circuit boards are among the most sophisticated of modern technologies, used in electronic equipment ranging from laptops, stereos, printers, televisions, and microwaves. As is true with any technology, understanding how circuit boards are designed is pivotal to knowing how they function.
Choose Good Materials
The grade of materials used determines the performance of the circuit board. Several grades of material are available. Lower-grade circuit board materials are composed of a paper-epoxy mixture, while higher grades include glass cloth and epoxy. The type of material affects the circuit board's strength and durability.
Separate the Grounds
When designing a circuit board, a key rule is to make sure that grounds in the circuit remain separate. Oftentimes, a circuit board will have both analog and digital circuitry. Each circuitry type must have its own ground. Analog circuitry must not come in contact with digital circuitry and vice versa. This rule can be extended to digital and analog planes. This can cause the two types of circuitry's operating to be interrupted.
Prevent Noise
Analog planes must be protected from "noise" of any kind. Noise refers to any current (unrelated to the operation of a particular circuit) that interferes with a circuit's operation. It is the primary source of problems with analog circuitry. Make sure that analog planes are sufficiently protected from sources of noise. Common sources include emissions conducted from other circuits, emissions radiated from nearby circuits, current conducted from external circuits, and current radiated through the air from external sources. When laying out a circuit board, keep issues relating to analog planes in mind.
Regulate Heat
Avoiding sudden bursts of heat is an important consideration. This means using components that dissipate, or discharge, as little heat as possible. Therefore, it is best to use power sources and other components that run on small amounts of power, and therefore put out very little heat. They will be less likely to damage the circuit board. In addition, finding ways to redirect the heat flows helps maintain a constant temperature on your circuit board. These include adding heat sinks at important areas, adding a fan to keep the temperature constant, and keeping critical parts of the circuit board isolated from heat sources. Use ground rings and moats to thermally isolate important components.
