The Engineering Projects

This Is Why You're Unsafe Without A Password Manager

Lots of people have really bad password habits. This is not because they haven't been educated on how to choose a good password. Every new account gives you a number of requirements to adhere to their passwords standards, after all. Yet, having different, difficult passwords for every single account is almost impossible. It’s easier to hope for the best and use variations on the same password you've been using for all your accounts for the past twenty years. But there's a piece of software that you can use to solve your password problems. A password manager offers more than just safe storage for your passwords – good browsers do that anyway. You can choose a password manager based on Bestonlinereviews. Here is why you need one.

It creates your passwords

No matter how hard you try to create a good password, you're going to get stumped at some point. And, despite your best efforts, your results won’t be as good as they can be. A password manager saves you the trouble, creating the most secure passwords for you without you ever even having to see what they are. Not only does this take some stress out of your life, but it also improves your online security. No matter how many accounts you'll have, none of them will have the same password or even a variation on the same theme.

Your keyboard can be hacked

A lot of people believe that it’s better to type their password every time rather than saving them somewhere. But that belief is flawed, as one of the best ways to get a password is by hacking a person’s keyboard. Because of this, the more often you type your password the more likely it is to be stolen.

We can all fall prey to scams

As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve fallen prey to more than one phishing scam. These are scams that take you to a website that looks like something you know (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and asks you to enter your username and password. Of course, once you’ve done so, you've given your details directly to scammers. Password managers take the power to self-destruct away from us. They won’t input our passwords without verifying that the sites we’re using are the real thing. We can’t enter the password ourselves, as we never knew it to begin with.

Our passwords should change often

When was the last time you changed a password? Probably when you forgot the password for an account you hadn’t used in a while. Changing passwords is work that none of us have time for. Password managers, however, have time for it. You can set them to change your passwords on a regular basis. You don’t even have to know about it. Changing passwords prevents software from having enough time to decipher them in the first place. A password manager is a must in this day and age. Don’t put your most personal information in the hands of your shaky memory!

3 iOS Apps Every iPhone User Needs In 2018

When we continue using the same smartphone brand for years on end, we tend to get stuck in habits. This is especially true regarding the apps we use. Most people reading this are using the same apps in 2018 that they were using in 2015. There’s nothing wrong with that. Certain apps are incredibly useful, and they continue updating with added features and functionality. For the most part, you probably have everything you need. But you're also missing out on some apps which will make your smartphone experience much better. To get you started, here are 3 of the best iPhone apps available in 2018.

1. Gboard

Google’s search app has been improving through the years, and if you remember it as nothing more than a gratuitous platform to search with instead of a browser, you're in for a surprise. But it’s a related app (or feature that comes with the app) that you may not realize you need. Gboard, Google’s keyboard, is far better than any other 3rd party app, and a lot more useful than iOS’s own keyboard. Gboard has capabilities of “swiping” rather than typing and has easy access to emojis without changing your keyboard. Those are basic features on a 3rd party keyboard, and Gboard goes much further. Searching through emojis and gifs can be done within the keyboard. Before you've typed a word, you're given the option to start with one of the two. Then there’s the search function itself, allowing you to search for anything from the answer to a question to a good place to eat, and send the results straight to the person you're texting. Get the app and play around with it, and I guarantee it will become your number 1 keyboard.

2. ExpressVPN

Whether you know it or not, you've needed a VPN for the past few years. A VPN keeps you safe from hackers and surveillance, while giving you access to content from other countries. I recently switched to ExpressVPN, and was quite surprised to find out I’d been settling for an option that was less than perfect. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for iPhone for a number of reasons. It makes it easy to connect either from the app or straight from settings. It lets you switch easily between servers in many different countries. It will also stop your phone from connecting to websites if the VPN sleeps, and will connect again when you pick up your phone. It also works with the Netflix app, which my old VPN did not do. You'll need to buy a subscription, but their prices are low, and it will cover 3 devices simultaneously.

3. Google Photos

As a confirmed Apple fan, I’m as surprised as you are that 2 out of 3 apps here are made by Google. The fact is, Google’s iPhone apps can give you the best of both worlds. Google photos does a lot more than Apple’s native app. The lens feature, just introduced for iOS, lets you search for anything you've taken a photo of. In the past week, I’ve used this feature to identify a type of tree, as well as to get the Korean text from a mug at a coffee shop which I then translated to English. Google Photos has other cool features. It will take your photos and offer to turn them into collages, animations, movies, and panoramas. Yes, it actually detects photos of one setting and stitches them together to create panoramas better than you'd be able to using the feature on the camera. It is a wonderful app to have, whether you're a regular Instagrammer or just like to screenshot memes.

A Tour to JLCPCB - Fabrication House

Demand of PCB is on the rise in recent electronics where devices are becoming more compact and composed. PCB came into spotlight a while ago and made a renowned name in the development of advance technology within few years. Recent PCBs used in many electronics allow you to get rid of most conventional ways of connecting different components on the boards. Poor fabrication and board design can scare the hell out of your customers and severely effect your overall reputation in the market. Taking proper measurements and following ideal protocols can help you save bunch of time in the early stages of a project. What company you choose for fabricating your PCB widely impacts the overall nature and quality of your project. These are many fabrications houses out there but only few actually deliver what they truly promise, JLCPCB is one of them.

A Quick Review about JLCPCB

JLCPCB turns out to be an ideal choice for meeting  your needs and expectations when it comes to providing quality product. They don't brag about their skills and ability to fabricate an accurate PCB, but their excellence does. Customer satisfaction is their first priority rather than achieving financial goals Getting new customers is not a big deal unless you have an ability to retain your previous customers which JLCPCB truly understands and provides flawless customer service, allowing customers keep coming back for what they have to offer. There are many reasons you must prefer JLCPCB but I can cover few of them including flawless customer service, quality product, delivery assurance, and affordable price. Every company comes with drawbacks and limitations but what matter is how nicely they handle the problems and queries of the customers and provide a definite solution that resonates with customer's needs and expectations. JLCPCB comes with skilled professionals who exactly know what they do and are proficient in their craft. This is the reason almost 200,000 customers around the world prefer them over others. Your brand is all about trust and reputation that you get from the regular customers by meeting their demands and pushing the limits of the work place that provides flawless service. Whatever company you pick for PCB fabrication, just go through a quick review about the company that makes your decision process easy and helps you avoid the remaking of PCB  in the later stages of your project. Every kind of PCB can be fabricated in their house ranging from single layer to double layer to multilayer to aluminum backed to high frequency PCBs. You can see above diagram in which number of layer, material used, delivery time, everything is mentioned with price.

