4 Unique Tech Devices That Use Printed Circuit Boards

If you’ve ever taken apart an old technical device, you’ve probably found some green boards with strange metal attachments inside. These green objects are printed circuit boards, and they help run most of the world’s unique technology.

Lighting and LEDs

If you know anything about lighting or love Christmas, you’ve probably heard the term LED before. LED stands for light-emitting diodes, and they are lighting devices used in personal residences and commercial buildings. In fact, LEDs aren’t just used to light up buildings but also planes, cars, laptops, and a slew of other technologies. Printed circuit boards, also called PCBs, are crucial to LEDs because they help draw the heat away from the bulb. This transfer allows LED lights to be more energy-efficient and have a longer life cycle than other lighting devices.

Laptops, Smartphones, and Other Consumer Electronics

Most people in the modern world have access to many different consumer electronics. Smartphones and laptops are commonplace items in people’s everyday lives, and these items utilize printed circuit boards. Now, of course, the PCB in a smartphone will be completely different from the PCB in a laptop. This flexibility is why PCBs are so valuable in the modern era. They perform the same overall function and are made of the same basic materials, but they are incredibly customizable. As PCBs get smaller and smaller to keep up with shrinking consumer electronic sizes, they must continue to maintain many electrical connections. If you want to learn more, you can always click here for info on PCBs and other PCB-related technology. They are truly vital to the operation of the technological world.

Medical Systems and Technology

Without PCBs, the healthcare industry would suffer. Many life-saving technologies rely on the fast functionality of PCBs to diagnose and treat patients. With such high stakes, the PCBs produced for medical systems must survive even more rigorous testing and meet special requirements. For example, implants commonly require PCBs, so they must be intensely sanitized. They also must often be minuscule, so they are typically HDI, which stands for high-density interconnect. Vital medical imaging systems like CT and CAT scanners use PCBs. Other major medical devices that rely on PCBs are infusion pumps and pacemakers.

Residential Security and Safety Devices

It’s not an exaggeration to say that PCBs are vital to home defense because they help run most modern security systems. Security cameras, electronic door locks, motion sensors, and burglar alarms all use PCBs in their hardware. The best type of PCB will vary based on the size and requirements of each object. Any outdoor security devices require PCBs that can operate and endure a harsher environment. While the popular outdoor security technology is burglar alarms and cameras, a prevalent kind of indoor security you probably overlook is your smoke alarm. Smoke alarms also rely on PCBs to send the signals to sound an alarm if smoke is detected.

While you have probably encountered thousands of printed circuit boards in your life, most of the time, you never even realize you are holding one. They are carefully hidden away by design, but they are the heart of any technological device.