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Circuit Symbols: Key to Understanding Electrical and Electronic Diagrams

Circuit symbols are essential in electrical and electronic diagrams for representing complex circuits and components in a standardized and simplified manner. These symbols are crucial for engineers, electricians, and technicians to understand circuit functions without documentation. Universal recognition of these symbols ensures consistent interpretation across languages and regions, aiding education and training. Circuit diagrams consist of various components like switches, capacitors, resistors, and......

Feb 17, 2025

Comparing OSP Plating with Other PCB Surface Finishes

Once a PCB passes through the fabrication process, one of the final steps is to apply a surface plating to the exposed copper on the surface layers. The exposed copper will oxidize over time if it is not treated with a surface finish, and the various surface finishes used in PCBs are used to both prevent copper degradation and provide a solderable surface. One of these more specialized options is organic solderability preservative (OSP), which is the only organic compound-based copper surface treatmen......

Importance of Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) in Modern Electronics

Printed wiring boards, or PWBs is very crucial for modern electronics. Almost every electronic device is built on these components. PWBs are an important part of putting together and connecting electronic parts because they provide the mechanical and electrical links that the parts need to work well. All modern technologies center on PWBs, from heavy tools to cellphones. This article will discuss the significance of printed wire boards (PWBs) in electronics, highlighting their construction, types, fun......

A Practical Guide to Series and Parallel Circuits in Electronics

Series and parallel circuits are fundamental to understanding electronics and designing efficient electrical systems. These configurations define how components like resistors, capacitors, and diodes are connected in a circuit, influencing the overall behavior of the system. Usually a circuit schematics contains a lot series and parallel combined elements embedded with each other in order to perform certain functions. Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to a......

Basic Bridge Circuits

A bridge circuit splits an input voltage into two paths, compares the voltages across different branches, and provides an output. These circuits are widely valued for their accuracy and versatility in comparing, balancing, or measuring electrical properties. These circuits find applications in sensing, calibration, and even filtering. They consist of a combination of four resistive, capacitive, or inductive elements arranged in a quadrilateral (bridge-like) structure depending upon measuring applicati......

Understanding the Role of PCB and PCBA in Electronics

PCBs and PCBAs are the building blocks of most electronics we use today, from smartphones to industrial machines. PCBs are the actual platforms that connect electronic parts, but PCBAs go one step further by adding parts to the board, which makes them work. PCBs and PCBAs assembling and designing correctly is important for modern electronics, and this article discusses the different types and best practices for each. What is a PCB? A printed circuit board (PCB) is a flat board that holds electronic pa......

KICad plus JLCPCB: From PCB Design Schematic to Fabrication

In the busy field of electronics, the speed with which the design-to- manufacture process operates is really crucial. KiCad and JLCPCB used together are a great tool that simplifies this procedure for beginners as well as experts. JLCPCB is known for fabricating things rapidly and cheaply; KiCad, an open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool, is excellent in designing PCBs. From creating schematics in KiCad to building PCBs with JLCPCB, this article covers what you need to know. It does this ......

PCB Board Connectors: Essential Components for Reliable Connections

PCB board connectors are important parts of electronics because they make it possible for different circuit elements to connect to each other electrically. These connectors make sure that data and power flow smoothly through the system. You can find them in everything from consumer electronics to heavy machinery. This article discusses about the types of PCB board connectors, their uses, and the best ways to choose and place them. What are PCB Board Connectors? PCB board connectors called electrical p......

The Impact of Inner Layer Residual Copper Rate on Board Thickness

When we were kids, we heard the children's story "The Crow Drinks Water," where a crow raises the water level by dropping stones into a fixed amount of water in a bottle. The same principle applies to multilayer PCB lamination, where during high temperature and high pressure, PP sheets flow in a liquid state to fill the gaps between the layers. This process is called "resin filling." As seen in the diagram, when the copper coverage in the inner layer is minimal, PP sheets of the same thickness need to......

AOI Detection Working Principle

#1 What is AOI Detection? Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is a technology that uses optical principles and image processing techniques to inspect component solder joints on PCBA boards. It can quickly identify subtle defects in solder joints, effectively overcoming the limitations of manual visual inspection. (Image source: Internet) #2 AOI Detection Working Principle AOI detection equipment mainly relies on the principle of light reflection to identify and inspect component solder joints on PCBA b......

Breaking Down PCB Pricing: How is the Cost Determined

PCB quote packaging involves gathering and organizing all the necessary details to estimate the cost of manufacturing a PCB. This process includes not only design specifications but also material selection, manufacturing methods, and engineering considerations. It goes beyond a simple financial estimate and provides a thorough engineering analysis to ensure the quote is accurate, feasible, and optimized for production. Every aspect affecting production such as material type, size, complexity, and prod......

