Electronics are becoming more than catchy gadgets for tech enthusiasts. Many mundane objects are becoming "smart"; with screens that can show results and the ability to connect to the internet for information delivery, or different types of buttons and interfaces to control how an object works, something as simple as a watering can or box fan can become a set of bonus features and higher consumer demand. At the center of this development is the arrival of flexible electronics, but how can you link them to your product with results that matter? Here are a few details about flexible printed circuit boards (pcbs) and how they can revolutionize your products.

What Makes A PCB Flexible?

Traditional PCBs are wafer-thin boards made of resin or other rigid material with circuitry that is literally printed on, and hard to maneuver. If you want a normal PCB inside a round object, you'll either need to design a shell with a straight, inner chamber for mounting the board or make the board short enough to fit within two points on a curve.

A hollow chamber means a bigger size for some products, and a smaller board to fit between curve points means fewer on-board electronics and potential performance. A flexible PCB can fit along the form of a curve and many other surface types depending on the material.

Most flexible PCBs are made of flexible plastics such as polymides or poly ether ketone (PEEK). You can see flexible PCBs in action inside many smartphones, laptop computers, and other miniaturized computers with the power of desktop and larger commercial computers from half a decade or more ago. Some flexible boards perform all of the computer design and computing, while others act as ribbon cables with higher throughput and smaller sizes.

How Can Flexible PCBs Be Implemented?

Miniaturization of electronics allows you to either shrink your products or do much more with the additional space. With a thinner board housing the electronics, you could add additional electronics such as cooling systems, storage, and battery backup to make your devices more convenient for consumers.

Consider a watering can, although the same technique can be used for just about anything. With a flexible PCB, you can print a circuit board that can be molded inside the plastic or other housing material of the watering can seamlessly. No seams means no breakage or cracks when a factory mistake, warehouse mishap, or consumer accident happens, and no computer housing splitting open with water all over the electronics.

You can also put the electronics portion between additional water protection, such as a waterproof membrane that allows additionally sealed wires to reach hermetically sealed buttons. All of this can be done with either no noticeable bulge to the product, or with a more curved or aesthetically pleasing shape than a box housing a board.

Additional components can be added to the waterproof membrane because of the added space and flexibility. More board space can allow temperatures to be taken with flexible thermometers with their own printed circuit, a water meter can measure the amount of water in the can, and a counter can measure the amount of water being poured.

For exacting gardeners or researchers looking for dynamic variables as they work, this delivers a lot of vital information that may be worth paying extra. Adding solid state storage means no moving parts and the ability to save information when power is lost.

Speak with a PCB manufacturer, like Streamline Circuits, to discuss your idea and PCB design needs.

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