Digital Circuit Design Online Course

Circuit design is a critical skill in the field of electrical engineering. With the rapid advancement of technology, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest circuit design techniques and tools. Online courses have emerged as a convenient and cost-effective way to learn circuit design skills. In this article, we will explore some of the best circuit design courses available online, highlighting their key features and benefits. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced engineer, you can find a course that suits your needs and helps you enhance your circuit design skills.

Here’s a look at the Best Circuit Design Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

Digital Circuit Design Online Course

1. Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design by Andre LaMothe (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design course is geared towards those who want to learn about electronics and printed circuit board (PCB) design from the ground up. The course starts with atomic physics and covers topics such as Ohm’s Law, circuit analysis, AC and DC circuits, filters, amplifiers, transistors, and digital theory. The course is designed to be taken as a journey with the instructor, and each lecture builds on the previous one. The course is not highly technical or math-based, and the most complex topics are distilled into understandable lectures. The instructor approaches each lecture as if both the student and the instructor are learning for the first time. As the course progresses, every circuit and idea is worked out on the blackboard, virtually simulated with Labcenter Proteus, and built by hand in front of the student. With over 35 years of experience in electronics, the instructor shares countless real-world tips and tricks to take the student from a hobbyist to a deep understanding of the subject matter. The course is unique in that it involves building three complete products. The student will learn about the design, motivation, look up parts, and background information. Together with the instructor, the student will design the circuits, lay them out in Altium CircuitMaker, route them, verify and produce manufacturing files. Finally, the course will teach the student to take those files and send them to various online manufacturers for production. The course is based on the instructor’s college textbook, Design Your Own Video Game Console, which is included free of charge in the course. Although the course does not cover game consoles, it uses the text for its theory, electrical engineering, and PCB design chapters. The course is divided into sections such as the Starting Line, Advanced Circuit Analysis Techniques and Tools, Electrical Engineering 101, Introduction to Digital Logic Systems, and Printed Circuit Board Design and Technology with CircuitMaker. The course also includes bonus lectures.

2. Learn PCB Printed Circuit Board: A Complete Bundle by Educational Engineering Team, Ashraf Said (Udemy)

The Learn PCB Printed Circuit Board: A Complete Bundle Course is a comprehensive course that teaches students how to design and fabricate Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) using various software. The bundle includes over 80 lectures with more than 6 hours of HD video content and supplementary materials. By the end of the course, students will have gained professional-level skills in PCB design and fabrication.

The course is ideal for those interested in designing, laying out, and producing PCBs on their own, saving money on outsourcing PCB design work for prototyping. It is taught by the Educational Engineering Team and Ashraf Said, a professional engineer with over a decade of experience in PCB design.

The course covers four different software used to design and fabricate PCBs, including Frtizing Software, Proteus Software, Altium Designer, and Yenka Software. Each section of the course delves into details of designing and simulating circuits in 3D, microcontroller programming, flowcharting, and more.

The PCB Design and Fabrication For Everyone section teaches students how to design PCBs from scratch, even with zero experience in electronics or circuit design. It includes free software for PCB design, Frtizing Software, which is widely used around the world and comes with a library for almost every component in the electronics industry.

The PCB Design: Master Designing Printed Circuit Board section is an A-Z guide to designing, testing, and manufacturing any electronic circuit using Proteus Software. The course includes video and text lectures, and it starts with introducing electronic circuit design, followed by beginner lessons to become experts, then a more advanced circuit for mass production.

The 3D Simulation: Microcontrollers, Electronics, Mechanism, PCB section introduces students to 3D simulation for designing and teaching microcontroller electronics, mechanical, and PCB.

3. PCB Design a Tiny Arduino In Altium CircuitMaker by Augmented Startups (Udemy)

The PCB Design a Tiny Arduino In Altium CircuitMaker course is an instructional program focused on teaching students how to create their own custom Tiny Arduino Printed Circuit Board (PCB) using Altium CircuitMaker. The course is targeted towards individuals looking to improve their PCB design skills or seeking job opportunities in the field. The course is regularly updated with new content and resources, and the price will increase over time. The course features step-by-step instruction on downloading and installing Altium CircuitMaker, finding and downloading component libraries, recreating the Arduino Nanite Schematic, transferring the schematic to PCB view, defining board shape, placing components on the board, creating multilayer boards, routing between layers, autorouting, correcting design errors, and creating Gerber files. The course is broken down into several sections, including Introduction, Schematic Design, PCB Design, Generating Manufacturing Output Files, and Conclusion and Bonus Section.

4. Learn PCB Design By Designing an Arduino Nano in Altium by Augmented Startups (Udemy)

The Learn PCB Design By Designing an Arduino Nano in Altium course is offered by Augmented Startups and aims to provide a comprehensive learning experience for designing custom Arduino Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) using Altium Designer. The course is suitable for individuals interested in improving their PCB design skills or pursuing a career in PCB design, with Altium Designer being one of the most commonly used tools in the industry.

