Episode 135: A Conversation with Dr. Zach Peterson about Board Design Best Practices

Описание: In today's increasingly connected and digital world, PCBs are the unsung heroes that power our devices, from smartphones to spacecraft. Yet, the art and science of designing these crucial components often go unnoticed. That’s where this episode comes in.
 
Today, I hope to shine a spotlight on the critical role PCBs play in modern technology and explore the best practices that drive innovation and reliability.

In this episode, I hope to unravel the mysteries of PCB design, tackle complex challenges, and unlock the secrets to creating high-performance, efficient, and reliable circuit boards. Whether you're a seasoned PCB designer looking to sharpen your skills, a budding engineer eager to learn the ropes, or simply a tech enthusiast curious about the technology that shapes our lives, this episode has something for everyone.

Today, I will be joined by Dr. Zach Peterson. Zach is a well-known researcher and electronics designer. In 2017, he founded Northwest Engineering Solutions as a technology consultancy and has since grown the company into an innovative design and manufacturing house for advanced electronic products.

He conducted his Applied Physics Ph.D. research in ZnO random laser theory and stability and his M.Sc. Physics research in chemisorptive sensors for environmental monitoring at Portland State University. He also received his MBA (Leadership & Finance) from Adams State University.

His work has been published in over a dozen peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and he has written 2500+ technical articles on PCB design for a number of companies.

He is a member of IEEE Photonics Society, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, American Physical Society, and the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA). He previously served as a voting member on the INCITS Quantum Computing Technical Advisory Committee working on technical standards for quantum electronics, and he currently serves on the IEEE P31-86 Working Group focused on Port Interface Representing Photonic Signals Using SPICE-class Circuit Simulators.

If Zack looks familiar, you may recognize him from the Altium On-Track and Altium Academy video series and Podcasts.

Zach's Contact Information:
Zachariah Peterson
[email protected]
https://www.nwengineeringllc.com/

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Reliability Matters Podcast
00:03:21 - Introductions and Mutual Admiration Societies
00:06:36 - The Importance of Multiple Voices in Standard Organizations
00:09:34 - From RF Design to PCB Design
00:12:52 - The Importance of Best Practices in PCB Design
00:15:58 - Designing for Manufacturing & Assembly
00:19:11 - Avoiding Mistakes in PCB Design
00:22:12 - Lack of Communication among Agencies
00:25:17 - Controlled Dialectric Design and Material Selection
00:28:12 - The Importance of Component Placement in PCB Design
00:31:19 - Component Placement Strategies for PCB Design
00:34:39 - Signal Integrity in High-speed PCB Designs
00:37:56 - Signal Integrity and Noise in PCB Design
00:41:04 - Thermal Management Techniques
00:44:10 - Heat Sink and Thermal Interface Materials
00:47:17 - Designing for Class 1 vs Class 3
00:50:49 - Simplifying PCB Layout and Assembly
00:54:00 - The Benefits and Complications of Design Choices
00:57:12 - The Early Days of AI in Board Design
01:00:41 - Constraints and Solvability in Design Automation
01:03:58 - Staying Updated in the Industry
01:07:03 - Keeping Up with Industry Trends
01:10:16 - The Process of Product Production and Scaling
01:13:18 - Special Thanks to Circuit Assembly Magazine and Ascendo Reliability