Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531384
What disciplines within design engineering—SI, PI, EMC, etc.—are becoming more challenging? e foundation is power integrity. e oth- ers are not possible without it. Again, a clear understanding of electromagnetic field behav- ior is key, with a focus on switching speeds and transmission line impedance. A design engineer recently told us, "The old rules no longer apply." Does this dovetail with what you're seeing in the industry today? e old rules were based not on the right way to do things, but on what didn't make them fail. We have to change this perspective to understand- ing and implementing the correct rules, again (I'm a broken record) based on the physics. For years, you've been pushing designers to focus on the theory around fields—not just the circuits themselves. Do you think design engineers of the future will heed your advice? Will they be forced to focus on fields? ey really don't have any choice. No one can afford the time and expense of constantly reworking the designs because the basic rules are ignored. ey either follow the rules or risk going out of business. We're seeing a few newbies coming into this segment, but many EE positions remain open. Where can we find the next generation of design engineers? Unfortunately, until the universities change their focus from circuit theor y to a field-based approach, the only place to get good design- ers is to find those who have attended signal integrity or EMC conferences. ere are a few, but they are the exception, not the rule. e universities have no compelling reason to change what they teach, because their cus- tomers—the electronics engineering com- munity in the persona of the companies that hire engineers—are not demanding a change. ey continue to accept graduates without a clear connection between EM physics and electronic system design. e billion-dollar mistake perpetuates itself. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Of course. It's all about the space! DESIGN007 18 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 Dan Beeker