Podcasts about PCB

This week's EYE ON NPI is renowned world-wide, it's onsemi's ARX383CS 1/8-inch 0.3 Mp Global Shutter CMOS Digital Image Sensor (https://www.digikey.com/short/45p5vfvr), a tiny pick-and-placeable vision sensor that is perfect for your next AI or robotics - or AI robotics - product! With the global shutter, you'll be able to get clear and complete photos each time, no matter your lighting and subject speed. We stock low-cost simple camera sensors like the OV5640 at the Adafruit shop (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5839) these cameras can do color, up to 720p or greater, and can even do internal JPEG compression before piping the image out of an 8-bit parallel interface. One thing that you'll quickly realized about these cameras is that they, like almost all cameras used for basic photography are rolling-shutter type. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_shutter) That means the sensor reads each individual pixel in a row before moving to the next column, perfectly fine as long as the thing you're photographing is moving slowly compared to the speed of the sensor iterator. For robotics vision projects, this often gives smeared or blurry images, and since time = money and thus you need to run the motor as fast as possible. For example, our SM481 pick and place (https://www.hanwha-pm.com/en-mo/product/detail.asp?product_info_id=189&cate_id=50) can do up to 40,000 components per hour, each one with vision inspection: that's 10 a second! Whether you are building the fastest Rubik's-cube solver (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59qgzzSD1tk) or a license plate reader (https://www.digikey.com/short/45p5vfvr) getting crisp-clear full-frame images is essential to make sure you get the best image. The ARX383CS (https://www.digikey.com/short/45p5vfvr) is sold as a chip-scale-package, meant for pick and placing directly onto a PCB or FPC. It'll need various power supplies and clock signal, as well as configuration over I2C and of course a lens and lighting. Once set up, images can be captured and sent over DSI/MIPI single-lane, at VGA 640x480 up to 120 FPS or quarter-VGA 320x240 up to 245 FPS. The available datasheet doesn't have all the details, you'll need to contact onsemi to sign an NDA for the full specifications. onsemi has also developed a read-to-go plug-in camera module that you can quickly integrate called the PRISM1M-ARX383CSSM130110-GEVB (https://www.onsemi.com/design/evaluation-board/PRISM1M-ARX383CSSM130110-GEVB) which is not in stock right now at DigiKey yet (https://www.digikey.com/short/zfm5d7tj) but we're sure that if you need it you can try contacting DigiKey's sales reps and they'll be able to get you samples and quantity pricing. If you don't mind a bulkier eval board, the ARX383CSSM28SMKAH3-GEVB (https://www.digikey.com/short/78p2c3dq) is available immediately for purchase. If you've needed to add fast video or photography to your next product, the onsemi ARX383CS 1/8-inch 0.3 Mp Global Shutter CMOS Digital Image Sensor (https://www.digikey.com/short/45p5vfvr) is an excellent way to add a VGA global-shutter sensor with 125 FPS VGA-resolution output and I2C control. Best of all DigiKey has tons in stock for immediate shipment, book today and they'll send you as many as you want in the blink of an eye so you can start getting high speed video integrated by tomorrow afternoon. See the onseemi video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8O8NlyIas

In this insightful episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson sits down with Kirsch Mackey, founder of HaSofu, to explore the evolving landscape of PCB design education. Kirsch reveals how his educational platform bridges the critical gap between academic theory and industry requirements, sharing his unique journey from physics enthusiast to electronics education innovator.    Discover how HaSofu is revolutionizing hardware design education and learn about the potential and limitations of AI in PCB design workflows.  

Prickly Angler est de retour pour nous parler de l'édition 2025 du Fightcade Offline Festival, organisé par Mikado Game Center Europe. Cette édition marque un retour en terre navarraise pour cinq jours de dose, avec une vaste collection de shmups à disposition : la quasi-totalité des PCB de Cave, ainsi qu'une tripotée de jeux exA-Arcadia. … L'article Shmup'Em-All Gaiden n°14 – Navarre Arcade est apparu en premier sur Shmup'Em-All.

A huge rebuild may be needed at Hartford's high school due to PCB contamination, and we hear more from Vermont-based musicians who submitted entries to this year's NPR's Tiny Desk Concert contest. Plus, Rutland teachers reach an agreement with school board members to avert a strike, the $9 Billion state budget sent to Gov. Scott includes $100 Million in reserves to deal with potential loss of federal revenue from congressional cuts, all Vermont Rite Aid pharmaceutical stores will close as the chain goes through bankruptcy, and an annual 5K race in Montpelier being run today is expected to cause traffic delays.  

Statewide, Vermont has already invested $37.5 million into PCB testing and remediation, and just a little over $3 million is left. More than half of all schools that fall under the state's mandate haven't even been tested yet.

Henry talks with Taylor Willams with Setco Services and Motivation Speaker with her service, Cool To Be Kind, Tay. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We have a conversation on how to actually get out of your low spots, what to do and places around the Panhandle to take a break. Showing our love to Historic Downtown Panama City, Panama City Beach, Port St Joe and all our neighbors. Hopefully you feel inspired and ready to make this your year, one win at a time. Produced by Beach 95.1 from the Sweet Home PCB Studio inside Beachy Beach Real Estate.

On today's Technology Report, David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration's approach to bolstering the US printed circuit board industry; impact of tariffs and thoughtful policies on bolstering the entire PCB ecosystem; role of Congress; impact of science and technology funding cuts; and striking the right regulatory balance that protects the environment while allowing necessary facilities to be built more quickly.

In this conversation, Eli Hughes discusses his journey as a “full-stack hardware engineer” and his work with NXP as a technical content creator. He discusses how he's leveraged the NXP FRDM (Freedom) development platform and the importance of hands-on learning in engineering education. He emphasizes the accessibility of modern development tools and their impact on both students and professionals in the field. The conversation also covers various applications and use cases for FRDM and other open-source tools.  

Explore PCB East 2025 with Zach Peterson and Ethan Pierce as they break down this year's conference highlights, technical sessions, and emerging AI trends in PCB design. Discover why this industry event provides unparalleled networking opportunities with vendors, fabricators, and industry leaders that can transform your career in electronics design. PCB East offers something for everyone in the electronics industry - from design engineers to operations personnel. Learn about the latest AI tools on display, how fabricators are handling tariff challenges, and why attending specialized conferences can provide valuable face time with executives that larger shows simply can't match.

Barry Lowin is not only a local News Anchor with WJHG. Did you know that Barry also has over 20 years experience acting and doing stunts in Television and Film, including The Mandalorian and the Book of Boba Fett…plus The Big Bang Theory, The Bold and The Beautiful and performed as The Trickster in Cirque du Soleil's Kooza. Barry Lowin…the man behind the armor in The Mandalorian is with us for this episode of Sweet Home PCB…May the 4th be with y'all!