How PCBs are Fabricated?

Some terms are essential to know for your better understanding JLCPCB uses for fabricating a simple board. A simple PCB is composed of different layers and each layer comes with its own specific function. These layers are joined together with the help of adhesive and heat which incorporate a single board capable of connecting different components electrically. The base material is composed of fiber glass and FR4 is the most common fiber glass used in recent times. However, phenolics and epoxies are also used but they are not as durable as FR4. There resides a copper layer on the substrate. Heat and adhesives are used to laminate copper layer on the substrate. Some boards come with copper layers on both side of the board, however, it depends which type of board you intend to fabricate. Single layer PCB have copper tracks on one side of the board while double layer PCB comes with tracks on both side of the board. Multilayer PCB comes with a combination of single sided and double sided PCB, where multiple layers are joined together to connect components on the board. Soldermask layer resides over a copper layer which is used to insulate copper tracks in order to avoid any conduction in case any direct contact happens with some metal. Silkscreen layer exists on the top of all layers which is used to print symbols or numbers on the board that give better understanding of the board.

Through Hole and Surface Mount Technology

PCBs are fabricated using two technologies i.e Through Hole Technology and Surface Mount Technology. Using through hole technology they fabricate a PCB that comes with accurate hole, you can see from the diagram below, where vias are accurate and precise. Leads are used to pass through the holes which are then soldered on the other side of the board. In the Surface Mount Technology, PCB is fabricated in such a way where components are directly placed on the surface of the board. You can make use of any technology based on your needs and requirements.

Quality Assurance

What I like most about JLCPCB, they don't compromise on quality no matter how many PCB pieces you intend to fabricate. Advanced production lines are installed in their fabricating house that results in precise and an accurate board. PCBs are 100% AOI tested and fabricated using A level boards material.

Advanced Tracking System

Getting a quote is very easy and hassle free, you just need to upload gerber file in order to get instant quote. You don't need to worry about the status of your order, as they come with advanced ERP system that allows you to keep the track record of order processing status, setting you free from the fabricating process and allows you to keep focus on more preferable tasks like designing or other processes that make the PCB suitable for installing in the electronic project.

Quick Follow Up

Managing 8000 online orders daily seems like a hectic task but they come with a skilled staff that handles these orders very beautifully and keeps customers engage with regular follow up in the whole process of fabricating PCB.

Economical Price

JLCPCB keeps an eye on the fabricating cost and provides an effective solution to your needs in an affordable price. Based on my personal experience, I'd highly recommend JLCPCB house for fabricating your PCB. They will provide best experience as they believe in maintaining a long lasting relationship with the customers by providing flawless service. That's all about review. I hope you have got a clear idea about this company and why you should prefer them over others. However, if still you feel skeptical or have any question, you can ask me in the comment section below, I'd love to guide you according to best of my expertise. Thanks for reading the article. Stay Tuned!

Introduction to 1n5819

Hi Guys! We always feel happy when you come over to browse useful information that meets with your needs and requirements. Electronic components used in electronic industry are the backbone of recent technology that make our lives easy and help us get rid of the most conventional ways of running electronic projects. Today,  I am going to discuss the details on the Introduction to 1n5819. This is a metal to silicon power diode, also termed as Schottky Rectifier, that applies Schottky Barrier Principle. It is mainly used as rectifiers in high frequency low voltage inverters, polarity protection diodes and free wheeling diodes. I'll try to cover each and everything related to this transistor so you don't need to go anywhere and find all information in one place. Let's dive in and unlock the properties of this diode.

Introduction to 1n5819

• 1n5819 is a metal to silicon power diode that applies Schottky Barrier Principle. It is also referred as Schottky Rectifier(named after Scientist Walter H. Schottky), surface barrier diode, hot electron diode or hot carrier diode.
• This diode is mainly used as a rectifier in many devices including high frequency low voltage inverters, polarity protection diodes, free wheeling diodes and radio frequency applications.
• It is little bit different than normal PN junction diode where metal like platinum or aluminium are used in place of P-Type semiconductor.
• In Schottky diode, semiconductor and metal joined together, forming a metal-semiconductor junction where semiconductor side acts as an cathode and metal side acts as a anode.
• When metal-semiconductor junction formed between metal and semiconductor, they result in depletion layer also referred as Schottky barrier.
• Schottky comes with low stored charge and exhibits low power loss and high efficiency mechanical characteristics.

• It is manufactured in such a way that all external surfaces are corrosion resistant and terminals are easily solderable where current flows in one direction only and it stops the current flowing in other direction.
• Maximum temperature it can withstand for soldering purpose is 260 °C.
• Guard ring die construction gives it transient protection and high surge capability.
• The power drop occurred in this diode is lower than PN junction diodes.
• The Schottky diode is a semiconductor diode that comes with fast switching applications and it pertains to less unwanted noise as compared to PN junction diode which makes it an ideal choice for most of the switching applications.
• When voltage is applied across the diode terminals, current starts to flow which results is small voltage drop across the terminals.
• The voltage drop in this diode lies around 0.15 to 0.45 which is very low as compared to regular diode where voltage drop lies between around 0.6 to 1.7 V.
• The lower voltage drop results in higher efficiency and higher switching speed.
• The voltage drop is actually referred as a voltage required to turn on the diode.
• The voltage required to turn on the germanium is same as Schottky diode, but germanium diodes are not used in most of the applications because they feature very less switching speed as compared to germanium diode.

How Schottky Diode 1n5819 Works

• Working of Schottky diode is slightly different than normal PN junction diode where P-Type semiconductor is replaced by metal.
• When metal and semiconductor are joined together, they shape a metal-semiconductor junction which allows the flow of electron from higher energy level to lower energy level.
• As the electrons available in N-Type semiconductor exhibit more energy and start flowing from semiconductor to the metal region.
• We know when atom loses an electron, it results in positive ion and when atom gains electrons it results in negative ion.
• Similarly, when N-Type semiconductor loses electron, it clothes positive charge on it and the electrons that go to the metal allow it to cloth negative charge on it.

• The positive and negative charges appearing on the metal and semiconductor region are nothing but the depletion region.
• The electronic width available in the n-type semiconductor is much larger than the electronic width that allows the electron to move from semiconductor to the metal.
• Basically built-in-voltage houses inside the semiconductor that can be seen by the conduction bands when electrons try to move to the metal region.
• In order to move electrons from semiconductor to the metal region, the positional energy of the electrons must be greater than the built-in-voltage.
• We are referring unbiased Schottky diode where only small number of electrons pass from semiconductor to metal region because built-in-voltage creates a barrier which refrains the large movement of electrons from semiconductor to the metal region.