RoHS Compliance in PCBs: What Designers Need to Know

RoHS-compliant in the context of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) means that the board and its components adhere to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. RoHS is a set of regulations that restrict the use of certain hazardous materials commonly found in electronic and electrical equipment. The primary goal is to reduce environmental impact and improve health safety during manufacturing, usage, and disposal. To know how PCBs are made in JLPCB fab, visit our comprehensive guide on PCB m......

The Origin of Printed Circuit Boards: A Look Back in Time

The printed circuit board (PCB), like many groundbreaking inventions, was built on a foundation of historical progress. Over 140 years ago, between 1880 and 1900, the spread of electricity transformed daily life, replacing traditional fuels and powering homes. Key electromagnetism and motor-related innovations during this period laid the groundwork for PCBs and their role in electronics manufacturing. To know more about PCB manufacturing see our latest article on PCB manufacturing process. Notable inv......

Exploring the Key High-Frequency Components in PCB Design

High-frequency circuit design powers much of today's advanced technology, from communication systems to sophisticated radars and military grade equipment. High frequency systems are not fundamentally different from other types of electric circuits. The same laws of physics apply, and the basics of electronics remain the same at that point also. But what makes these circuits able to handle such rapid signals? It’s the specialized components, each with unique roles in stabilizing and amplifying signals ......

Beyond the Basics: The Role of PTFE PCBs

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) PCBs are integral to advanced electronic applications. Among various PCB materials, Teflon, the brand name for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Teflon PCBs, known for their high frequency and heat resistance properties. All of this is achievable due to its exceptional dielectric properties. RF PCB designs often make use of low-loss PTFE-based materials thanks to their very low dielectric losses and huge range of possible Dk values. Low Dielectric Constant: Enables high-sp......

PCB Silkscreen: All You Need to Know

Silk screen is the topmost layer of a PCB, adding a silkscreen layer is the final step in PCB manufacturing. This layer adds ink markings to identify PCB components, test points, symbols, logos, and other important details. Silkscreen plays a crucial role in helping manufacturers and designers easily identify components by annotating them on PCB. The silkscreen ink is a specially non-conductive formulated epoxy. It comes in various colors, the most common in the industry are black and white. PCB desig......

PCB Board Thickness: Importance and Considerations

An integral component of a printed circuit boards (PCB) design and utility is its thickness. It influences its mechanical stability, electrical performance, and simplicity of construction as well as mechanical strength. Knowing what thickness is optimum for each application is crucial since electronics must get ever smaller. This article discusses the importance of PCB board thickness, the elements affecting it, the accepted thicknesses, and how one should pick the best one. What is PCB Board Thicknes......

Thermal Management Strategies in PCB Layout Design

In the world of electronics, heat is the silent destroyer. It creeps into your circuits, degrading performance, shortening component lifespan, and, in extreme cases, turning your once-functioning PCB into a lifeless, overheated mess. The physical properties of your PCB substrates and copper conductors are the primary factors that determine how it will perform under pressure. Thermal properties, rigidity, dispersion, relative permittivity, and more will affect signal integrity, thermal management, and ......

How to Run a Design Rule Check (DRC) for Your PCBs

Any time you design a PCB, and you want to turn it into a real product, you will have to make sure the design obeys all the constraints within the standard PCB manufacturing process. These constraints in the PCB design are known as Design rules and to check these rules in a CAD software we have to run the DRC(Design Rule Check) algorithm. The ever-increasing complexity of boards has made it nearly impossible to carry out the design rule verification process manually, so designers have to program the r......

Track Width v/s Current Capacity: PCB Layout Tips for Power Routing

In the intricate art of PCB design, power routing is the unsung hero carrying the current that breathes life into circuits. While signal traces get all the attention for their impedance matching and noise control, power tracks quietly shoulder the responsibility of delivering current without frying themselves or the components they feed. But how wide should these tracks be? That's where the relationship between track width and current capacity comes into play. If you think 0.1mm tracks are enough for ......

Understanding Small Circuit Board: The Core of Modern Electronics

A small circuit board build all the small, practical devices that we use in everyday life. Although its small size, a circuit board is packed with components that cooperate to allow devices including cellphones, personal computers, medical equipment, and automotive systems. Smaller circuit boards, their applications, and crucial considerations for design and assembly are discussed in this article. What is a Small Circuit Board? A small circuit board (PCB) is a printed circuit board (PCB), small enough......