Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1509257
OCTOBER 2023 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 9 Andy Shaughnessy is managing editor of Design007 Magazine. He has been covering PCB design for 23 years. To read past columns, click here. our experts discuss some ideas for making standards more accessible to new PCB de- signers and design engineers at the college level. To help shed some light on the world of standards, IPC has released an updated version of the IPC Checklist, a handy guide that illustrates which standards cover which topics, from front-end design through as- sembly. One section explains the entire chain of production, while another details every single step of a typical PCB design cycle. Managers can hand this to new hires on their first day and say, "Read this." We think the IPC Checklist is so useful that we have published it as an I-Con- nect007 eBook, available by clicking here. Check out the checklist. is month, we begin by talking to John Watson, who is working to put IPC stan- dards into the hands of his PCB design stu- dents at Palomar College. Columnist Dana Korf discusses the new standards for ad- ditive manufacturing. Jen Kolar and Cory Grunwald discuss how Monsoon Solutions built its internal documentation process around the relevant IPC standards. Gerry Partida discusses the repercussions when designers don't follow IPC standards. Kel- ly Dack explores the IPC Checklist, and Barry Olney discusses how standards can give an extra advantage to high-speed de- signers. IPC's Patrick Crawford explains which standards should be top of mind for PCB designers, and Matt Stevenson breaks down his criteria for selecting the right PCB design tool. It's show time, and we'll soon be covering SMTA International and productronica. See you on the road! DESIGN007 Two researchers at the University of Waterloo have combined their innovations to create a suite of new technologies that will increase battery life by 30 percent and lower the cost of manufacturing. The new technology could be used in smart glasses, watches, tablets and other products. The game-changing technology developed by Dr. William Wong and Dr. Manoj Sachdev, professors in Waterloo's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, allow for the creation of MicroLED and flexible displays for next-generation AR and VR headsets and micro-displays. This new technology will increase optical brightness as the energy-effi- cient displays provide up to 30 percent power sav- ings while lowering the cost of manufacturing. The technology has also led to the launch of a new start-up, Lumatus Semiconductor Inc., led by Wong, Sachdev and Mario Montana, an engineering alum. The technology has broad applicability in various display types such as LCD, OLED, and MicroLED. To date, a family of foundational patent applications in various jurisdictions have been filed. Both the Canadian and U.S. governments have announced significant funding initiatives to support the development of robust North American semicon- ductor manufacturing and supply chains to underpin national security resiliency. (Source: University of Waterloo) Game-changing New Tech to Make AR/VR, Cellphone and Laptop Displays Better