“There’s always a reason”
Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid attachment to open at all” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid attachment to open at all” Nick Burns: “It’s the that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the that’s stupid, not you right?”
Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid microprocessor to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid microprocessor to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the microprocessor that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the microprocessor that’s stupid, not you right?”
Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid scope to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid scope to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the scope that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the scope that’s stupid, not you right?”
Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid circuit to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid circuit to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the circuit that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the circuit that’s stupid, not you right?”
Fill in the blank Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid program to work” Joe Shmo: “I’m trying to do this quarterly and I just can’t get this stupid program to work” Nick Burns: “It’s the program that’s stupid, not you right?” Nick Burns: “It’s the program that’s stupid, not you right?”
Problem Sources Power Miswired Logic or Desgin Component Failure
Potential Problems Soldering Wiring Power supply Grounding Connectors Shielding Heat dissipation Equipment Bad com-ponents ESD
Plan of Attack K.I.S.S. K.I.S.S. Work Backwards Work Backwards
Tools Digital Digital –Logic Analyzer –Serial Debugging Analog Analog –Oscilloscope –Volt Meter –Spectrum Analyzer
Prevention: Tangibles Simulations Simulations Modularity Modularity Triple safety Triple safety –Wiring colors (i.e. don’t use 2 reds for both power and ground) –Ground straps for ESD –Circuit protection
Prevention: Intangibles Knowledge Knowledge –Part pdfs –Schematics –Pin-outs –Block diagrams Software Software –Keep working revision backups –Frequent testing –Smoke testing/integration Planning Planning