News & Updates
Blog
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What is an Eye Diagram?
The eye diagram is a useful measurement or simulation as part of channel compliance. The measurement shows many different factors that can affect signal behavior simultaneously, ultimately allowing for qualification of errors and losses in a channel. In this article, I’ll run over some of the fundamental measurements that you could manually extract from an eye diagram and how they reveal some strategies for improving channel designs.
On-Demand Webinar
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Fundamentals of High-Speed Design
This track is for the designer who is new to high-speed layout and routing practices and wants to understand how they relate to signal integrity, and how to get started designing for high-speed digital applications.
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What Skills Are Needed to be a PCB Layout Designer?
To readers who have been working in the PCB industry for most of your career, you have probably seen a very diverse group of professionals with varied skill sets and backgrounds. Designers might get started as engineers or as technicians, and some designers learn how to create beautiful PCB layouts in university. No matter how you got into PCB design, there are some important skills to know that will take you a long way towards advancing your career.
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Beginner PCB Design Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
When starting out with PCB design, it’s common to treat the process as simply ‘connecting the dots’: as long as connections are made, it’s not particularly important how these connections are made. Having reviewed quite a number of PCBs of other PCB design engineers over the last few years, there are common, unfortunately erroneous, occurrences between a lot of them. This article aims to illustrate the top five beginner PCB design mistakes and what we can do to avoid making them. Let’s get started!
Blog
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SAP (Semi-Additive PCB Process) – Top 5 Questions Regarding Stack Up
As the PCB design community embraces the benefits of this new printed circuit board fabrication technique, there are of course many questions to be answered. Today’s blog will address some of the most commonly asked questions related to circuit layer stack up as people are introduced to this new technology.
On-Demand Webinar
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SPICE Simulation Made Simple
SPICE simulation saves you critical time in the prototyping phase. Understanding your simulation interface makes it simple to analyze how your circuits work in different scenarios. Altium Designer provides an intuitive, dedicated interface to support your simulation verification, setup, and analysis directly in your schematic environment. You also benefit from growing support for popular model formats, as well as generic models, simplifying circuit definition and simulation.
Blog
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Altium Designer 22.9 Update
We are happy to announce that the Altium Designer 22.9 update is now available. Altium Designer 22.9 continues to focus on improving the user experience, as well as performance and stability of the software, based on feedback from our users. Check out the key new features in the What's New section on the left side of this window!
Blog
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Dual Rail Voltage Supply
The highest performing operational amplifiers often need a split supply with positive and negative voltages connected to the op amps supply rails. In this project, we’re going to be building a positive/negative dual rail power supply for a differential oscilloscope probe I’m designing. I’m making the power supply a separate project, as a dual rail supply is quite useful to have, and I’m sure I’ll find multiple uses for it in the future.
Blog
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Library Importer Improvements (former Library Migrator)
Importing file-based libraries from your local computer or network drive to your Altium 365 workspace can be done using the Library Importer. Altium’s Library Migrator was renamed Library Importer—the feature’s name was changed to conform more closely to the tool’s purpose. Not only is its name new, but our team has also made several user experience improvements. We have updated the documentation to reflect this change.
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How to Select Copper Foil for High-Frequency PCB Design
The PCB materials industry has spent significant amounts of time developing materials that provide lowest possible signal loss for products with RF applications. For high speed and high frequency designs, losses will limit signal propagation distance and distort signals, and it will create an impedance deviation that can be seen in TDR measurements. In this article, we'll look at the balance between copper foil losses and other types of losses in a PCB, as well as some strategies that are commonly used to overcome roughness.
Blog
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Altium Designer 22.8 Update
We are happy to announce that the Altium Designer 22.8 update is now available. Altium Designer 22.8 continues to focus on improving the user experience, as well as performance and stability of the software, based on feedback from our users. Check out the key new features in the What's New section on the left side of this window!
Blog
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What is Hybrid Beamforming?
In this article, we’ll look at beamforming implementation in an advanced method combining analog and digital techniques, known as hybrid beamforming. This method blends both digital and analog techniques to create multiple beams and thus reach multiple users with varying intensities. In the case of an RF imaging system or a radar system, hybrid beamforming in a MIMO technique also allows tracking of multiple targets with adjustable resolution.
On-Demand Webinar
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PCB Design in Altium Designer with Differential Data Transfer
Differential data transmission lines usage can be challenging for even experienced designers. First you need to be familiar with the concepts of differential data transmission, find out why it is used, and what the potential advantage for your signal. This webinar will help you determine what part of your designs need differential pairs implementations and how to create such pairs with a given wave impedance in Altium Designer.
