<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lqc1jmbSxnE" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Why is the thickness of PCB layers important? Explained.
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

How to choose PCB?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OG2Ci_xr0pM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
If you would like to watch a full step-by-step tutorial about how to design your own custom keyboard, let me know in comments. Thx for watching.
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">Overview</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:20</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard parts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:54</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard PCB design</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">02:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Small version</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:53</span><span class="chapters-text">Keyboard case</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">05:11</span><span class="chapters-text">Switches and encoders</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:10</span><span class="chapters-text">Keycaps</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:56</span><span class="chapters-text">Firmware QMK</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">07:52</span><span class="chapters-text">VIA app to set shortcuts</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:28</span><span class="chapters-text">Finished keyboard</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I Built This Custom Keyboard from Scratch

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3Ny3j5nH0U" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Close look at BGA soldering, chip soldering, hand soldering and more
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:09</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering BGA</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">01:18</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering TSSOP</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:05</span><span class="chapters-text">Soldering QFN</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">06:02</span><span class="chapters-text">Hand soldering</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:35</span><span class="chapters-text">Multilayer PCB under a microscope</span></li>
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.keyence.eu/yt-kib-vhx-0924">Microscope Keyence VHX-7000N</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Have you ever seen soldering THIS close?

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjFuTdVEd7Q" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        Short tutorial which describes how to start using Cadence Allegro. Explains basic commands and how to:
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">highlight / de-highlight net</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">switch between layers</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">get information about a component</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">measure</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">move objects</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">delete</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">route</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">slide tracks …</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>


How to start with Cadence Allegro – Very simple tutorial

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        The x86 use often three chip solution, but it’s not a rule. Mobile platforms many time use only two chips. The chips used to be known as CPU (to support different CPU speeds and models), North Bridge (mostly memory interface + graphic interface or graphics), South Bridge (peripherals). These days manufacturers use different names such GMCH, SCH, PCH, … <br><br>

        <i>Picture: <a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-n270/overview">Intel N270</a> (Three chips) / <a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-z5xx/overview">Intel ATOM Z5xx</a> / <a href="http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52213">Intel CORE i7</a></i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/9db6d-intel_n270_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel N270" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/0be04-intel_atom_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel ATOM Z5xx" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/0cb53-intel_i7_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel Core i7" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
       <b>Power sequencing</b><br>
       x86 boards support <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface">several power states</a>. The most well know are:
       <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S0 – Board is ON</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S3 – Board is in Sleep (when you close your laptop, without shutting down)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S5 – Board is OFF, but can be switched pressing Power button</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">G3 – Disconnected from Main power</span></li>
        </ul>
        Power rails are split into several power domains: by voltage (+5V, +3.3V, …) and by power state (S0, S3, …). For example +3.3V rail is split into: +V3.3A (Always ON or also know as S5), +V3.3 (S3) and +V3.3S (S0).<br><br>

        More about power states: see <a href="http://www.acpi.info/DOWNLOADS/ACPIspec40a.pdf">ACPI specification</a><br><br>

        Power sequencing is controlled by South Bridge. Mobile platforms use a <a href="https://www.intelcommsalliance.com/kshowcase/view/view_item/4ddd1dbe78eb6b235cc4f07eabb79ae562ae690e">Embedded controller</a> instead. The embedded controller integrates often also other features – keyboard interface, volume control, ambient light sensor for automatic display backlight control, …
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>High Currents & High Heat</b><br>
        When designing a x86 board, it’s important to know how a lot of heat will be taken away. Power supplies are designed to support currents up to tens of Amps. PCB layout has to take this into consideration and wide tracks / planes + multiple VIAs are required for power tracks.
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>BIOS</b><br>
        BIOS development is one of the key parts of x86 board development. It’s done by BIOS companies (<a href="http://www.phoenix.com/">Phoenix</a> (Award), <a href="http://www.insydesw.com/home">Insyde</a>, … ) or by BIOS developers (they own a licence to source code of BIOS). Basic BIOS binaries are provided together with development platform, but must be customized based on the new board design. BIOS customization may easily cost around $900 per day.<br><br>

        Manufacturers of peripheral chips provide binaries for BIOS e.g Video BIOS, Ethernet BIOS (to support booting over Ethernet …), SATA BIOS (to support RAIDS …).<br><br>

        Open source BIOSes are also available – for example <a href="http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot">Coreboot</a> (formerly known as LinuxBIOS)<br><br>

        A replacement for the older BIOS has been developed. The replacemnt is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface">UEFI</a> and is supported by several big manufacturers such Intel, AMD, IBM …
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>Booting</b><br>
        Initially, BIOS is executed directly from BIOS FLASH memory. Once system memory has been initialized (together with some other code),  the BIOS starts running from DDR.
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>BIOS Debugging</b><br>
        Before video interface is initialized, a serial console or JTAG can be used to debug BIOS. Standard BIOS diagnostic output is called <a href="http://www.postcodemaster.com/">POST code</a>. This code differentiate between manufacturers. BIOS POST code is a two/four digits hex value written by BIOS software on port 0x80. For easier diagnostic, this code can be read by <a href="http://www.google.sk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=o0H&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1440&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=POST+Diagnostic+card&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=">POST code diagnostic cards</a>.<br><br>

        Do you have any questions or you think something else is also important? Leave a comment.
     </div>

   
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-n270/overview">Intel N270</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-z5xx/overview">Intel ATOM Z5xx</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52213">Intel CORE i7</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface">Several power states</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.acpi.info/DOWNLOADS/ACPIspec40a.pdf">ACPI specification</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.intelcommsalliance.com/kshowcase/view/view_item/4ddd1dbe78eb6b235cc4f07eabb79ae562ae690e">Embedded controller</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.phoenix.com/">Phoenix</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.insydesw.com/home">Insyde</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot">Coreboot</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface">UEFI</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.postcodemaster.com/">POST code</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.google.sk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=o0H&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1440&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=POST+Diagnostic+card&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=">POST code diagnostic cards</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

x86 Hardware design – What everyone should know

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content">
        <a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf" target="_blank" >Here is a helpful design guide document</a> which describes recommended electrical circuits and PCB layout rules for:
        <ul class="content-list">
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCI Express, ExpressCard, PCI Express Mini Card, PCI Express Graphic – PEG,</span></li>
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCI, Ethernet – LAN, USB, IDE, SATA, LPC, Audio AC97 / HDA,</span></li>
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">SDVO, DVI, VGA, LVDS, TV-Out,</span></li>
         </ul>

         <i>A page example (from the document):</i>
     </div>

     <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/a676d-pci-express-routing-rules.png" alt="PCI Express routing rules" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        Don’t get confused. It’s a design guide for COM Express carrier board. Just ignore mechanical and power chapters in the document.<br><br>

        <a href="https://www.picmg.org/wp-content/uploads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf">Original document can be downloaded here</a>
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf" target="_blank">Helpful design guide document</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.picmg.org/wp-content/uploads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf">Original document</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

| KNOWLEDGE BASE

A rich source of expert knowledge

PCB layout rules for PCIE, SATA, LAN, LVDS, USB, SDVO, …

Newest Posts

How to choose PCB?

I Built This Custom Keyboard from Scratch

Have you ever seen soldering THIS close?

Categories

BUSINESS ADDRESS