This week's EYE ON NPI is looking at itsy-bitsy-teensy-weensy little rechargeable batteries that can keep your micro-power electronics running for many years without needing any maintenance from your users: it's Panasonic's VL/ML Series Lithium Rechargeable Coin Batteries (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/p/panasonic/lithium-rechargeable-coin-batteries). These are small, solderable batteries much like the coin cell batteries you're used to replacing in watches, toys, and other gadgets..but this time they can be recharged in-circuit to make maintenance effortless. We've covered lots of batteries and battery holders on EYE ON NPI - from enormous lead acid batteries to tiny coin cells (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/batteries-non-rechargeable-primary/). These are an essential part of the engineer's repertoire as so many products need to work when not plugged into the wall. We use coin cells a lot in our design work: there's nothing as compact and they have great energy density. But they're typically 'primary cells' - not rechargeable. That might be fine if you're using them for something like a remote control (https://support.apple.com/en-us/101261) or a small toy. But they do eventually need to be replaced, which can be a user frustration. For that reason, many products that used to have primary cells like AA's or coin batteries have slowly transitioned to embedding lithium polymer pouches. You can get rechargeable lipoly batteries in 100 mAh or less! (https://www.digikey.com/short/7njnd057) However, there may be some cases where you still want something really really tiny, like say 9mm diameter and under 1mm thick - a size only achievable with a coin cell - but without dealing with removing and replacing a battery every few weeks or months. Especially if we're talking about something that is going to be plugged in once in a while, or where the coin cell is a fall-back. This comes up often with devices that have real time clocks (RTCs) - such as clocks, computers, laptops, tablets, watches, GPS units (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5440), etc. They might have a main battery or power system that can run a microcontroller/CPU and display plus peripherals, but you still want to keep time and maybe an alarm setting when the main power cuts off. Historically, folks have just used coin batteries - ideally replaceable ones - but sometimes not as in the case of the DS1287 (https://theretroweb.com/chip/documentation/ds1287-647b3602989d3299594321.pdf) which had the coin battery sealed inside! If you're designing a product today that needs an RTC battery, we'd say take a good look at the Panasonic's VL/ML Series Lithium Rechargeable Coin Batteries (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/p/panasonic/lithium-rechargeable-coin-batteries). No holder required: they come with tabs to solder directly onto a PCB in vertical or horizontal orientations. And they come in a variety of sizes from the 20mm / 45mAh to 12mm / 7mAh and even smaller. Note that as expected, you're going to get less capacity than a primary cell, so these are good when you think you'll get recharged every few days or weeks. Don't forget: you will absolutely need a proper lithium charger to recharge these batteries. We've got plenty of charger breakouts you can use, we particularly like the bq25185 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/6091/25805553) which you can easily configure for the 1C current charge rate to match your Panasonic Lithium Rechargeable Coin Batteries (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/p/panasonic/lithium-rechargeable-coin-batteries) They can all handle 1000+ cycles, we like the bq in particular because it has power-path which will help avoid unnecessary discharging/cycling. Ready for a tiny burst of power to keep your clocks a-tickin'? You can pick up a wide selection of Panasonic's VL/ML Series Lithium Rechargeable Coin Batteries (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/p/panasonic/lithium-rechargeable-coin-batteries) at DigiKey right now! They're in stock in a range of sizes and configurations for immediate shipment - don't forget that like all Lithium batteries you may need to ship ground, so order now and you'll get those bite-sized batteries shipped within the hour for immediate integration. See it on DigiKey https://www.digikey.com/short/wb83dfff

What happens when you fabricate the wrong version of a board because someone skipped the process? It's a nightmare scenario—and it's more common than you think. But there's a solution: PLM integration. In this episode of The Printed Circuit Podcast, host Steph Chavez is joined by Scott Claes, Senior Technical Marketing Engineer at Siemens, to explore how Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems can revolutionize PCB design workflows. With nearly two decades of experience integrating ECAD data with PLM systems, Scott offers practical insights into how PLM enhances design control, collaboration, and efficiency across global teams. The discussion covers the real-world problems PCB designers face when managing data, from version confusion to design reuse challenges, and how a properly implemented PLM system solves them. Whether you're navigating compliance needs like ITAR and HIPAA, or trying to bridge the gap between ECAD and MCAD, this episode provides a clear roadmap for leveraging PLM in your design ecosystem. This conversation is essential for PCB designers, electrical engineers, CAD admins, and product teams looking to streamline their design process and avoid costly mistakes. What You'll Learn in this Episode: What does a PLM system do? (1:35) How does PLM integration enhance rather than restrict design freedom? (4:55) How PLM enables easy reuse of previously released designs. (6:35) Avoiding Costly Errors: How PLM prevents versioning mix-ups and fabrication mistakes (8:15) How PLM supports ECAD/MCAD integration and complex designs like flex and rigid-flex (11:55) Learning Curve & Workflow Impact: What PCB designers can expect when adapting to PLM (13:30)  Behind the Scenes of Integration: How PLM connectors automate design data management and bill of materials comparisons (16:55) Library Management & Synchronization: What to push, what not to, and where EDM fits in (21:10) How PLM supports ITAR, HIPAA, and team-based permission management (24:40) Why learning PLM early can boost your career and prevent process bottlenecks (26:55) What's next for ECAD-to-PLM flows and supplier integration (28:10) Connect with Steph Chavez: LinkedIn Website Connect with Scott Claes LinkedIn Website

In this special 100th episode, Judy Warner welcomes Dr. Eric Bogatin to celebrate and share an exciting announcement: the launch of Transmission Lines 101, the first course in The EEcosystem Electronics Masterclass series. Thanks to sponsors Rohde & Schwarz and Polar Instruments, this foundational course is offered FREE to engineers worldwide. Tune in to learn more about the Masterclass vision, what the course offers, and what's ahead for The EEcosystem community.  

Sean Patterson, CTO of Summit Interconnect, joins Judy Warner to explore how AI is transforming PCB manufacturing and design engineering. They discuss industry challenges, workforce adaptation, and how AI can drive collaboration and innovation. Sean also introduces CrossGen.ai, his new online community designed to help engineers and tech professionals navigate the future of AI-driven work.  

20250428 PCB Peer Engagement Presents Christy of Scentohlicious Originally Broadcasted April 28, 2025, on ACB Media 6   We talked with Christy Thomas, who has a very accessible web site, about wax melts and related products. Christy has a large social media presence and is very popular in the blind and low vision community.   Sponsored by: PCB Peer Engagement Committee Subscribe to the PCB email list   Find out more at https://acb-community.pinecast.co

This week's EYE ON NPI is for those who need easy-to-maintain battery power for quick field maintenance - it's Bulgin's Battery Holders for Diverse Applications (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/b/bulgin/battery-holders-for-diverse-applications) a variety of battery enclosures and fixtures that will give your customers easy access to replace batteries no matter what size and configuration! If your product is going to be portable, or if you want battery back-up for timekeeping/configuration/sleep-modes, then you're going to need primary or secondary battery cells built into the design. Secondary cells (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/batteries-rechargeable-secondary/91) are fairly popular these days: those are rechargeable batteries like Li-Poly packs. These are lightweight and high energy-density, which is why you see them everywhere from EV cars (https://www.digikey.com/en/blog/safety-first-approach-to-ev-and-battery-storage) to your Bluetooth earbuds. But they are not very user-friendly to replace, and if damaged can cause fires. They're also more challenging to ship by air due to restrictions on declarations and packaging of bare and with-equipment lithium cells. (https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-special-care-regulated-items/hazardous-materials-guide/how-to-ship-batteries) and for some field-use devices that may be used for long periods without being near a power outlet, being able to carry extra cells, for quick replacement, is a boon. For those reasons, there's still lots of products that run on your standard-issue primary batteries (https://digikey.com/en/products/filter/batteries-non-rechargeable-primary/90) a.k.a. 1.5V AAA, AA, C, D and 9V batteries. Of course, these days lots of people also use rechargeable NiMH in the same package: they are lower voltage, only 1.3V instead of 1.5V nominal, and have about 30% less energy but can be recharged safely/externally very easily. You can buy them at any corner store anywhere in the world for a few dollars and they have low self-discharge rates so they can be stored for many years. If you decide to go with standard-size batteries, you'll also need a way to hold them securely inside an enclosure. We like the look of these Bulgin battery holders (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/b/bulgin/battery-holders-for-diverse-applications) particularly the ones that mount to an enclosure wall and allow replacement without requiring a battery door that is custom molded. There's even options for IP67 hand-removable/replaceable covers for excellent waterproof-ness even in harsh environments while not sacrificing user-friendliness. On the inside of the enclosure you have solder lugs for easy attachment to your PCB by solder or spade connects. For many of the battery holders, a simple round drilled or punched hole is all that is needed. For your next battery-powered designs, take a look at Bulgin battery holders (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/b/bulgin/battery-holders-for-diverse-applications) - DigiKey has dozens of options in stock for immediate shipment. Order today and you'll get any of the Bulgin varieties shipped immediately so you can power your prototype by tomorrow afternoon!

