An essential guide to modern circuit board design based on simple physics and practical applications The fundamentals taught in circuit theory were never intended to work above a few megahertz, let alone at a gigahertz. While electronics is grounded in physics, most engineers’ education in this area is too general and mathematical to be easily applied to the problem of high speed circuits. Left to their own devices, many engineers produce layouts that require expensive revisions in order to finally meet specifications. Fast Circuit Boards fills the gap in knowledge by providing clear, down-to-earth guidance on designing digital circuit boards that function at high clock rates. By making the direct connection between physics and fast circuits, this book instills the fundamental universal principles of information transfer to give engineers a solid basis for hardware design. Using simple tools, simple physics, and simple language, this invaluable resource walks through basic electrostatics, magnetics, wave mechanics, and more to bring the right technology down to the working level. Designed to be directly relevant and immediately useful to circuit board designers, this book: Properly explains the problems of fast logic and the appropriate tools Applies basic principles of physics to the art of laying out circuit boards Simplifies essential concepts scaled up to the gigahertz level, saving time, money, and the need for revisions Goes beyond circuit theory to provide a deep, intuitive understanding of the mechanisms at work Demonstrates energy management’s role in board design through step function-focused transmission line techniques Engineers and technicians seeking a more systematic approach to board design and a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles at work will find tremendous value in this highly practical, long-awaited text.

A unique, practical approach to the design of high-speed digital circuit boards The demand for ever-faster digital circuit designs is beginning to render the circuit theory used by engineers ineffective. Digital Circuit Boards presents an alternative to the circuit theory approach, emphasizing energy flow rather than just signal interconnection to explain logic circuit behavior. The book shows how treating design in terms of transmission lines will ensure that the logic will function, addressing both storage and movement of electrical energy on these lines. It covers transmission lines in all forms to illustrate how trace geometry defines where the signals can travel, then goes on to examine transmission lines as energy sources, the true nature of decoupling, types of resonances, ground bounce, cross talk, and more. Providing designers with the tools they need to lay out digital circuit boards for fast logic and to get designs working the first time around, Digital Circuit Boards: Reviews in simple terms the basic physics necessary to understand fast logic design Debunks the idea that electrical conductors carry power and signals, showing that signal travels in the spaces, not the traces, of circuit boards Explains logic circuit behavior through real-time analysis involving the fields and waves that carry signal and energy Provides new information on how ground/power planes work Outlines a software program for solving energy flow in complex networks

"Matt Scarpino has provided a great tool for the hobbyist starting out in the circuit board design world, demonstrating all the features you'll need to create your own circuit board projects. However, the experienced engineer will also benefit from the book, as it serves as a complete reference guide to all EAGLE software configuration settings and features. His insightful guidance helps simplify difficult tasks, and his handy tips will help save you hours of trial-and-error experimentation." --Rich Blum, author, Sams Teach Yourself Arduino Programming in 24 Hours and Sams Teach Yourself Python Programming for Raspberry Pi in 24 Hours Powerful, flexible, and inexpensive, EAGLE is the ideal PCB design solution for every Maker/DIYer, startup, hobbyist, or student. Today, all open source Arduino designs are released in EAGLE format: If you want to design cost-effective new PCBs, this is the tool to learn. Matthew Scarpino helps you take full advantage of EAGLE's remarkable capabilities. You won't find any differential equations here: only basic circuit theory and hands-on techniques for designing effective PCBs and getting innovative new gadgets to market. Scarpino starts with an accessible introduction to the fundamentals of PCB design. Next, he walks through the design of basic, intermediate, and complex circuit boards, starting with a simple inverting amplifier and culminating in a six-layer single-board computer with hundreds of components and thousands of routed connections. As the circuits grow more complex, you'll master advanced EAGLE features and discover how to automate crucial design-related tasks. Whatever your previous experience, Scarpino's start-to-finish examples and practical insight can help you create designs of stunning power and efficiency. Understand single-sided, double-sided, and multilayer boards Design practical circuits with the schematic editor Transform schematics into physical board designs Convert board designs into Gerber output files for fabrication Expand EAGLE's capabilities with new libraries and components Exchange designs with LTspice and simulate their responses to input Automate simple repetitive operations with editor commands Streamline circuit design and library generation with User Language programs (ULPs) Design for the advanced BeagleBone Black, with high-speed BGA devices and a 32-bit system on a chip (SoC) Use buses to draw complex connections between components Configure stackups, create/route BGA components, and route high-speed signals eagle-book.com provides an archive containing the design files for the book's circuits. It also includes EAGLE libraries, scripts, and User Language programs (ULPs).

An essential guide to modern circuit board design based on simple physics and practical applications The fundamentals taught in circuit theory were never intended to work above a few megahertz, let alone at a gigahertz. While electronics is grounded in physics, most engineers’ education in this area is too general and mathematical to be easily applied to the problem of high speed circuits. Left to their own devices, many engineers produce layouts that require expensive revisions in order to finally meet specifications. Fast Circuit Boards fills the gap in knowledge by providing clear, down-to-earth guidance on designing digital circuit boards that function at high clock rates. By making the direct connection between physics and fast circuits, this book instills the fundamental universal principles of information transfer to give engineers a solid basis for hardware design. Using simple tools, simple physics, and simple language, this invaluable resource walks through basic electrostatics, magnetics, wave mechanics, and more to bring the right technology down to the working level. Designed to be directly relevant and immediately useful to circuit board designers, this book: Properly explains the problems of fast logic and the appropriate tools Applies basic principles of physics to the art of laying out circuit boards Simplifies essential concepts scaled up to the gigahertz level, saving time, money, and the need for revisions Goes beyond circuit theory to provide a deep, intuitive understanding of the mechanisms at work Demonstrates energy management’s role in board design through step function-focused transmission line techniques Engineers and technicians seeking a more systematic approach to board design and a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles at work will find tremendous value in this highly practical, long-awaited text.

Complicated concepts explained succinctly and in laymen's terms to both experienced and novice PCB designers. Numerous examples allow reader to visualize how high-end software simulators see various types of SI problems and then their solutions. Author is a frequent and recognized seminar leader in the industry.

CD-ROM contains: PC board tools -- Electrion version of text.

This accessible, new reference work shows how and why RF energy iscreated within a printed circuit board and the manner in whichpropagation occurs. With lucid explanations, this book enablesengineers to grasp both the fundamentals of EMC theory and signalintegrity and the mitigation process needed to prevent an EMCevent. Author Montrose also shows the relationship between time andfrequency domains to help you meet mandatory compliancerequirements placed on printed circuit boards. Using real-world examples the book features: Clear discussions, without complex mathematical analysis, offlux minimization concepts Extensive analysis of capacitor usage for variousapplications Detailed examination of components characteristics with variousgrounding methodologies, including implementation techniques An in-depth study of transmission line theory A careful look at signal integrity, crosstalk, andtermination