What are PCB boards used for？
Before covering the use of printed circuit boards, it would be essential to understand what a PCB is. Printed circuit boards are boards that play the role of connecting electronic components or appliances. They play a vital part in nearly all electronic devices that individuals use daily.
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PCBs are manufactured using non-conductive materials. Moreover, consist of pads, lines, and other features etched from copper sheets to connect the entire electronic components found within a product electronically.
Unlike before, where PCBs' use wasn’t widespread, such is not the case as of today. Today, the use of printed circuit boards in electronic devices is extensive, and there are several types of PCBs. Some are single-sided, while others are double-sided or even multilayered. PCBs can be flexible, rigid, or contain both flexible and rigid parts.
What are the applications of PCB?
What are the most common uses of PCBs? Since there are plenty of sectors that use PCBs, chances of finding them almost everywhere, from huge pieces of machinery to small consumer devices, are high. Here is a list of 10 most common applications of printed circuit boards by industry.
LED
Also known as light-emitting diodes, LEDs are becoming an accessible lighting technology used for commercial and residential commercial lighting. Their usage is common across several industries such as the automotive field, computer, and medical sectors. LEDs are an excellent choice for being energy efficient, longer life, and compact.
A significant role that PCBs play in LED applications is by transferring heat away from the bulb. PCBs are used for LEDs compose of aluminum that is known for transferring heat, unlike other metals. LED PCBs are prevalent in storefront lighting, residential lighting, medical lighting, computer, and automotive displays.
Consumer Electronics
Computers, smart phones, and plenty of other consumer products daily need PCBs to function correctly. As electronics get added to products that people use, PCBs also become a more significant part of people’s lives. A wide range of consumer products that rely on PCBs to function include computers, home appliances such as coffee makers and microwaves, and communication devices such as tablets and smart-watches.
Medical Appliances
The healthcare sector uses PCBs with advancing technologies that continue to reveal new capabilities. Printed circuit boards play an active role in devices across the medical field. For instance, equipment used for monitoring, diagnostics, treatment, and more rely on PCBs. PCBs are used in medical devices such as medical imaging systems, monitors, and infusion pumps, to mention but a few.
The medical sector is said to be continually finding a lot of uses for electronic devices. As technology continues to improve, smaller, reliable, and denser boards are becoming a possibility. Today, PCBs play an increasingly vital role across the healthcare sector.
Industrial Appliances
The printed circuit board uses across the industrial field vary widely. Electronic appliances power a huge part of equipment in distribution and manufacturing centers. Printed circuit boards used across the industrial sector need to be resistant to extreme temperatures, vibrations, and rough handling. To meet this need, PCBs used here are manufactured using durable metal or some thermal-resistant materials.
Apt examples of industrial applications for printed circuit boards include measuring equipment that measures and control temperature and pressure. Others include power equipment such as DC-to-AC power inverters and manufacturing equipment used in the manufacturing process. With robotics, industrial Internet of Things, and other technologies becoming more common, new uses for printed circuit boards are arising across the industrial sector.
Automotive Components
Manufacturers of automotive components use a considerable number of electronic devices in their cars. In earlier times, printed circuit boards were standard in things such as headlight switches and windshield wipers. But looking at the current trends, they enable a majority of advanced features to make driving more comfortable and safer.
Today, you can find PCBs in automotive components such as sensors, control systems, navigation, and entertainment systems. Most systems that control some of the basic functions of a vehicle rely on electronic components powered by the PCB.
Military and Defense Appliances
The military used printed circuit boards for a wide range of applications such as computers, communications equipment, firearms, vehicles, and more. PCBs meant for military use have to be durable and exceptionally reliable as they play a vital role in national security. A majority of military equipment relies on PCBs, with most of them finding benefits from their use.
Examples of PCBs' defense and military uses include communications equipment such as a radio communication system and control systems. PCBs are also used in instrumentation that enables indicators to monitor threats or operate the equipment.
Telecommunications Appliances
Printed circuit boards are very critical in the telecommunications sector. They are vital for consumer appliances such as tablets and smartphones since they are the infrastructure that enables such devices to function as desired. The telecom industry uses a wide variety of printed circuit boards since plenty of equipment relies on them for functionality.
Some examples of telecom equipment that rely on PCBs include telecom towers, office communication equipment, LED displays, and indicators. The telecommunications industry is developing almost every day, and the printed circuit boards used in this sector are constantly evolving. As the generation and transfer of more data become common across this sector, so are PCBs needed here.
Safety and Security Appliances
A majority of security systems meant for home or business use heavily rely on printed circuit boards. They play a significant role in people’s safety and security more often than individuals may realize. The ideal type of printed circuit board depends on its application, but those meant for safety and security appliances need to be reliable at all times. Some security appliances are intended for outdoor use and require printed circuit boards to withstand the harsh outdoor environment.
Some safety and security appliances that use printed circuit boards include electronic door locks, smoke detectors, and security cameras. All of these and many more rely on printed circuit boards for functionality. PCBs continue to play an essential role in a wide variety of security and safety equipment, especially with such products continuing to gain popularity in many places worldwide.
PCB Knowledge ⋅ 06/17/2021 18:33