With tariffs rising and China becoming a trickier manufacturing partner, many American importers are looking to India. In this episode, we explore the manufacturing landscape in South India, especially when it comes to sourcing PCB assemblies. You'll gain first-hand insights from a recent trip and learn what makes India both promising and challenging.  In addition, we discuss U.S.-India Trade Relations in the context of the hot tariff war between the USA and China. Could India be a beneficiary and a good option for American businesses to pivot to?   Show Sections [00:00] — Intro: Why India Is on the Radar for U.S. Importers [01:10] — Trade Show Trends and Shifting Attention [03:52] — A Visit to Bangalore: Local Insights [05:27] — PCBA Landscape: Smaller, Manual, but Growing [09:27] — Government Clients Dominate, but Consumer Work Emerging [12:35] — Lead vs. Lead-Free Soldering: Exporters Take the Lead-Free Route [14:41] — Indian Customs Challenges: Real or Overblown? [16:32] — Overall Impressions of Bangalore/Southern India as a Manufacturing Base [18:04] — U.S.-India Trade Relations: Opportunity Rising [23:41] — The Tariff Game: Geopolitical Leverage [27:54] — Challenges India Must Overcome to Scale Up [35:36] — The Rise of the Indian Wider Ecosystem [37:59] — Wrapping up   Related content... Bangalore PCBA Suppliers (Ground Level Insights – April 2025) India Has a Golden Opportunity to Capture U.S. Business From China (WSJ) Vance and Modi meet in New Delhi to discuss trade deal and avoid US tariffs Read all of our blog posts about India   Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB

In this enlightening episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson sits down with Jordan Danko, founder of FC Design Services, to explore the challenges and strategies of growing an electronics design consultancy.  Jordan shares his journey from electrical engineer to business owner, revealing how he transitioned from corporate employment to entrepreneurship and the lessons learned while scaling his team. Discover valuable insights on managing client relationships, balancing design work with business development, and adapting to supply chain disruptions.

Today, we're diving deep into the world of electronics manufacturing from a unique vantage point—that of the press.  My guest today is someone who has spent decades at the forefront of reporting on the electronics manufacturing industry. Mike Buetow, editor-in-chief of Circuits Assembly magazine, has covered everything from the latest technological advancements to the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today. If there's a major trend shaping the industry, you can bet Mike has written about it, analyzed it, and spoken with the experts behind it. Mike is also the host of his own podcast, PCB chat, available at pcbchat.com. I am so proud to say Mike also syndicates this show at pcbchat.com.In this episode, we'll explore the evolving landscape of electronics manufacturing, from supply chain disruptions and AI-driven automation to the future of ultra-high-density interconnects and the real impact of reshoring efforts. We'll also get an inside look at what it takes to cover this ever-changing industry—how stories are chosen, what topics are making waves, and what challenges lie ahead.  Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)https://pcea.netCircuits Assembly Magazine:https://circuitsassembly.com/ca/

Say goodbye to messy curly cords and more potential failure points.Steering wheel-mounted controls make it easier to adjust key functions on the fly, but getting those signals from the wheel to the car is not as simple as it sounds. Running multiple wires through a rotating steering column is unreliable, time-consuming, and they can be prone to failure due to the nature of their use. Zestek has developed a CAN-based steering wheel PCB solution (CAN hub) that simplifies installation, reduces wiring complexity, and integrates seamlessly with MoTeC ECUs, dashes, and PDMs.Use ‘PODCAST75' for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inWith only four wires required for full functionality (CAN high, CAN low, power, and ground), this system eliminates the need for bulky wiring looms. The pogo pin system built into the quick-release hub provides a clean and hassle-free connection, removing the need for traditional curly cords. A pre-configured DBC file is available for MoTeC users (and we're sure more in the future), while others can configure the CAN signals using a spreadsheet for quick setup.Each button and switch is fully customizable, including momentary and latching functions, as well as full-spectrum RGB LED feedback. Paddles can be used for more than just shifting, allowing functions like anti-lag, launch control, and nitrous activation. It is also sim racing compatible, making it easy to use the same wheel for both real and virtual driving while you wait out the winter weather.

Dive into the cutting-edge world of high-current power distribution networks with Ben Dannan, founder of Signal Edge Solutions and DesignCon's Engineer of the Year. Ben shares invaluable insights on designing, modeling, and validating 2,000 amp power supplies for data center applications, exploring the challenges of current density requirements exceeding 100 amps per square centimeter, and the industry debate between vertical versus horizontal power delivery approaches.   Learn how package design, embedded capacitance solutions, and accurate modeling are revolutionizing power integrity for today's demanding AI processors and data center ASICs. Ben also reveals his upcoming measurement-based model library that promises to transform large-signal simulation capabilities for PDN design.  

In this insightful OnTrack Podcast episode, Zach Peterson sits down with Kristen Aguiar, Training Developer at Altium, to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in PCB design: component libraries. Discover practical approaches to library management, learn about common pitfalls in footprint creation, and gain valuable insights on standardization from Kristen's extensive industry experience.   From the complexities of managing library data to implementing effective processes and handling the "people problem," this conversation offers invaluable guidance for designers and engineers struggling with CAD libraries. Kristen also shares her thoughts on third-party CAD sources and her upcoming presentations at PCB East.  

Discover how to design innovative 3D structural electronics using Altium Designer with product manager Jack Henriques. Learn about printed electronics, 3D-MIDs, functional surfaces, and how to create circuits on three-dimensional substrates beyond traditional flat PCBs.   Explore the toolset that lets you place components on curved surfaces, route traces along contours while maintaining consistent width, and develop complex multi-layer printed electronics. This episode of the OnTrack podcast demonstrates how Altium Designer enables revolutionary form factors for next-generation electronic devices.  

Inconsistent PCB libraries can lead to costly manufacturing errors and project delays. In this episode of the Altium OnTrack podcast, our guest Elizabeth Bustamante shares her expertise on PCB library standardization challenges and practical solutions for design teams.   Join host Zach Peterson as he discusses with Elizabeth the importance of understanding library standards, verification processes, and how to properly evaluate third-party library sources. Learn valuable insights for maintaining consistency across your PCB design libraries.  

Discover the complex landscape of PCB manufacturing in this insightful interview from the OnTrack Podcast with Greg Papandrew, Managing Director of DirectPCB. Learn how recent tariff changes are impacting the industry, why balancing cost and quality remains critical, and what options exist beyond China for PCB sourcing.    Greg shares valuable strategies for navigating global supply chains and offers practical advice for designers looking to optimize their PCB designs for better manufacturing outcomes.   This episode of the Altium OnTrack podcast explores the evolving PCB manufacturing ecosystem, examining how geopolitical factors are reshaping where and how circuit boards are produced.   

In the wake of Panama City Beach declaring they no longer want to be a Spring Break destination for teens, Boortz tells a tale of a friend's daughter who had a major life event on a trip to PCB.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of Panama City Beach declaring they no longer want to be a Spring Break destination for teens, Boortz tells a tale of a friend's daughter who had a major life event on a trip to PCB.Atlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) is revolutionizing electronics education through innovative training programs and university partnerships. In this episode of the OnTrack Podcast, Host Zach Peterson interviews PCEA President Mike Buetow shares insights on their mission to bridge the skills gap in PCB design, their partnership with Wayne State University, and the launch of the new PCB Detroit show.    Learn about PCEA's certified training curriculum, their vision for AI in PCB design, and how they're preparing the next generation of designers. This enlightening conversation reveals how PCEA is making PCB design knowledge more accessible through chapter-based local communities, professional certifications, and university collaborations. Mike also discusses the challenges of integrating AI into the design process and shares his perspective on the future of PCB design tools and education.  

