HOW PCB Design Remotely:

A typical PCB design process: ( not including hand phone PCB design which will be given next)

1. Receive Schematic Design from the Customer.
2. Redraw the customer's schematic into our schematic design tool ( such as Concept HDL, Powerlogic, etc.). Before redrawing, we should do schematic library design firstly. During the library design, we may need datasheets of some components ( a. ask our customer to provide the datasheet directly; b. download the datasheet via web but the customer should provide us with the component?s basic information such as part name, vendor name, etc.).
3. Help the customer doing schematic drawing faults check (such as single node net detect)
4. Consult with our customer to decide whether or not they have a fixed board outline. If they have and can provide the outline?s shape and dimension, ask them to send the outline file to us; if they do not have finished outline files but they have the requirements of the outline?s dimension and shape, we can draw an outline for them to fit their requirements; if they do not have any requirement of the outline?s shape and dimension, we can choose one rational outline for them.
5. Prepare for the PCB's Land Pattern library ( package library, such as 0402,0805,PLCC, FBGA208,etc.).
6. Before layout , we should make clear the board?s type. Generally speaking, PCB can be classified as RF board, digital board ( including high speed digital logics), normal analog, mixed signals and power board. Different board should use different layout rules.
7. Based on the board?s type and net density, we will arrange the board?s layer numbers, board thickness, layer to layer thickness and board materials
8. If it is a RF board or mixed signals including RF, we should do micro-strip line and strip-line?s calculation based on the board?s layer arrangement. General, the required impedance of micro-strip line and strip-line is 50 ohm.
9. If the board contains differential pair, we will control the differential pair?s impedance as 100 ohm or other value required by the customer.
10. If the board is a high speed digital one and need signal integrity and power integrity simulation ( this is required by customer), we will arrange SI and PI simulation using special software ( such as SpecctraQuest, SIWAVE, Apsim ,etc.) and report the results to our customer upon their requirements. But the simulation need extra fees and details can be discussed with the customer.
11. PCB layout using layout tools ( such as Allegro, Pads, PowerPCB, Protel, etc.).
12. Doing Design for Manufacturing (DFM) check and Design for Test (DFT) check. Note that before PCB design, we will contact with the PCB manufacturer firstly for some their product abilities and collect some important parameters, such as the minimum line width and line to line space, the minimum via diameter (mechanical drilling and laser drilling),etc.
13. Generate Gerber files and NC tap files for PCB manufacturing.
14. Send Gerber files to our customers.
15. Close process.

Some Suggestions:

Since there are many PCB manufacturing factories in China and they employ advanced technology in the world, we suggest our customer let their boards manufactured in China. We can recommend the PCB manufacturer to our customers free.