78 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2023
There are probably only a few hundred front-end engineering
experts in North America and probably even fewer in the EU.
So, where will the new facilities get that expertise? There aren't
a sufficient number of training classes or courses in available to
teach new potential employees in colleges and universities.
How can we mitigate this crisis? The first step is for companies
to quit sending manufacturing documentation that requires
human intervention.
Today's PCB design tools are a far cry from the rudimentary tools we used
30 years ago, but even though the algorithms are now quite clever, they
are still fairly basic as far as intelligence goes. Comprehensive design rules
can be established to accommodate myriad constraints to limit placement
and routing which advise us when we have overstepped the boundaries.
Data rates in PCB interconnects are
increasing in all signaling protocols
(PCIe, DDR, GDDR, Ethernet, USB, SAS,
InfiniBand, CEI, OIF, 5G). Most of those
high-speed signaling standards have
one-lane data rates over 6 Gbps (GT/s)
and some up to 112 Gbps with signal
spectrum in microwave and even mil-
limeter wave bandwidths.
In a recent survey on the
increasing complexity of
electronics design, it was
reported that 68% of compa-
nies were facing increasing
pressure to miniaturize their
electronics form factors. This
report mirrors global trends
seen within the industry. It
represents an increased bur-
den placed upon the printed
circuit board designer to put more functionality
into a smaller space, and on the manufacturer to
produce with a smaller margin of error.
TOP TEN
Beyond Design: Integrating AI Into PCB Design Flow
3D Electromagnetic Analysis
Dana on Data: Filling the Gap When Tribal Knowledge Runs Out
EDITOR'S
PICKS
Book Excerpt: 'The Printed Circuit
Designer's Guide to... Manufacturing
Driven Design,' Chapter 2
Dana Korf