IPC APEX 2025 is bringing unprecedented opportunities for electronics industry professionals to shape the future of manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, IPC President & CEO Dr. John Mitchell reveals how this event combines standards development, technical innovation, and powerful networking opportunities under one roof. Learn why both seasoned professionals and emerging engineers should attend this transformative industry gathering.   From evolving workforce development initiatives to cutting-edge technical sessions on AI, advanced packaging, and EV power electronics, discover how IPC APEX 2025 is addressing the industry's most pressing challenges. Dr. Mitchell shares insights on new features like the Learning Lounge and explains how attendees can maximize their experience across standards meetings, professional development courses, and the exhibition floor.  

In this fast-paced episode, we explore how engineering teams can keep up with the breakneck speed of innovation driven by an explosion of new technologies that leverage digital twins, and virtual prototyping. Roberto Piacentini Filho of Keysight shares insights on the evolving role of design engineers in an era where innovation is faster—and cheaper than ever before. If you're navigating workflow choices, tool overload, or seeking clarity on data integration—from electrical to EMI—this episode offers actionable guidance to help you thrive in the next 3–5 years of rapid tech evolution.  

Have you ever asked yourself, what happens during FPGA implementation? In this episode I try to give an answer. Content of this Episode: * Placement * Routing * After routing process * Similarity to a PCB layout And for now come into our Newsletter and also follow us on LinkedIn. The post WFP025 – FPGA Implementation appeared first on World of FPGA by David Kirchner.

Wally Rhines, spokesperson for the ESD Alliance, which is part of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International, joins Mike Buetow to share the latest electronic design automation data. Rhines details highlights from the fourth quarter 2024, which was another record-setting period for PCB design tool sales as well as the other major EDA segments. And he notes that while historically EDA does well in the first few quarters of industry downturns, there are concerns for what the looming tariff battles will bring down the road.

A fascinating glimpse into the rapidly shifting landscape of global electronics manufacturing reveals dramatic contrasts between regional approaches and priorities. From India's emergence as the "poster child" for end-to-end electronics ecosystems to Europe's struggles with cohesive industrial policies, this conversation with IPC's Sanjay Huprikar, filmed on location at APEX 2025, illuminates the complex challenges and opportunities facing our industry.India stands at the precipice of transformational growth, with major semiconductor investments, a flourishing EMS sector, and revitalized PCB fabrication capabilities potentially creating a market of a billion consumers. Meanwhile, European electronics companies face a mixed landscape – dwindling PCB manufacturers but relatively robust EMS providers, increased defense spending, but a critical missing element: "a cohesive policy around how electronics manufacturing fits in the industrial base."The conversation highlights IPC's impact and influence across the world and Europe in particular, growing from a team of two to ten professionals driving unprecedented engagement with executives, engineers, and workforce development initiatives. European leaders are increasingly recognized within IPC, earning President's Awards and Board positions while strengthening the organization's truly global perspective. The UK's strong aerospace and defense focus has made it second only to the US in IPC certifications, demonstrating the critical importance of standards and training in high-reliability applications.Looking forward, IPC's ambitious agenda includes aerospace-focused events with Airbus and the European Space Agency, EMS Leadership Summits in the UK and Paris, and continued advocacy for comprehensive industrial policies that integrate electronics manufacturing strategies with workforce development, regulatory frameworks, and economic initiatives. These efforts address the universal concerns we all share – from responsible AI implementation to talent development and navigating political uncertainty. As Sanjay  notes, IPC is fundamentally about "interconnection" – bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve our industry's most pressing challenges.EMS@C-Level Live at APEX is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com)EMS@C-Level is sponsored by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Creative Electron (https://creativeelectron.com) You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.

Pakistan has been clean-swept in the ODI series against New Zealand, and BP is here to share its misery. Timestamps:0:00 - The misery of this New Zealand tour has finally ended (or has it?)10:20 - Pakistan's consistent struggles against New Zealand continue 15:25 - Are Pakistan players not coachable, and Babar Azam's role21:23 - Pakistan's death bowling issues and PCB's lack of development of players36:06 - Pakistan's Champions Trophy blunders and toxic PCB 42:12 - Rizwan's toxic positivity and Pakistan's cricket economy 45:22 - Positives from this series and the need for all-rounders52:32 - Our thoughts on the Khusdhil Shah incident

Signal-gate fallout continues..."Three Things You Need to Know"...FBI opening up about Congressional Baseball Shooting - it's about time - ...concerns about a PCB attraction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cofactr CEO, Matthew Haber, unpacks the growing challenges engineers face in today's volatile electronics supply chain. From rising tariffs and unpredictable trade policies to the critical need for tracking Country of Origin (COO), engineers are now key players in managing risk and cost. We explore how “tariff stacking” can drive up component costs overnight—and how Cofactr's platform helps hardware teams make faster, smarter sourcing decisions. If you're designing electronics and want to avoid BOM disruptions, compliance issues, and costly surprises, this is a must-listen!   Episode Links: Navigating the New Global Trade Landscape Learn More about Cofactr   Sponsor Links:

