PCB Layout Design: An Extensive Guide for

Beginners
Meta Title: PCB Layout Design – The Fundamental Ideas and Approaches
Meta Description: PCB layout design is a very important topic in modern electronics
engineering. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis from the design perspective of
PCB layout.
Key Words: PCB Layout Design, PCB Layout

Introduction:

PCB layout is an essential phase of circuit design that can significantly impact the application,
reliability and efficiency of electronic devices. PCB layout design is a process of choosing
electronic components, conductive traces, power planes, and other components on a circuit board
to meet the operational requirements of the electronic system. In this article, we will discuss
elements, design considerations, principles, CAD and simulation tools, and challenges of PCB
layout.

PCB Layout: PCB layout is the process of designing the physical placement of components
on a printed circuit board (PCB). It is related to arranging electronic components, creating paths
for electrical signals, and ensuring right connections between them. The purpose is to optimize
space while ensuring signal integrity and functionality. The key elements of a PCB layout are
schematic diagram, management of high-frequency signals, and proper signal routing using
ground and power planes.

PCB Layout Design Considerations:

A. Power and Ground Planes: Power and ground planes should be centered in the
board and symmetrical to prevent bowing and twisting of the board. The position of the
components can be changed due to bowing that can damage the board. High voltage in
power circuits can interfere with low-voltage and current control circuits. This
interference can be reduced through the placement of power and control ground. If the
ground plane is placed in the middle layer of the board, there should be a small
impedance path to protect power circuit interference.

B. Track Design: Track design is related to the connection of signal traces based on
schematic. Traces are required to be as short and direct as possible. If horizontal trace
routing is on one side of the PCB, vertical traces should be on the other side.
C. Thermal Issues: Heat-related issues are a big concern for larger boards with higher
component density and processing speeds. Sufficient space needs to be ensured around
all components that may get hot. It is important not to place critical components near the
heat sources.

D. Pad and Hole Dimension: Pad and hole dimensions need to be determined before
the PCB design. The ratio of pad-to-hole becomes important with the decrease of the size
of the pad and hole. Another important consideration is the shape of the PCB pad. PCB
footprints can be modified based on the manufacturing process.

E. Signal Integrity and RF Issues: PCB layout design plays a vital role for signal
improvement and protecting electromagnetic interference. Running tracks parallel to each
other should be avoided to protect crosstalk. If tracks need to cross over each other, they
should be crossed at right angles. It will minimize capacitance and mutual inductance
between the lines and reduce crosstalk. Semiconductor components that create low
electromagnetic radiation can be used for higher signal integrity. Antennas that can
radiate electromagnetic energy should be avoided. Integrated circuits should be located
carefully to attain short interconnect lines.

Figure 1: Temperature distribution in a circuit board

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F. Remove Overlapping: In mixed-signal PCB layouts, one of the challenges is

overlapping planes. A mixed-signal PCB layout contains digital and analog circuits on
the same board. If not properly maintained, this overlapping can cause the problem of
interference between the digital and analog signals.
PCB Layout Design Rules:

 SMD (Surface Mount Device) should be placed on the same board side to minimize
assembly expenses.
 Ground planes and power traces should be placed on the outer layers to sandwich the
signal lines.
 Analog and digital components need to be grouped into separate parts of the board to
protect electrical interference

 High-power components should be separated that dissipate lots of heat from the rest

PCB Layout Design:

 Schematic Capture: Specialized software, known as Schematic Capture, is used to
create an electronic schematic diagram of a circuit. It displays the logical connections and
operations between the components. Schematic capture helps to visualize the design of
the circuit and ensures that the connections between components are correct.

Figure 2: A PCB Schematic

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 Component Placement: Component Placement is the technique that is used to
locate the electronic components on the PCB. The purpose of component placement is to
generate an effective circuit board that will meet the electrical and mechanical issues of
the PCB layout design. Some of the essential considerations for component placement are
adjustment, signal flow, thermal management, mechanical issues, assembly process and
electrical performance.
 Figure 3: A circuit board layout after component placement
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 Routing: Routing is related to the connection of electronic components on the
PCB. Some of the important considerations for routing in PCB layout design are
improvement of the space and width of traces, enhancing signal integrity, minimization
of voltage drop and noise, topology of the circuit, component placement and maintaining
the design rules.