The course covers various topics, starting with the basics of Altium Designer, such as how to download and install the software and navigate the user interface. The instructor guides students through creating their own component library, including adding 3D models and finding component models online.

Students will then learn to recreate the Arduino Nano schematic in Altium Designer and wire components in schematic view. Next, they will transfer the schematic to PCB view, define the board shape, and place components. The course also covers creating a multi-layer board and routing between layers, as well as using auto-route to save time.

Finally, the course teaches students to correct design errors and generate Gerber files, which are used by manufacturers to create the PCB. The course content will be updated regularly with new lectures, quizzes, and resources.

It should be noted that the course price will increase from $190 to $200 as of 1st June 2020 due to updated content. The course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. Learn the Art and Science of PCB Design with Eagle by Amit Rana (Udemy)

The Learn the Art and Science of PCB Design with Eagle course, instructed by Amit Rana, is aimed at beginners in electronics design. The course promises to teach circuit design using Eagle, the most popular design tool used by millions of people around the world. The course is designed to be simple and easy to follow, with a focus on designing single-sided and double-sided PCBs using Autodesk Eagle. The course offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 50% of the content is available for free preview.

The course is suitable for electronics hobbyists, students studying electronics, and those interested in open-source schematics. The course begins with an introduction to PCB design with Eagle, followed by software installation and creating the first project. It covers library and schematic development, single and double-sided PCB design, copper pour, and all about SMT components. The course also includes creating custom library components in Eagle, using the autorouter, copying frequently required parts in your library, and a manufacturing guide.

The course is not suitable for existing designers or those who already know advanced techniques in PCB design. It also does not include any tutorial on EMI/EMC considerations or 4 layer or multi-layer PCB design. The course has received positive reviews from its students, with comments such as Clear, direct and to the point and Great job! This course is perfect for beginners.

The major goal of the course is to improve self-confidence in PCB design and have fun while designing boards. Improved career opportunities and academic benefits are just side effects. The course concludes with solution videos and ending notes.

6. Learn PCB Design+Guidance to get a Job & Earn as Freelancer by Heknath B Vicky (Udemy)

The course titled Learn PCB Design+Guidance to get a Job & Earn as Freelancer is designed to teach basic electronics and PCB design. The course instructors are Heknath B Vicky, and the course short description states that it teaches steps to apply for a PCB design job, as well as tricks to earn $1000 as a freelancer. The long description highlights that one of the students who took the course has successfully obtained two consecutive PCB design freelance projects worth $188 and $250.

The course covers topics such as how to create and configure component libraries, draw PCB schematic, access components in the library, convert PCB schematic to PCB layout, place components on the board, route traces, generate artwork files, and more. The course also teaches how to earn passive income through various freelancing opportunities available for PCB designers and how to approach an employer to get a job in a PCB design company.

The course is particularly useful for final year engineering students and graduates who can design their own electronic projects using their PCB design skill. Additionally, circuit designers and embedded engineers can join the course to add PCB design as an additional skill to their expertise. The course also provides a free preview of sample PCB designs such as Arduino/ATMEL/PIC/RELAY.

Throughout the course, students will learn how to design a printed circuit board schematic, route traces in the PCB layout window, and create footprints and symbols for microcontrollers like ATMEL 8051 and PIC. By the end of the course, students will have the ability to design multilayered PCBs like Arduino.

The course aims to answer the following questions: how to earn $1000 as a freelance PCB designer, how to propose and get PCB design freelance projects, and how to apply for a job and get a call letter from the employer within 30 days of applying. The course provides personal experience and proven techniques to help students succeed in the PCB design field.

7. PCB Design for everyone with EasyEDA a free and online tool by Amit Rana (Udemy)

The course PCB Design for Everyone with EasyEDA, taught by Amit Rana, is designed to teach students about professional-level PCB design using the free, online tool easyEDA. The course is suitable for electronics enthusiasts, professionals, and students who want to learn PCB design without expensive software. The course’s focus is on using easyEDA, which has a short learning curve and is 100% free. The course also covers the basics of PCB design, with assignments that help students become experts in a short amount of time. Additionally, students can order PCBs directly from the easyEDA interface.

Before enrolling, students can take a free preview of the course, which includes 50% of the course content. The preview allows students to determine if the course content and the instructor’s teaching style are suitable for their learning needs. Students can also read reviews from other students who have taken the course, which highlight the course’s benefits for beginners and the instructor’s responsiveness to student questions.

