Embedded Technology: A Useful Tool in Freedom CAD’s Toolbox
July 17, 2017 | Andy Shaughnessy, PCBDesign007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Freedom CAD has been designing and fabricating boards with embedded technology for years, and doing some innovative work along the way. I asked Scott McCurdy, Freedom CAD’s director of sales and marketing, to share some details about their embedded processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities that embedded technology offers.
Andy Shaughnessy: Scott, I know that Freedom CAD has some experience with embedded technology. Tell us a little about that. Do you do a lot of embedded work?
Scott McCurdy: We see increasing use of buried capacitance cores in the designs we do for our customers. This technology has been around for many years, but there are thinner materials available today that use thin film dielectrics instead of woven fabrics. There are many benefits for integrating embedded capacitance layers into board designs for improving the power delivery network. Our signal integrity engineer believes strongly that embedded capacitors definitely have a place in today's designs where, at frequencies between 10 and 100MHz, a low-inductance energy storage strategy can actually reduce the number of low-value caps needed on a board.
Shaughnessy: That’s interesting. And I understand you’ve done some embedded capacitance designs with FaradFlex material.
McCurdy: Yes, we have several customers who spec this Oak-Mitsui Technologies FaradFlex material especially in high-speed telecom applications. DuPont and 3M make materials for embedded capacitance applications, as well. These thin film type materials have thinner dielectrics than woven fabric which provides additional benefits.
Shaughnessy: Does Freedom CAD do any buried resistor designs?
McCurdy: We have very little experience with buried resistors, mostly because our customer base isn’t asking for this. However, as product miniaturization continues, I’m certain that industry will have to embrace the use of embedded resistor technologies. It’s another method of freeing up surface space and increasing performance and reliability. Some of the CAD design vendors have software tools for designing embedded resistor layers. Ticer Technologies and Ohmega Technologies make great materials for this.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the June 2017 issue of The PCB Design Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Intel Announces 2024 EPIC Supplier Program Award Recipients
03/29/2024 | Intel CorporationIntel announced the recipients of the 2024 Intel EPIC Supplier Program awards, which recognize suppliers that exemplify Intel’s standard of excellence. Intel is committed to expanding global supply capacity, delivering leadership products and enabling Intel Foundry.
NEOTech Promotes Emilio Ramirez to Chief Technology Officer
03/29/2024 | NEOTechNEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the high-tech industrial, medical device, and aerospace/defense markets, is thrilled to announce the promotion of Emilio Ramirez to the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Keynote Preview: Reshaping our Engagement With the World
03/28/2024 | Shawn DuBravac, IPCThe widespread integration of AI across various sectors is broadening its impact, from revolutionizing healthcare with Smart solutions to transforming homes into intuitive spaces, highlighting its crucial role in boosting efficiency and addressing complex challenges. In healthcare, we're witnessing a trend toward personalized care with AI-driven devices like intelligent pillows to mitigate snoring, sophisticated sleep monitors, and innovative patient monitoring systems.
Indium Corporation to Present, Exhibit at EPP InnovationsFORUM
03/28/2024 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation is set to present and exhibit at EPP InnovationsFORUM, one of Europe’s premier single-day electronics manufacturing forums, on April 17 in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany. Topic areas for 2024 will include AI, automation, sustainability, and quality.
Accenture Invests in Sanctuary AI to Bring AI-Powered, Humanoid Robotics to Work Alongside Humans
03/27/2024 | BUSINESS WIREAccenture has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Sanctuary AI, a developer of humanoid general-purpose robots that are powered by AI and can perform a wide variety of work tasks quickly, safely and effectively.