4 ms·

>EEs who can actually read a damn spec sheet properly... I think this is the hardware equivalent of expecting programmers to write bug free code on the first t

>EEs who can actually read a damn spec sheet properly... I think this is the hardware equivalent of expecting programmers to write bug free code on the first try. Most of the time when a programmer wants to implement something a little complex and a little outside their expertise, they use an external library. Likewise, EEs will often buy a chip produced by a third party manufacturer and use that to handle it. But the abstractions available to EEs are often a bit more leaky than those available to us programmers, since they are more constrained by the laws of physics. and as a result that third party chip is still harder to use than a software library.

throwahey 9y ago
That is still an avoidable error. You shouldn't be adding parts without understanding how they work or how they will affect your circuit as a whole.
baddox 9y ago
On the first try? I would hope that hardware manufacturers don't take the engineers' first attempt and immediately go into mass production.
ChuckMcM 9y ago
That isn't the way EE's are trained in my experience. When new hardware is designed that is outside the EE's experience there is usually an evaluation board available from the manufacturer. They get one of those in house, read the application notes and data sheets, and use their test equipment to observe the 'proper' signal levels and waveforms on a correctly implemented system. Then they add this part to their design, and lay out the schematic and the printed circuit board according to best practices by the manufacturer. Once the first boards return they put measure the signal levels and waveforms in their circuit to verify they are with the specifications and that they match the ones on the eval board. Then they will 'corner' test the circuit (corners are low/hi temperature range, low and high voltage range) and verify it continues to work according to specification at all the 'corners' (if it does then you are generally ok with assuming it will work at all points "inside" those for corners.) There are people who are either in a hurry or don't care who wire something up according to the application note, power it up once and call it 'good'. I've seen a number of cost reduced 'clone' equivalents that meet that description. @kens has done a number of blog posts that show this sort of mentality in detail.
- taeric 9y ago
  Your process outlined here takes time and is likely part of why the quality ones aren't to market yet. :(

throwahey 9y ago

That is still an avoidable error. You shouldn't be adding parts without understanding how they work or how they will affect your circuit as a whole.

baddox 9y ago

On the first try? I would hope that hardware manufacturers don't take the engineers' first attempt and immediately go into mass production.

ChuckMcM 9y ago

That isn't the way EE's are trained in my experience. When new hardware is designed that is outside the EE's experience there is usually an evaluation board available from the manufacturer. They get one of those in house, read the application notes and data sheets, and use their test equipment to observe the 'proper' signal levels and waveforms on a correctly implemented system. Then they add this part to their design, and lay out the schematic and the printed circuit board according to best practices by the manufacturer. Once the first boards return they put measure the signal levels and waveforms in their circuit to verify they are with the specifications and that they match the ones on the eval board. Then they will 'corner' test the circuit (corners are low/hi temperature range, low and high voltage range) and verify it continues to work according to specification at all the 'corners' (if it does then you are generally ok with assuming it will work at all points "inside" those for corners.) There are people who are either in a hurry or don't care who wire something up according to the application note, power it up once and call it 'good'. I've seen a number of cost reduced 'clone' equivalents that meet that description. @kens has done a number of blog posts that show this sort of mentality in detail.

taeric 9y ago
Your process outlined here takes time and is likely part of why the quality ones aren't to market yet. :(