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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......

Feb 17, 2025

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......

Electronic Amplifier Circuit: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

An electronic amplifier circuit is one of the most critical components in modern electronics. Whether you are listening to music, using your smartphone, or operating industrial equipment, amplifiers play a significant role in enhancing weak signals to usable levels. But what exactly is an amplifier circuit, how does it work, and why is it so important? Let’s break it down in simple terms. 1. What is an Electronic Amplifier Circuit? Electronic amplifier circuits are devices or groups of parts that make......

Discover the Power of ESP32 Microcontroller Projects

The ESP32 microcontroller is a favorite among tech enthusiasts for its amazing features and versatility. It boasts a dual-core processor, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, making it ideal for various DIY and professional projects. In this article, we'll look at some exciting ESP32 projects, from home automation to environmental monitoring that will show you how to make the most of this microcontroller. Home Automation with ESP32 Home automation is one of the most popular uses for the ESP32. Its built-in Wi-Fi and......

Stack-Up Strategies for Effective HDI PCB Design

Whether you believe Moore's Law is dead or alive, the strong economic incentive to pack more processing power into ever smaller form factors is unlikely to abate any time soon. With the entry of the HDI stackup—a technology at the cutting edge of multilayer PCB design that promises to help PCB designers make smaller complex boards for years to come. The stack-up in a printed circuit board (PCB) design is a critical element that influences the board's performance, manufacturability, and reliability. In......

Ultimate Guide to QFN Package

Quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages are a type of IC package that are small, lightweight, and have a thin profile. They are also known as chip-scale packages because the lead can be seen and contacted even after assembly. They have electrode pads at the bottom of the package instead of leads, and a thermal pad that provides good thermal performance. QFN packages are used in a variety of industries, including mobile devices and automotive electronics. Among the many important choices, QFN packaging has al......

Role of a Circuit Simulator in Electronics Design

Making electronic and electrical circuits can be time-consuming and technologically demanding, not to mention expensive. After creating an electronic circuit, designers must test the circuit’s functionality in order to confirm its functionality and make any necessary adjustments. What if, instead of creating the circuit with real board and components, we were able to obtain a mathematical description of the circuit? This is the idea behind Circuit Simulation. We will go over the subject in this articl......

How to Simulate Electronic Circuits in LTSpice

LTSpice is a powerful, free-to-use SPICE-based simulator developed by Analog Devices. It is widely used by engineers, hobbyists, and students for simulating electronic circuits to analyze their behavior before physical implementation. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to simulating circuits in LTSpice. To know more about PCBs and their manufacturing see our recent full detailed article. Here we will design a circuit, a BJT amplifier. We are using a voltage divider biasing method. More detail......

Electronic Devices and Circuits

In the realm of modern technology, electronics devices and circuits play a crucial role in powering everything from everyday gadgets to complex machinery. Understanding the fundamentals of these components can provide valuable insights into how various electronic systems operate and interact. This blog explores the basics of electronics devices and circuits, their types, functions, and the significance of their design in today's technological landscape. Electronics means study of flow of electrons in ......

What is a Circuit Breaker: Types and Applications

A circuit can be damaged which will reduce its reliability. Therefore, electrical circuits need to be protected using circuit protection devices. Usually fuses, chokes, decoupling capacitors, zener diodes, protection diodes are enough to prevent the electronics from any mishap. Circuit breakers are also used for the same purpose in electrical systems. A circuit breaker can be defined as a type of switching device that prevents damage to the electrical system by acting as a switch and that interrupts t......

Countersunk Holes in PCB Design

When designing printed circuit boards (PCBs), engineers often need to create holes in the board to mount components or attach connectors. Two common hole types are countersunk and counterbored. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are important differences between countersunk and counterbore holes that impact their use in PCBs. Both terms are commonly used in CNC machining. Normally countersunk is a cone shaped hole and the counterbore is a cylindrical flat-bottomed hole. This article wi......

Building a Simple Circuit with a Breadboard

If you are new to electronics, building a simple circuit is the perfect way to get started. A breadboard is one of the easiest tools you can use for this. It is a small, reusable board that helps you connect components without any need for soldering. This means you can try different ideas, fix mistakes, and learn without any permanent changes. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to build a basic circuit on a breadboard. By the end, you will have a working circuit and a clearer idea of ho......

Understanding the Role of PCB Controllers in Electronic Design

A PCB Controller is an important part of designing and building electrical systems. It controls the functions of different mechanical parts on a printed circuit board (PCB) and makes sure they can talk to each other easily. People use PCB controllers in a lot of different situations, from home technology to factory automation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of PCB controllers, including the different kinds, their uses, and the best ways to choose and use them. 1. What is a PC......