Sierra Circuits

Our new episode with the one and only Rick Hartley is finally out!! Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eiw6uxkE In this 6th episode of Trace Talks, Amit Bahl and Atar Mittal sit down with the legendary Rick Hartley to discuss PCB design's evolution and intricacies. From his career-defining experiences with Ralph Morrison to the philosophical understanding of energy in circuits, Rick provides valuable insights every designer should hear. #rickhartley #emi #signalintegrity #pcb #ee #electricalengineering #tracetalks #podcast #techpodcast

10 must-haves in your #PCBassembly drawing to eliminate DFA errors 🟨An assembly drawing displays all the components on the board in their assembled locations, along with their corresponding reference designators for identification. 🟨Assembly notes are instructions provided by board designers to help the CM assemble the board by placing components following a specific order and procedure. It is up to the designer to adapt modifiers in the notes according to the requirement. 📖Read the article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/esgQChCZ -- Repost for better reach. #pcbmanufacturing #pcbdesign #electricalengineering

Have you tried our new tool, the Component Selector? Yes, we know, another tool... How many do we have now? Like, 17 or 18? That's a lot of free tools for you PCB guys, just sayin'. 😎 So what's so awesome about this one? Let's go down the rabbit hole... ‣ Smart filtering: Zero in on the perfect parts with multiple filters to refine your search. ‣ Curated library: Browse Sierra’s preferred components, complete with standardized footprint files for Altium Designer and Cadence Allegro. ‣ Compare like a pro: See key differences between components at a glance, saving you time and effort. ‣ Download-ready footprints: Reduce errors with production-ready files you can count on. ‣ Effortless MPN search: Quickly locate components using MPNs or part descriptions. ‣ Custom favorites: Create your own library of frequently used components for quicker access. Convinced much? TRY NOW: https://lnkd.in/gMNkVD7a #pcb #pcba #pcbassembly #electronicscomponents #pcbcomponents #pcbmanufacturing

Tomorrow, we will release a new episode of Trace Talks with Rick Hartley. In the meantime, you can watch the latest episode with #KiCad expert Seth Hillbrand: https://lnkd.in/gtCMg2eS #pcb #pcbdesign #techpodcast #tracetalks

What is #CAM software responsible for? The computer-aided manufacturing software performs the following tasks once the design files are received from PCB designers: 🟨1. Recognizes the format of the artwork layers, drilling data, IPC Netlist, etc. 🟨2. Translates the electronic data into images to view, measure, check, and edit the data. 🟨3. Verifies layer order sequence. 🟨4. Performs design rule checks, and compares the IPC netlists with the imported data. 🟨5. Configures nesting of parts on the production panel for the best orientation of the part to maximize machining material utilization and machine efficiency. 📖Read the blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gzu_JxPP -- Repost for better reach. #pcbfabrication #pcbmanufacturing #circuitboardmanufacturing #ems

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from Sierra Circuits! 🍁 We’re grateful for: ❃ Copper traces that actually trace. ❃ Boards that don’t warp like your uncle’s pumpkin pie crust. ❃ And all of YOU, the resistors to our capacitors, keeping the circuit of innovation alive! May you have a beautiful day and don't spend too much on #BackFriday! #happythanksgiving #thanksgiving #thanks

Before you log off for a well-deserved Thanksgiving break, here's a little teaser for you... Next Tuesday, we will release Trace Talks EP 6 with special guest Rick Hartley who came to chat about anything high frequency. You know you'll walk away from that listening session with some valuable insights! Watch here: https://lnkd.in/g5RB2vUx #tracetalks #podcast #techpodcast #ee #emi #pcb

8 key parameters for selecting RF PCB #antennas <--Swipe left Embedded antenna hardware today is engineered to function within a frequency range typically spanning from 400 MHz to 5.5 GHz. The choice of antenna in a PCB depends on the specific application, available board size, cost, RF range, and directivity. #RFPCB design guidelines for #5G include selecting the right antenna, designing the matching network, and RF input and output. By configuring these elements close together, signal losses can be minimized. 💡Read the blog for Antenna Integration and RF Design Guidelines: https://lnkd.in/gjYHckyZ #pcbdesign #electricalengineering

In this Trace Talks snippet, Amit Bahl asks about KiCad’s stack-up support and advanced features that take #PCB design to the next level. Learn how the latest updates in KiCad’s version 9 are making it easier to manage stack-up tables and enhance signal integrity for high-speed designs. With improvements on the horizon, #KiCad is pushing the boundaries for more complex design needs. Here’s what we discuss: • KiCad’s native support for stack-up tables and the exciting updates in version 9. • The critical role stack-up plays in ensuring high-speed signal integrity and improving overall design accuracy. • What’s next for KiCad with developments in region-based layers and rigid-flex designs. https://lnkd.in/gFHuszQ8

7 best practices for designing vias in #RFPCBs ♦️1. Design the via to maintain low return loss at the input, especially when dealing with wide bandwidths extending into the GHz range. ♦️2. Ensure the presence of vias does not negatively impact the insertion loss. While insertion loss is not usually the focal point for vias, it is still a critical factor. ♦️3. Maintain a minimum spacing of  λ/10 between the ground vias. For instance, at 2.4 GHz, the clearance should be 6 mm. ♦️4. Place ground-connected vias near the PCB edges to reduce RF losses through the laminate. The EMFs are less confined near the edges. However, avoid placing them too close to the edge to prevent mechanical issues. ♦️5. For mmWave PCBs, implement a via fence around grounded coplanar waveguides to enhance high-frequency isolation. This technique also suppresses frequencies below a cut-off and prevents mmWave interference with other signals. ♦️6. Avoid return or stitching vias for slow-speed signals with rise times higher than 20 ns (e.g., GPIOs, I2C, and control signals) because such signals are less sensitive to impedance discontinuities. ♦️7. Prioritize transition methods and the implementation of return paths (e.g., stitching vias) for higher-frequency signals or those with fast rise times to minimize radiation or crosstalk. 💡Read the blog to learn 4 RF PCB via design challenges: https://lnkd.in/gCTbdpjV #HighFrequencyDesign #PCBDesign #ViaDesign #ElectricalEngineering