No standard naming exists, and I use the different names interchangeably. There are several names for the ways the components are connected electrically on a PCB. Answer, if you said the PCB is the most important component not shown on this schematic, you’re on your way to becoming a good layout engineer. By the way, the good stuff is always at the back of data sheets, so just don’t read that first page.Ī question for you, what is the most important component on this schematic? Hint, it isn’t actually shown. The compromise was to put more realistic schematics toward the back of the data sheet. Like many schematics, the pin note shown is not representative of the actual IC, which is a TSSOP-20 with a thermal tab underneath. The customers will think you need too many expensive components to make it work.”Ĭircuit schematics, like this example, rarely provide any insight into proper PCB layout, although I have seen some footnotes placed near certain components on various customer designs. I would say, “This schematic should have all the components needed to make the IC work.” Then, the marketeers would say, “Don’t put so many parts on there. When I was an application engineer writing data sheets, I always the following debate with the marketing engineers while writing the document. This is a typical data sheet front page schematic. Not zero noise, that’s simply not possible, but the lowest noise. A well-designed PCB, on the other hand, will provide the best efficiency and lowest noise. It really is true that a switcher with all the component values chosen perfectly can fail to work at all, interfere with other circuits, including its own node, or blow up, what veterans call, “Letting the magic smoke out.” All this can occur if the PCB is not designed properly. With an eye for the best possible electromagnetic compatibility, or EMC. I’m going to take you through all the major parts of routing your PCB.
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Finally, I’ll discuss how to take advantage of multiple layers if you happen to have such luxury, and how to deal with single layouts if you have to deal with that special challenge. The last components to be placed are the signal level, or analog parts. EMI reducing snubber filters are next, followed by the actual control IC and the often forgotten gate drive paths. From there, input capacitor will be placed. I’m gonna start with the challenge of the switch node. In this final section on PCB layout, we’re going to look at reduced schematics from the mocking department as compared to practical ones. Since this section takes all the theory discussed in the previous two, it represents a step-by-step application of it all for a practical PCB design. If you haven’t seen parts 3-1 and 3-2 yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. Welcome to section, 3-3 of our Power Supply Design Tutorial.