is a device that converts high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) signals into Radio frequency (RF) signals. This allows HDMI-compatible devices, such as Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and streaming devices, to transmit audio and video content over coaxial cables, making them compatible with older television sets or distribution systems that use RF signals. These modulators are particularly useful in settings where legacy TV systems are stil......

Series vs Parallel Circuits: Key Differences, Advantages, and Applications

Series and parallel circuits are fundamental to understanding electronics and designing efficient electrical systems. These configurations define how components like resistors, capacitors, and diodes are connected in a circuit, influencing the overall behavior of the system. Usually a circuit schematics contains a lot series and parallel combined elements embedded with each other in order to perform certain functions. Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to a......

How PCBs Power Consumer Electronics: Applications & Innovations

The fast moving world of consumer electronics is constantly changing and improving which always makes things challenging when it comes to time to market. Added to this challenge, is the ongoing miniaturization of electronic devices. That means, there is a constant requirement of new technologies for meeting the growing demand of these systems. Innovative products are inspiring developers to bring out ever smaller but more powerful devices for meeting the requirements of advanced future applications. T......

Medical Electronics Technology in Healthcare

To enhance the lives of humans, medical devices are critical for making invasive surgeries. Today, every medical equipment uses at least one sensor for healthcare monitoring. To meet the strict demands of medical electronics, various sensors have been incorporated for diagnosing and treatment of spontaneous illness and physiological disorders. The evolution of medical electronics is not as fast as other consumer electronics. Because there is no chance of errors and over the head we prefer result accur......

EMI Filtering in High-Frequency Circuits

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is an unwanted disturbance generated by electronic devices that can interfere with the operation of other nearby equipment. EMI is caused by electromagnetic radiation emitted from electrical circuits as they switch on and off or operate at high frequencies. EMI refers to unwanted electromagnetic energy that disrupts the normal operation of electronic devices. 1. Types of EMI: Conducted EMI: It travels through power lines or signal cables and is caused by physical con......

PCB Via Tenting: Everything You Need to Know

If you are familiar with printed circuit boards (PCBs), you have likely come across the term via tenting. It is a crucial technique used in PCB manufacturing that plays a significant role in the performance, durability, and reliability of the final product. But what exactly is PCB via tenting, and why is it so important?In this article, we will break down the concept of via tenting, its benefits, when to use it, and its impact on PCB design and manufacturing. By the end, you will have a clear understa......

How AI is Revolutionizing PCB Design: A Comprehensive Guide

Your favorite machine learning, optimization, and generative AI algorithms may soon be used in your favorite PCB design program. Now that ChatGPT has become a household name and competitor companies are developing their own GPT equivalents (Claude, LLaMa, etc.), EDA startups are looking at how to leverage these tools to help PCB designers and engineers be more productive. With so many industries touched by automation and AI, it was only a matter of time before PCB designers would get their own tools. ......

FR4 vs Rogers: Which PCB Material Should You Choose?

Traditionally, manufacturers have been making PCBs or printed circuit boards of materials that offer resistance to heat and are, therefore, less expensive to produce. As the electronics industry is increasing in terms of high frequency application, only FR4 is not enough. Some equipment, while not being subject to extreme temperatures, may have to work at RF or radio frequencies. According to the extreme performance conditions demanded by RF, specialized materials such as Rogers are necessary to deliv......

What is Attenuation: How Signal Weaken Over Distance

As a signal travels from the source to the load through PCB conductors, the signal is attenuated due to trace resistance and dielectric losses, resulting in energy loss. Signal attenuation is the most common term used when high-speed signals travel across a circuit board. It is one of the major contributors to signal degradation that leads to signal integrity issues. Usually more attenuation can be seen at higher frequencies due to phenomena like skin effect. The attenuation factor determines how far ......

Designing with Microvias: Stack-Ups, Reliability, and Via Filling

Have you ever wondered how designers pack so much functionality into such a small space? You can thank HDI design techniques and microvias in printed circuit design. High-Density Interconnect (HDI) PCB technology is at the forefront of modern electronics, enabling compact and powerful devices. These structures have been around for years, but they are becoming more common in a variety of systems that require multiple functions on a single circuit board. If you've done a size study and you've determined......

What is Chip-on-Board (COB) Technology: A Complete Guide

In this tutorial, we will get the detailed concept of "Chip On Board" or COB. If you have ever thought about how cheaper, durable and compact electronic devices are made, the answer is chip-on-board technology. Chip on board is a solution from chip manufacturing to prototyping and development board. Today we will provide a deep understanding of COB and profitable insights for the electronic miniaturization future. A finished semiconductor wafer is cut into dies. Each die is then physically bonded to t......

What is a Power Management IC (PMIC): Functions and Applications

A Power Management IC (PMIC) is a type of integrated circuit designed to manage the power requirements of the host system. It efficiently distributes, regulates, converts, and monitors electrical power for various components within a device, such as processors, memory units, and peripherals. As the demand for compact, battery-powered, and high-performance devices continues to grow, PMICs have become an essential part of system design across industries. Embedded and application processors and other com......

Reflection Rule Calculator for Impedance Matching

Whenever a signal is sent digitally from one point to another, it changes the state of a signal line. The change in state of the signal can be described as an electromagnetic wave as it moves through the circuit. Reflection in the signal occurs when an electromagnetic wave encounters a boundary from one medium to the next. When the wave meets the boundary, part of the energy is transmitted as a signal and part of it is reflected. The process will continue indefinitely until the energy is absorbed by t......

Digital Electronic Circuits: A Comprehensive Guide

Digital electronic circuits are the foundation of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to computers and even smart home devices. These circuits operate using discrete signals, typically represented as binary values (0s and 1s), making them the backbone of the digital world. In this article, we will break down what digital electronic circuits are, how they work, their components, and their applications in everyday life. 1. What Are Digital Electronic Circuits? Electronic circuits tha......