Digital electronic design resources?

[Martin Naef]

Hi Peter

Peter Korsten wrote:
> This may be a bit of a long shot, but I was wondering if there's 
> something that teaches you how to design simple boards like the Arduino, 
> without having to do a course.

I can't help with books - I learned the basics at the University over 
several semesters (analog electronics, digital electronics, chip design).

> I understand digital signals (it's the only course at university where I 
> actually had a decent mark), but what I don't understand is why there 
> should be a resistor here or a capacitor there.

Ok, definitely analog electronics then.

> So... how difficult is it to learn such a thing?

If you manage to find a decent book (I'm sure there are lots of 
options), I don't see any difficulty. To get some fun projects working, 
you certainly don't need to go into the depths that an EE student would 
go, unless you really feel the need to develop GHz boards and the like. 
I also found it extremely useful to read forums like Synth-DIY and also 
some Arduino community stuff. Besides understanding the theory, there is 
a huge amount of practical knowledge that one picks up as you go (like 
the need for bypass caps on chips, or why floating an input might not be 
a clever idea etc.). Building some kits with instructions that don't 
just tell you what part belongs where, but actually *explain* the 
circuit can be useful too.

Not very specific, I know...

Martin