PCB design industry has been valued at over $3 billion in recent years, with explosive growth expected in the next decade or so.
This forecast is largely due to the continuing process of electrification across society, with switches to clean and renewable energy sources on the horizon for many industries.
PCBs and PCB design software will play an integral role in these developments, so here’s a little more about them.
What is PCB design?
Printed circuit board (PCB) software has revolutionised circuit board design and transformed the process of developing schematics into physical prototypes and models. It’s an offshoot of computer-aided design (CAD) software, focusing more intensely on the modelling of PCB layouts and offering end-to-end control when it comes to schematic development through to manufacturing.
Which industries use PCB design?
The applications of PCB design software are widespread. Used by electronic engineers across a range of industries, its fundamental functionality is transferable to wherever printed circuit boards are used. This includes the following industries:
Telecommunications
From mobile phones to satellites and everything in between, telecommunications is an industry that keeps the world connected. Without circuit boards at the heart of these devices and equipment, electronic components wouldn’t be able to connect and integrate to facilitate communications across the globe.
PCBs are critical components in VoIP devices, routers, satellite systems, FPGA parts and many more aspects of the telecommunications landscape.
Renewable energy
As many of us try to find ways to reduce the environmental impact of our lives, the renewable energy industry continues to explore ways to fuel society through more sustainable means. Solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy are all key to clean electricity production, but they rely on battery technology and complex circuitry to deliver and manage power.
That’s where PBCs come in. Circuit boards in this area have to withstand harsh environmental conditions, so durability must be balanced with reliability and performance. Processes such as controlling current flows and managing power loads ensure that energy systems deliver optimal performance to maximise sustainability.
Consumer electronics
Devices continue to get smaller and circuit boards have to follow suit to deliver performance and mass scalability. Taking schematic design to industrial production is easier said than done, but the power of PCB design software allows that to happen with more fluidity.
Games consoles, mobile phones, tablets, TVs and laptops all need printed circuit boards and this means that PCB design helps to feed one of the most lucrative industries in the world.
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