70 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2023
In the field of PCB design, a massive paradox exists. No doubt, the
PCB industry is a fascinating field. The ever-changing design environ-
ment faces constant and more complex challenges to make products
smaller, faster, and cheaper. There are endless ways that electronic
innovation changes lives for the better, as seen when advanced
medical systems provide patients a new lease on life. But there also
is a downside, an unfortunate side, to PCB design, and it has bothered me for some time.
Gone are the days when simulation meant a simple logic simulation of your
circuit, or a basic SPICE run to check signal waveforms. The simulation com-
plexities that are required often fall "above the paygrade" of all but the most
experienced members of a hardware design team. How do you keep simula-
tion from becoming a design bottleneck? Todd Westerhoff, product market-
ing manager at Siemens, dives into the discussion with Andy Shaughnessy.
The EMX Designer solution lets cus-
tomers rapidly synthesize DRC-clean
passive devices at a touch of a button,
based on electrical and geometrical
requirements. With unparalleled flex-
ibility, EMX Designer PCells can easily
be modified to meet the designers'
exact layout requirements, utilizing a
long list of options from a user-friendly
interface inside the Virtuoso platform.
The wireless communication between your
mouse and your computer is very different than
the wireless communication between a satellite
and its ground station. The PCBs which are used
for wireless communications are as diverse as the
term. As a general statement, a more complex
wireless communication system will require a
more complex PCB.
TOP TEN
Simplifying Simulation and Analysis
Cadence Introduces
EMX Designer
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Responsible PCB Design Must Go Beyond RoHS
EDITOR'S
PICKS
Lightning Speed Laminates:
Optimizing Thermal Management for
Wireless Communication Systems
Todd Westerhoff
