Circuit boards have become an integral piece of modern technology. While, in the grand scope of technological advancement, circuit boards are a relatively new invention, they have made a significant impact on the tech landscape since their initial design and introduction. With contributions from communication tools to assembly services, circuit boars have played an important role in the present world.
History
Modern circuit boards are, simply put, thin boards containing electronic circuits, often printed directly onto the boards themselves. Back as early as the 1940s, wires were being attached to thin pieces of wood and resin but without any of the smoothness or precision of modern iterations. Through the 1950s and 1960s, advancements were made not only to improve the type of material itself but also to include wiring on one side and electrical components on the reverse.
Into the 1970s, new methods of attachment were introduced that utilized heat to make the components of circuit boards even smoother. About a decade later, advancements continued, allowing surface mounts to take the place of parts that had to be drilled onto a board. This allowed for additional size decreases and more precise and effective designs. The 1990s is when circuit boards really came into their own: materials became cheaper, computer technology exploded, and the modern form of circuit boards were introduced.
Uses
Circuit boards are present in even more parts of daily life than many might realize. Most notably, every present-day cell phone contains some form of a circuit board that navigate the internal commands to send texts, receive phone calls, or access the internet. Laptop and desktop computers contain circuit boards as the communication centers as well. Televisions fall into the same category. Digital clocks and microwaves also require circuit boards to keep things on track. With further developments being made every day, this technology continues to propel these types of inventions even further into the future.