Circuit design

Circuit Design Project

A KiCad-based electronic circuit design project containing a complete schematic and associated through-hole components, prepared for design verification, documentation, and PCB-production workflow.

Table of Contents

• Project Overview
• Project Goals
• Key Features
• Tech Stack
• Circuit Components
• Design Workflow
• Generating the Output
• Verification
• PCB Workflow
• How to Use This Repository
• Documentation & Deliverables
• Limitations
• Future Improvements
• Author
• License

Project Overview

This repository contains an electronic circuit design created using KiCad. The design uses conventional through-hole (THT) components and DIP-packaged ICs.

The generated design-processing report confirms that the project contains:

• 3 capacitors
• 7 resistors
• 2 potentiometers
• 3 DIP-8 integrated-circuit packages
• 0 warnings
• 0 errors

The component-processing output includes THT capacitor and resistor footprints, Bourns 3296W vertical potentiometers, and DIP-8 packages. The final processing report completed successfully with no warnings or errors. fileciteturn0file0L1-L18

Important: The uploaded processing report does not identify the exact circuit function, IC part numbers, component values, supply voltage, or measured electrical performance. Those details should be added to this README once they are available from the schematic/project files.

Project Goals

The project is intended to demonstrate a complete electronic-design workflow:

1. Define the circuit requirements.
2. Create the circuit schematic.
3. Select appropriate component symbols and packages.
4. Assign footprints.
5. Check the design for errors.
6. Generate PCB-related manufacturing outputs when required.
7. Organize design files for version control.
8. Document the design so that another engineer can reproduce or modify it.

Key Features

• KiCad electronic design workflow
• Schematic-based circuit development
• Through-hole component selection
• DIP-8 IC packages
• Adjustable components using potentiometers
• Resistor and capacitor networks
• Design verification
• Version-controlled project files
• PCB-ready workflow
• Documentation suitable for an engineering portfolio

Tech Stack

Component Libraries

The processing report shows the following library/package selections:

• Capacitor_THT:C_Disc_D5.0mm_W2.5mm_P2.50mm
• Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P10.16mm_Horizontal
• Potentiometer_THT:Potentiometer_Bourns_3296W_Vertical
• Package_DIP:DIP-8_W7.62mm

These selections correspond to the project's C1–C3, R1–R7, RV1–RV2, and U1–U3 references. fileciteturn0file0L1-L14

Circuit Components

The currently verified component inventory is:

The report explicitly identifies C1–C3 as disc capacitors, R1–R7 as DIN0207-style axial resistors, RV1–RV2 as Bourns 3296W vertical potentiometers, and U1–U3 as DIP-8 packages. fileciteturn0file0L1-L14

Component Count

flowchart LR
    R[Resistors: 7]
    C[Capacitors: 3]
    P[Potentiometers: 2]
    U[DIP-8 IC Packages: 3]

The chart represents reference/package counts from the processing report, not electrical values or functional blocks.

Design Workflow

The recommended development workflow is:

flowchart TD
    A[Define Requirements] --> B[Create KiCad Project]
    B --> C[Draw Schematic]
    C --> D[Assign Footprints]
    D --> E[Run Electrical Checks]
    E --> F{Problems Found}
    F -->|Yes| G[Correct Design]
    G --> E
    F -->|No| H[Document Schematic]
    H --> I[Create PCB Layout]
    I --> J[Run PCB Design Checks]
    J --> K{Problems Found}
    K -->|Yes| L[Modify PCB]
    L --> J
    K -->|No| M[Generate Outputs]
    M --> N[Archive Release Files]

1. Create the KiCad Project

Create a new KiCad project and keep the project files together.

Recommended naming:

circuit-design.kicad_pro
circuit-design.kicad_sch
circuit-design.kicad_pcb

Use lowercase names and hyphens consistently so that the repository remains easy to navigate across operating systems.

2. Build the Schematic

Open the schematic in KiCad Schematic Editor and:

1. Place the required component symbols.
2. Assign reference designators.
3. Enter component values.
4. Connect circuit nets.
5. Add power symbols where required.
6. Add labels for important signals.
7. Add notes for design intent.
8. Annotate the schematic.

The verified design contains the following reference ranges:

C1, C2, C3
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7
RV1, RV2
U1, U2, U3

Generating the Output

A. Generate the Schematic Output

Open the project in KiCad and open the schematic:

KiCad
  └── Open Existing Project
        └── circuit-design.kicad_pro
              └── Open Schematic

After opening:

1. Confirm all symbols are visible.
2. Verify reference designators.
3. Verify component values.
4. Check all wire connections.
5. Save the schematic.

For a portfolio repository, export a readable PDF or image of the schematic into:

documentation/

Example:

documentation/schematic.pdf

B. Run Electrical Rules Check

Use KiCad's schematic verification tools to check for design issues.

The expected workflow is:

Schematic Editor
       ↓
Electrical Rules Check
       ↓
Review Errors
       ↓
Review Warnings
       ↓
Correct Problems
       ↓
Run Check Again

The supplied processing report shows:

Total warnings: 0
Total errors: 0

so the provided processing step completed cleanly. fileciteturn0file0L18-L18

A clean processing report should not automatically be interpreted as proof that the circuit is electrically correct. Functional correctness still requires reviewing the schematic and, where appropriate, simulation or hardware testing.

C. Generate PCB Output

If the PCB is part of the project:

1. Open the PCB Editor.
2. Import/update the schematic information.
3. Assign and verify footprints.
4. Place components.
5. Define board dimensions.
6. Route the required nets.
7. Add required copper zones.
8. Run Design Rules Check (DRC).
9. Resolve violations.
10. Save the final PCB.