Figure 4: Conductor tracing in a multi-layer PCB

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 Ground Plane: A ground plane is a large copper plane on a PCB layout and a part of
the design. The size, shape and placement of the ground plane can be improved according
to the electrical and mechanical requirements of the circuit design. Some of the
advantages of a ground plane are in the followings:
 1. Ground plane can create a low-impedance path.
2. It can be used as a shield in EMI reduction.
3. Signal integrity can be improved by reducing the interference.
4. Routing of signals can be simplified.
5. Ground plane reduces the dissipation of heat.
 Power Supply: Power Supply is an important component of PCB layout design. It can
provide the required amount of voltage and current to the components.

 Design Rule Check: Design Rule Check or DRC is used in PCB layout according to
the well-defined design rules. PCB uses DRC to recognize and solve the problems before
manufacturing. DRC minimizes the risk of errors and enhances the overall quality of the
final product.

 Generation of Output Files: PCB layout software provides the output files that are
used by the manufacturer to create the PCB. Gerber Files, NC Drill Files, Bill of
Materials, Assembly Drawings, and 3D Models are some of the output files generated in
the PCB layout design process.

Figure 5: A PCB layout's Gerber file

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 Fabrication: Fabrication is a process of creating the actual PCB from the design file.
Some of the important steps in the fabrication process are imaging, etching, drilling,
plating, and testing. After the fabrication and testing of the PCB, it becomes prepared for
assembly so that the components can be mounted and soldered onto the board.

 CAD and Simulation Tools: CAD and simulation tools are very useful to make a
high-quality and reliable PCB. Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools are special software
for PCB layout that provides higher capacities for designing and simulating PCBs. These
tools provide complicated routing characteristics, complex trace designs and multi-layer
routing to improve signal reliability and performance.
 The purpose of simulation tools is to optimize performance and reliability of PCB
through the assessment of circuit characteristics under various conditions, such as
temperature, voltage, and frequency variations..

Challenges of PCB layout: Designing a PCB layout can be complex and challenging
due to some issues. Some of the key challenges have been discussed below:

 Signal Reliability: High-speed signals can be prone to deterioration due to reflection,

crosstalk, and signal degradation. Routing of traces, selection of appropriate elements,
should be taken into consideration for the maintenance of signal integrity for the PCB
layout.

 Component Placement: The location of components on the PCB layout has a

significant effect for the reliability of the circuit. During the placing of components, some
important factors, such as signal integrity, thermal management, and electromagnetic
interference should be considered.

 Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): EMI can generate unexpected noise and

signal deterioration in a PCB. Careful routing traces, using shielding methods and proper
grounding, should be done to minimize EMI for better layout design.

 Thermal Interference: Heating and temperature sensitive components need to be

analyzed and identified for the design of PCB layout.

 Assembly: Trace width, via size, and component tolerance need to be taken into
consideration so that the PCB can be assembled without errors. A successful PCB design
is required to be manufactured with high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

 Design Rule Check (DRC): PCB design is required to follow the established design
rules that are very important for reliable performance and preventing manufacturing
errors. DRC tools have to be used to verify any violation of design rules before the PCB
is manufactured.

 Cooperation: PCB design relies on better collaboration among electrical, mechanical

and manufacturing engineers. To ensure the excellent PCB design, effective cooperation
and communication are very essential.

Conclusion:
The first step for designing a PCB is to create a logical layout of electronic components on a
certain board area. Creating a reasonable layout of the components and their connections can
make the PCB work in a stable and reliable way. Various interferences may happen if the layout
is not reasonable. The quality and functionality of manufactured PCB is highly controlled by the
quality of the PCB layout design.

External Links:
1. https://www.mclpcb.com/blog/pcb-layout-considerations/
Keyword: PCB Layout Considerations

2. https://trainings.internshala.com/blog/design-pcb-layout/
Keyword: Design of PCB Layout

3. https://lanars.com/blog/pcb-layout-best-practices
Keyword: PCB layout best practices