The 16:9 PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SCREENFEED – DIGITAL SIGNAGE CONTENT The UK-based research and advisory firm Futuresource Consulting sends a big team every year to the ISE trade show in Barcelona, and then a few weeks later releases a big report that serves as a technical recap for the pro AV community - both for people who could not attend, and for people like me who did, but didn't have anywhere near enough time to see everything. The 2025 report is out now and the good news is that it is a free download - a departure for a company that produces detailed reports that are typically paywalled and tend to cost at least four figures. In this podcast, I chat with Ted Romanowitz, a principal consultant focused mainly on LED, and Morris (or Mozz) Garrard, who heads the pro displays file and looks more at LCD and OLED. We get into a bunch of things in a too-short 30 minute interview. You'll hear about mass-transferred Chip On Board tech. Where Chip On Glass, also known as MicroLED, is at. And we also get into LCD, OLED, e-paper and projection. Have a listen. Subscribe from wherever you pick up new podcasts. TRANSCRIPT Ted and Morris, thank you for joining me. You guys are from Futuresource Consulting.  Every big trade show, like an ISE or an Infocomm and some other ones as well, but those are the ones I'm most familiar with, Futuresource sends a whole bunch of people to these shows. I'm curious how many people at Futuresource are on the pro display file, and why do you go to trade shows like ISE?  Morris Garrard: Dave, I'm glad to jump in. Thank you again for your time today, and looking forward to tossing with you. Overall, we took nearly 20 analysts and business development people to ISE which shows Futuresource's commitment to the trade show and our clients, specifically the Pro AV, we took four analysts, and I'm on the consulting and advisory side, so we had a really good representation across all the technologies: projection, flat panel, interactive, and LED.  I assume the reason that you go is it's a very efficient way to see a whole bunch of new stuff and touch base with a whole bunch of companies under one roof in a matter of days. Morris Garrard: Oh, absolutely. For me, it's just always, you walk in and you hit that Hall 3 where a lot of the display companies are, and it's just. Like that first impression you go, oh my gosh, here we are. How am I gonna do all this?  It's always nice. I always start at the Lang booth because they always do a nice job of having that big wow something right there at the major intersection. Yeah, they've done well with that. One thing about Futuresource is that the great majority of the material you put out is understandably paywalled. That's your business, you're producing subject matter expertise reports and selling them. So I'm always a bit curious about a complete 180 with these post-show reports. They're very detailed, there are many pages, and it's almost boy, that's more than you needed to do. Morris Garrard: Yes, I think it's, this year was something between 40 and 50 pages to cover the many, different areas of our practices, but, yeah, we think it adds value to our clients to see the latest and greatest, what's happening and not just a reporting of this product announcement or that product announcement, but it provides the context of what's really happening the undercurrents and the, big stories, the technology transitions, if you will, that are happening that are driving shifts in the industry. That kind of helps us open doors with clients to have deeper Engagements with them based on our unique insights.  Ted Romanowitz: I think just to add to that as well is we don't produce these show reports solely for the benefit of our clients. We also work with an extensive research network that benefits from these show reports, as well as other industry bodies that we work with, like trade associations, for example, and our channel partners as well.  It's a way, obviously, that you're getting driving awareness of the sort of work that you guys do and what is possible behind the paywall.  Ted Romanowitz: Exactly that. Yeah. It's a brilliant opportunity to raise our profile and also to raise the profile of the analysts working within these product sectors as well. So we're already four minutes in, and I've got about half an hour to chat with you guys. So we should dive straight into some of what you saw and came away with, and I would say that the biggest thing is probably LED in the context of pro display, anyway. So let's skip past audio and some of those other areas. You talked a lot in the report about mass transfer chips on board. Can you, first of all, describe what that is? Because we're in an industry that's overwhelmed by acronyms and why they're important, and what's the distinction? Why are you saying mass transferred when you're processing COB with mass transferred? Ted Romanowitz: Yes, and not only are there a lot of acronyms, Dave, but the problem is that terms are being misused, and I've heard you talk about that a little bit. It's a really strategic inflection point that's happening right now, literally right in front of our very eyes at ISE, where you're shifting from packaged LED technologies that have driven the industry for 20 years where the LED: red, blue, green are packaged and then picked and placed onto a PCB. That's shifting to package list technologies where the individual chiplets are red, blue, and green and are being mass transferred. So instead of one pixel at a time, they're doing thousands, and when you think about it in context, a 4k display is over 8.2 million pixels. So if you can transfer thousands at a once instead of one by one, you save a lot of time, and so this package list technology is like a chip on board where the backplane is a PCB and it's a passive driver and then chip on glass or what we call micro LED. Truly micro LED, that is, sub-100 micrometers mass transferred onto a TFT black backplane with an active driver. So at ISE, you saw this crazy tidal wave, I'm going to go with that term, this crazy tidal wave of companies that are announcing COB, and the biggest thing is that they're coming to the fruition of manufacturing processes so that they can mass transfer instead of pick and place. So the cost is going to be a lot less to make them, first of all, because you don't have to package first, then pick and place, and then secondly, because you can mass transfer.  So we expect, and this is going to, within maybe the next 12 months following, this could drive up to a 50 percent decrease in the ASPs, average sales price of 1.5 millimeters and below. It's just truly amazing. We've been hearing about this for several years, Futuresource has been writing about it, and now it's happening right before our eyes.  With COB, there are other inherent advantages as well, right? The first one would be that as they're manufactured, the finished modules have some sort of protective coating on them. That's just fundamental to how they do them, right? Versus SMD, it's the older school packaged LED displays where they're unprotected unless they've got this glue on board coating, and they're more prone to damage.  Ted Romanowitz: Yes, exactly, and those processes have been perfected over the last two to three years. So not only can you do a nice job of encapsulating it, but they can repair the LEDs as well, even after encapsulation.  So that's a major thing that's happening, and one of the things that I saw at the show was i5LED actually had a double difficult display that they did in the sense that it's a corner, an inside corner, which is difficult to do with LEDs to get, so there's not any seams or anything. But then the second thing they did is they put a touch overlay on an encapsulated COB display so you could touch. It had multi-touch on it. So again, really interesting to see the future of what's happening.  Yeah, because touch and LED were different worlds for the longest time, and it's only been recently where you start to see IR frames around displays that would make them interactive, and you wouldn't want to touch a conventional SMB display because it was going to damage it.  Ted Romanowitz: Exactly, especially when you get to 1.2 millimeters and below. The joke has always been that you needed to put a little tray underneath the LED wall that you were touching to capture all of the LED pixels that were falling off. But now, that's improved with all these new manufacturing techniques.  Are there benefits as well to COB in terms of energy consumption or brightness, things like that? Ted Romanowitz: Yeah, and the answer is yes. It's really incredible to see. Early in the LED market, if you've got 600 nits that was a lot, now you're seeing indoor displays at a 1000 or 1500 nits, which allows you to put them in a high ambient light situation, room that has Florida ceiling windows, like an office or an atrium, or even in a store window or of course outdoors in a kind of a kiosk or a standalone LED display. So this package is like technology; the chips are getting so small that you're filling in the space between the chips with an ultra black covering. That increases the contrast ratio and makes HDR content sing.  Yeah, it's like the old days of plasma displays and how their big benefit was deep blacks.  Ted Romanowitz: Exactly.  Yeah, so one of the things I came away with from ISE, and I had the impression in earlier shows as well, but really amplified this year with all the talk around micro LED and how it's coming, and that's like the ultimate super premium display.  I would look at the current product line of manufacturers who are doing COB and think, okay, that's more than good enough. I don't know that the world needs to get to micro LED video walls for us to finally have good-looking LED video walls. We're already there.  Ted Romanowitz: That's true, but really, it comes down to a cost basis, and this is where we've modeled. Working with some of the biggest OEMs and ODMs in the world, we've modeled the volume that they're going to be able to produce over the next several years, and the quality that they'll be able to deliver in mass quantities, and basically, the outcome is that by the early 2030s, let's say a 77-inch or 80-inch micro LED display chip on glass will be $4,000 or less and so that brings it into mass adoption and really makes it useful for, not only does it enable the close up viewing that chip on glass does, or chip on board, but it enables a price point where you're going to see it broadly deployed in meeting rooms and corporate, you'll see it in classrooms and education, all across stadiums, venues, hospitality, every different market vertical is going to be impacted by a price point of LED that's comparable to LCD today within the next several years.  Why wouldn't that happen just with COB?  Ted Romanowitz: It's the cost basis of being able to do things on a PCB is more expensive versus a TFT backplane. Over the long run, it has to shift towards a TFT backplane, a glass backplane.  The barrier to that happening right now is unlike COB, where mass transfer appears to have been worked out. It's still a work in progress on the chip on the glass or micro LED side, right? Ted Romanowitz: It is. There are a few other roadblocks that have to be overcome for chip on glass to be in volume with high quality, high yields, and when that happens, then you'll start seeing the volume ramp and the price really starts to drop.  So there will be a day, early in the next decade, when chip-on-glass micro LED displays have the same dimensions, same resolution, everything else would be at price parity with LCD. Ted Romanowitz: Yes, with LCD today. What Moss has been looking at with the rest of the team is what's gonna happen with flat panel LCD, interactive LCD, and projection. What are the unique instances where those need to be implemented, best-fit applications and what they're doing to drive price down and add value, differentiate to keep extending those product life cycles. Moss, is there much runway still for LCD? I'm also very curious about OLED, which keeps getting better technically but is still pretty narrowly defined, particularly on the pro-AV side.  