Learnings from Rick Hartley at PCB2DAY: Insights Gained
A two-day workshop, PCB2DAY, held on February 22 in San Diego, focused on the critical aspects of high-speed printed circuit board (PCB) design: noise, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and signal integrity control. Initiated by UP Media and hosted by PCB West, the event provided engineers with the latest insights, techniques, and tools to manage these challenges, improve design practices, and support the development of reliable, high-performance electronic systems.
The workshop featured presentations from industry experts, including Rick Hartley, a retired Senior Principal Engineer at L-3 Avionics Systems, who is considered one of the Top 5 experts in the field of signal integrity, according to Randy Clemmons, a PCB Designer.
Rick Hartley emphasized the importance of bridging knowledge gaps in PCB design and encouraged attendees to test the information they learn, rather than blindly applying it. He also emphasized the need for understanding controlled impedance in high-speed PCB design, as covered in the Controlled Impedance Design Guide, a 56-page eBook available for download.
Tom Burek, PCB Designer at Ametek, found Rick Hartley's class helpful for addressing specific design questions and providing detailed examples. Other attendees, such as Kazuhiro Yokoi, Open Innovation Manager at Fujifilm, also found the workshop to be great and useful for avoiding design difficulties.
Rick Hartley believes that energy is carried by fields in a PCB transmission line, not just by voltage and current. He also stressed that it is not possible to give high quality at a low price without cutting something, and that not trusting everything one reads can help avoid irrelevant information when designing a circuit board.
As PCBs become increasingly dense and operate at higher frequencies, the challenges related to EMI and signal integrity intensify. These factors can cause data errors, signal degradation, and system malfunctions in high-speed circuits, making control and mitigation essential for maintaining signal quality. Signal integrity control ensures that high-speed signals maintain their shape and timing integrity as they travel across the PCB, which is vital for preventing data loss and ensuring accurate communication between components.
To address these challenges, advanced design techniques and measurement tools like the Keysight PXE EMI Receiver, mentioned in recent industry news, are becoming increasingly important. Workshops like PCB2DAY provide engineers with the latest insights and tools for managing these problems, improving design practices, reducing troubleshooting time, and supporting the development of reliable, high-performance electronic systems.
Sierra, a company offering PCB design services, is offering a 25% discount on services with the promo code "PCB2DAY2018" for those who register for the Raleigh and Chicago PCB2Day workshops. For those who missed the San Diego event, the importance of understanding noise, EMI, and signal integrity control in high-speed PCB design remains crucial in ensuring the board meets strict electrical and electromagnetic requirements, preventing failures in critical applications, and optimizing performance.
Rick Hartley travels the world to share his knowledge about PCB design with engineers, and his classes are highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their understanding of high-speed PCB design and signal integrity. With the increasing complexity of modern electronics, it is more important than ever to stay up-to-date on the latest design techniques and tools to ensure the reliability and performance of high-speed PCBs.
References:
- Keysight PXE EMI Receiver
- Keysight PXE EMI Receiver in PCB Design Magazine
The Controlled Impedance Design Guide, a valuable resource for high-speed PCB design, was emphasized by industry expert Rick Hartley during the PCB2DAY workshop. This two-day event, focused on high-speed PCB design challenges like noise, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and signal integrity control, also featured discussions on the importance of technology like the Keysight PXE EMI Receiver in addressing these issues.
