OnTrack · 1 May 2024 · 41m · Episode 264
Anton Tishchenko, founder of PCBforEMC.com and Dr. EMC YouTube channel, discusses EMC compliance strategies, common PCB design mistakes, and his PhD research on 6G metasurfaces. He highlights that EMC testing has a 50% first-time failure rate, often due to simple errors like missing ground planes or improper antenna placement, and explains why pre-certified modules like the ESP32 do not guarantee final product compliance. Tishchenko also details his development of an AI-based PCB analysis tool designed to catch these errors early, while noting the challenges of data privacy and the high cost of simulation software for startups.
Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.
DesignPCB for EMC
An automated tool analyzes PCB design files to identify common EMC mistakes like missing ground planes, providing users with indicators of potential failure rather than just pass/fail results.
“developer of a PCB for MC uh, website, which is um, aiming to kind of analyze PCBs for mistakes and um, do some AI algorithms.”
Anton Tishchenko · Hear it at 1:27
Design
An algorithmic check automatically analyzes design files (like Gerbers) to spot basic EMC mistakes such as ground plane issues, removing the need for manual review of these specific errors.
“this kind of analysis you can easily perform. So it doesn't really involve learning as such from like artificial intelligence point of view. But it still kind of is intelligent artificially because you're doing it automatically.”
Anton Tishchenko · Hear it at 2:09
early-stage companies
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
John Teal, founder of Predictable Designs and former Texas Instruments chip designer, outlines ten critical product design mistakes for electronic hardware startups. He covers technical errors such as incorrect RF impedance matching, insufficient PCB trace width for high currents, and poor switching regulator layout, alongside process failures like neglecting Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and delaying cost estimation. Teal emphasizes the importance of independent design reviews and proper via selection to avoid costly prototype iterations and manufacturing issues.
Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a Keysight U1272A multimeter that suffers from severe susceptibility to conducted and radiated EM fields, a flaw inherent to its design that bypassed standard compliance testing. They also examine the Allwinner R8 processor and the new Chip Pro module, noting how the latter's System-on-Module design with integrated DDR3 makes previously inaccessible consumer chips viable for small-batch production. Finally, they critique the Wi-Fi kettle's usability failures and Solar Roadways' non-functional public installation, attributing these to marketing-driven product decisions rather than engineering value.
Zachariah Peterson, founder of Northwest Engineering Solutions and Altium's technical consultant, discusses the state of PCB design, the industry's shift toward EMC expertise, and the impact of AI tooling. He details Altium's acquisition by Renesas, the critical need for engineers to understand manufacturing constraints and stack-ups, and the risks of relying on semiconductor data sheets for EMC guidance. Peterson also shares insights from his 'Layout Review' content series, highlighting common DRC errors and the value of mentorship in a lean industry.
Dave Millman of SalesDev.Global joins host John Teel to discuss six common pitfalls for hardware startups, emphasizing that PCBs and enclosures almost always require multiple revisions due to issues like antenna placement and snap-fit failures. Millman advises using development kits for early validation to save money, while warning that enclosure costs are driven by mold complexity, cavities, and side actions, often leading to budget overruns. He also highlights that schedules are frequently underestimated due to optimistic assumptions, debugging unknowns, and shipping delays between global suppliers.
Steven Hoss and Lucy Trey Park of Opulo discuss the complex and expensive process of obtaining FCC and CE certifications for the Lumen PMP V4 3D printer. They detail the four main categories of EMC testing—radiated/conducted emissions and immunity—and explain how using pre-certified power supplies and open-source community feedback helped them pass on the first try. The hosts also share practical advice on budgeting, the importance of consulting certification houses early, and the specific marking requirements for different markets.
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