Design review checklist in PCB Design - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Key Elements in a PCB Design Review Checklist

Which of the following is NOT typically included in a PCB design review checklist?

A Component placement and orientation verification

B Signal integrity and impedance matching checks

C Thermal management and heat dissipation analysis

D Marketing strategy for the PCB product

💡 Hint

Think about what is directly related to the technical quality and functionality of the PCB.

Marketing strategy is not part of the technical design review checklist. The checklist focuses on technical aspects like component placement, signal integrity, and thermal management.

❓ data_modeling

intermediate

Structuring a PCB Design Review Checklist in BI

You want to create a BI report that tracks the status of each item in a PCB design review checklist across multiple projects. Which data model structure is best suited for this?

A A flat table with columns: ProjectID, ChecklistItem, Status, Reviewer

B Separate tables for Projects, ChecklistItems, and ReviewStatus linked by keys

C A single table with all project details and checklist items as columns

D A table with only ProjectID and overall review score

💡 Hint

Consider normalization and flexibility for reporting on checklist items independently.

Using separate tables linked by keys allows better organization, easier updates, and more flexible reporting on checklist items and projects.

❓ dax_lod_result

advanced

Calculating Percentage of Completed Checklist Items

Given a table 'ReviewStatus' with columns: ProjectID, ChecklistItem, Status ('Complete' or 'Incomplete'), which DAX measure correctly calculates the percentage of completed checklist items for a selected project?

PCB Design

Percentage Complete = DIVIDE(
    CALCULATE(COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus), ReviewStatus[Status] = "Complete"),
    COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus)
)

A Percentage Complete = DIVIDE(CALCULATE(COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus), ReviewStatus[Status] = "Complete"), COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus))

B Percentage Complete = CALCULATE(COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus[Status] = "Complete")) / COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus)

C Percentage Complete = SUMX(ReviewStatus, IF(ReviewStatus[Status] = "Complete", 1, 0)) / COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus)

D Percentage Complete = COUNTROWS(FILTER(ReviewStatus, ReviewStatus[Status] = "Complete")) / COUNTROWS(ReviewStatus)

💡 Hint

Look for correct use of CALCULATE and COUNTROWS with filter conditions.

Option A uses CALCULATE with a filter on Status correctly and divides by total rows. Option A has syntax errors. Option A is missing CALCULATE and may not respect filter context. Option A uses SUMX but is less efficient.

❓ visualization

advanced

Best Visualization for PCB Design Review Progress

You want to show the progress of checklist completion for multiple PCB projects in a dashboard. Which visualization type is best to clearly compare progress across projects?

A Line chart showing checklist item completion over time for one project

B Pie chart showing overall completion percentage for all projects combined

C Stacked bar chart showing completed vs incomplete items per project

D Scatter plot showing project size vs number of checklist items

💡 Hint

Think about comparing parts of a whole across multiple categories.

A stacked bar chart allows easy comparison of completed and incomplete checklist items across multiple projects side by side.

🔧 Formula Fix

expert

Identifying Error in DAX Measure for Checklist Completion

Review the following DAX measure intended to calculate the count of incomplete checklist items per project:

Incomplete Count = COUNTROWS(FILTER(ReviewStatus, ReviewStatus[Status] = "Incomplete"))

What is the main issue with this measure when used in a report filtered by ProjectID?

A It ignores the current ProjectID filter and counts all incomplete items across projects

B It causes a syntax error due to missing CALCULATE function

C It returns the total number of checklist items instead of incomplete ones

D It double counts incomplete items if multiple filters are applied

💡 Hint

Consider how FILTER and context interact in DAX measures.

The FILTER function inside COUNTROWS does not automatically respect external filters like ProjectID. Without CALCULATE, the measure ignores the report filter context on ProjectID.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a design review checklist in PCB design?

easy

A. To ensure the PCB design meets quality and readiness standards

B. To create the PCB layout automatically

C. To write the firmware for the PCB

D. To order components from suppliers

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of a design review checklist

   A design review checklist is used to verify that all aspects of the PCB design are correct and ready for production.

2. Step 2: Identify the main goal

   The checklist helps catch errors early and ensures quality and readiness before manufacturing.

3. Final Answer:

   To ensure the PCB design meets quality and readiness standards -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Design review checklist = quality and readiness check [OK]

Hint: Check if the option talks about quality and readiness [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing checklist with design automation
• Thinking checklist writes code
• Assuming checklist orders parts

2. Which item should NOT be included in a PCB design review checklist?

easy

A. Schematic verification

B. Electrical rule check

C. Writing marketing content

D. Component placement review

Solution

1. Step 1: List typical checklist items

   Common checklist items include schematic checks, component placement, and electrical rules.

2. Step 2: Identify unrelated tasks

   Writing marketing content is unrelated to PCB design review and should not be included.

3. Final Answer:

   Writing marketing content -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Marketing content is unrelated to PCB design [OK]

Hint: Pick the option unrelated to PCB technical checks [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including non-technical tasks in checklist
• Confusing marketing with design review
• Ignoring electrical checks

3. Given a checklist with these steps:
1. Verify schematic
2. Check component placement
3. Run electrical rule check
4. Confirm mechanical fit
What is the expected result if step 3 fails?

medium

A. Errors in electrical connections must be fixed

B. The PCB is ready for manufacturing

C. Mechanical parts need redesign

D. Schematic needs no changes

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand electrical rule check failure

   If the electrical rule check fails, it means there are errors in the electrical connections or design rules.

2. Step 2: Determine next action

   These errors must be fixed before proceeding to manufacturing to avoid faulty PCBs.

3. Final Answer:

   Errors in electrical connections must be fixed -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Electrical rule check fail = fix electrical errors [OK]

Hint: Failing electrical check means fix electrical errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming PCB is ready despite errors
• Confusing mechanical fit with electrical errors
• Ignoring the need to fix schematic

4. A PCB design review checklist includes a step to check component footprints. The designer notices footprints do not match the datasheet but ignores it. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. The PCB will function perfectly

B. The components may not fit or solder correctly

C. The schematic is incorrect

D. The mechanical enclosure is too small

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand footprint importance

   Footprints define the physical pad layout for components on PCB.

2. Step 2: Consequences of incorrect footprints

   If footprints don't match datasheet, components may not fit or solder properly, causing assembly issues.

3. Final Answer:

   The components may not fit or solder correctly -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Wrong footprint = fit and solder problems [OK]

Hint: Mismatch footprint means physical fit issues [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring footprint errors
• Confusing schematic errors with footprint issues
• Assuming mechanical enclosure fixes footprint problems

5. You are preparing a design review checklist for a complex PCB project. Which combination of checks best ensures both electrical and mechanical readiness before production?

hard

A. Component placement, electrical rule check, software debugging, mechanical fit check

B. Schematic verification, firmware testing, component placement, packaging design

C. Electrical rule check, marketing review, mechanical fit check, documentation writing

D. Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify essential electrical checks

   Schematic verification and electrical rule check ensure the circuit is correct and follows design rules.

2. Step 2: Identify essential mechanical checks

   Component placement and mechanical fit check ensure parts fit physically and the PCB fits the enclosure.

3. Step 3: Evaluate options

   Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check includes all key electrical and mechanical checks. Other options include unrelated tasks like firmware, marketing, or software debugging.

4. Final Answer:

   Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Electrical + mechanical checks = Schematic verification, electrical rule check, component placement, mechanical fit check [OK]

Hint: Pick option with both electrical and mechanical checks only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including unrelated tasks like marketing or software debugging
• Missing key electrical or mechanical checks
• Confusing firmware testing with design review