Morris Garrard: Yeah. I think there are a few nuances here that we need to consider when we're talking about the LCD product lifecycle.  How we looked at this in our recent strategic market outlook was to split the market into three parts. So first, looking at the video will market, then looking at the digital signage market, and then looking at what we define as the presentation market, so in front of classroom, front of boardroom devices. Video wall, I think it's no real surprise that it is certainly being cannibalized by LED the fastest. We're already seeing that kind of impact happening at, I think, back in 2020; even LED overtook LCD as the main contributor to market value in the video wall market. If we then look at digital signage, which obviously would include screens that are sub 100 inch, which typically would have the price per resolution advantage over LED. We're already seeing LED making inroads to that market as well, so it's actually in 2025 that we're expecting LED to overtake LCD as the main contributor to the market value. Then, looking at the presentation market, which is very much dominated by the likes of interactive flat panel display, but then also obviously nontouching in many boardrooms as well. Obviously, there is still that cost consciousness when it comes to presentation displays. However, in the more narrow pixel pitch segments, as Ted mentioned, that price attrition that we're expecting over the next few years, it's going to rapidly increase the adoption of LEDs within the boardroom, especially the boardroom, and perhaps less so in K12, which obviously makes up the bulk of the education segment. But we're expecting by 2028 that LED will overtake LCDs and market value share by that point. That's not to say necessarily that the LCD market is going away in volume terms. I think the key point is in terms of value. Prices are continuing to erode to really race to the bottom on LCD. And then obviously, yeah, with volume starting to flatten out, LED is making inroads quite rapidly.  What about OLED? Morris Garrard: OLED's an interesting one. I think the key stumbling block for OLED in the professional displays market has been the price, as opposed to LCD. We're looking at around about 1.5 to 2X differential, which within the cost conscious mindset, especially in signage, but also in presentation displays as well. It has presented an obstacle to adoption. So OLED, we're looking at around 1% of volumes across the global market in terms of volume, and really that's stayed quite stable over the last few years, hasn't ramped as perhaps was expected a few years ago,  One thing that was intriguing to me was reading some of the stuff coming out of CES and then going to ISE, and I went to the TCL booth, I believe and they had a 120 or 125-inch something, giant TV, and I was thinking, okay, that I know what they're doing with these things. There's local dimming and everything else, and the visuals coming out of these displays are stunning. They look borderline OLED quality and at that form factor, as costs come down on manufacturing those things, they are starting to approach, very close in size to all in LED displays that a lot of manufacturers have in their product lines to simplify things for meeting spaces, conference rooms and so on. Do you see these LCDs getting some traction, supplanting the all-in-one LEDs?  Morris Garrard: Do you know what, Dave? That's a really interesting point because we had a number of conversations at ISE about the opportunity for larger than 100-inch LCDs. I think my answer to those individuals was that there may be an opportunity for now. I think the price attrition that we're seeing on all-in-one LEDs will bring those displays into, maybe not into price parity, then at least, within the same kind of ballpark.  But I think the other key issue with, let's take 120 inch LCD, for example, is the logistics of it. If you're in a boardroom and you're on the fifth floor, and you've got to fit a 120-inch LCD into a lift, then where we're based in Europe, that's absolutely not going to happen. Maybe in North America where you guys have your freight elevators and whatnot, but I think in terms of being able to install the display itself. You're not carrying that on the stairs.  Morris Garrard: Exactly, and let's say someone does crack it on the floor as they're installing it, then you've got to replace the whole thing. Whereas with an LED wall, it's just one module that needs to be replaced. I think there are those challenges as well that will limit the opportunity in that segment.  Are you seeing much innovation when it comes to LCD and OLEDs?  Morris Garrard: I would say in terms of the commercial LCD market, over the last few years, the key points of innovation have been, as you say, OLED initially, 8K resolution, 21:9, and then high brightness and kind of outdoor displays lumped into one. Those have really been the key points of development.  In terms of market adoption, though, they haven't really taken off. I would say high brightness and outdoors are probably the best examples, accounting for around 2 to 4% of market volumes, whereas the rest is still lingering around 1 to 2%. There was a lot of buzz and quite a bit of activity at ISE around electronic ink products, e-paper products, particularly on the color side. They've gotten bigger. There were 75-inch versions there. I had seen them earlier when I was over in Taiwan, and I thought, okay, this is interesting, but it's really early days, and this is a proof of concept more than anything else because yeah, they didn't look bad, but they didn't look good.  Morris Garrard: Yeah, I think e-paper is an interesting one and I think it presents a fantastic opportunity to the pro displays industry as a whole I think there has been a bit of maybe industry confusion around the purpose and the intended use case for e-paper and I think the point that really needs clarifying is that e-paper is not here to replace lcd I think in many ways it's there to complement LCD. Yes, it's there to replace print.  Morris Garrard: It's there to replace print, exactly, and one of the key conversations around that exact point is, would using the 16:9 aspect ratio be the most appropriate? Obviously, for signage customers that are used to digital signage, then yes, but for those end users that are replacing print signage would actually like the A Series, for example, be a more appropriate sizing range to use. I think that this market segment is still figuring some of those things out. But yeah, definitely a lot more, A lot more on on show at ISE this year, which was fantastic to see, and even new brands as well, not only kind of new models from those brands that were already active in the space. As I say, it's the early adopter phase at the moment, but I think certainly a lot of industry potential.  It was interesting, though, because, with all the buzz around it, I don't know that many people because they don't have a reason to be paying that close attention to it. They don't understand that all of these color e-paper displays are coming from one manufacturer, and whether it's Samsung Sharp or Agile Display Solutions, they're remarketing and tweaking E Ink's product. Is there any other manufacturer out there that you've run into that's actually coming up with something that is also color e-paper? I'm aware of some ESL manufacturers who are not using E Ink, but that's monochrome stuff.  Morris Garrard: Yeah, I would say really the pioneer is obviously E Ink. I have seen some Chinese facsimiles, but I would say, generally, the major brands that we work with are working with E INk.  Tearing through stuff here out of necessity, but I wanted to ask about projection.  Morris Garrard: With projection, I think, there is a tendency within the industry to focus on all of the innovation that's happening in LED especially, and thinking that projection is going away silently, but we're still expecting the projection is going to be a very robust component of market value by the end of the decade. We're still looking at a multi-billion-dollar industry by 2029 or 2030.  I would say the conversation within projection has shifted; it's a very mature product segment, of course. We're not really seeing the kind of product revolutions anymore in terms of feature sets or whatnot, the conversation has now shifted more towards the applications for projection. So where can projection be used where other display technologies may not be appropriate? One of the key applications, of course, that's grabbing a lot of headlines is projection mapping, for example, being able to scale an image at a massive scale onto things like historic buildings, for example. You're not going to be doing that with led in, historic cities in Europe, for example, it's just not going to happen. But finding other applications as well, for projection where the other technologies just wouldn't be able to be deployed basically.  When I go to a giant show, like an ISE, I will run into folks like you two and lots of other industry people who've been around for a long time, and we'll always have the conversation of: so,  what did you see that? I need to go see that as well, and I have my own thoughts around that, but I'm curious if there are technologies or particular manufacturers who you came across and thought, “Oh, that's interesting”. Ted Romanowitz: I'll jump in and say, both the chips on board, the wall at Samsung and the LG magnet at their booth looked fantastic, and then you saw chip on glass actually demonstrated in a large format, 136 inch at LG, as a kind of a TV kind of format. Samsung had the transparent micro LED, which I think shows they're starting to evolve their thinking. It's such a cool technology, but I think everyone's struggling with what the killer application for transparent micro LED is just because companies have been struggling with the idea of a transparent OLED. Where does it really fit in? Those are some of the killer things that I saw.  The waterfall at Lang booth. I thought it was incredibly cool, as was the kinetic LED display facing the LG booth. Not practical, but it's cool.  Yeah, and that one, I was impressed by a lot more than previous kinetic LED walls that I've seen because this was more like a game show spinning tile thing where you didn't have all this, very tight synchronizing of modules to make it look good, and I saw another kinetic LED wall I was talking to an old industry friend who said, yeah, this thing's cool, but it's breaking down every half an hour because his stand was right next to it. So it's handled with care.  Ted Romanowitz: Yeah, I thought the other cool part of that kinetic display at LG was the fact that they drew in a social media aspect where you could, upload your picture and they do a little AI magic and all of a sudden you can see Dave Haynes right up there in the middle of the LG kinetic wall. Yes, you could, but I tried that, and it turned me into a guy going through a gender transition, which I'm not quite sure how that happened.  Ted Romanowitz: We love everybody. So that's good. We love you for just who you are, Dave. That's all I'm gonna say about that. It's a side of me I hadn't thought about, but some people said you look good like that. I don't know. Okay, sorry, but it ain't happening.  Moz, how about you?  Morris Garrard: Yeah, we've already touched on it. Compared with the conversations I was having around e-paper at the end of last year, I was amazed to see larger than 32-inch form factors, let alone 75 inches. I think it was at the Dynascan booth. I was just impressed purely with the progress that technology is making in such a short space of time. So yeah, that, for me, was the takeaway.  All right. This has been great. We could have easily spoken for three hours, but we had limited time somehow or other. I appreciate you guys jumping on the phone with me.  Ted Romanowitz: Thanks so much. It's a pleasure, and we're headed over to Taiwan and Korea, so maybe we can talk again and give you some feedback on what we saw at Touch Taiwan with some of the big OEMs and ODMs in Asia.  You gonna have some Soju? Ted Romanowitz: I will definitely have that.  Alright, thanks, guys.  Morris Garrard: Thanks so much, Dave.

