top of page
20261016_122334_edited.jpg

PCB Design for

Embedded Systems

A second level course on creating a microcontroller development board

Online Self-Paced

No Prerequisites

$1950 - 2.0 Credits

6 Weeks

Self-Paced

All Online Curriculum

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Dates

This is an Online Self-Paced course

PCB Design for Embedded Systems
Nov 2 - Dec 14

Topics

  • Creating the schematic for multi-block MCU design

  • Create the ATmega32u4 block diagram

    • Power, clock, USB, reset, ICSP, I/O

  • 16 MHz crystal selection and load cap calculation

  • USB connector, PTC fuse, and differential pair considerations

  • Component sourcing

    • DigiKey — verifying package, pinout, and availability

  • Custom footprint creation from manufacturer mechanical drawings

  • Custom symbol creation in KiCad

  • Defining footprint trust level

  • Board outline, design rules, and layer stackup

  • Component placement strategy

    • (crystal, decoupling, USB at edge)

  • 2-layer routing

  • Ground pour / Flood fill

  • USB Communication

    • D+/D− routing

  • DRC and pre-fab review

  • Gerber and drill file export

  • PCB ordering process

  • Hand-soldering TQFP-44 and SMT passives

  • Bootloader fundamentals

    • what it is, where it is, why it matters

  • Burning the Caterina bootloader via ICSP

  • Arduino IDE workflow

  • MPLAB X IDE setup with AVR-GCC

  • Fuse configuration for external crystal

  • Register-level peripheral access in plain C (PORT, DDR, TIMERS, UART)

This is a complement to the PCB Design course, where we continue building our skills by creating our own microcontroller development board. 

 

This board can be two variants, an Arduino and a plain Atmel Atmega 32u4. What this means is that you have a device that will help you remove the training wheels of the Arduino ecosystem and begin to program in plain C++ through the chip manufacturers own IDE. So for Arduino we use the Arduino IDE, and for the plain Atmel chip we use Microchip's MPLabs IDE. 

20261016_122403_edited.png

Probably the first big change coming from the PCB Design course, is the high pin count microcontroller.

​

With high pin count comes complex routing. This will be substantially more difficult than the flashlight we made in the first course.

There still will be plenty of standard SMD components that we used previously along with a few new devices.

Class Designed PCB

Course Overview

20261016_122314_edited.png

The microcontroller that we'll be building everything around will be the Atmel ATMEGA 32u4.

​

This is a 44 pin device (TQFP44 or QFN44), each needing to be routed to it's own pad at the board edge, just like you see with the Arduinos.

As we move through the course we'll talk about the various techniques and thoughts on how to route everything as cleanly as possible.

​

PCBs are priced by the size so learning to design as small as you can will definitely save you money.

Board Layout
Class Designed Arduino

Then lastly, in the end you won't just have your own homemade Arduino, but a circuit you can add to any future projects, removing the need to install or use a separate Arduino board.

​

​

Course Dates

PCB Design for Embedded Systems
Nov 2 - Dec 14

The Pre-Registration List

​

To help ease the college registration for our CTECH students we've created a spreadsheet to hold students' place in class while they wait for classes to be scheduled, vouchers to be received, voucher access (I believe it's a month before class), or any other complication in the process. We can add you to the spreadsheet before you get a CTCLink ID, but you will need to have one eventually. 

 

We'll reach out to you as we get closer to the class start date.

​

If you see a class you'd like to get in, you can contact us to be added to this spreadsheet.
 

You can also simply email me and I can add you as well.
Damian Cianci
dcianci@edmonds.edu

The Registration Process
 

Register by phone between 9am and 4pm PDT (This is the easiest way)
425-640-1840

Important - You will need a CTCLink ID number in order for us to help you over the phone or in person. You can follow the steps below to get one.

Fill out an application to Edmonds College:

Online Admissions Application

https://apply.ctc.edu/user
* This can take 1-5 business days to get your ID

A few notes for your application:
Enroll as: "First Year"
Program: "Professional Technical"
Term: "_____" (Season plus year, such as: Spring 2023)
Degree or Certificate: "Undecided - Professional Technical"

Once you have received your CTC Link ID number please let us know and we can get you registered for your class.

Click here to get notified of upcoming classes

Mailing List

Registration

bottom of page