Advanced PCB Engineering (APE) [Fall 2025]

Lecture: 8-10PM Tu, Cory 125
Enrollment

Week Topic Helpful Links Lab Lab Checkoff Due Project Checkpoint
1
9/2 		Intro to Altium

Intro to the class, Altium, and key tools and plugins required for the class content. 		Altium Access Instructions

Introduction to Altium

Keybind Cheatsheet 		Project Logistics

BOM Template
2
9/9 		Part Selection, Intro to Advanced Schematics - Filters and Basic Analog Design

Covering considerations for part selection beyond the base electrical rules. Exploration of analog design fundamentals within schematic creation. 		Continue Introduction to Altium
3
9/16 		Advanced Schematics, Digital Design, Data Buses and Protocols

Exploring information is encoded, translated, and transported at high speeds and the key issues of high-speed transmissions. 		Digital Communication and Signal Integrity Introduction to Altium Project Groups Due
(2 people minimum)
4
9/23 		Advanced Schematics, High Power Circuit Design

Understanding key principles to develop systems designed to accomodate high power draws. 		Power Regulator Circuitry Design and Simulation Digital Communication and Signal Integrity
5
9/30 		Advanced Schematic to Layout: High Power design and Thermal Management

Designing layouts optimized for high-voltage and high-current applications. Develop understanding of thermal implications of high-power designs and best practices to mitigate them. 		Continue Power Regulator Circuitry Design and Simulation Project Proposal Due
6
10/7 		Advanced Layout Digital Layout: and Via Management

How to route high-speed signals, differential pairs, and implications of vias, board parasitics, and other physical factors on signal integrity. 		Continue High Power Design and Thermal Management Proposal Review
7
10/14 		Advanced Layout + RF Design 1

Introduction to transmission line theory, differential pairs, impedance matching and other key topics. 		EMI Considerations and RF Design
 High Power Design and Thermal Management Project BOM & Schematic Due [TBD]
8
10/21 		Advanced Layout + RF Design 2

Exploration of practical RF design. 		Continue EMI Considerations and RF Design Project Work Session
9
10/28 		Design Reviews

In-class review of APE student projects. 		Project Design Review in Class
Design Review Requirements {} 		EMI Considerations and RF Design Layout Due [TBD]
10
11/4 		Advanced Mechanical Design and Integration

Exploring PCB design in constrained environments and PCBs as mechanical and structural elements.

Project Worksession FINAL PCB files due [11/4] (Tuesday)
11
11/11 		No Class (Administrative Holiday)
12
11/18 		Fun Topics

Exploring other advanced design topics, such as Altium AutoRoute, Ethernet, RS485, PCB Antenna Design, DDR Memory, Flex PCB Design, and kW Power Designs

Constraint-Based Mechanical Design
 Constraint-Based Mechanical Design Project Assembly
13
12/9 		Project Presentations