<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fFI33f4TejM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Ken Burns has published 7 hardware projects on Kickstarter. He explains how it works.
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://tinycircuits.com/">Ken's company TinyCircuits</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Can You Make Money on Kickstarter HW Projects?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2oA4X3OTz0M" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Interesting experiments and examples to help you to understand ground layout in PCB. Explained by Hans Rosenberg
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:19</span><span class="chapters-text">Currents flow under track</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:10</span><span class="chapters-text">What happen when you are making a board</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:37</span><span class="chapters-text">Where currents flow</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">14:01</span><span class="chapters-text">Experiment: Cut under track</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">19:51</span><span class="chapters-text">Floating copper fill</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">23:15</span><span class="chapters-text">Grounded copper fill</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">27:04</span><span class="chapters-text">Experiment: Filter</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">35:05</span><span class="chapters-text">2 Layer vs. 4 Layer</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">44:00</span><span class="chapters-text">3 rules to prevent ground problems</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">46:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Ground plane</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">49:52</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: 1 VIA per GND pin</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">54:46</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Gap in GND plane</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:02:00</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: FPGA board redesign</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:05:16</span><span class="chapters-text">Star grounding</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:07:39</span><span class="chapters-text">Multiple ground planes</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:14:30</span><span class="chapters-text">Example: Digital and Analog on one board</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:16:40</span><span class="chapters-text">About Hans</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HansRosenberg74">Hans´ YouTube</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.hans-rosenberg.com/">Hans´ website</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Examples of BAD Ground in PCB Layout And How to Fix It

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-qubBLJDD8" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
What will happen if you don't have enough GND pins on your connector?
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.colorado.edu/faculty/bogatin/">About Eric</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Do You Design Connector Pinout Correctly? | Eric Bogatin

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/0b0b9-pcb-layout-gold.png" alt="pcb layout gold" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        Hi, I am thinking to share my knowledge from motherboard and processor board design. Would you be interested?
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">What & How will you learn</h2>
        You will learn how to do Advanced PCB Layout (CPU, DDR3, PCIE, SATA, Ethernet, …).<br><br>

        You will be practising the layout by actually doing it. All the important things will be explained in the tutoring videos. <b>You will be practising layout on a <a href="http://www.imx6rex.com/">real project</a></b>.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <i>Layout Examples from the course</i>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/other-images/iMX6-Rex-All-layers.png" alt="iMX6 Rex All layers small" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/other-images/iMX6-Rex-Top-Layer.png" alt="iMX6 Rex Top Layer small" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/other-images/iMX6-Rex-Layer-3.png" alt="iMX6 Rex Layer 3 small" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/other-images/iMX6-Rex-Layer-10.png" alt="iMX6 Rex Layer 10 small" />
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">Content of the course</h2>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Placement</b> (CPU, memories, power supplies, connectors, protection, …)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Layout & Power distribution planning</b> (how and why to place the key components certain ways)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Fanouts and Placement under CPU / FPGA</b> (how to do placement and fanout in hight density areas)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>DDR2 / DDR3 memory layout</b> (how to do memory layout)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>General Layout</b> (tips and tricks)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Stackup</b> (how to choose and design High Density Interconnect HDI stackup)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Impedances</b> (how to calculate impedances)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>High speed design rules</b> (how to do layout for PCIE, SATA, USB, LVDS, SDVO, … )</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Finishing & Improving Layout</b> (power distribution, power planes, improving individual nets)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>DDR2 / DDR3 Memory length matching</b> (important parameters & how to do the length matching)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>PCB checking</b> (final PCB checking)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>Generating manufacturing documentation</b> (how to generate professional output documentation)</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">More information</h2>
        <b>Schedule</b><br>
        The end of 2013 or beginning of 2014<br><br>

        <b>Duration / Workload</b><br>
        10 Lessons. Each lesson with around 1 hour of tutoring video (watch when it’s best for you) + activities for practising.<br><br>

        <b>About Instructor</b><br>
        <b>Robert Feranec</b> (37), started designing advanced boards during PhD study. He designed his first Linux OS running board in 2002 and his first x86 board in 2004. Next 5 years (2005-2010), Robert spent in the UK designing processor boards. Since 2010 he has been working for different clients around the world as an independent contractor. Robert’s skills and knowledge are in designing Schematic and doing PCB layout for advanced digital boards such motherboards or processor boards.
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.imx6rex.com/">iMX6 Rex</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