Absolute Maximum Ratings of 1n5819

Following figure shows the absolute maximum ratings of 1n5819.

• It is important to note that these are the stress ratings, which if exceed from absolute maximum ratings, can damage the device severely.
• Similarly, if stresses are applied for extended period of time, they can effect the reliability of the device.

Comparison between Schottky Diode and PN junction Diode

• There are number of differences between Schottky diode and PN junction diode. The Schottky diode is a uni-polar device because conduction is carried out by the movement of electrons only. Conduction through holes is very negligible as compared to conduction through electrons.
• PN junction diode is a bipolar device where conduction is carried by the movement of both charge carriers i.e. electrons and holes.
• In Schottky diode, the reverse breakdown voltage and depletion region is very small or negligible as compared to silicon PN junction diode.
• Similarly, the voltage drop across Schottky is very low as compared to PN junction diode which makes it suitable for many switching applications.

Applications

Schottky diodes come with a number of applications including

• General purpose rectifier
• Radio frequency applications
• Detect signals and power supplies
• Logic Circuits
• Polarity protection diodes
• Free wheeling diodes

That's all for today. I hope you have enjoyed the article. We love to keep you updated with relevant information that helps you resolve your questions and queries. However, if you feel skeptical or have any question you can approach in the comment section below.I'll get back to you as soon as possible and help you with best of my expertise. Thanks for reading the article. Stay Tuned!

Introduction to TIP120

Hi Friends! We welcome you on board. Electronic industry is already filled with a number of devices and components that help ease the daily life of a common man. However, there is always much room for innovation in the electronics industry when it comes to facilitating the customers. When there comes a requirement for switching and amplification, there is a need for transistors. Today, I am going to unlock the details on the Introduction to TIP120. This is an NPN Darlington transistor which is mainly used for general purpose amplification and medium power switching applications. It comes with a Darlington pair in which two transistors are connected in such a way, the current amplified by the one transistor is being amplified further by the other transistor. This configuration features much higher current gain as compared to if each transistor is taken separately. Before we move on, you must have a look at BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor) that I have updated recently. Let's get started.

Introduction to TIP120

• TIP120 is an NPN Darlington transistor which is mainly used for general purpose amplification and medium power switching applications.
• It mainly consists of an emitter, base, and collector which are the basic parts of any transistor. This is a bipolar power transistor where conduction is carried out by both charge carriers i.e. electrons and holes but main charge carriers are electrons as this an NPN transistor.
• TIP120 comes with a Darlington pair in which two transistors are connected in such a way, the current amplified by the one transistor is being amplified further by the other transistor. This configuration features much higher current gain as compared to if each transistor is taken separately.
• In this NPN Darlington configuration, the emitter of the first transistor is connected to the base of the second transistor which allows the current amplify.

• Transistors are electronic switches that fulfill the power requirement of the project. When normal transistors are not enough to meet the power requirement of the projects, we replace normal transistors with Darlington transistor that are same as regular transistors with some exceptions i.e they are capable of driving a much larger load.
• When a voltage is applied at the base side, it gets biased and draws small current which is used to control large current at the collector and emitter side.
• This transistor comes with a DC current gain of 1000 and can switch up to 60 V with a peak current of 8A.
• This device is developed using planar technology and incorporated into a monolithic Darlington configuration. It exhibits exceptional high gain performance and low saturation voltage.
• It comes with a much higher current gain which means a small amount of current from a microcontroller or sensor can be used to drive a much large load.
• This is an NPN transistor that comes with electrons as major charge carriers. While PNP transistor comes with holes as major charge carriers.

TIP120 Pinout

This transistor mainly comes with three terminals as follow 1. Base 2. Collector 3. Emitter

• Movement of electrons plays an important role in defining the nature of conductivity of the transistor. In this transistor main charge carriers are electrons.
• As it is an NPN transistor so the base is positive with respect to the emitter. And collector voltage is much larger than base voltage.

Circuit Diagram of TIP120 to Control Motor

Following figure shows the circuit diagram of TIP120 to control motor

• This is the circuit to control 5 V motor which draws 1 A of current.
• TIP120 doesn't appear to be very efficient while controlling 5 V motor because it is not a regular transistor but a pair of transistors which are connected together to shape a single product which allows driving a larger load.
• However, achieving high gain comes with some drawback and limitations as results in a higher voltage drop.
• Higher current designs cause more heat that can melt the components involving in the project. In order to remain in a safer side, you can add a heatsink, that helps in the heat dissipation and prevents the circuits from catching fire.
• This transistor is a current controlled device which is different than MOSFET that is voltage controlled device.

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Following figure shows the absolute maximum ratings of TIP120 Darlington transistor.

• These are the stress ratings. In view of these stress ratings, you must keep few things into consideration.
• These stress ratings must not exceed the absolute maximum ratings otherwise they can damage the device.
• Similarly, if these stresses are applied for a maximum period of time, they can affect the device reliability.

Applications

• This transistor is mainly used for general purpose amplification.
• Medium power switching applications make use of this transistor because it exhibits more power than a regular transistor.
• Darlington transistors are used in high current circuits, especially in computer control of motor applications where current is being amplified from the computer to the level required for the connected device.

That's all for today. I hope you have enjoyed the article. However, if you feel skeptical or have any question you can approach me in the comment section below. I'd love to help you according to best of my expertise. Keep us updated with your feedback and suggestions, they allow us to give you quality work that resonates with your needs and expectations and helps you keep coming back for what we have to offer. Thanks for reading the article. Stay Blessed!

High Frequency PCB

Hi Guys! I hope you are enjoying life and getting most out of it. In terms of ease of use and availability, some components and devices become the integral part of electronics, PCB is one of them. PCB not only removes the need of end to end wiring, but it also covers less space and weight and turns out to be less costly. Today, I am going to add High Frequency PCB in our descriptive list of articles related to PCB and its types. High Frequency PCB is a type of PCB which is widely used in applications involving special signal transmission between objects. It is available in frequency range of 500MHz to 2GHz and is an ideal choice for mobile, microwave, radio frequency and high speed design applications. If you are interested in embedded system, then you can use Proteus Ares to design your PCB. I'll try to cover whole topic related to High Frequency PCB from every aspect so you can grab the main concept very easily. Let's dive in and explore what is High Frequency PCB and how it has affected electronic industry?

