Printed circuit boards
are a medium that connects electronic components to each other under controlled
settings. They are found in most electronic devices and are meant to connect
the electronic components of the device and support it. There are many
different types of PCB based on their application requirements, design
specifications, and the PCBA manufacturing process. The types of printed circuit boards for
electronic devices are chosen depending on the space available, electrical and
mechanical stability, and their capability to handle stress. Types of Printed Circuit Boards
1.
Single-sided PCB
This is the simplest
and the most commonly found type of circuit board. It has a conductive copper
layer above the substrate, and the electrical components are either placed
soldered or placed on one side of the board. As they have only one conducting
layer, they take up a lot of space, as their conductive paths cannot intersect.
They find extensive application in low-cost electronic instruments such as FM
radios, calculators, LED lighting boards etc.
2.
Double-sided
PCB
These PCBs have a thin
layer of conducting material on either side, and there are holes in the board
to connect the metal parts from one side to another. The components on both
sides are connected through plated holes or surface mount technology. It is
more commonly used in more complex electronic devices like amplifiers, HVAC
applications, UPS systems, cell phone systems etc.
3.
Multi-layer
PCB
Multi-layer PCBA
manufacturing incorporates more than two layers of conductive material and
insulating material stacked on top of each other, like a sandwich. These layers
are laminated and bonded with each other under high temperatures and pressures
to eliminate air gaps in the middle. They find extensive applications in
medical equipment, laptops, computers, GPS trackers and other devices that
demand complex circuits.
4.
Rigid
PCB
The rigid PCB, as the
name implies, cannot be folded or twisted. The base material of the board is
made of a rigid substance, which gives it its characteristic strength and
rigidity. They are made with multiple layers of copper, substrate, solder mask
and silk screen in the electronics lab and are adhered to each
other using heat. We can find rigid PCBs in GPS equipment, X-rays, mobile
phones, laptops, tablets, CAT scans, temperature sensors, and MRI systems.
5.
Flex
PCB
As the name implies,
these boards are made of many different printed components and circuits that
are arranged on a flexible material like polyester or polyimide. These boards
can be bent or twisted to fit into tight spaces or conform to the shape of the
device. They are available in single sides, double-sided and multi-layer
configurations. Flexible PCBs are commonly used in wearable devices, OLED
fabrication, cameras, medical equipment, and other applications where
flexibility is required.
6.
Rigid-Flex
PCB
These boards are a
combination of rigid and flexible PCBs into a single board to offer a very high
degree of flexibility. The flexible portion of these boards is generally used
for interconnections between the rigid boards, as they take up very less room.
As they have a flexible wing connected to the rigid board, they eliminate the
need to use bulky connectors, making them much lighter. They are designed to be
compact and lightweight and thus find extensive application in medical and
aerospace equipment.
7.
High-frequency
PCB
These PCBs are
designed to work with high-frequency signals, typically above 1 GHz. They have
specific characteristics such as controlled impedance, low insertion loss, and
excellent signal integrity. High-frequency PCBs are used in applications like
telecommunications, wireless devices, and radar systems.
8.
Metal
core PCB
In a metal core PCB,
the base material is a metal core, usually aluminium or copper, which provides
better heat dissipation compared to standard PCB materials. Metal core PCBs are
used in applications that generate a lot of heat, such as power electronics,
LED lighting, and automotive systems.
Bottom Line:
The use of these
different types of printed boards depends on a number of components, such as
space constraints, signal integrity considerations, thermal management needs
etc. These different types of printed circuit boards are manufactured in
the electronic labs for use in different electronic devices. It is important
to buy PCBs from reputed manufacturers and distributors who cater to the
diverse competitive market, as these are predominantly used in electronic
devices of everyday use.