The first major step in organizing the library is making sure that the footprints, symbols and parts are grouped like components in partitions within the library; it involves complexities to maintain the detailed component information. Maintenance of Component Symbols and Footprints for individual manufacturers with different parameters is known to be a tedious task. To overcome this, the library can be integrated in Arena Database, which can further be used to automatically synchronize and validate externally sourced component data or customized components with the schematic design database, thereby eliminating manual data entry.

This helps to resolve a critical problem for engineering teams by quickly and easily accessing the best component available based on both, the technical description and cost parameters that are critical.  The parts which are needed in the design can be queried based on their electrical or physical parameters, allowing the designer to identify, utilize and design with preferred components, which can then be automatically retrieved for use in the schematic from the Arena database. Adding components directly from the company database keeps the BOM data centralized, controlled, and up-to-date for fewer errors, less scrap and rework, higher quality and better control on cost as well as part usage for industry directives such as RoHS,.

OrCAD is a complete solution for all core schematic designs. Orcad Component Information System (CIS) is just one element for total solution design flow. Orcad Capture is one of the most widely used schematic design solutions for the creation and documentation of analog or mixed signal designs, printed circuit board layout designs, and programmable logic designs. OrCAD CIS integrated within OrCAD capture provides an easy access to company’s component database and part information which also has an inbuilt part management system within the application that greatly enhances the part selection and verification process, significantly boosts the designer’s productivity by reducing the amount of time spent in researching for parts or reusing existing parts, eliminating manual entry of part information and maintaining synchronization of component data. This further helps to manage part properties (including part information required at each step in the printed circuit board design process, from implementation through manufacturing) within the schematic designs. Part management system thereby enables to map of symbols, footprints, and other required component life cycle information in a single GUI window (CIS Explorer). Each symbol can be classified under component categories, for example, Capacitor, Resistor, Logic, Memory, Analog devices, etc. When any of the categorized components are selected from the tree in an explorer window, component information is displayed on a local part database window along with respective graphical symbols and footprint in a graphical window. All newly added components get mapped with ODBC file and get updated in the local database, further this database can be directly mapped to Arena PLM software which can be accessed by the global engineering team to use in their schematic and PCB design, with current status, compliance information and pricing for a specific component.

Benefits

• Effective resource utilization as the designer can select and pull in required symbol with respect to component properties, costing and availability, InStock.
• Immediate access to component parametric data for millions of parts from thousands of suppliers directly within OrCAD Capture CIS
• Minimal Errors due to automatic and error free download of part parametric data such as: Part Number, Value, Price, Quantity Availability, RoHS status and more.
• No obsolete input data as component data is always current with automated distributor data synchronization capabilities.
• No dependency on single distributor with multi-distributor support availability using Cadence OrCAD Capture CIS relational database
• Comprehensive and accurate product Information due to easily identifiable effects of part changes across all products within the OrCAD environment.

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Multilayer PCBs that make use of high performance materials are more challenging to build. The arrangement of multilayer PCBs should be done with additional care because inefficient layer arrangements may lead to noise and unexpected operational issues.

Multilayer stackup with many layers could lead to high fabrication cost in most cases. However, cost can be balanced by giving consideration to important aspects. This article explores the factors to be considered for manufacturing multilayer PCBs at affordable prices.

Considerations and Benefits

• The desired trace dimension and minimum trace spacing should be computed.
• Placement of EMI generating sections far from other sections to EMI and EMC performance are important factors to be considered in an electronic product.
• Radiation reduction in PCB as well as the interfaces connected to the board will help in improved signal quality. If this is not taken care of, it may lead to picking up other non-related signals which cause noise and will create crosstalk.
• The stackup model shown above gives the complete strategy of actual current directions, which help to provide stable voltage.
• Split power planes should be used appropriately to provide proper isolation on a power plane layer while providing an electrically different reference point (analog and digital sources).
• Consideration of DFx [Design For Assembly, Manufacturing, Testing] should be analyzed.

Challenges The following are the challenges in multilayer stackup for complex PCB design:

• Routing all nets within the desired stackup, meeting all constraints and consideration.
• Selection of via’s for signal and power for better signal performance, ground return path for an affordable cost in manufacturing.
• Thieving to be added to balance the stackup without affecting signal performance.

Cost Reduction Aspects The following are some of the factors that can help reduce the fabrication cost:

• Use the standard/nominal trace width which can be fabricated in usual fabrication process.
• Maintain enough spacing between copper which does not need a special etching process to remove copper.
• Do use a nominal drill size, which can be done by drilling machines neither going with laser until unless needed.
• Select appropriate PCB material and surface finish which is cost effective suitable to your application.

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Skilled component engineers are thus brought together to assist the design teams in this meticulous task. The component engineers need to have in-depth knowledge and experience in the fundamentals of components, its specifications, construction, and functionality. Once the circuit design is ready, the design engineers should have a clear idea of the various components that are necessary to be implemented. Essentially the design engineering and the component engineering teams need to collaboratively select the most cost effective components without compromising on the design quality.

Below mentioned are the key approaches that enable selection of cost effective and function efficient components:

• Selecting parts that are suitable for the required design performance

The primary task of any component engineer should be to match the design requirement with the functional output of a particular component. Component selection is a critical process that enables the circuit to perform its intended operation. For this it is extremely crucial to understand the circuit functionality and to get the exact parametric values within permissible tolerance levels. Selection of suitable components resourcefully helps the manufacturer to attain desired outcome from the particular design.

• More Innovative Technology to Do the Right Component Selection

The web based technology has created a new era for engineers to select the right components for hand crafting electronic devices much skillfully. He has smart digital component selection tools to use. Practically, he is a part of the whole chain of product manufacturing, packing and supplying to customers. If the component selection is defective with negative side effect, the business will be hampered. Web based technology is conducive to the time reduction in the matter of choosing the best components to engineer devices. He locates perfectly fitted electronic device configuration components in the inventory online. It reduces time and cost of manufacturing sophisticated electronic devices. Cost effectively products are prioritized by customers.

• The component Engineer Should Do Proper Marketing Value of the Component

An experienced component engineer needs better understanding about the current value of the specific component comparing with the local products in the open market. He should opt for the cost effective components with better appreciation value in the competitive e-global market.

• Selecting components that have an extended demand life-cycle

Time & Cost implications caused due to lack of availability of a component is a major challenge for the electronic industry. In such a scenario assessing life cycle status of a component helps the manufacturer understand the long term benefits of using the component. It also helps the manufacturer mitigate the risk of product redesigning and component unavailability and by pre-planning the procurement schedule for the particular component. Thus it is important for the product manufacturers to regularly monitor the components life cycle status and create a list of alternate components along with their procurement sources.

• Reducing the use of Unique components

The cost of a component greatly depends on its volume and its application. The task should be to build an optimal mix of unique as well as standard components such that the overall cost of the product can be maintained. Having limited number of unique components enables the manufacturer to mitigate losses.

• Selecting durable & reliable components

Component quality is another aspect to select components. It is always better to use components that will not age or degrade with use. This helps to extend the lifetime of the components and the product as a whole. Certain examples to illustrate the above are:

1. Avoid using fuses, instead use circuit breakers.
2. Instead of manual switches use software control.
3. Dissipative devices such as semiconductors, resistors, inductors must be sized properly to ensure that internal temperatures stay within reasonable limits, even if they are operated at high ambient temperatures.

Component availability or life-cycle, affordability, traceability, reliability or the quality of the component’s performance over a period of time helps one to select the components wisely. This selection of proper components in turn helps the manufacturer produce cost effective products that have higher performance and better usability.

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