Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1503357
JULY 2023 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 17 will need what I refer to as the "all of the above" approach. You will most likely use advanced packaging components, system-on-chip (SoC) integration, microcontrollers, s e n s o r s , i n te - g r a te d circuits, o r e v e n u l t r a H D I , g i v i n g m o r e f u n c - t i o n a l i t y i n a s m a l l e r p a c k a g e . T h e s e c o m p o n e n t s o c c u p y l e s s space on the PCB, allowing for a more compact design. PCB Considerations With wearable elec- tronics, size matters, and the dominoes begin to fall. Using a conventional 0.062" PCB is probably out of the question, and FR-4 is not an option, strictly due to space requirements. is is why one of the fastest growing areas in the PCB industry is flex and rigid-flex. Flex and rigid-flex are oen the only solution to meet the complexity of some of these devices. ere is a direct correlation between the rise in wearable/medical devices and the increase in rigid-flex circuits. It's not a matter of if you will ever do a flex design, but when. We have seen that a smaller area means smaller components and overall PCB space; trace routing is our next challenge. Designers must use smaller trace widths and spacings to accommodate more routing channels, and inner layers for routing to maximize the rout- ing density. at requires using microvias to create additional routing layers. With that, another domino falls, and smaller traces have higher resistance. at can lead to increased voltage drops and power losses, affecting sig- nal quality and power delivery. is will intro- duce higher impedances, making controlled impedances more difficult. We have seen that a smaller area means smaller components and overall PCB space; trace routing is our next challenge. Reducing the size of the PCB impacts the entire design: component sizes and routing impact the signal integrity and EMC/EMI. Power management is another consideration since these are battery-operated devices. Efficient power man- agement is essential to maxi- mize battery life while pro- viding adequate power to the various components. at involves designing power-efficient circuits, implementing low-power modes, and optimizing the power supply net- work. How small can we go? A Canadian com- pany, Precision Na n o S y s t e m s , is answering that question with the creation of nano- technology directly o u t o f another sci-fi movie, "Fantastic Voyage," released in 1966. To save a scientist, a submarine is shrunken to microscopic size and injected into his bloodstream with a small crew. at is now nearly a reality, with nanotechnology that can navigate the human body—injecting medicine directly into a tumor, for example. Honestly, where can this technology go? In my opinion, anywhere our imaginations will take it. DESIGN007 John Watson, CID, is a customer success manager at Altium. To read past columns, click here.