High Frequency PCB

• We are familiar with the word PCB, some of you who are not, it is an acronym of Printed Circuit Board which uses conductive tracks and paths to electronically connect different components on the board.
• Copper is used to provide conductive path on the board which is laminated on the substrate material which is mostly made up of epoxy resin.
• Signal communication plays a vital role in electronic projects specially when it comes to WiFi and satellite system.
• Where there is a need of signal communication between two objects, there is a need of high frequency boards.
• High Frequency PCB is a type of PCB used for signal transmission  in the variety of applications including mobile, microwave, radio frequency and high speed design applications.
• High Frequency boards come with high frequency laminates are difficult to fabricate because they need to maintain thermal heat transfer of the application, in view of the sensitivity of the signal.
• Special materials are used to attain the high frequency given by the High Frequency PCB.
• Characteristics of the high frequency board can effect the overall performance of the signal, similarly any change in the Er value of the materials used can widely impact the impedance of the board.
• Most of the professionals prefer rogers dielectric material because it turns out to be less expensive, have low DK and DF value, reduced signal loss and appears to be suitable for fabrication and prototyping applications.
• Teflon is another common material used in the manufacturing process of the high frequency PCB, which comes with frequency of 5GHz.
• Some people are concerned about if FR4 can be used for RF applications? FR4 can be used in many applications requiring 1GHz to 10GHz frequency. But these FR4 based products come with their own drawbacks and limitations, they fail badly when high frequency is required for the signal transmission.

• In terms of DK, DF and water absorption factor, Teflon is the best, but more expensive than FR4.
• If your projects requires frequency more than 10GHz with higher quality and stable signal, then Teflon is the best choice.
• High frequency signals are vulnerable to noise and come with much tighter impedance tolerance as compared to conventional circuit boards.
• However, proper bend radius and accurate ground plans on impedance traces can help you design a product that can work in an effective way.
• By considering the certain parameters like coefficient of thermal expansion, dielectric constant, dissipation factor, temperature coefficient, thermal coefficient and quality of the material used can help the manufacturer design a final product that resonates with the client's needs and expectations.
• Ground plane is an important part in high speed design applications, because it not only retains the quality of the signal but also helps in reducing EMI emissions. It works nicely by providing controlled impedance traces that resonate with load and electrical source. It plays an important role in keep the signal connected with their return path.
• If you are interested to make PCB design by yourself, you can choose any of these top 10 PCB designing software. 

Prior Considerations

• The development of layout design is the most crucial part in making high speed products.
• If you are not expert in designing a layout design, you must have few words with the person who is going to make your layout design.
• Simple measures taken in the early stage can save you bunch of time in the later stage in case any remaking of the layout design is required.
• Give proper instructions and guidance to the layout designer so he can incorporate your idea in real time.
• Your instructions must include the sketch of the board, number of layers and signal layers on the board, thickness of the board, location of critical components on the board, location of bypassing components and the nature of critical traces, and the distance between the traces and the components, infact each and every thing you must keep in handy before you look for layout designer.

How to Pick a PCB Material

• Before you pick High Frequency PCB and suitable material for your project, you must take few things into considerations:
• Dielectric constant is the ability of material to store energy in the electric field. It is dependent on the direction of the material i.e. it will change as the axis of the material changes. It must be small enough so it delivers stable input in order to avoid any delay in the transmission signal.
• Similarly, Dissipation Factor must be small, because high DF can severely effect the quality of the transmission signal. So less DF will pertain to less signal wastage.
• Loss Tangent is another factor based on the moleculer structure of the material that can effect the RF material containing high frequencies. However, it is not of much concern for the low frequency signals.
• Proper spacing is very important in terms of cross talk and skineffect. Crosstalk happens when board starts interacting with itself and pertains to undesired coupling with their own components. In order to avoid crosstalk, distance between trace and plane must be minimum.
• Skineffect is directly connected with the resistance of the traces. It starts increasing when resistance increases which ultimately results in warming the board.So trace width and length must be selected in a way that it can not effect the board at higher frequencies.

• Smaller diameter vias come with low conductance and are most suitable as frequency go higher.
• Higher the value of Peel off resistance, impact endurance, and heat resistance, the better the quality of the signal.
• Coefficient of thermal expansion defines the effect of temperature on the size of the material. It widely effects on the drilling and assembly process of the PCB, because slight change in temperature can severely alter the size of the material. The thermal expansion of the copper foil must be same, because difference in thermal expansion may result in the separation of copper foil, in case material is subjected to changing temperature.
• Environment is a big concern in which your device is operating. If your device is going to be used in Lab or indoor environment then moisture won't be a big issue. Problem arises when your device exposes in wet environment. So, water absorption of the material should be low, because high absorption factor may alter the DF and DK value in the moisture.

Following are some materials that can be used for high frequency:

• Rogers 4350B HF
• Rogers RO3001
• Rogers RO3003
• Taconic RF-35 Ceramic
• Taconic TLX
• ISOLA IS620 E-fibre glass
• ARLON 85N

Once the design and material selection have been completed, designers strive to start a manufacturing process while keeping the key process variables in consideration such as maintaining the line width and dielectric spacing to ensure the robust design that resonates with the design requirements and delivers consistent performance in most effective and reliable way. You can also get benefit of online PCB design services, here are top online PCB design services. 

How to Create Controlled Impedance Transmission Lines

• Development of controlled impedance transmission lines is very important in order to avoid any signal loss.
• There are two common ways to make controlled impedance transmission lines named as Microstrip and Stripline methods.
• Microstrip is the existence of the trace on the top layer that comes with a ground plane below.
• Calculating the impedance of a mircostrip is little bit tricky and complex though and depends on various factors including relative permitivity of the board material, thickness and width of the trace and its height above the plane. In order to achieve better result, ground plane must be closer to the top layer.

• Stripline is another addition to control impedance which is quite identical to microstirp with one exception i.e.it comes with an extra group plane on the top of the trace.
• In this case, trace must be placed between the layers of two planes.
• Stripline is better as compared to microstrip because it has an ability to contain EMI radiation within the two planes.

Applications

• High Frequency Products can be observed in number of applications including advanced communications systems, and industrial and medical applications.
• Similarly cell phones, GPS receiver, RF remote control, ZigBee make use of high speed products for better signal transmission.
• High speed test equipments are comprised of high speed products that provide better performance throughout the life span of the application.
• Airborne and Ground based radar systems are a true example of high speed circuits.

