The backbone of electronic systems
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the backbone of most electronic systems. Without these tiny devices, the disruptive tech revolution of the last decade wouldn’t have been possible. Advances in PCB design and manufacturing directly translate to advances in electronic and digital applications.
In 2017, the University of Nottingham came up with a new method of using metallic and insulating polymer inks for the rapid 3D-printing of PCBs, allowing electronics manufacturers to 3D-print fully-functioning micro components. Later on, flexible PCBs entered the game, allowing for more customization for electronic components in ways that had never been done before.
PCBs in 2020
This year, another promising development is building momentum in the form of flexible PCBs.
Printed Electronics World reports that a standardized new component carrier system could accommodate flexible PCBs by providing a more cost-effective and efficient way of fitting PCBs into complex components. Developed by HARTING, the system aims to simplify the complex mechanical fixation necessitated by the use of flexible PCBs. Using 3D-MID (mechatronic integrated device) technology, HARTING’s component carriers are expected to save PCB manufacturers up to two-thirds of the cost of using flexible PCBs.
How PCB works
It works like this: a component carrier serves as the connecting element between common components – such as LEDs, sensors, photo-diodes, and ICs—and the PCB itself. HARTING identifies three different applications in which component carriers can do the job of flexible PCBs.
The first is fitting components at a 90° angle to the circuit board, which allows for temperature, movement, and light sensors to be positioned normally on the circuit board, allowing them to be perfectly accurate at their job.
The second is allowing such components to maintain enough clearance from the circuit board, which allows sensors to do their job without being influenced by waste heat and other leaked data from other components and the PCB itself.
The third is how different base polymers can be used to manufacture carriers. This means that different antennae materials and layouts can be factored into designs, enabling applications in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and even 5G frequencies. The company’s use of 3D-MID—which utilizes injection molding to fit electronic components without cables directly—makes it all possible.
Furthermore, HARTING’s design allows component carriers to be processed in automated assemblies like most other electronic components. Although only two sizes are currently available—standard size SOIC-8 or smaller—the company can also produce carriers in whatever size its customers need.
PCB Advancement
Much like the other disruptive technologies of this era, PCBs are advancing at a rapid pace. Apart from the manufacturing process, this is also highly evident in the world of PCB design, which introduces different elements to keep up with the increasingly complex requirements of new tech. For instance, Altium Designer comes with a hierarchical schematic organization system, which lets engineers use sheet symbols to organize multiple schematics. This allows engineers more flexibility when it comes to the progressively large and complex designs demanded by new technologies.
AI Platform
Meanwhile, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology has developed a modular artificial intelligence-based platform to aid in the PCB design process. Using AI algorithms, the platform is expected to further streamline not just the design but also the manufacturing process of these small, vital electronic components.
As the demands for better tech integration continue to ring throughout the world’s essential industries, we can expect more rapid improvements to PCB design and manufacturing shortly.
