Advancement & Future of Printed Circuit Board
Slimming down of electronic gadgets such as tablets, phones, televisions& wearable devices is not under wraps.Thanks to efficient manufacturing processes& sleek design software.Modern technology focuses on smaller, lighter & more powerful devices.Since the emergence of printed circuit boards in the late 1950s, advanced technology has propelled us forward to create smaller gadgets.
Consumers now-a-days aspire for thinner, faster& more streamlined devices. In order to meet their demands,it’s no surprise that the pressure falls on high-performing PCBs for development and growth.
The Future of Printed Circuit Board Design and Implementation
While modern PCBs are versatile, there’s always room for development.In order to deliver new features that connect both consumers & professionals, product manufacturers are focusing on extracting even more power from printed circuit boards.
Let us learn about these technological advancements in printed circuit board design & see how it can change the tech world.
1. Printed Circuit Board Cameras:
Printed Circuit Board Cameras are commonly known as Board cameras.These are a type of digital camera with image sensors& optical device mounted directly on a circuit board.
Ensuring the compactness of these printed circuit board cameras, they can be slipped inside any electronic device, from a cell phone to a tablet. PCB Cameras comprise of lens, image sensor&aperture. Incorporation of camera in a board makes this small stature exceptionally versatile in an inexpensive way.
Applications:
Common applications of these cameras include:
- Hidden cameras and surveillance modules
- Medical Instruments
- Cellular phones and other mobile devices like iPods and tablet computers
PCB Manufacturers in Canada are working on this technology & are expected to develop it soon.
2. 3D Printed Electronics:
3D Electronics is perhaps the most intriguing development in the world of PCBs. This technology enables designers to print metal traces & insulating polymers simultaneously. It enables quick & precise fabrication of complex and functional circuit boards & other innovative devices.
Applications:
The immense benefits of 3D-printed products in technical and manufacturing fields are paving the way for exciting new markets, applications and opportunities. These include:
- Functional elements: For instance switches and sensors are now being integrated into 3D-printedelectronics.
- In- house electronics: These are useful in 3D printed radio frequency (RF) electronics in-house.
- Antennas: This technology makes it possible to develop smaller and lighter antennas and circuitry.
The advantage of using 3D electronics is that it enables circuits to take new & incredible shapes.3D PE manufacturing is the digital aspect of the production with increased automation.
3. Flexible PCB:
Designed as a replacement for traditional wire harnesses, flexible PCB or flex circuit in its purest form is an array of conductors bonded to a thin dielectric film. Flex circuits utilize flexible based material with or without flexible cover lay, allowing the board to conform to a desired shape (flex) during its application.
The major advantage of flexible PCBs is that it has a great ductility & tensile strength. This means it can handle more stress &can be easily bent when compared with conventional rigid PCBs. Moreover, these are light & thin &require less manual labour during assembly.
Applications:
Flex PCBs are often used in applications where flexibility, compactness, & production constraints are a major concern. Its common applications include:
- Computer Keyboards
- LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) fabrication.
- Cellular telephones
- Smart socks, belts and wristbands
- Medical Equipment
PCB Manufacturers in Canada have a relevant exposure to the trending technologies & methods of manufacturing &hold the requisite certifications for manufacturing flexible PCBs.
4. Eco friendly Circuit Boards:
With the soaring customer demands to buy new smartphone, tablet, or laptop, the older model is usually disposed.Research reveals that as much as 25 million tons of electronic waste is produced globally each year.While we take pride in our PCB designs, these boards when decomposed leach toxins into the ground.
Considering these points,biodegradable printed circuit boards (PCBs) have been developed using bio composites. These are made from natural cellulose fibers extracted from wheat gluten &banana stems.These bio-composites are chemical-free &normally considered as agricultural wastes or co-products.
Natural fibers and protein-based PCBs provide an excellent alternative to the synthetic polymer-based circuit boards.It helps us to reduce the environmental burden due to the disposal of electronic waste (e-waste).
5. High Speed PCB Design:
In order to keep up with today’s fast paced world where speed is the major concern, PCB technology need to adapt accordingly.
PCBs equipped with high speed capabilities ensures that the component it powers work fast enough to meet consumers’ needs. It enables high data rates that allow us to create magical devices.
However, the major downside of this capability is that one might encounter issues like reflections cross talk or emissions, delays etc.With high speed design, it is paramount to consider exactly where you are placing the traces, the nature of connected components& its proximity to the signals. In most cases, the signals are impacted by physical characteristics of the circuit board like packaging, layout, interconnection etc.
Research on flawless high speed PCB design is still going on & we expect to see high-speed innovations in PCB fabrication soon in coming years.
The invention of the printed circuit board has led to faster & easier electronic assembly. It has enabled the creation of circuits with hundreds of components that is impossible with manual work.
The future’s certainly seems bright in the PCB sector!