PCB-GUARD: A PROGRAM FOR PCB DESIGN WITH LAYOUT VALIDATOR
December 10, 2025
Abstract
In the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Program, students have a chance to study about printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the Engineering Design module. And PCB design is a fundamental problem that requires high precision. As circuit complexity increases, the risk of human error during the manual placement of components - such as overlapping footprints, physical interference, or violation of clearance constraints - rises significantly. These errors can lead to multiple circuitry failures and unexpected costs. The specific problem addressed in this project is the automated validation of component spatial arrangement. The goal is to develop a program that simulates the PCB design process and detects spatial conflicts. To solve this problem, the project employs a C++ Object Oriented Programming (OOP) approach combined with Electrical Engineering Design principle. A Validator algorithm will be deployed for checking and detecting errors in the design process. Upon completion, the project aims to deliver a functional C++ console application with following capabilities: PCB environment simulation and validator feature.