When Starting A Totally New Circuit!

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pdxicdesigner

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So this question is say you have a totally new circuit you have been tasked to do. Or even more broadly a circuit function. What is your process for getting the latest in state of the art whether it be competitor datasheets, IEEE articles, etc?

Lets say you were given specifications for an ADC function you needed to meet. What would be your starting points to pick an architecture and what kind of inputs would help you arrive at a selection? I know this is a broad question but seeing how others approach the problem
 

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One, presumably, already possess some knowledge and experience before starting a specific design. A person doesn't sit down in the cockpit and say "okay, how do I learn how to fly a jet?".

Other than that, your question reads like "How do you think?"

Different engineers will come up with different solutions to a specific design. That's the "art" of engineering.
 

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Disagree - lets say you never designed a Flash ADC. Maybe you designed lots of other ADC topologies. What do you do to figure out what is possible, newer techniques etc

For me I look at datasheets using Flash architectures and then go to say 5 or 6 relevant IEEE papers on the topic. I'm asking approaches like this, maybe someone has something to add that is interesting
 

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If the product is self defined then you start with the application, collect and triage its care-abouts, let those lead you to topology choices and detail specs.

If it's an ASIC / custom job then the customer has probably got a lot of that nailed down, may not discuss applications if end use is sensitive, and your first task is instead checking sanity and sufficiency of that spec (or, if you accept that looser engagement style, helping them arrive at same along with cost & schedule).

Or maybe you're a pipeline ADC shop that likes to resell IP, and you work on the customer to get them to like what's "on the shelf and price to move!".
 
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Someone said that a truly educated man doesn't have to know everything, but knows where to find it.

The field of electronics has grown so vast that it seems impossible to gain a working vocabulary of it all.

A big advantage for any craftsman is to know what tools are available. Equally vital is knowledge how to use the tools. Some tasks require a crash course to learn details, some tasks are like a walk in the park.
 

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