For this week's EYE ON NPI, we'll Hazard a guess that you'll be excited to see the Raspberry Pi RP2350 chip available for purchase at Digi-Key for integration into your next design. We've been working with this chip for a few months and it's quickly becoming our favorite Arm Cortex chip, with fun peripherals and a well-supported toolchain. It also is one of the first mass-produced RISC-V chips: one that you can buy and start using for trying out RISC-V development without the 'risc' of worrying you may have picked the wrong core. Available in two chip sizes and with a boost in performance and peripherals, the RP2350 (https://www.digikey.com/short/mzpjhptm) represents a big upgrade to the RP2040 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/raspberry-pi/SC0914-13/14306010) that you've seen take over the microcontroller world over the last 4 years. Raspberry Pi is famous for their single board computers (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/single-board-computers-sbcs/933) so much so that they created a full market for sub-$100 all-in-one PCs. The big disruption we feel they brought to the market was the creation of a hackable and open-source ecosystem with good main-line OS and driver support. With well-written documentation and up-to-date Linux software, purchasing a Pi meant you got to join in with a community that was having fun, not struggling with compiling out-of-tree kernel modules and closed-source firmware. So in 2021 when they announced the RP2040, folks were interested: could a SBC maker design low power silicon? Turns out, yes! The RP2040 was a fun dual-core 133 MHz Cortex-M0+ processor, with 264K of SRAM, with a satisfying collection of peripherals: USB, ADC, UART/SPI/I2C, PWM, DMA and timers plus the nifty PIO state machine (https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/what-is-pio/). The killer feature, though, was the price: at $1 a chip, and tons of availability with an on-going chip shortage, the RP2040 won our hearts and soldering stations! Three years later, Raspberry Pi is back with a sequel: The RP2350A (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/microcontrollers/685?s=N4IgTCBcDaIE4AcwGYCsAGAgiAugXyA) and RP2350B (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/microcontrollers/685?s=N4IgTCBcDaIE4AcwGYCsAGAQiAugXyA) two variants of an upgrade chip that keeps what was great about the '2040 but with some boosts. First up, the core was upgraded from dual Cortex-M0's to the M33: this means you get an FPU and better low-power performance, plus TrustZone security. The core is spec'd for 150MHz but we've overclocked it to 264MHz without too much complaint. You also have the option to get dual RISC-V cores (https://riscv.org/) instead. SRAM was also bumped: from 264K to 520KB. This is great for running interpreted languages like MicroPython (https://micropython.org/) or CircuitPython (https://circuitpython.org/). Like the original, the RP2350 does not have any built in FLASH memory. Instead, you will need to wire it to a QSPI flash memory chip (https://www.digikey.com/short/80t4zt5t). This way you can pick from 1 MBytes to 16 MBytes whatever your code size needs. This new chip adds the ability to wire in PSRAM (https://www.digikey.com/short/d8033bfw) to the same QSPI bus plus an extra chip select. This is not going to be nearly as fast as on-chip SRAM, but it's great when you want large working memory that the chip will manage for you: by configuring it in the CMakefile, you 'magically' get a huge area you can malloc. Another improvement is in the number of PIO blocks: the original had 2, the RP2350 has 3. The two biggest new features we found are the new HSTX peripheral and the 80-QFN RP2350B (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/microcontrollers/685?s=N4IgTCBcDaIE4AcwGYCsAGAQiAugXyA) variant. HSTX stands for High Speed Transmission and its a high-speed peripheral that can drive 8 output lines - note that it's output only! There's a few possible use cases, but the core reasoning is that this lets you control a DVI display directly from the chip using just the DMA and internal memory without requiring overclocking, PIO, or an extra core. Note that the built in SRAM limits the size of the display if you want to have a video buffer: you can do 320x240 @16bpp or 640x480 @8bpp but, still! Second, if you found the original QFN-60 a bit constraining in terms of GPIO, the QFN-80 'B' version has 20 extra GPIO available for just 10 cents more. If you've been doing grabby-hands in hopes of getting a reel of RP2350 chips into your next design: today is your lucky day! Digi-Key has these chips in stock RIGHT NOW for immediate shipment. You can get a reel of either A or B type chips, with cut tape individual components coming shortly. Both types are great, but recently we've been having a lot of fun with the roomy B type (https://www.digikey.com/short/mzpjhptm), with the extra GPIO. Order today and you can start integrating the trendiest new silicon into your new PCB assembly by tomorrow afternoon.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, but what does it mean for PCB design? Will AI replace engineers, or will it be the ultimate tool for enhancing productivity and innovation? In this episode of The Printed Circuit Podcast, host Steph Chavez sits down with André Alcalde, co-founder of CELUS, to explore the role of AI in PCB design and the broader electronics engineering landscape. As someone with a deep background in hardware design, André shares his unique perspective on how AI can optimize workflows, reduce design iteration time, and future-proof engineering careers. The conversation delves into AI's ability to automate aspects of PCB design, the risks and rewards of adopting AI-driven solutions, and how engineers can best adapt to the rapid evolution of technology. With data security and intellectual property protection concerns, how can companies safely implement AI while keeping their designs secure?  This episode is a must-listen for PCB designers, electronics engineers, and technology leaders looking to understand how AI is reshaping the design process. Whether you're a seasoned professional adapting to new tools or an industry newcomer eager to stay ahead of the curve, this conversation offers valuable insights into the future of AI-driven automation in PCB design. What You'll Learn in this Episode: AI in PCB Design: Fad or Here to Stay? (1:55) Automation vs. Manual Workflows: To what extent can AI take over PCB design, and what tasks will remain in human hands? (2:50) How companies can ensure data privacy and protect their intellectual property when using AI tools (7:10) The Changing Skillset for Engineers: How AI is shifting the role of PCB designers from execution to problem-solving and validation (12:10) Job Market Impact: Will AI reduce or increase opportunities in the PCB design field? (15:50) The Reluctance to Adopt AI: Why some companies are still hesitant and how expectations influence adoption (17:50) Speeding Up Time to Market: How AI-driven automation can significantly improve design iteration cycles (20:50) The Risks vs. Rewards of AI in PCB Design: Balancing automation, creativity, and human oversight (23:40) Closing thoughts on AI and innovation in PCB design: (25:50) Connect with Steph Chavez: LinkedIn Website Connect with André Alcalde: LinkedIn Website

