What are the most commonly used layout tools in electronic engineering?

1 Schematic Capture

Schematic capture is the process of drawing the logical connections and components of your circuit using symbols and wires. It is the first step in creating a layout, and it allows you to visualize and test your design before moving to the physical implementation. Schematic capture tools can also generate netlists, which are files that describe the connectivity and attributes of your circuit elements. Some of the most popular schematic capture tools are KiCad, Eagle, Altium Designer, and OrCAD.

2 PCB Layout

PCB layout is the process of designing the physical layout of your circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB). It involves placing and routing the components, traces, pads, vias, and other features on a board, while considering factors such as electrical performance, signal integrity, thermal management, and manufacturability. PCB layout tools can also perform design rule checks (DRC), which are checks that verify if your layout meets the specifications and standards of your board manufacturer. Some of the most widely used PCB layout tools are KiCad, Eagle, Altium Designer, and Cadence Allegro.

3 FPGA Design

FPGA design is the process of creating and implementing digital logic circuits on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). FPGA is a type of integrated circuit that can be configured and reconfigured by the user using hardware description languages (HDL), such as VHDL or Verilog. FPGA design tools can help you create, synthesize, simulate, and download your HDL code to your FPGA device, as well as perform timing analysis, power analysis, and debugging. Some of the most common FPGA design tools are Quartus Prime, Vivado, ISE, and ModelSim.

4 Simulation and Verification

Simulation and verification are the processes of testing and validating your circuit or system behavior, functionality, and performance using software models and tools. Simulation can help you analyze your circuit response to different inputs, outputs, parameters, and conditions, while verification can help you check if your circuit meets the requirements and specifications of your design. Simulation and verification tools can also help you identify and fix errors, bugs, and faults in your design before fabrication or deployment. Some of the most frequently used simulation and verification tools are LTspice, PSpice, Multisim, and MATLAB.

5 Layout Optimization

Layout optimization is the process of improving your layout quality, efficiency, and reliability using software algorithms and techniques. Layout optimization can help you reduce your layout size, complexity, and cost, as well as enhance your layout performance, robustness, and durability. Layout optimization tools can also help you optimize your layout for specific applications, such as low-power, high-speed, or high-frequency designs. Some of the most prevalent layout optimization tools are HyperLynx, HFSS, Optenni Lab, and Genesys.

6 Layout Documentation

Layout documentation is the process of creating and generating the necessary files and documents for your layout fabrication, assembly, and testing. Layout documentation can include schematic diagrams, PCB layouts, bill of materials (BOM), Gerber files, drill files, assembly drawings, test procedures, and user manuals. Layout documentation tools can help you create, manage, and export your layout documentation in various formats, such as PDF, DXF, or CSV. Some of the most popular layout documentation tools are KiCad, Eagle, Altium Designer, and EasyEDA.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?