The Amp Hour · 19 Feb 2014 · 1h 23m · Episode 185
Hank Zumbahlen, an application engineer at Analog Devices, discusses the critical importance of grounding, power supply decoupling, and PCB layout in analog design. He explains how digital return currents and high-frequency effects can corrupt sensitive analog signals, emphasizing the need to separate analog and digital grounds and manage impedance. The conversation covers specific technologies like MEMS accelerometers, sigma-delta ADCs, and digital isolators, highlighting how integration and physical layout impact performance. Zumbahlen also shares anecdotes about testing high-power regulators and designing audio DACs, stressing that understanding the underlying physics is essential even with highly integrated chips.
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Hosts Carl and Corey discuss PCB layout tips for hobbyists, focusing on component placement and power plane design. They cover decisions like single-sided vs. double-sided assembly, grouping components by functional blocks, and the critical importance of placing decoupling capacitors near IC pins. The conversation also addresses thermal management, power plane sizing, via current capacity, and the use of positive vs. negative layers in CAD tools.
Tom Anderson, an engineer at Keysight Technologies, discusses the practical realities of embedded hardware for new college graduates, focusing on the nuances of floating I/O pins, tri-state outputs, and latch-up failure modes. He explains the behavior of inductors in switching power supplies and relays, the importance of pull-up/pull-down resistors, and the differences between ADC types, sampling rates, and bandwidth. Anderson advocates for learning from vintage technical literature, such as TubeBooks.org and 'The Art of Electronics,' and shares his methodology for analog circuit design using symbolic algebra and system-level constraints.
Todd Hubing, president of LearnEMC, explains that grounding myths stem from confusing signal integrity return paths with EMC ground structures, arguing that high-frequency currents follow the path of least impedance and do not cause ground loops on chassis connections. He debunks the rule that decoupling capacitor placement matters on boards with closely spaced power and ground planes, noting that plane capacitance dominates at high frequencies. Hubing also advises against using common mode chokes on unbalanced power inputs, recommending instead that designers focus on minimizing common mode voltage sources to prevent radiated emissions.
Brett Brune, editor-in-chief of EE Times, and Majeed Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Planet Analog, discuss the 'Analog Everywhere' special report, analyzing the state of analog design in 2023. They explore the tension between integrating analog blocks into SoCs and the need for standalone devices in IoT and automotive sectors, while highlighting the evolution of EDA tools and the challenges of automating analog design. The conversation covers specific industry players like Analog Devices, Synopsys, and TSMC, and technologies such as FinFET and Gate-All-Around (GAA) processes.
Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the 'paralysis of analysis' in embedded electronics, focusing on strategies to navigate component selection hell and avoid design rabbit holes. They advise defining strict parameters before searching distributors like Digi-Key, prioritizing critical specs, and leveraging evaluation boards to test parts like instrumentation amplifiers in real-world conditions rather than relying solely on simulation. The conversation also covers PCB layout pitfalls, such as obsessing over trace aesthetics (OCD layout) and stack-up decisions, urging engineers to prioritize electrical functionality and consult with PCB fabrication houses for impedance and via sizing.
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