The demand of high speed products is on the rise in electronic industry. They meet the requirements of the customers where regular circuit boards fail to deliver efficiently. However, you can choose any of these different types of PCBs based on your needs and requirements. If you feel skeptical or have any question you can approach me in the comment section below. We go extra mile to help resolve the queries of the visitors. Feel feel to keep us updated with your valuable feedback and suggestions, they allow us to give your quality work so you keep coming back for what we have to offer. Stay Tuned!

What is Aluminum PCB

Hey Guys! We welcome you on board. Technology evolves every day with the addition of advanced components and devices that make our lives easy. A few years back we were dependent on end-to-end wiring and connectors to electrically connect different electronic components. The inception of PCB substantially removed the need of an end to end wiring and gave an entirely new look to the electronic industry.

In this article, I'll give you a detailed Introduction to Aluminum PCB. It is a type of PCB that uses dielectric thermally conductive and electrically insulated material between the copper layer and aluminum metal. This PCB is a highly effective choice for applications that involve heat dissipation or high temperature. You must have a quick look at Multilayer PCB and Different Types of PCB that I have updated previously.

Let's dive in and explore what is Aluminum PCB? what are its advantages over regular PCB and its main applications.

What is Aluminum PCB?

Before we look into aluminum PCB, we must have a clear concept of what is PCB? PCB is an acronym of Printed Circuit Board, which uses conductive paths and traces incorporated on a single board that electrically connects different electronic components on the board. Copper is used to provide a conductive path that is laminated on the substrate material.

• Aluminum PCB, also referred as metal base PCB, is a type of PCB that consists of copper-clad laminate and a thin dielectric thermally conductive and electrically insulating layer of Aluminium.
• The copper foil adopts the desired circuit pattern while the aluminum base allows the heat-dissipating with the help of a dielectric placed between the layers.
• Aluminum constructions are mainly divided into three layers

1. Circuit Layer: It is a copper layer that comes with a thickness of around 1 to 10 oz.
2. Insulating Layer: A dielectric layer of thermally conductive and electrically insulating material
3. Base Aluminum Layer: This is mainly composed of copper or aluminum metal substrate. There are multiple thicknesses available, however the most common thickness is 1mm.

Types of Aluminum PCB

There are a number of types of aluminum PCBs which are used in many applications based on their construction and design. However, the main purpose of all the aluminum PCBs is almost the same; providing heat dissipation solutions for applications involving high temperature. Following are the main types of aluminum PCBs.

Flexible Aluminum PCB

• Flexible dielectric is a new addition in the development of aluminum products.
• These materials come with polyimide resin integrated with ceramic filters which exhibit high flexibility, thermal efficiency and excellent electrical insulation.
• When these materials are applied to an aluminum material, they result in a final product that eliminates the need for costly cables and connectors.
• The amount of flexibility allows these products to fold, twist or shape into any form before they remain in place.
• Once they adopt a specific shape, they can not be altered or modified like regular flexible PCBs.

Hybrid Aluminum PCB

• In hybrid aluminum construction, non-thermal material is processed and refined separately before it is applied to the thermal materials with an aluminum base.
• The most common practice is developing 2 layers or 4 layers structure that comprises of FR4 material normally.
• A non-thermal material that is bonded with thermal material and the aluminum base provides rigidity and helps in the dissipation of heat.
• This non-thermal bonding is preferred over using all thermal materials because it features less cost and encompasses efficient thermal conductance over regular FR4 products.
• No heat sinks or assembly steps are required for the development of this product.
• Through-hole components can be easily adjusted using component windows on the aluminum base.
• This helps in passing the cables and connectors through the substrate. Also, the seal created by the solder fillet eliminates the need for costly adapters.

Multilayer Aluminum PCB

• Multilayer Aluminum PCBs are very common in power supply products and come with multiple layers of thermally conductive dielectrics.
• These materials are very useful when they are combined with one or more layers of circuitry in which thermally conductive dielectric is buried between the layers with the help of blind vias which also act as a signal or thermal vias.
• Single-layer construction of these designs is not very effective, however, when they come with more complex designs they provide an ideal solution for many applications involving heat dissipation.

Through-Hole Aluminum PCB

• • When it comes to most complex constructions, a single layer of aluminum is back-filled and pre-drilled with before applying lamination, forming a Core of multilayer constructions.
  • Thermal bonding materials are then used to laminate the thermal materials on both sides of the aluminum.
  • Once lamination is done, drilling is applied to the assembly.
  • In order to maintain proper electrical insulation, the plated through holes created as the result of drilling must pass through aluminum clearances.

Advantages of Aluminum PCB

• The high level of heat dissipation provided by aluminum PCB makes them an ideal choice for applications involving high temperature and running hours.
• Low cost is another benefit that makes aluminum effective and economical. Aluminum is a common metal, easily available that can be mined and refined at a very low cost.
• The non-toxic nature of aluminum makes it environmentally friendly and an ideal choice for applications that involve the recycling of products.
• The strength and durability provided by aluminum-based products are much higher than fiberglass and ceramic materials.
• Aluminum material is very strong and sturdy in nature that makes it capable of enduring more pressure and stress when it comes to manufacturing and material handling as compared to other metals.
• Aluminum is very lightweight. It adds strength and durability to the product without adding additional weight.
• The thermal conductance of dielectric used is 5 to 10 times higher than old epoxy glass.
• Thermal transfer is more efficient and reliable than regular PCB.

Applications of Aluminum PCB

• These products were mainly developed for high-power switching applications but they gained enough popularity when they are introduced in LED applications.
• The aluminum design operates at a higher current for mounted LEDs, keeping the temperature tolerance within specified limits.
• The automotive and RF industries go the extra mile to utilize the advantages of these products and make them available for the common man.
• Aluminum PCBs are an effective choice for applications involving heat dissipation because they provide an ideal exit of the heat with the help of dielectric, maintaining the overall temperature of the project design.

That's all for today. I hope you have found this article useful and effective. If you intend to work online, you must look at the top online PCB design service. I have tried my best to provide you most relevant and useful information that resonates with your field of interest. If you feel skeptical or have any questions, you can ask me in the comment section below without any hesitation. I'd love to help you according to the best of my expertise. Feel free to keep up updated with your valuable feedback and suggestions, they allow us to give you quality work so that you keep coming back for what we have to offer. Thanks very much for reading the article. Stay Tuned!

Rigid Flex PCB

Hey Friends! I hope you all are doing great and having fun with your lives. Today, I am going to give a detailed Introduction to Rigid Flex PCB. It is a type of PCB that comes with a combination of Flexible PCB and Rigid PCB, providing both flexibility and strength to the board.