Recommended output:

pcb/
└── circuit-design.kicad_pcb

D. Generate Manufacturing Files

When the PCB is ready for fabrication, generate the appropriate manufacturing outputs from KiCad.

Typical outputs include:

fabrication/
├── gerbers/
│   ├── *.gtl
│   ├── *.gbl
│   ├── *.gto
│   ├── *.gbo
│   ├── *.gtp
│   └── *.gbp
│
└── drill/
    └── *.drl

Only commit these files when the PCB has actually been finalized for manufacturing.

Verification

Current Verification Status

The supplied report explicitly concludes with zero warnings and zero errors. fileciteturn0file0L18-L18

Verification Philosophy

Verification should happen at multiple levels:

flowchart TD
    A[Schematic Review] --> B[Electrical Rules Check]
    B --> C[Footprint Verification]
    C --> D[PCB Design Rules Check]
    D --> E[Simulation]
    E --> F[Prototype]
    F --> G[Hardware Testing]

A project should be considered production-ready only after the checks appropriate to the project have been completed.

PCB Workflow

If this project is extended to PCB fabrication, the recommended workflow is:

Schematic → PCB

flowchart TD
    S[Schematic] --> F[Footprint Assignment]
    F --> U[Update PCB from Schematic]
    U --> P[Component Placement]
    P --> R[Routing]
    R --> Z[Copper Zones]
    Z --> D[Design Rules Check]
    D --> G[Gerber and Drill Files]

PCB Review Checklist

• Board outline is correct
• All components have valid footprints
• Component orientation is correct
• Reference designators are readable
• No unintended unrouted nets
• Track widths meet design requirements
• Clearances meet fabrication requirements
• Copper zones are correctly connected
• Mounting holes are correct
• Silkscreen does not overlap critical pads
• DRC passes
• Gerber files have been reviewed

How to Use This Repository

Prerequisites

Install:

• KiCad
• Git
• A PDF viewer for exported documentation

Download KiCad from the official project website:

https://www.kicad.org/

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/<username>/<repository-name>.git
cd <repository-name>

Replace <username> and <repository-name> with the actual GitHub repository information.

Open the Project

Open:

circuit-design.kicad_pro

from KiCad.

Then inspect:

Schematic → PCB → Documentation → Reports

depending on which stages of the project have been completed.

Documentation & Deliverables

A strong portfolio version of the project should ideally contain:

Design Files

• KiCad project file
• KiCad schematic
• KiCad PCB layout, if applicable
• Footprint assignments

Verification

• Component processing report
• Zero-warning / zero-error processing result
• Schematic ERC report
• PCB DRC report
• Simulation results, if applicable

Visual Documentation

• Schematic screenshot
• PCB 2D view
• PCB 3D view
• Final assembled-board photograph, if available

Manufacturing

• Gerber files
• Drill files
• Fabrication notes
• Bill of Materials (BOM)

Suggested Portfolio Presentation

For a GitHub portfolio, the repository should communicate not only what was designed, but also how it was designed and verified.

A recommended README flow is:

flowchart TD
    A[Project Objective]
    B[System / Circuit Design]
    C[Component Selection]
    D[Schematic]
    E[Verification]
    F[PCB Design]
    G[Manufacturing]
    H[Testing]
    I[Results]

    A --> B
    B --> C
    C --> D
    D --> E
    E --> F
    F --> G
    G --> H
    H --> I

This makes the repository useful to:

• Recruiters
• Electronics engineers
• Faculty members
• Project evaluators
• Potential collaborators

Limitations

The supplied processing report provides evidence about component/package processing and error status, but it does not contain enough information to establish:

• The exact purpose of the circuit
• The individual resistor/capacitor values
• The identities of U1, U2, and U3
• Input/output specifications
• Power-supply requirements
• Circuit equations
• Simulation results
• PCB dimensions
• Routing details
• Hardware test results

These details should be documented from the actual KiCad schematic/PCB files rather than inferred from the processing log.

Future Improvements

Potential extensions include:

1. Add a complete circuit description.
2. Document the function of every major circuit block.
3. Add a proper Bill of Materials.
4. Add schematic screenshots.
5. Add PCB layout and 3D-render images.
6. Perform schematic ERC.
7. Perform PCB DRC.
8. Add simulation results.
9. Build and test a physical prototype.
10. Document measured results against theoretical calculations.
11. Add Gerber and drill outputs for a fabrication release.
12. Add a versioned release such as v1.0.0.

Release Checklist

Before publishing a stable GitHub release:

[ ] Schematic complete
[ ] Component values verified
[ ] Footprints verified
[ ] Schematic ERC passed
[ ] PCB completed (if applicable)
[ ] PCB DRC passed (if applicable)
[ ] Documentation updated
[ ] Screenshots added
[ ] BOM added
[ ] Manufacturing files checked
[ ] README updated
[ ] Git commit created
[ ] GitHub release tagged

Example:

git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "First stable circuit design release"
git push origin v1.0.0

Author

Ishita Pathak

Electronics & Communication Engineering Undergraduate

This repository is maintained as an engineering portfolio project demonstrating electronic circuit design, schematic development, verification, documentation, and Git-based project management.

License

If this project is intended to be publicly reused, add an appropriate open-source license.

For example:

MIT License

Create a LICENSE file in the repository and select the license that matches the intended use and ownership of the design.

Project Status

Current status: Schematic/component-processing stage documented.

The supplied processing output reports 0 warnings and 0 errors for the processed design elements. fileciteturn0file0L15-L18

Further project-specific details should be added as the schematic, PCB, simulation, and hardware-validation stages are completed.