Electronics Design: From Idea to Production

A practical catalog of resources, handbooks, and tools

Modern electronics is a blend of solid analog design, careful PCB layout, smart component selection, and confident bench validation. Below is a condensed guide to reliable sources that help you cover the full cycle—from sizing an amplifier to EMC compliance and ramping to manufacturing. The selection targets hands‑on engineers, hardware startup teams, and advanced hobbyists.

Textbooks and knowledge bases

If you want one or two “anchor” books, start with Horowitz & Hill, The Art of Electronics—a classic of applied electronics with a focus on real‑world debugging. For deeper semiconductor theory and transistor stages, see Sedra/Smith and Gray & Meyer. IC vendors publish huge libraries of notes: Analog Devices (MT/RAQ and Circuits from the Lab), and Texas Instruments’ Analog Engineer’s Pocket Reference plus hundreds of app notes on power, data converters, and interfaces.

Where to find circuit ideas and reference designs

For inspiration and proven “references,” check TI Reference Designs, Analog Devices, and Microchip—you’ll find complete building blocks with BOMs, layouts, and measurements. Community hubs like All About Circuits, Elektor, and Hackaday publish open projects regularly. For audio, see RANE Notes, ESP (Rod Elliott), and the DIYAudio community.

Power: from AC/DC to low‑noise DC‑DC

The power supply is the heart of a device. For AC/DC front ends, see Power Integrations and Mean Well; for modular supplies—RECOM, TRACO, Vicor. App notes from TI and Analog Devices cover topology choice, compensation design, and practical layout. Don’t forget thermal control (RθJA/θJC), proper inductor selection, and on‑load EMC checks.

RF/microwave, antennas, EMC/EMI

For RF sections, the application notes from Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, and Tektronix are invaluable—they teach the measurement language (S‑parameters, vectors, bandwidths), correct connections, and common pitfalls. Mini‑Circuits is a treasure trove of RF components and notes. For EMC/EMI, look to EMC Standards (Keith Armstrong) and pre‑compliance kits from Tekbox/Langer—near‑field probes and LISNs reveal “noisy” spots early. For antennas: Antenna‑Theory, calculators, and simulators (from 4NEC2 to Ansys HFSS).

Platforms and prototyping

Prototypes are quick on Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and ESP32; the ESP‑IDF ecosystem brings RTOS, OTA, and encryption. For MCUs, PlatformIO unifies projects, libraries, and CI/CD. When firmware and hardware move together, time to first working prototype drops sharply.

CAD/EDA, simulators, and PCB fabrication

For schematics and boards: KiCad (open‑source), Altium, DipTrace. Simulators: LTspice, TINA‑TI, PSpice, plus the quick web simulator Falstad. Fabrication: JLCPCB, PCBWay, OSHPark. Footprint libraries: SnapEDA, UltraLibrarian, SamacSys. Mind DFM (trace/space, vias, stackups) and validate impedances for high‑speed.

Components: how to compare and buy

Start with aggregators Octopart/Findchips. Then go to distributors—Mouser, Digi‑Key, Arrow, TME—or regional stores like Akizuki (Japan). For accessories/enclosures: LCSC, AliExpress, Amazon. Soldering supplies: Kester, AIM, Balver Zinn. For batteries: 18650 Battery Store, NKON. Always consider safety (BMS, thermistors, correct charge profiles).

Sensors: gases, particulates, magnetic and EM fields

Air quality: electrochemical gas sensors from Alphasense (CO‑B4, NO2‑B43F, SO2‑A4), CityTech, and Honeywell. PM sensors: Plantower PMS7003, Nova SDS011, Sensirion SPS30. Magnetic: AKM, Honeywell. For EM fields: Langer and Tektronix (near‑field probes, antenna tips). Proper calibration and temporal/thermal filtering are key to stable readings.

Home Assistant, Zigbee, and LoRaWAN

Smart homes are easier with Home Assistant and the HACS ecosystem. For Zigbee—Zigbee2MQTT, Sonoff/Dresden Elektronik dongles (deCONZ/ConBee); for Z‑Wave—Z‑Wave JS. Long‑range links: LoRaWAN (The Things Network), gateways from RAKwireless/Mikrotik, concentrators by IMST. The right protocol saves batteries and improves telemetry reliability.

Robotics and FPV

For autonomous platforms: ROS2 with Nav2, the Gazebo simulator, and SLAM (e.g., Cartographer). For FPV parts: GetFPV, iFlight, TBS, plus trusted EU/UK retailers. Always mind power integrity, antenna placement, and isolation of “noisy” loads (ESCs, motors).

Tools and lab

Your soldering station is your brush: Weller, Hakko, JBC, and budget T12 options. For assembly/inspection—microscopes AmScope/Andonstar, ultrasonic cleaners by Elma. Measurement gear from Tektronix, Keysight, Rigol, Siglent. Near‑field probes and a simple LISN accelerate EMI debugging.

Standards and compliance

From day one, design with IPC (layout/manufacturing/soldering), JEDEC (packages/thermal), IEC/ISO, and relevant MIL‑STDs in mind—this reduces re‑layouts before certification and saves sprints. Good EMC hygiene (return paths, segmentation, filters, loop area control) is almost always cheaper than re‑testing.

Regional suppliers

Regional lists help keep timelines: Israel (Elbit, CRG, ALE, Nano Dimension, Tower), USA (Adafruit, SparkFun, Pololu), UK/EU (RS, Farnell, TME, Reichelt), Japan (Akizuki), Korea (Devicemart, WIZnet), India (Robu.in).

Editorial. No endorsements. Links are for reference only; respect licenses and specifications.