A new approach to PCB design

Introduction to PCB design

Printed circuit board (PCB) design is a crucial step in the manufacture of any electronic device, whether it is a smartphone, a computer, industrial equipment or a hobbyist creation. The PCB is the physical medium on which all the electronic components are mounted, and connected to each other by conductor tracks. Until now, PCB design has followed a standard approach: an electronic schematic is drawn, and then the PCB is created by placing the components and drawing the tracks according to the schematic. This approach has proved successful, but it can be tedious and error-prone.

EBE's new approach

This is where EBE comes in. It is a PCB design software that uses a new and innovative approach, based on systems theory. The idea is to consider the entire electronic circuit as a system, consisting of several interconnected subsystems. Each subsystem is represented by a block, which can be a single component pad, an entire electronic module or even a specification. In summary, everything could be represented by a block.

The model design in EBE

Thus, the schematic design in EBE called the "model design", is a reflection of the electronic system to be designed, with all its subsystems represented by blocks. The blocks can be standard blocks supplied with the software, or custom blocks created by the user. Higher-level blocks such as electronic modules are each assimilated to one or more specifications included in a specification tree. For example, a "Controlled Motor" block in EBE is the composition of a "Controller" block in the case of an H-Bridge and a "DC motor" block, so this "Controlled Motor" block provides a "Rotation" resource which is the specification in the tree. This way of linking an advanced block (standardised to the tree) to a specification allows the user to concentrate solely on the functionality of his circuit, while the software uses these specifications to select the best electronic components/modules like our Controlled Motor.

The method used by EBE to link specifications to blocks is still relatively new and experimental. However, this innovative approach has the potential to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with PCB design. Further research and development in this area, with the support of the user community and electronics experts, is therefore crucial.

Regular use of EBE

1. Start by having an idea of what you want to design. 

2. Select the specifications in the software. You can browse the tree or type the specification into a search bar. The specifications are selected and dropped into the design model space one by one. Each specification has a specific parameter that you need to set (for example, 100 [RPM] and 1 [Nm] for the "rotation" specification).

3. Once all the specifications are in the design model space, let the software find the most appropriate blocks. Click on "Add -> Best system" and the block database will open with the best blocks containing electronic components/modules according to the specifications. Choose from the best proposals and drop the blocks into the "design model" area. You should use the "Connect" tool to connect a block proposed by EBE as soon as it is dropped into the design space, immediately connect it to the specification it fulfils to validate that the specification is met and use "Externalize" in the same tool to find a block that will satisfy any missing resource. Do this procedure until all blocks are satisfied.

4. Once the design model is complete, you can move on to the layout. All the blocks dropped into the design space are pre-routed, all that remains is to route the blocks together.

5. Finally, when the routing is ready, you can generate the manufacturing files and place the order.

You the community

You, the community, are the heart of EBE. Your input is essential to the further development and improvement of this PCB design software. Your feedback helps the developers to understand how EBE is used in practice and to fix bugs and usability issues. In addition, your ideas and suggestions for new features and content for the library improve the quality and efficiency of PCB design for all EBE users.