Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design in Altium Designer 🚀

MIC Course: "Diseño de Placas de Circuito Impreso para Productos Electrónicos" — UGR / UAH / GranaSAT

                          

This repository contains the Final Hardware Project developed by Pablo Rodríguez Jiménez as part of the MIC Course ("Diseño de Placas de Circuito Impreso para Productos Electrónicos") taught by the University of Granada (UGR) in collaboration with the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH) and linked to the GranaSAT aerospace initiative.

The project consists of a complete hardware design (hierarchical schematics, custom component libraries, multi-layer printed circuit board layout, and manufacturing documentation) for a low-power control and communications board, ideal for IoT applications and remote data acquisition, designed entirely using Altium Designer.

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📄 Quick Access to Documentation

If you do not have Altium Designer installed, you can view and interact with the design deliverables directly from here:

• 📖 View Interactive Schematics and PCB Layers PDF — Interactive PDF generated from the project's OutputJob.
• 🎥 View 3D Board Simulation Video — 3D render simulation of the physical PCB.

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📋 System Overview

The hardware is designed around a modular and hierarchical architecture with the following key technical features:

• Main Processor (MCU): Microchip ATmega4808 microcontroller (low-power 8-bit AVR).
• Wireless Connectivity:
  • LoRaWAN module for low-power, long-range wireless communication (LPWAN).
  • WiFi module for local wireless communications and fast data transfer.
• Wired Communications: Integrated USB-to-UART interface using the FTDI FT231X bridge chip for direct programming and debugging.
• Power Management: Versatile power system featuring an integrated solar charger circuit and voltage regulators to efficiently power the different logic and wireless blocks.
• Sensors: Dedicated interface block for external sensors with basic signal conditioning.

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🎬 3D PCB View (Looping Preview)

Below is a looping 3D render preview of the physical PCB:

Tip

If the video does not play automatically in your browser (due to .wmv format browser limitations), you can download it or play it locally from the link above. To enable native automatic web playback on GitHub across any browser, we recommend exporting the video from Altium Designer in .mp4 format (using the H.264/FFmpeg codec in the OutputJob multimedia settings).

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📁 Repository Structure

The project directory is structured as follows:

├── ProyectoFinal_RodriguezJimenezPablo.PrjPcb            # Altium Designer Master Project File
├── ProyectoFinal_RodriguezJimenezPablo.PrjPcbStructure   # Project Structure Cache
├── .gitignore                                            # Altium Designer specific Git filters
│
├── SCH/                                                  # Schematic sheets (.SchDoc)
│   ├── Portada.SchDoc                                    # Title/Cover page
│   ├── Indice.SchDoc                                     # Interactive schematic index sheet
│   ├── Main.SchDoc                                       # Top-level hierarchical sheet (block diagram)
│   ├── Power.SchDoc                                      # Power regulation and voltage distribution
│   ├── Solar_Charger.SchDoc                              # Solar management and charger circuit
│   ├── Target_MCU.SchDoc                                 # ATmega4808 microcontroller connections
│   ├── USB_To_Uart.SchDoc                                # USB-to-UART converter interface (FT231X)
│   ├── Sensors.SchDoc                                    # Sensor ports and conditioning circuits
│   ├── LoRaWan.SchDoc                                    # LoRaWAN wireless transceiver section
│   └── *.Harness                                         # Harness wiring definitions
│
├── PCB/                                                  # PCB layout directory
│   └── PCB1.PcbDoc                                       # Intermediate copy of the physical layout
│
├── Libraries/                                            # Custom component libraries
│   ├── PCB1.PcbDoc                                       # [ACTIVE!] Final physical PCB layout referenced in the project
│   ├── *.SchLib                                          # Schematic symbols (Connectors, Crystals, IC, Passives, Sensors, etc.)
│   └── *.PcbLib                                          # Footprints and 3D models for all parts
│
├── Documents/                                            # Technical datasheets
│   ├── ATmega4808_DataSheet.pdf                          # Microcontroller datasheet
│   ├── FTDI231_DataSheet.pdf                             # USB-to-UART bridge datasheet
│   └── WiFI_Module_DataSheet.pdf                         # WiFi module datasheet
│
├── Draftsman/                                            # Assembly and fabrication drawings
│   └── PCB1.PCBDwf                                       # Altium Draftsman board fabrication/assembly specs document
│
├── Template/                                             # Design templates and title blocks
│   ├── Template_GranaSAT.SchDot                          # GranaSAT schematic template sheet
│   └── template_GranaSAT.PcbDoc                          # GranaSAT PCB rules and outline template
│
├── Images/                                               # Graphics, logos, and student signatures
│   ├── Logo_UGR.png / Logo_UAH.png                       # UGR & UAH institutional logos
│   ├── Logo_GranaSAT.png                                 # GranaSAT research group logo
│   └── ...                                               # Social media icons and student signatures
│
└── Project Outputs for ProyectoFinal_RodriguezJimenezPablo/ # Generated output files
    ├── ProyectoFinal_Esquematicos_y_PCB_RodriguezJimenezPablo.pdf # [IMPORTANT] Interactive PDF schematics & layout
    ├── ProyectoFinal_Vista3D_PCB_RodriguezJimenezPablo.wmv # [3D VIEW] Loop simulation video of the 3D board render
    ├── Design Rule Check - PCB1.html                     # Design Rule Check (DRC) report - [Git Ignored]
    └── Design Rule Check - PCB1.drc                      # Text-based DRC report - [Git Ignored]

Note

The Altium project file (.PrjPcb) currently references Libraries/PCB1.PcbDoc as the active board layout. The file located under PCB/PCB1.PcbDoc is an older, intermediate revision.

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🛠️ Requirements & Setup

To open and work with this project:

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPOSITORY.git

2. Software Requirement: Altium Designer 20 or newer is recommended to ensure compatibility with schematic sheets, Harness files, and Draftsman drawing document.
3. Open the Project:
   • Launch Altium Designer.
   • Go to File -> Open -> Project... and select ProyectoFinal_RodriguezJimenezPablo.PrjPcb.
4. Compilation: Right-click the project in the Projects panel and select Compile PCB Project to check connectivity and rebuild schematic hierarchy.

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🎓 Acknowledgements & Course Details

This project was developed under the guidance and guidelines of the MIC Course ("Diseño de Placas de Circuito Impreso para Productos Electrónicos") coordinated by the University of Granada (UGR) and the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH), with collaboration from the engineers at GranaSAT.

👨‍🏫 Teaching Staff / Main Professors

• Andrés María Roldán Aranda — Associate Professor (Profesor Titular) at the University of Granada (UGR).
• Carlos Cruz de la Torre — Associate Professor (Profesor Titular) at the University of Alcalá de Henares (UAH).

🏢 Collaborating Companies & Institutions

The course has been supported and collaborated with by the following leading industry partners:

• Indra
• DHV
• Thales Alenia Space (Thales-Alenia)
• Instituto Andaluz de Astrofísica (IAA)
• Safran