Application of ICs on PCBs

Application of ICs on PCBs

ICs are usually embedded with leads to attach to the circuit board. Three main types of application patterns that we can find on the circuit boards:

Surface Mount – This is the most common type of application used for most ICs. We usually find them on equipment where space is at a premium, such as printing machines, medical equipment, packaging machinery, etc. We can find this type of circuit board with any IC on it.

Through Hole – This type of PCB usage is not as common as surface mounted, but we use it in more complex PCBs requiring lots of IC connections, usually on less space-critical equipment.

Hybrid – This type usually uses a mix of both through-hole and surface mount connections to the IC.

Common IC parts:

Ceramic: These parts contain ceramic and are usually found in small and medium devices (5mm and larger).

Thin Miniature Metal-Can: We can attach these parts to Integrated circuits integrated circuit using wire leads or fine solder bumps. We use them for power amplifiers, voltage regulators, DC-DC converters, oscillators, etc., where size is critical.

SMD: Small Surface Mount Device. We commonly find these devices in logic or memory circuits.

Through-Hole: We typically find these parts in large devices (5mm and up). We use them mostly in device chassis, power supply units, and output circuits of MOSFETs, Op-Amp chips, etc., where space is at a premium.

BGA: Ball Grid Array. We use these parts for components that require the highest reliability and performance, like computers, digital TVs, etc. BGA’s can be anywhere from 25 to 500 micrometers in size.

Flip Chip: These parts are usually small components (5mm and up). We typically use them in devices like D/A converters, memory circuits, microprocessors, and microcontrollers.

QFP: Quad Flat Pack. We find these components in the most complex devices in electronics, like cell phones, computers, etc.

CSP: Ceramic Small Package. We use these parts in complex devices like cell phones, computers, etc., where space is premium or needs to be very small but still contain many components.

LCC: Low Profile Surface Mount Device

A PCB must go through four steps:

There are different types of designs like custom design and standard design. When designing a PCB, it is normal for engineers to choose one of the two. However, in some cases, they also need to use both methods. For example, when designing a circuit board with soldered components, they need to use standard design since they are using soldered components, all of which have standard designs. It is only in the case of custom design that engineers need to use it.

If an engineer uses both methods, he must know how to work with both since they are both different. So, he must know which tools are essential in each one of these steps. He must also learn how to use each tool for completing the design process. An engineer can work with them in a certain way or another depending on his knowledge about the tools and their functions.

To use a design tool, an engineer must first know how it works, and then he must look for a good user guide that will reveal the correct ways of using these tools. After that, he should start working with it.

A PCB designer usually uses a CAD system to produce the designs of boards. These CAD systems are generally very powerful, and they can produce incredible results. The main purpose of using CAD systems is to design the board and then send them to manufacturers.