The course is broken down into several sections, including an introduction to PCB design, single-sided PCB design, PCB design tools, double-sided PCB design, creating custom parts in easyEDA, and a conclusion. The course includes a variety of readily available PCB footprints and customized modules, making it suitable for students, startups, and manufacturing companies.

Overall, the course aims to teach students professional-level PCB design using easyEDA, a free and powerful cloud-based CAD tool. By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and skills needed to design and order high-quality PCBs for their projects.

8. design PCB using Eagle Cadsoft step by step(Older Version) by Mohannad Rawashdeh (Udemy)

The course titled Design PCB using Eagle Cadsoft step by step (Older Version) is designed for those who want to learn how to use Eagle cadsoft, a PCB design software, without any prior experience in PCB design. The course covers older Eagle version 7.5V and newer Eagle 8.x V, and all necessary files to install the Eagle software are provided. The course is organized in a step-by-step manner, starting with teaching the basics of using Eagle software and gradually progressing towards more advanced topics.

In the course, students will learn how to analyze their project, choose the required components, find reference schematics and PCB board, and create their schematic design. They will also learn how to place components, connect them, and check for any electrical errors. The course covers transferring the schematic to PCB board, arranging components on the board, routing, adding polygon, generating gerber files, and more. Students will also learn how to use BUS line, Label, differential pairs, meander, 3D View, PCB heatsink, and thermal via.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to transfer their project from idea to a real PCB. The course includes three practical circuit projects, which will help students in creating their custom PCB board. The course is divided into sections, and students will start with getting started with Eagle Cadsoft, followed by their first project on Eagle, which is an Audio Amplifier LM386 PCB. The second project is MAX7219 Seven segment driver, which will help students improve their skills. The course also covers how to create a custom library and design a custom part on Eagle and design a custom part from scratch. The third project covers designing TPS61097 Step up circuit. Students will also learn more advanced topics.

9. Designing PCB using Autodesk Eagle for Everyone! by Mohannad Rawashdeh (Udemy)

The course Designing PCB using Autodesk Eagle for Everyone! is designed to teach the process of creating a circuit using Autodesk Eagle PCB. The course covers the latest version of the software and is suitable for beginners. Autodesk Eagle is a free software that allows users to design up to 16 layers of PCB and integrates with CAM and Autodesk Fusion 360. The course is structured to take learners through an introduction and installation of the software, a thorough tour of its functionalities, a review of basic electronic components, and creating the first project within two hours of the course. The course also includes activities to test and challenge learners in the design space, bonus tips on Arduino Shield and Autodesk Eagle functions, and creating projects for school, work, hobbies, or freelance clients. Feedback from previous students is positive, noting the interest and pace of the course and the ability to produce a working project themselves. The course content is divided into several sections, including an introduction, first project ASTABLE 555 Timer, important things to know about EAGLE, second project Shift register 74595 LED controller, special topics about EAGLE, Arduino Shield Project for 7 Segment and MAX7219 LED driver, creating libraries in EAGLE, and miscellaneous topics. Overall, the course aims to simplify the process of creating and designing a PCB and make it achievable for anyone.

10. Complete Eagle CAD PCB Design: Theory and Practical approach by Pradeep Raj (Udemy)

This is a Complete Eagle CAD PCB Design course offered by Pradeep Raj, suitable for both freshers and professionals. PCB design and electronic circuits form the foundation of all electronic products, and printed circuit boards are the backbone of the electronics industry. The course is open to candidates with a Diploma in Electrical or Electronics & Communication, a BE/BTech. in Electrical or Electronics & Communication, a BSc/MSc in Electronics & Communication or an ME/MTech. (E&CE) in Communication. The course covers the basics of circuit designing, schematic preparation, component placement, PCB routing, Gerber generation, and more.

The Schematic Design section covers basic electronics theory, circuit designing, schematic design preparation, schematic part editing and creation, net list and net class creation, and bill of material generation. The Footprint Creation section covers through hole footprint creation, surface mount device footprint creation, and BGA/PGA footprint creation. The Board Designing section covers board size and shape creation, component placements, PCB routing, plane creation, design rule checking, and Gerber generation.

Upon completion of the course, candidates will have gained expertise in basic electronics, electronic components, circuit designing, circuit simulation, tools/software expertise, library module, high speed placements and routing techniques, design for manufacturing, testing and fabrication, Gerber generation and editing, and more. The benefits of choosing PCB Design Course include a strong hold in basic electronics, circuit design capability, circuit analysis and ERC, components knowledge, power supply designing, power integrity analysis, multiple PCB-CAD tool expertise, expert in library creation, multi-layer PCB designing, Gerber creation and editing.

The course is divided into four sections: Printed Circuit Board: First approach, Eagle CAD Library: Symbol Creation, Eagle CAD Library: Footprint Creation (Package Creation), and Eagle CAD PCB Design: Schematic Preparation and Board Design.