Start up companies and laboratory equipment circuit boards need to achieve low-cost and rapid verification through modular design, open source ecosystem utilization, and software and hardware collaborative optimization under limited resources, while meeting the accuracy and safety baselines of laboratory scenarios. The core strategy can be "sufficient hardware, software supplementation, and testing focus" to avoid excessive design slowing down the product landing process.
Core principles as follow:
The circuit boards of startups (such as prototype development, small batch products) and laboratory equipment (such as research instruments, analytical equipment) need to find a balance between low-cost flexibility, fast iteration, high precision, and compliance. The following are the areas that we focus on during the production and assembly process:
Prioritize the use of FR4 standard substrates to reduce costs; The key modules in the laboratory can be selected from aluminum substrates (for heat dissipation) or ceramic substrates (for high temperature resistance).
Using universal packaged components such as 0805 resistors and SOT-23 transistors to avoid high MOQ (minimum order quantity) for customized components.
Supports fast prototyping (24-hour delivery), using desktop PCB engraving machines (line width ≥ 0.2mm) or low-cost SMT outsourcing (minimum order of 5 pieces).
The surface mount welding adopts manual welding+hot air gun or desktop surface mount machine (accuracy ± 0.1mm), which is suitable for small batch verification needs.
The core functions (such as sensor interfaces and power management) are designed as independent daughter boards, separated from the motherboard through pin headers/connectors for easy debugging.
Using open-source hardware platforms (such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi compatible interfaces) to reduce development cycles.
Reserved jumper pads and test points (spacing ≥ 1mm), supporting fly wire debugging; Add a 0 Ω resistor to the critical signal routing for circuit breaker troubleshooting.
Software defined hardware: dynamically configure pins through FPGA or MCU (such as the Remap function of STM32) to reduce the number of hardware revisions.
The analog front-end (such as pH detection and spectral analysis) uses low-noise operational amplifiers (input noise ≤ 1nV/√ Hz), with ADC resolution ≥ 16 bits.
Temperature sensitive circuits (such as PCR instrument temperature control) use platinum resistors (Pt100) or thermocouple cold junction compensation circuits with an accuracy of ± 0.1 ℃.
In sensitive signal areas, shielding covers or Faraday cages are used, and after digital/analog segmentation, single point connections are made through magnetic beads.
The power layer and signal layer adopt a 20H spacing rule to suppress edge radiation noise.
Through CE/FCC basic certification (radiation/conducted emission testing), the power module meets IEC 62368-1 (protection against overvoltage/overcurrent).
The equipment that comes into contact with biological samples requires IP54 protection (anti liquid splash), and the circuit board should be sprayed with three proof paint (compliant with IPC-CC-830B).
Key components (such as sensors and ADCs) are recorded with batch numbers and suppliers to support quality traceability; Software burning a unique serial number (such as UID encryption).
Perform simplified HALT testing (such as -20 ℃~+85 ℃ temperature cycling, 50 cycles) to screen for early faults.
Use a microscope (20x magnification) to visually inspect solder joints instead of AOI detection, and manually check for virtual soldering/short circuits.
Connect Schottky diodes in parallel along the critical power path to prevent reverse connection; MCU external watchdog chip (such as MAX6818), resistant to program runaway.