Blog
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Why Most Via Impedance Calculators Are Inaccurate
The problem with every via impedance calculator that I have seen is simple: they are incomplete or totally wrong. The “incomplete” part refers to a lack of context; these calculators can roughly reproduce a well-known estimate from a legend like Howard Johnson in his Digital Design textbooks. However, these calculators never provide insight into what they are actually calculating, or where the calculated via impedance is accurate. Keep reading to see why these calculators get it so wrong, as well as the context surrounding via impedance.
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Blog
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Preparing for Prototype: Final Component Validation
Final component validation is the last critical check before building a prototype, ensuring all parts are accurate, available, and viable. This article shows how Altium’s integrated tools—like SiliconExpert, Z2Data, Octopart, and BOM Portal—help teams avoid costly surprises and prepare with confidence.
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Getting Started with Harness Design in Altium Designer 25
Explore the essential steps and tools for Harness Design in Altium Designer 25, from initial setup to final documentation. The article highlights how the unified design environment streamlines the entire process, improving efficiency and project integration.
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The Future of PCB Design Starts Here
Altium Designer is constantly evolving, with powerful new features and updates on the way. Get an exclusive first look at what’s coming next—visit our Coming Soon page to stay up to date with the latest innovations.
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Simplify Harness-to-System Connections for Better PCB Design Outcomes
Struggling to keep harness and system designs in sync? In our brand-new article we explore how integrating PCB and harness design workflows can eliminate errors, improve collaboration, and accelerate your development process. Discover a smarter approach to connecting your harness to the system.
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The Crucial Balance: Cost, Quality, and Availability In Electronic Component Selection
Balancing cost, quality, and availability is key when selecting electronic components. This article explores how to make informed choices that meet design goals while managing supply chain and sourcing challenges.
Blog
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Wire Harness Failures: The Hidden Costs and Real-World Recalls That Could Have Been Prevented
Wire harness failures can lead to significant financial losses, production delays, and safety hazards. This article delves into real-world examples of such failures across industries and illustrates how modern CAD tools can help prevent these costly issues.
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Part Selection Fundamentals: Creating Resilient Component Requirements
Learn how to ensure electronic components meet the demands of harsh environments. This article explores key standards, testing protocols, and design considerations for building resilient systems that perform reliably under extreme conditions.
Blog
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Printed Electronics: The Future of Flexible and Cost-Effective Circuit Design
This article explores the rise of printed electronics as a lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to traditional PCB design. It highlights key benefits like reduced manufacturing costs, sustainability, and new design possibilities—especially in wearables, medical devices, and automotive applications.
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How to Choose the Best Requirements Management Tool for Electronics Development
Many electronics teams still rely on documents and spreadsheets for requirements management—leading to gaps, errors, and delays. Alexsander Tamari explores better tools to improve traceability, collaboration, and project outcomes.
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New Routing Possibilities with Ultra HDI
Explore how Ultra HDI technology is redefining PCB design. This article breaks down the benefits and manufacturing considerations of Ultra HDI, and how it enables next-level routing density and miniaturization in advanced electronics.
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3D-MID in Focus: Principles, Processes, and Practical Use
This article introduces 3D-MID (Mechatronic Integrated Devices), a technology that integrates circuitry into 3D plastic structures to reduce size, weight, and complexity. It explains the production process, use cases, and benefits of 3D-MID in sectors like automotive, medical, and consumer electronics.
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Eliminate EMI and Signal Integrity Issues in Multi-Board PCB Designs
Ensure signal integrity and minimize EMI in complex electronics. Our new article explains how to address electromagnetic interference and signal integrity challenges in multi-board PCB designs, offering practical strategies and layout considerations for reliable system performance.
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How to Overcome Power Distribution and Connector Misalignment Challenges in Multi-Board PCB Systems
Connector misalignment can compromise the reliability of power delivery in multi-board systems. This article explores the causes, effects, and prevention strategies for connector misalignment in power distribution, helping you design more robust multi-board PCB systems.
Blog
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Mastering Component Templates in Altium Designer 25
Our new article by Dario Fresu explains how Component Templates in Altium Designer 25 Pro improve design consistency, reduce errors, and streamline collaboration. It highlights practical benefits like standardized naming, faster component creation, and scalability across projects. Includes examples of using templates with Altium 365™ to simplify complex component setup.
Blog
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Wire Harness Design Guide for Development and Manufacturing
Designing a wire harness goes far beyond just connecting components—it’s about ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and compliance. This article walks you through the entire process, from initial design to production, helping you streamline development and avoid common pitfalls.
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Preparing for Medical Device Cybersecurity Assessments
Explore the key considerations and best practices for conducting cybersecurity assessments in medical device development. This article outlines how to identify potential threats, evaluate risks, and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards.
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