What areas can PCB printed circuit boards be used in?

Although PCB printed circuit boards are most commonly associated with computers, they can be found in many other electronic devices, such as televisions, radios, digital cameras, and cell phones. In addition to their use in consumer electronics and computers, different types of PCB printed circuit boards are used in many other areas, including:

1. Medical equipment.

Electronics are now denser and consume less power than previous generations, making it possible to test exciting new medical technologies. Most medical devices use high-density PCBs, which are used to create the smallest and densest designs possible. This helps alleviate some of the unique limitations associated with imaging devices in the medical field due to the need for small size and lightweight. PCBs are used in everything from small devices like pacemakers to large devices like X-ray equipment or CAT scanners.

2. Industrial machinery.

PCBs are commonly used in high-power industrial machinery. Thicker copper PCBs can be used where current one-ounce copper PCBs do not meet the requirements. Situations where thicker copper PCBs are beneficial include motor controllers, high-current battery chargers, and industrial load testers.

3. Lighting.

As LED-based lighting solutions are popular for their low power consumption and high efficiency, so are the aluminum PCBs used to manufacture them. These PCBs act as heat sinks, allowing higher levels of heat transfer than standard PCBs. These same aluminum-based PCBs form the basis for high-lumen LED applications and basic lighting solutions.

4. Automotive and aerospace industry

Both the automotive and aerospace industries use flexible PCBs, which are designed to withstand the high-vibration environments common in both fields. Depending on the specification and design, they can also be very lightweight, which is necessary when manufacturing parts for the transportation industry. They are also able to fit into the tight spaces that may exist in these applications, such as inside dashboards or behind instruments on dashboards.