PCB007 Magazine

PCB007-Sept2018

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10 PCB007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2018 Patricia Goldman is managing editor of PCB007 Magazine. To contact Goldman, click here. use of SLP technology, Jolivet then proj- ects use in a wide variety of markets. For those of you out there in the trench- es, we have another good troubleshooting column by RBP's Mike Carano, this time on resist lock-in and extraneous copper. As always, Mike provides both cause and action to get you through this problem. Next, we have an interesting article on copper pillar plating systems. Copper pil- lars are useful for removing heat from components, but they are not particularly easy to create. MacDermid Enthone's Al- bert Angstenberger explains both theory and practice for these, as well as delves into via fill and through-hole plating as they relate to the pillar plating. Bringing up the rear is Steve Williams, The Right Approach Consulting, with a discussion on global sourcing. Whether or not you are involved in choosing PCB suppliers, this article outlines "5 Cs" that truly can apply to any supplier-partner re- lationship—regardless of which side you are on. Lastly, IPC's John Mitchell introduces us to Nicolas Robin, IPC's new senior direc- tor in Europe. Robin will represent IPC's public policy in Europe, with additional membership-related responsibilities. Well, folks, this is my last hurrah as managing editor of PCB007 Magazine. As I transition to a lighter schedule, Nolan Johnson will be at the helm now. Don't miss his debut in next month's issue that focuses on the automated factory. Not to worry, I won't disappear—at least not yet. I will be managing our quarterly tome, Flex007 Magazine, which next ap- pears in late October. Keep your eye out for that—which will be a lot easier if you subscribe. Aren't you going to miss my nagging? PCB007 Tags that Turn Everyday Objects into Smart, Connected Devices Engineers have developed printable metal tags that could be attached to everyday objects and turn them into smart Internet of Things devices. The metal tags are made from patterns of copper foil printed onto thin, flexible, paper-like substrates made to reflect Wi-Fi signals. The tags work like mirrors that re- flect radio signals from a Wi-Fi router. When a user's finger touches these mirrors, it disturbs the reflected Wi-Fi sig- nals in such a way that can be remotely sensed by a Wi-Fi receiver, like a smartphone. The tags can be tacked onto plain objects that people touch and interact with every day, like water bottles, walls or doors. These plain objects then essentially become smart, connected devices that can signal a Wi-Fi device whenever a user interacts with them. The tags can also be fashioned into thin keypads or smart home control panels that can be used to remotely operate Wi-Fi-connected speakers, smart lights and other Internet of Things appliances. "Our vision is to expand the Internet of Things to go be- yond just connecting smartphones, smartwatches and other high-end devices," said senior author Xinyu Zhang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and member of the Center for Wireless Communications at UC San Di- ego. "We're developing low-cost, battery-free, chipless, printable sensors that can include everyday objects as part of the Internet of Things." (Source: UC San Diego) Printed thin, flexible LiveTag tags in comparison with a piece of photo paper (far left). Photos courtesy of Xinyu Zhang

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