It makes use of flexible layers of substrate material which are connected together using a pre-preg film which is then attached to a rigid board, keeping the precision and accuracy intact. I'll try to cover each and every aspect related to rigid-flex PCB so you find all information in one place. Let's dive in and explore what is it about and what are its main applications?

What is Rigid Flex PCB?

• Before we explore what is Rigid-Flex PCB, we must have a clear idea of what is PCB?
• PCB is an acronym of Printed Circuit Board which uses conductive traces and paths incorporated on a single board to electrically connect different components on the board.
• Copper foil is used to provide a conductive path which is laminated on a substrate material that is often composted of epoxy resin.
• Rigid Flex PCB is a combination of rigid and flex circuits which provide both flexibility and strength to the board.
• It is mainly composed of a flexible layer of substrate material which is joined together with the help of pre-preg bonding film and then attached to a rigid circuit board.

• This unified circuit is connected with the help of through holes and it ideally manipulates the advantages of both rigid and flex circuits where rigid portion provides a reasonable area for component density and a flexible portion is used for maintaining a connection with the rigid portion.
• The main reasons for creating rigid flex circuit are improved flexibility, reduced flex thickness and lower part cost.
• In the past, most professionals developed a rigid-flex design by joining two rigid boards with the flex cable.
• This idea was acceptable for short-run designs, also this approach involved the cost of connectors and the cost of assembling connectors on the board.
• Also joining the rigid board with flexible connectors result in the formation of electrically cold joints, which leads to malfunction. This resulted in the development of rigid-flex boards.
• Rigid-Flex circuits come with high component density, and are prerequisites for the applications where using flex and rigid circuits separately are unable to fulfill the requirement of the project.
• Rigid and Flex PCB are joined together to shape multiple designs, where rigid part provides extra support and flex circuit provides a mix of softness and delicacy.
• In Rigid-Flex PCB, the Flexible PCB is normally a Single-Sided PCB while the Rigid PCB could be MultiLayer PCB.

Rigid-Flex PCB Manufacturing Process

• Manufacturing rigid flex design is more complex than that of a simple rigid design because 3D space is required in order to develop a rigid-flex design.
• The base material of the rigid portion is composed of FR4 and the flex portion is made up of polyimide and after that copper foil and coverlay bonding film are applied.
• In the first step of manufacturing rigid flex PCB, available adhesives are applied on a copper layer.
• After that thin layer of copper foil is laminated on the adhesives. Copper plating can also be used in place of the lamination process.
• The next step involves the drilling of a small hole on the flex substrate. Laser drilling is most suitable for creating precise and accurate holes.
• Copper is deposited into the holes when they are drilled into the flex pattern. This process is called through-hole plating in which copper is chemically plated.
• In the next step, Photosensitive etch resist coating is applied on the flex surface. The curtain coat method is ideal for this process.
• The copper film is properly etched once the coating is applied. After that, etch resist is removed from the circuit board.
• In the next step, coverlay protection is applied on the top and bottom layers of the flex substrate. Polyimide material is an ideal choice for use as a coverlay protection.
• Blanking is the next step in which flex substrate is cut based on the design requirements. Die set and Hydraulic punch are the most commonly used processes for cutting the flex. These methods involve the cutting of multiple flexes with high precision and accuracy.
• In the final step, a flex board, made from the blanking process, is laminated between the rigid layers which result in the final product that can be electrically tested to make it available for the electronic purpose.

• These rigid flex designs are made in 3D space which provides them an ability to twist, turn and fold into any shape like flexible circuits based on design requirements.
• These 3D requirements are prerequisites for creating an accurate design because the final product enclosure comes with a rigid flex design that is attached to a number of surfaces.
• This attachment may be the result of the product assembly process. It is better to create a mechanical mock-up that covers the final product within the enclosure.

The following figure shows the 2 layers rigid with 1 flex layer circuit board:

• Following figure shows the 3 layers rigid with 1 flex layer board:

• This process of covering the finished product must be precise and accurate, so the finished assembly can be analyzed carefully.
• In rigid flex design, the layers are not uniformly distributed over the whole design, the layers used in a rigid portion of the board are not identical to the layers used in the flex portion of the board.
• Proper measurements taken in the early stage of rigid flex design result in significant advantages. Because final rigid flex product involves the bending of flex portions which results in the damage of flex lamination.
• In order to create a flawless design, the fabrications process and design process must resonate with each other so the final product is produced without much hassle, covering the main issues like quality control and material handling.
• Rigid-flex processing is more challenging and demanding than fabricating rigid boards because it involves delicate soldering and etching processes than rigid boards.
• You should also have a look at PCB Designing in Proteus ARES if interested in PCB Designing.

Advantages of Rigid-Flex PCB

• Rigid flex design is prone to test conditions. A simple test is enough to check the quality of the board before installing it on the project.
• Rigid Flex boards come with less assembly and logistical cost.
• Using rigid flex boards, the complexity of designs can be altered or modified which gives the freedom for providing better housing solutions.
• Space issues are removed by applying 3D space.
• Less weight is another important feature of rigid flex design that ultimately results in less overall project weight because no connectors and cables are required to join the rigid parts of the board.
• Fewer solder joints provide higher connection efficiency.
• Here's a list of Top 10 PCB Designing Software.

Applications

• These PCBs are widely used in many electronic products ranging from intermediate to complex circuitry including aerospace systems, military weapons, digital cameras and cell phones.
• Less weight and space requirement makes these rigid flex circuits an ideal choice for medical applications such as pacemakers.
• Rigid Flex PCBs are extensively used in IoT Projects, Embedded Projects etc.

That's all for today. I hope you have enjoyed the article. I have tried my best to give you the most relevant information related to rigid flex PCB. However, if still you feel skeptical or have any questions, you can ask me in the comment section below. I'd love to help you according to the best of my expertise. Feel free to keep us updated with your valuable feedback and suggestions, they allow us to give you quality work that resonates with your needs and requirements. Thanks for reading the article. Stay Tuned!

Rigid PCB

Hello Friends! We always strive to give you quality work that matches with your expectations and helps you stand out from others. Today, I am going to unlock the details on the Introduction to Rigid PCB. It is a type of regular PCB which can not be twisted or folded like Flexible PCB because it comes with FR4 stiffener which is very useful for the added amount of stiffness and rigidity. I'll try cover each and everything related to rigid PCB so you can get some valuable information and compare it with other PCBs available in the market. You should also read Different Types of PCB, if you wanna read about other PCB types. Let's dive in and explore what is this about and what are its main applications?

