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Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are becoming more and more complex while at the same time more critical to technology. PCBs are a basic building block of not only computers and high-tech communications equipment, but are found in every automotive vehicle, smartphones, lighting systems, and even children’s toys.

Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology has been constantly improving and gaining in use since its introduction in the 1980’s. OLEDs offer a number of advantages over LCDs:

Electronic devices are regularly shrinking due to consumer demands for portability and light-weight products such as big-screen televisions, tablet computers and powerful smartphones, drone devices and recently, even wearable technology. The shrinking of all these devices means the printed circuit boards (PCBs) integrated in their production must be fabricated on smaller footprints while providing ever-more-complex functionality and smaller components.

Innovative design tools and manufacturing techniques have driven the cost of creating and producing printed circuit boards (PCBs) down considerably in the past few years. But what really adds to the cost of PCB production are errors in the actual design of boards from the beginning.

Proposed manufacturers being considered should utilize automation tools that help PCB designers work in collaboration with the vendors to resolve potential issues before manufacturing actually begins. Even prototype designs should be analyzed for potential fabrication problems so that designers and manufacturing teams can work as a unit to resolve them early in the process.

Thermal management is more important than ever today as electronics are used in demanding environments and operate at higher currents. Heavy copper PCBs (copper conductors 5 oz/ft² – 19 oz/ft² in inner and/or outer layers; sometimes defined as more than 4 oz per square foot (ft²)) can help conduct heat away from components so failure is greatly reduced.

Via-In-Pad (VIP) is rapidly becoming more commonly used in modern printed circuit design due to many considerations, including the need to miniaturize the PCB form factor. This review of via-in-pad technology can help remove some of the mystery of VIP in PCB manufacturing.

Artificial neural networks as they are typically known run as computer programs that simulate the human brain’s method of solving problems. Researchers can teach these programs to do many remarkable tasks that were unthinkable just a few years ago.

AURORA, CO – AdvancedPCB, North America’s 3rd largest printed circuit board fabricator, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets from Micom Circuits of New Brighton, MN. With over 50 years of excellence in technical advances, Micom Circuits has earned acclaim from some of America’s largest technology companies.