# Mixed Signal Education with Philip Salmony

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-01-18
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 573
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/573-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony/

## Summary

Philip Salmony of Phil's Lab joins Chris Gammell to discuss his new mixed-signal PCB design course hosted on Fedevel Academy, which guides students from vague requirements to a manufacturable USB signal generator using KiCad v6. They explore the challenges of the current silicon shortage, including the need to redesign boards for available components like STM32 microcontrollers and sensors, and the resulting maintenance burden of supporting multiple hardware revisions. The conversation also covers Philip's career path from analog design at Keithley Instruments to his current work, emphasizing the importance of practical education, mentorship, and building a 'mental library' of component knowledge.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [6:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=380) Career Path and Analog vs. Digital Design
- [13:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=787) Mixed Signal Course Overview
- [19:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=1153) Learning from Distributors and Mentors
- [39:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=2359) Impact of the Silicon Shortage on Design
- [49:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=2946) FPGA Design and Zynq Projects
- [59:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-01-18-mixed-signal-education-with-philip-salmony#t=3576) Course Pedagogy and ESD Protection

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Phil's Lab (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- STM32 (chip)
- Fedevel Academy (company)
- Keithley Instruments (company)
- Samsung (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Zynq (chip)
- Eurocircuits (company)

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- [35: All These Different Reasons Why You Might Want to Do Something](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-15-35-all-these-different-reasons-why-you-might-want-to-do-something) (Embedded.fm)
- [471: Bicycle Built For Two](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-02-22-471-bicycle-built-for-two) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Future of PCB Design Education: HaSofu Founder Kirsch Mackey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-21-the-future-of-pcb-design-education-hasofu-founder-kirsch-mackey) (OnTrack)
- [Unpacking Altium Education's Student Initiatives in India & Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-09-19-unpacking-altium-educations-student-initiatives-in-india-beyond) (OnTrack)
- [Design for AI & the PCB Design Education Revolution w/ John Watson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-10-10-design-for-ai-the-pcb-design-education-revolution-w-john-watson) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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