The Art of PCB Reverse Engineering (Standard Edition)

Book excerpt: PCB reverse-engineering is a skill that requires more than just an acquaintance with electronics. We're not talking about recreating the PCB artwork here, but the schematic diagram itself. To the uninitiated, it is a difficult if not impossible undertaking reserved only for the determined and qualified. The author, however, believes that having a right mindset and being equipped with the right knowledge will enable even an average electronics engineer to do it. This book will not teach you to use electronic automation design (EDA) tools to produce or reproduce PCBs nor give you a formal study on PCB structural design and fabrication. It does, however, impart knowledge on PCBs that relate to reverse-engineering and teaches you how to create PCB layouts and schematic diagrams using Microsoft Visio in a technical capacity. This standard edition illustration-rich book covers things which you'll need to take note before you begin, the necessary basic preparation work to perform, creating layout shapes prior to drafting the PCB artwork, knowing what is a good schematic diagram and the right strategies to use for the type of PCBs (analog, digital, mixed-signals). You will also learn advanced topics such as layering, shape data and shapesheet, generating reports for bill of materials, and even deciphering programmable logic devices!