PCB Applications

Classic applications for Printed Circuits are General Electronics PCB assembly, Dedicated Service Electronics Class, high Reliability Electronics.

Consumer Electronics – Digital Wrist Watch, CD Player, Am/FM/Radio/Alarm Clock, television, Calculator, Digital Coffee Pot, Microwave Oven, Home Alarm Systems, Cellular Telephone, Home Computer, Home Theater/Stereo Surround Sound System, Cable Television Converter Box, Hand Held Video Games, Remote control electronic toy, LOJACK auto recovery system etc. Telecommunications – Point to Point Microwave Transceivers, Police/ Fire/ Rescue Radios, Digital Network Equipment, SATCOM transceivers, Commercial and Private Aircraft Radios and Instrumentation, Cell Telephone Relay Stations, CB Radio/2 Way Talkie Talkies, etc. Industrial Electronics and Instrumentation – Weather Radar and Weather related Telemetry, Oscilloscopes, Network Analyzers, Ohm Meters, Temperature meters, Strain Gauges, Environmental Chambers and Ovens, Spectrum Analyzers, Solar Photo voltaic Power Co generation equipment, DC to AC Power Inverts, Switcher Power Supplies, CCD Telescopes. Military Electronics – IFF transponders, IR detectors, Night Vision Goggles, Military grade Computers with encryption, Fire Control circuits, Satellite Navigation instrumentation, Encrypted Frequency Hopping VHF Radios, Direction Finding Equipment, Missile Guidance Systems, FLIR Pod Test equipment, etc. Aerospace Electronics – Satellite systems, Space Shuttle controls and system, Aircraft communications and controls, etc…
Automotive Electronics – Automotive Ignition Controls, Emission monitoring and controls, Fuel Air Mixture, Fuel Injection, Climate controls, Dash Instrumentation, Radio/TV entertainment accessories, etc. Medical Electronics – Heart Monitors, Automated Medicine dispensing equipment, Breathing machine, Dialysis machine, Laser assisted tooth whitening machine, Laser optical corrective surgery machine LASIX, X-ray or CAT Scan equipment, MRI Imaging equipment, etc…

According to IPC-2221 1.6 Printed board assemblies are classified by intended end item use. The Performance Classes are listed as follows: Class 1 - General Electronics Products - Includes consumer products, some computer or computer peripherals, and general military hardware suitable for applications where cosmetic defects are not as important, and the major requirement of the board is its functionality. Class 2 - Dedicated Service Electronics – Includes Communication Equipment, sophisticated business machines, instruments and military equipment where high performance and extended life are required, and for which uninterrupted service is desired but not critical. Certain Cosmetic imperfections are allowed.
Class 3 – High Reliability Electronics – Includes Military and Commercial equipment where continued performance or performance on demand is critical. Equipment failure or down time is not tolerated and must function when required in the case of life support systems, or critical weapons systems. As for applications where high levels of assurance are required and service is essential.