History of PCB Development

The history of PCB development can be divided into the following stages:

Initial Stage:  Before the birth of PCB, any electronic device contains many wires, which not only get entangled and take up a lot of space, but also short-circuiting is not uncommon. The first to propose the concept of PCB was the German inventor Albert Hansen. He pioneered the use of the concept of "wires" used in telephone switching systems, metal foil used to cut the line conductors, which were then glued to paraffin paper to achieve electrical interconnections between different layers, and laid the theoretical foundation for PCB manufacturing and development.

Development Stage: In the 1920s-1940s, PCB technology was further developed. 1925, Charles Ducas of the U.S.A. proposed to print the line pattern on the insulated substrate, and then plated it to successfully establish the conductor for wiring. This technology, known as PCB, made it easier to manufacture electrical appliances, and in 1936, Paul Eisler was honored as the "Father of Printed Circuits" for being the first to publish thin-film technology and developing the first printed circuit board used in radios. The method he used was very similar to the method we use today for printed circuit boards. This method, called subtraction, removes unnecessary metal parts. Around 1943, his invention was used on a large scale in the United States to manufacture the close-combustion fuses used in World War II. At the same time, the technology was widely used in military radios.

Maturity Stage: In 1948, the United States officially recognized the invention for commercial use. By the 1950s, the U.S. Army developed an automated assembly process that enabled mass production and made PCBs more widely available to electronics consumers.

Rapid Development Phase: Around the 1970s, another very important invention appeared - the IC (Integrated Circuit). The first microprocessor was actually invented by Jack Kilby in the late 1950s, but it took him more than a decade to share it with Texas Instruments, which led to the development of the first integrated circuit. With the birth of the integrated circuit, it became mandatory to use PCBs as they entered the world of electronics manufacturing.

Modern Stage:  As technology continues to evolve, so does PCB technology. Modern PCB design software and manufacturing techniques have made PCB design more efficient, accurate and reliable. At the same time, with the continuous miniaturization and integration of electronic products, the size and density of PCB is also increasing, which puts forward higher requirements for PCB manufacturing technology.

Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development:  With the improvement of environmental awareness, the environmental issues in the PCB manufacturing process have also received more and more attention. Many countries and enterprises are actively promoting environmentally friendly PCB manufacturing technology to reduce the impact on the environment. At the same time, in order to achieve sustainable development, many companies are also actively exploring new materials and technologies to reduce energy consumption and resource consumption in the PCB manufacturing process.

Intelligence and Automation: With the continuous development of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies, intelligence and automation technologies in the PCB manufacturing process have been widely used. These technologies can improve production efficiency, reduce costs, improve product quality, and inject new momentum into the development of PCB manufacturing.

In short, the history of PCB development is a process of continuous progress and innovation. With the continuous development of science and technology, PCB manufacturing industry will usher in more opportunities and challenges.