Rigid PCB

• Rigid PCB is a type of regular PCB which can not be twisted or folded into any shape because it comes with FR4 stiffener which is very useful for added amount of stiffness and rigidity.
• Rigid PCB is made up of copper trances and paths which are incorporated on a single board in order to connect the different components on the board. The base material of the board is made of rigid substrate which gives rigidity and strength to the board.
• Computer motherboard is an ideal example of rigid PCB that comes with rigid substrate material.

• Once the rigid PCBs are manufactured they can not be modified or folded into any other shape.
• Rigid PCBs are cheap as compared to flexible PCBs. They are traditional forms of PCBs and widely used in many electronics products.
• In terms of ease of use and availability, both flexible and rigid PCBs come with own limitations and benefits and both are used to connect multiple electronic components on the board.
• If you are planning to design PCB then you should have a look at these Top Online PCB Design Services.
• There are also different software available which can be used to design these PCBs, for example:
  • Altium
  • Proteus
  • EasyPC
• I personally use Proteus software and I have also shared PCB Designing in Proteus ARES.

Composition of Rigid PCB

Rigid PCB is made up of different layers that are joined together using adhesive and heat, providing a solid shape to board material. Following layers are used to develop a rigid PCB.

Substrate Layer

• Substrate layer, also referred base material, is made of fiber glass.
• The FR4 is mostly used as a substrate material which a most common fiber glass that provides rigidity and stiffness to the board.
• Phenilcs and epoxies are also used as a base material but they are not as good as FR4, however, they are less expensive and feature unique bad smell.
• Decomposition temperature of phenolics is too low that results in delamination of the layer if solder is placed for long duration of time.

Copper Layer

• On the top of substrate layer, there resides a copper foil which is laminated on the board with the help of added amount heat and adhesive.
• In common use, both sides of the board are laminated with copper, however, some cheap electronics come with only one layer of copper material on the board.
• Different boards come with different thickness which is described in ounces per square foot.

Solder Mask Layer

• Solder Mask Layer houses above the copper layer.
• This layer is added on the board to add insulation on the copper layer in order to avoid any damage in case any conduction material is touched with the copper layer.

Silkscreen Layer

• Silkscreen layer is located above solder mask layer.
• It is used to add characters or symbol on the board that provide better understanding of the board.
• White color is mostly used for silkscreen however, other colors are also available including grey, red black and yellow.

Comparison between Rigid And Flex PCBs

• Most of the electronics made use of traditional rigid PCB. However, technology has been evolved and many products abandoned rigid PCBs because of their inability to get folded or twisted. This has erupted the idea of flexible PCB and soon it became the prerequisite for most of the professionals in the market.
• Manufacturing process of both rigid and flexible PCBs is same with some exceptions in terms of their flexibility, softness and cost.
• Some extra measures are required for processing flex PCB when it comes to material handling. Also proper specifications are required in order to avoid any cracked solder joints when the board is bent.
• Flexible PCBs are most costly than rigid PCBs, however, we are referring here individual cost of the flexible PCB, it may happen the overall cost of the project using rigid PCB is higher than the cost of the flexible PCB, but individual cost of flexible PCB will be higher.
• Many cheap electronics make use of rigid PCBs including audio keyboards, desktop devices, solid state drives, toys and many electronic gadgets. However, flex circuits are observed in ultra high performance device because they don't involve connectors also thinner than rigid boards and can be used in smart phones, cameras, tablets and GPS control system.
• Both rigid and flexible boards can be incorporated together to construct a unified product that comes with both strength and flexibility.
• Some flex PCBs follow the same design as rigid circuit design but they are not completely identical to the rigid circuit boards.
• Flexible PCBs provide flexible and bending solutions and they also require less space and are mostly Single Sided PCB.

Applications

• A computer motherboard is a perfect example of rigid PCB which is a Multilayer Rigid PCB, used to distribute electricity from power supply, and creates a conducting path between CPU, GPU and RAM.
• Rigid PCBs are manufactured in volumes and once they are designed, they can not be altered or modified and remain same throughout the entire life span of the project on which they are placed.
• Some low cost products make use rigid PCBs like toys, ,electronics gadgets, desktop devices and solid state devices.
• You should also have a look at Double Sided PCB, these are also Rigid PCBs.

That's all for today. I hope you have enjoyed the article. We always strive to give you quality work based on your needs and expectations. Feel free to keep us updated with your feedback and suggestions, they help us to provide you information that resonates with your field of work and keeps you coming back for what we have to offer. If you have any question related to this article, you can ping me a message in the comment section below, I'd love to help you according to best of my expertise. Thanks very much for reading the article. Stay Tuned!

What is Flexible PCB? Definition, Material & Manufacturing

Hi Fellas! I hope you all are having fun. Today, we will have a detailed overview of Flexible PCB. We will also understand why we need to use Flex PCB? What are its advantages & disadvantage? What kind of material is used? and How to manufacture flexible PCB? etc. Flexible PCB is the most advanced type of PCB, thus quite expensive and is normally used in industrial electronic products.

I'll try to explain everything related to flexible PCB so that you could get a clear idea of what is this about and what makes it stand out from other PCB boards? Let's dive in and explore the properties of flexible PCB one by one:

What is Flexible PCB?

Initially, PCBs were designed using hard substrate materials and thus were only available in hard form(board/card shaped). With the research in technology, scientists felt the need for PCBs, that could be bend or fold easily, to place in difficult locations and this gave the idea of Flexible PCBs. Flexible PCBs were first introduced in 1950 for two main purposes:

1. For products to place on irregular surfaces i.e. Keypad.
2. To utilize the flexible areas of the product i.e. smart wrist-watch.

The most common example of a Flexible PCB is the ATM Keypad. These ATM Keypads are designed using flexible PCB so that they could be easily placed on any irregular surface i.e. circular. Moreover, smartwatches also use flexible PCBs, where PCBs are incorporated in the watch bands and because of this added space, more embedded functions can be installed in the watches. Now let's have a look at a proper Flexible PCB Definition:

Flexible PCB Definition

• Flexible PCB(also called Flex PCB/Flexible Printed Circuits(FPC)) is an advanced type of PCB and has the ability to bend, twist or fold into any shape.
• It's an incredible addition to the electronics industry as it occupies less space and is very lightweight.
• A rigid PCB is relatively easy to handle while processing a flexible PCB requires extra protocols(special clamping, material handling etc.), that's why Flexible PCB is normally costly as compared to other types of PCBs.
• In some electronic projects, both flexible and rigid PCBs are incorporated together to produce a unified product, such PCBs are termed as Rigid-Flex PCB.
• Flexible PCBs are normally used in wearable electronic products as they can easily stick with the body.