For our next design of the Fruit Jam board, we want to design a top plate that will let the header strip and switch poke out. This means we also have to choose buttons that will be able to poke out, so that they can be pressed when the plate is in place. Measuring the header height, it's 8.5mm tall, so we want 6mm x 6mm SMT tactile switches with more than 8.5mm actuator height from PCB (but no more than 11mm). Let's see what is available at Digi-Key! See the chosen part https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/same-sky-formerly-cui-devices/TS04-66-95-BK-100-SMT/15634366 ----------------------------------------- Visit the Adafruit shop online - http://www.adafruit.com LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord Subscribe to Adafruit on YouTube: http://adafru.it/subscribe New tutorials on the Adafruit Learning System: http://learn.adafruit.com/ -----------------------------------------

For our next revision of Fruit Jam (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200), we want to add an onboard speaker to provide some sound beeps and boops. The amplifier we're using can drive 4 or 8-ohm speakers, up to a couple watts—but we're not expecting hi-fi sound here. Most important is something that is solderable into the PCB so that it is an "all-in-one" setup. It also has to be less than 0.8" in diameter to fit into the unpopulated area left over on our design. Let's see what we can find at DigiKey! See the chosen part on DigiKey: https://www.digikey.com/short/tdj3h9jq ----------------------------------------- Visit the Adafruit shop online - http://www.adafruit.com LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord Subscribe to Adafruit on YouTube: http://adafru.it/subscribe New tutorials on the Adafruit Learning System: http://learn.adafruit.com/

Ladyada tests final TLV320DAC3100 boards for Fruit Jam, revises the PCB, and explores Jepler's pico-mac. Also designs a USB-C CC resistor fix board. For the next rev, she hunts an 8-ohm PCB-mount speaker under 0.8" for onboard beeps.

We're firmly in Europe this week on the Hackaday podcast, as Elliot Williams and Jenny List are freshly returned from Berlin and Hackaday Europe. A few days of mingling with the Hackaday community, going through mild panic over badges and SAOs, and enjoying the unique atmosphere of that city. After discussing the weekend's festivities we dive right into the hacks, touching on the coolest of thermal cameras, wildly inefficient but very entertaining wireless power transfer, and a restrospective on the capacitor plague from the early 2000s. Was it industrial espionage gone wrong, or something else? We also take a moment to consider spring PCB cnnectors, as used by both one of the Hackaday Europe SAOs, and a rather neat PCB resistance decade box, before looking at a tryly astounding PCB blinky that sets a new miniaturisation standard. In our quick roundup the standouts are a 1970s British kit synthesiser and an emulated 6502 system written in shell script, and in the can't-miss section we look at a new contender fro the smallest microcontroller, and the posibility that a century of waste coal ash may conceal a fortune in rare earth elements. Follow the links over at Hackaday.

This week's EYE ON NPI is trendy and buzzy, it's Boréas Technologies' BOS1931 High-Efficiency Piezo Driver (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/b/boreas/bos1931-high-efficiency-piezo-driver). This chip is a compact way to add powerful high-voltage piezo drive to any product, combining three chips: power supply, waveform generator and driver. With a complete I2C/I3C interface that you can connect to any microcontroller/processor it's the most advanced all-in-one piezo driver we've seen! Piezo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity) discs are multi-use devices that convert mechanical movement to electrical signal, and vice-versa. They're most often seen as electrical-to-mechanical converters such as piezo beepers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_speaker) where an AC signal, usually 3 to 6V peak-to-peak square wave, is applied across the disk. The frequency of the wave is translated into a sound frequency. It doesn't have the same fidelity as a magnetic speaker but its much thinner, less expensive for the component and driving circuitry, and for 2 to 4 KHz beeps it's just fine. Piezos can also be used the opposite way, where mechanical stress on the crystal is translated into an electrical signal. In this way it can be used as a switch or force sensor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric_sensor), again usually a few microamperes' worth of current is generated. For these basic uses, your standard microcontroller pin, or at best an H-Bridge will work just fine: you can drive piezo's differentially to get more Vpp across the disc but essentially we're still talking about only a few Volts. There are some times when you want to make a piezo really 'loud' - that is, putting 100+ Volts across the crystal to generate a big mechanical response. This is often not for audible use cases, after all if you wanted to do that you'd just use a magnetic speaker (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1732) that can get to many many Watts of output efficiently. FYI there's two variants of the chip: the BOS1931 (https://www.digikey.com/short/w9tz9tbj) and the BOS1921 (https://www.digikey.com/short/nnb0r29r). The '31 can only do piezo driving. The '21 can do sensing as well as driving, so it can be used for force-feedback products. In this particular EYE ON NPI we'll just be chatting about the driving capabilities of both. So, while we can do basic sensing/beeping with a few Volts - when we want to have significant motion for blasting sonar or moving fluid around we can only increase the movement by increasing the peak-to-peak voltage. Each piezo you buy will have a voltage rating - and you will need a boost converter to generate that peak-to-peak. For the BOS19 series of chips, you can get +-95V so 190Vpp max, which will drive any piezo you find, and you only need 3~5V input thanks to a built-in DC/DC boost converter. Boréas didn't stop there. Not only do you get a booster, but also a full waveform manager with I2C/I3C control. You can can fill up a FIFO buffer with waveform bytes to generate different shapes. There's a sine generator you can control with an envelope creator. Or, you can piece together waveform shapes for different pump/haptic behavior, giving you the customizability of a byte-wise waveform generator with the simplicity of a sine generator. They even have a Haptics Studio' to help you craft the waveform you want (https://www.boreas.ca/pages/haptic-studio). The BOS1931 (https://www.digikey.com/short/w9tz9tbj) and the BOS1921 (https://www.digikey.com/short/nnb0r29r) come in two packages: an easy-to-layout-and-solder QFN and a tiny-and-advanced BGA. Both have the same core so just pick whether you need simplicity or small size. Since its a pretty serious boost converter and driver - the piezo connects directly to the output pins - you'll need to watch your layout. Check the datasheet for their recommended setup to make sure you don't have excessive power loss or EMI. IF you want to get started quickly, the BOS1921-KIT-B01 (https://www.digikey.com/short/v9hn8mcd) evaluation board will let you use their configuration software to quickly determine how your piezo actuator or sensor response to the waveform generator and booster before you start laying out the components on a prototype PCB. If you have some serious piezo-ing you need to get moving, the Boréas Technologies' BOS1931 High-Efficiency Piezo Driver (https://www.digikey.com/short/w9tz9tbj) can do everything from voltage generation, waveform shaping, and differential driving. And best of all it's in stock right now at Digi-Key for immediate shipment! Order today and DigiKey will pick and pack your order in an instant so that you can be vibin' with your fancy new piezo controller by tomorrow afternoon.

White House policy shifts and tariff uncertainties are creating a complicated landscape for electronics manufacturers trying to plan their future. While recession whispers grow louder in media and economic circles, EMS and PCB industries are showing surprisingly strong book-to-bill numbers - though some of this strength may come from companies rushing orders to beat potential tariff implementations.A fascinating dynamic is emerging between regional markets. US manufacturers maintain cautious optimism despite economic headwinds, while European companies expect modest growth following last year's significant decline. The unpredictable nature of tariff policies, particularly regarding México and Canada, has created planning nightmares for companies with cross-border operations. What was once a straightforward decision to invest or manufacture in Mexico now requires complex analysis of potential tariff exposures and exemption qualifications.Perhaps most intriguing is the structural shift happening in Europe. With defense spending increases and raised debt ceilings specifically for military investment, EMS companies in the defense sector stand to benefit significantly. This represents more than a temporary boost - it signals a fundamental change in European defense strategy and reduced dependence on the US. Meanwhile, beneath all the geopolitical noise, technological innovation continues driving industry growth, with AI's massive energy consumption creating entirely new opportunities for electronics manufacturing. For industry leaders navigating these waters, staying informed and adaptable has never been more critical.Like every episode of EMS@C-Level, this one was sponsored by global inspection leader Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com).You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.