Online Advanced PCB Layout Course, by Motherboard Designer

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/3702a-pcb-stackup-screenshot.png" alt="PCB stackup screenshot" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">STEP 1: Choose initial number of layers</h2>
        <b>1 or 2 Layer PCBs – Home prototyping</b><br>
        Use 1 or 2 Layer PCB only for very simple boards, breakouts or for some circuits which you are making at home. Don’t use 1 or 2 layer PCBs for interfaces with controlled impedance (USB, Ethernet, LVDS, …). In this case, use at least 4 layer PCB.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>4 Layer PCB – Simple or cheap boards & breakouts</b><br>
        If possible, always use at least 4 layer PCB. There is not much difference in cost between 2 and 4 layer PCBs, but 4 layer PCB is much better. Recommended for breakouts, small and simple boards. Don’t use for CPU boards with memory interface, but it’s fine for Base boards or some microcontroller boards.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>6 Layer PCB – Cheap and large boards</b><br>
        Some PC motherboards are built on 6 Layer PCBs. Suitable for very high quantity and/or large boards.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>8 Layer PCB – Cost effective</b><br>
        There is not big difference in price between 8 Layer or 10 layer PCB, but 10 Layer PCB is better.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>10 Layer PCB – Suitable for SODIMM computer on module</b><br>
        This is normally maximum number of layers which fits into 1mm thick SODIMM socket. Comparing to 8 layer PCB, this 10 Layer PCB provides additional space for power planes in designs with many power domains.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>12 Layers – Heavy industry boards or boards with may tracks</b><br>
        I use 12 layer stackup a lot – especially for industrial PC designs. Price is still reasonable and this PCB offers 4 solid ground planes or two additional signal layers.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">STEP 2: Start layout</h2>
        <ol class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">Start with TOP & BOTTOM signal layers.</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">If your design has too many connections or uses high speed signals, add 2 more inner signal layers. Start layout and try to fit everything into these 4 layers (top and bottom + 2 inner layers).</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">If you see:</span></li>
            <ul class="content-list">
                <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">that you need a little bit more space, mix your power plane layer(s) with not important or slow signals,</span></li>
                <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">that you need a lot of space, add two more signal layers.</span></li>                
            </ul>
        </ol><br><br>

        I do not know any calculator to calculate number of PCB layers. Simply, use the steps I described and your own intuition. Hovewer, sometimes it may be hard to determine the smallest size of your PCB. Even this can not be calculated, as it depends on too many factors (PCB stackup, PCB technology – VIAs / uVIAs / Burried VIAs / minimum track width / clearance, number of components, placement, …..)
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content">
        <h2 class="blog-content-heading">STEP 3: PCB Layer ordering</h2>
        Of course, there are many options to order your PCB layers. I have used these in my designs. <br>
        <i>Note: One of the main reasons why I prefer to use GND as the second layer is shielding. This layer creates solid GND shield from the high speed signals running inside PCB.</i><br><br>
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>12 layer stackup – 4 GNDs</b><br>
                I use this stackup a lot, provides GND shielding of high speed signals and has tightly coupled Power-Ground planes:<br>
                <i>Signal / Solid GND plane / High speed signals and important buses / Solid GND plane / Power / Power or Mixed with signals / Power or Mixed with signals / Power / Solid GND plane / High speed signals and important buses / Solid GND plane / Signal</i></span></li>

            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>12 layer stackup – two additional signal layers</b><br>
                <i>Signal / Solid GND plane / Signal / Signal / Solid Power Plane / Power or Mixed with signals / Power or Mixed with signals / Solid Power Plane / Signal / Signal / Solid GND plane / Signal</i></span></li>
            
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>10 layer stackup</b><br>
                I sometimes use this:<br>
                <i>Signal / Solid GND / High speed signals and important buses / Solid Power or Solid GND / Power or Mixed with signals / Power or Mixed with signals / Solid Power or Solid GND / High speed signals and important buses / Solid GND / Signal</i></span></li>


            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>8 layer stackup</b><br>
                I dont use this very often. There are many options:<br>
                <i>Signal / GND / Signal / Power / Power / Signal / GND / Signal</i></span></li>

    
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>6 layer stackup</b><br>
                I normally don’t use this. Here is an example of layer ordering:<br>
                <i>Signals / GND / Power or Mixed with signals / Power or Mixed with signals / GND / Signals</i></span></li>

        
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text"><b>4 layer stackup</b><br>
                I use this quite often:<br>
                <i>Important Signals / GND / Power / Signals</i></span></li>                    
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

3 STEPS How to determine / calculate number of PCB layers

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        Did you hear about SnapEDA? <br><br>

        Great idea – FREE CAD library, schematic symbols, simulation models, reference designs, professional network, manufacturing, …. I am very curious where this project will go.<br><br>

        Read more about the project at TechCrunch.
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.snapeda.com/">SnapEDA</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/11/snapeda-wants-to-help-fuel-hardware-startups-with-a-github-like-community-for-cad/">Read more about the project at TechCrunch</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div> 
</div>


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