However, from the materials available to heat resistance, from transfer rates to size, circuit boards have evolved a great deal over time. They also continue to change as our demands do. Not sure what that change might look like as we move forward? Let’s take a few minutes to explore some of the most important current and emerging trends in circuit board design.

Medical Devices

One of the most notable trends today is the spike in demand for medical devices. These run the gamut from hospital and medical clinic equipment like ventilators to devices used by EMTs and paramedics and those designed for consumer use. Circuit board design for medical devices must meet stringent requirements in terms of safety, reliability, heat resistance, and more.

Wearable Devices

From medical devices to fitness trackers, there’s a massive shift toward wearable devices. These must contend with a broad range of stressors that other devices do not face, although mobile devices, such as smartphones, come close in some cases. These factors range from dramatically decreased footprints to how to safely discharge heat and even water resistance in some cases.

Embedded Antennas

Today’s low-profile electronics demand something more than massive mast antennas, and designers have offered up embedded antennas right in the circuit board. Of course, this requires some advanced materials and unique design considerations to ensure full functionality. They play a role in Wi-Fi enabled devices, IoT devices, and much more.

Lead-Free Designs

Another important trend is the shift away from lead-containing laminates. Lead has played a role in circuit board design for decades, but it appears to be slowly falling by the wayside. Why, though? It’s largely to do with the higher heat levels that some of today’s devices must contend with, which would reduce lead to a toxic puddle at the bottom of the device. New lead-free laminate materials are being introduced to cope with those high heat levels and maintain their structural integrity at all times (not to mention eliminating those toxic fumes).

High-Power Boards

Just as circuit board designs must contend with higher heat levels than ever before, they are also being designed for higher and higher power levels (which also affects heat, of course). Most of these boards are above 48 volts, and they can be found in a wide range of applications. Many of them harness solar power, while others are intended for use within electric vehicles. IoT devices, battery-powered devices, and those with additional components – all of these are high-power applications.

The Growing Role of IoT Devices

As touched on above, IoT devices are having a profound impact on circuit board design. One interesting trend here is that the PCB industry is expanding. In the past, it was largely focused on consumer electronics. Today, that is still the case, but there is a growing focus on serving industrial needs because this is where the vast majority of IoT devices can be found. While Alexa, Siri, Ring doorbells and the like are all being integrated into homes, the real demand is within the manufacturing and industrial sector where entire production lines are now integrating internet connectivity and being networked together.

Not only does this mean that there is an increasing demand for circuit board design and manufacturing, but that PCB designers face some unique challenges. One of those is the change in what “protection” and “security” mean. Previously, it was really all about protecting the circuit board against environmental changes. Today, though, it is becoming more about prevention against tampering.

Flex and Rigid Flex

Previously, both flex and rigid-flex boards were relatively rare in the PCB world. Today, that’s increasingly not the case. That’s due to a couple of the trends that we have already discussed. One of those is the rise of medical devices – ideally suited for flexible circuit boards. However, flex boards are also well-suited for consumer electronics, for use in a range of different sensors connected to IoT devices, and even medical implants.

On the other hand, rigid-flex boards combine the benefits of both flexible circuit board design and rigid boards. The result is a board that “plays well with others,” which makes these well-suited for use as sub-boards and for creating additional layers.

Waste Control

Waste is a growing problem. This is particularly true of e-waste. Finding ways to deal with the growing mountain of disposed-of electronics is a challenge, but one option is to use biodegradable circuit boards. Biodegradable PCBs offer some light at the end of the tunnel and a way to start greening up the industry. While workable circuit board designs using biodegradable materials are still some way off, they are coming. It will require the design of new substrates, as well as a shift away from chemical-based etching processes in many cases.

A Full-Service PCB Manufacturer

From IoT devices to wearables to future-looking technology, Advanced Circuits delivers critical capabilities. With over 30 years of experience, our team helps bring circuit board designs to life on any scale. We understand that each client’s needs are different, and we’re happy to produce everything from a single prototype to massive production runs. We work with clients in the defense industry, IoT, automotive technology, and virtually every other sector, as well.

Advanced Circuits: Your Go-to PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Resource

Whether you need end-to-end assistance, or just want to create a test board to explore your designs, we can help. With the best turnaround time in the industry; weekend turns; same day turns and more, it’s no wonder our clients keep choosing Advanced Circuits for everything from prototype PCBs to large PCBs runs. Contact us today for an instant quote or to learn more about our capabilities.

Each new piece of technology that enters the marketplace boasts new features and promises to be smarter and faster than its predecessors. In this Internet Age we live in, connectivity is essential for communication, business productivity and our economic wellbeing. According to a recent article published by PCB007, it is forecasted that there will be 4.9 billion “connected things” in use in 2015. This represents an increase of 30 percent from 2014 and could be indicative of the advancements made in printed circuit boards that are leading to expanded capabilities and higher tolerances for materials. As engineers and researchers pack more into each PCB, companies are able to design products that open up new possibilities for collaboration and connectivity. These new “connected things” will appear in a number of industries, including:

• Consumer
• Automotive
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Aerospace

Printed Circuit Board Standards for Manufacturing

Industry standards governing the production of printed circuit boards allows for companies all over the world to develop machines and consumer products that are built to interact with one another. Without these standards, it is hard to say that the global economy would be what it is today. Since different sectors have different performance and manufacturing requirements, such as materials used, operating temperature and size restrictions, it is necessary for PCB manufacturers to be versed in and certified for numerous standards of production. By talking with a representative at Advanced Circuits you will be able to learn more about different manufacturing standards and how they play a role in the overall development and creation of printed circuit boards. Contact an engineering expert at Advanced Circuits today to get started.

A new study conducted by Research and Markets takes a look at PCB, material and interconnect trends and the needs for electronics assemblies for high-speed applications. This study, titled “Opportunities in the Supply Chain for High-Speed Electronics, 2012-2018”, explores the implications surrounding next-gen architectures and the supply chain as data rates increase. As devices and systems gain the capacity to support high-performance operations, new laminates will be needed for PCBs. In addition, components that offer advanced signal integrity, interconnect density and thermal management will also come into play. Consumers have seen much of this growth in the wireless communication sector, namely with tablet devices and new smartphones that continue to pack in features and hardware while improving performance and speed. The study also takes a look at laminates available now as well as forecasts for laminates and PCBs to 2018.

Choosing the Right Laminate for Your PCBs

Deciding on the right laminate for your PCBs is an important part of the design process. At the end of the day, you need your circuit board to connect all of your components and work efficiently in the intended application. As such, having the right laminate will allow you the functionality that you need and it can also have an effect on your project’s budget. When you are in the design stages for your PCB you should research the laminates that will work best and check with your manufacturer to ensure that the laminate you choose is compatible with their manufacturing and assembly process. If you have any questions you can contact an expert at Advanced Circuits to get the answers you’re looking for.