Advanced PCB Engineering (APE) [Spring 2025]

This site is under construction. All dates and policies are tentative until this message goes away.

Lecture: 8-10PM TuTh, Cory 125
Enrollment

Week Topic Helpful Links Lab Lab Checkoff Due Project Checkpoint
1
9/12 		Intro to Altium

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

Introduction to Altium 		Project Logistics

BOM Template
2
9/19 		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
9/26 		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
4
10/3 		Advanced Schematics, High Power Circuit Design

Understanding key principles to develop systems designed to accomodate high power draws. 		Continue Digital Communication and Signal Integrity Project Groups Due
(2 people minimum)
5
10/10 		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. 		High Power Design and Thermal Management Digital Communication and Signal Integrity Project Proposal Due
6
10/17 		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
10/24 		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
10/31 		Advanced Layout + RF Design 2

Exploration of practical RF design. 		Continue EMI Considerations and RF Design Project Work Session
9
11/7 		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
11/14 		Advanced Mechanical Design and Integration

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

Project Worksession FINAL PCB files due 11/14 (Thursday)
11
11/21 		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
12
12/5 		Guest Lecture TBA

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