Flexible PCB Key Points

• Flexible PCBs are not that simple/cheap, thus not used by hobbyists or students and are normally designed by companies for their electronic products.
• Flex material must be not too flex or too rigid that it breaks the PCB when it is folded or twisted around the corners.
• Complex flexible products make use of reel-to-reel technology which involves advanced material handling techniques.

Why we need Flexible PCB?

Before Flexible PCB, electronic products were designed using Rigid PCB and in few products(i.e. wrist-watch), space for rigid PCB was almost negligible as compared to its complete size(including bands). To utilize such parts of electronic products(for adding extra technology/circuits), there was a need to bring flexibility in electronic PCB to fit in any shape or place and thus Flexible PCB came into existence.

Flexible PCBs have also made electronic products hand-carry i.e. Flexible Computer Keyboard. Simply roll and place it in your laptop bag. Flexible PCBs are also used in Oil & gas sector as they have the capability to sustain high temperatures.

So, now let's have a look at the Manufacturing Process of Flexible PCB:

Flexible PCB Manufacturing Process

The flexible PCB Manufacturing Process involves almost the same steps as that of MultiLayer PCB, although it involves more professionalism & expertise. Let's have a look at the steps of the Flexible PCB Manufacturing Process:

Step 1: Design CAD Model of Flex PCB

• Computer-Aided Design(CAD) models of Flexible PCBs are designed by professional designers.
• Circuit designing of flexible PCB involves multiple teams as there's a lot of factors to decide.
• Apart from designing the electronic circuitry, designers have to take care of mechanical structure & chemical materials as well because stretching or extra bending may harm the fle PCB.

Step 2: Finding Flex PCB Manufacturer

• It's the most important step of all, as we can't design flex PCB on our own, we have to take help from PCB manufacturing companies.
• So, the designers should take extra care in the selection of PCB manufacturers.
• Chinese PCB companies i.e. JLCPCB, PCBWay, WellPCB etc. offer cheap flexible PCB rates.

Step 3: How to manufacture Flex PCB?

Flexible PCBs are manufactured by a PCB company, which takes order from the user(normally designer) and delivers it according to the specified instructions. Here are the steps involved in the Flexible PCB manufacturing process:

1. Cutting: According to specified dimensions in flex design.
2. Drill Hole: Drilling of holes and vias(in case of multilayer).
3. Electroplating: It involves the placing of coppers tracks or paths.
4. Etching: Chemical treatment of Flex PCB.
5. Decorating: Involves few touch-ups of flex PCB i.e. bordering.
6. Coating: Lamination of Flex PCB.
7. Pressing
8. Solidification
9. Punching
10. Quality assurance

• Flex Circuit Overlay is a lamination process that is widely used to protect and encapsulate the external circuitry of the flexible printed circuit.
• Protective film thickness ranges from .0005" to .005", however, .001" and .002" are the most common thicknesses used.

Step 4: Flexible PCB Testing

• Flexible PCB Testing is performed after receiving the order from the PCB company.
• It's normally tested in the prototype project.

Advantages of Flexible PCB

Now let's have a look at the advantages of Flexible PCB:

1. Small-size

• Small-size is the main advantage of Flexible PCB and even in some cases, flexible PCBs are simply rolled and adjusted in small spaces.
• They have negligible width as a simple paper.

2. Light-Weight

• Flex PCBs are very light in weight as there's no cardboard(substrate core) present in them.
• Normally its weight is because of SMD components present in it.

3. High Durability

• If treated nicely, Flex PCBs normally have long lives as they are manufactured under precise conditions and in the presence of experts.
• It's also coated with formulated materials which increase its durability.

4. High Temperature

• It can withstand high temperatures and thus used in the oil & gas sector where rigid PCBs may melt out.
• Temperature withstand ability depends on the material used to design it.

5. Enhanced Capability

• Flexible Printed Circuits help in improving the overall performance of electronic products by increasing component density.
• Using Flexible components, we can add more circuitry to our autonomous products, thus enhancing their capabilities.

Now let's have a look at the disadvantages of Flexible PCB:

Disadvantages of Flex PCB

Although Flexible PCBs have a lot of advantages over Rigid PCB but their advantages are specific to certain sectors and thus we can't use them in normal projects. Here are few disadvantages of Flex PCB:

1. High Manufacturing Cost

• Flex PCB has high manufacturing costs, which makes it out of reach for hobbyists & engineering students.
• The Flexible PCB Manufacturing process is not that way and involves chemical materials for coating etc. thus it's a bit expensive.
• Online PCB companies from China i.e. JLCPCB, PCBWay etc. provide competitive rates.

2. Increased Manufacturing Time

• As compared to Rigid PCB, flex PCB requires more manufacturing time as it involves a lengthy process i.e. lamination, coating etc.
• It depends on the complexity & quantity of your products but normally takes a week for a simple order.

3. Highly Professional Designers Required

• Designing a Flexible PCB involves extra care, as if there's any designing error, you have to redo the manufacturing process.
• So, Flexible Printed Circuits are designed by a team of highly professional designers.
• Depending on the complexity of electronic design, it may involve multiple teams.

Now let's have a look at the applications of Flex PCB:

Applications of Flexible PCB

Although Flexible PCBs are not that common, thus used in specific applications only. A few Flex PCB applications are as follows:

1. Wearables

• Flex PCB is normally used in electronic wearable devices i.e. wristwatches, lockets, spy microphones, smart cameras etc.

2. Electronic Gadgets

• Flexible PCB is also used in electronic gadgets i.e. mobile phones, computer keyboards, CD/DVD drives etc.

3. Connectors

• Connectors, used in expensive electronic products, are normally designed using Flex PCB.
• Flex connectors avoid wiring & connection problems.

4. Printers

• Moving print-head of printers make use of flexible circuits that provide a pathway to connect signal with moving arm of the disk drive.

6. Consumer Electronics

• Many consumer electronics are incorporated with flexible circuits including calculators, cameras, personal entertainment devices and exercise monitors.

7. Solar Technology

• A flexible solar cell is another addition in the field of flexible electronics which are lightweight, can be folded or twisted into any shape, and are mainly used for power satellites.

That's all for today. I hope you have found this article useful. Keep updating us with your feedback and suggestions, they allow us to give you quality work that resonates with your expectations If you have any questions you can ask me in the comment section below. I'd love to help you according to the best of my expertise. Thanks for reading the article. Stay Tuned!