What is a PCB?

PCBs are thin, hard surfaces that incorporate printed electronic circuits. These circuit boards electronically connect different components and can be used in a wide variety of products and applications. PCBs can be single, double or multilayered.

Benefits of Turnkey PCB Assembly

Here are some benefits of using turnkey PCB assembly from RSP:

• Streamlined Project Management: When you opt for printed circuit board turnkey assembly services from RSP, we take care of the entire assembly process, from component procurement to final testing, allowing you to focus on other crucial aspects of your product development.

• Time and Cost Savings: With RSP’s expertise in component sourcing, production planning and efficient assembly techniques, you can avoid the complexities and delays associated with managing multiple vendors. This approach helps reduce production lead times and ensures optimal cost efficiency.

• Quality Assurance and Testing: RSP places a strong emphasis on quality assurance throughout the turnkey assembly process. With rigorous quality control measures and comprehensive testing procedures, RSP ensures that your printed circuit boards meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. This commitment to quality gives you peace of mind, knowing that your products will perform flawlessly in the market.

• Single Point of Contact: When you choose RSP’s turnkey assembly services, you benefit from having a single point of contact for all your assembly needs. RSP’s dedicated team of experts manages every aspect of the assembly process. By providing regular updates and prompt resolution of any issues that may arise, we  minimize potential miscommunications or delays.

Overall, RSP’s printed circuit board turnkey assembly services offer a comprehensive solution that ensures efficient project management, time and cost savings, top-notch quality, and a seamless customer experience.

Differences Between PCB and PCBA

Once the intricate process of soldering and mounting of components is complete on the PCB, the board is transformed into a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) or printed circuit assembly (PCA). This assembly can incorporate a diverse range of elements including resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, connection ports and a multitude of other crucial components. Together, these components form the very essence of your electronic device.

Need Turnkey PCB Manufacturing or Turnkey PCB Assembly Services?

At RSP, our turnkey electronic services offer you the expertise of highly experienced engineering teams from both the US and China, ensuring your product journey from the initial idea to its full realization is smooth and successful. Whether you have high-volume production requirements or you’re starting with smaller quantities, we are dedicated to assisting you every step of the way. For a comprehensive overview of our circuit board manufacturing services, we invite you to explore our dedicated Circuit Boards Capabilities page, where you can learn more about our commitment to being a world-class PCBA manufacturer. Ready to embark on your product’s journey? Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our knowledgeable sales representatives today! They are waiting to help you get the process started.

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Flexible Substrate Options

There are two main substrates used in the flexible printed circuits manufacturing process. One of the original materials used that is still common today is flexible polyester film. With this material you typically screen print conductive traces or circuits using a silver-based ink, which limits the layers and scale you can achieve. Polyester substrate is typically .002” to .005” thick, with less range of thickness than polyimide substrate. However, polyester is still a great option today when there is available space, the circuit is not very complicated, and there are not many surface mount devices.

For more technical requirements, polyimide or copper flex circuitry is used. The traces and circuit are produced using photo imaging or laser imaging rather than printing. A polyimide circuit consists of a metallic layer of traces that are bonded to a dielectric layer. To prevent the copper from oxidizing, the exposed surfaces are covered with a protective layer of gold or solder.

Applications of Flexible Printed Circuits

Whether they are the primary circuit or used to connect to components, flexible printed circuits are found in almost every electronic device. For example, a camera might use one or more rigid printed circuit boards for the main components and controller. However, the interface between the rigid board and a USB connector would probably be a flexible printed circuit so that the connector can be located anywhere on the camera and does not need to be mounted directly on the rigid board. Given the small scale of a camera, a polyimide rather than a polyester substrate would probably be used.

Another example would be VR gloves. The rigid controller board might be mounted on the glove around the wrist, but the fingertip sensors could be connected to the rigid board with flexible printed circuits so that the fingers can move freely and the circuit can “flex” naturally. Since the circuit is subject to repetitive motion, printed silver traces on polyester would not be the best choice. Instead, a polyimide circuit would be the correct choice to avoid the risk of cracking when the gloves are worn.

Applications that are static and have available space, like a keypad on a microwave oven or the circuit under an ATM keypad, are examples where polyester circuits are commonly used.

Costs of Manufacturing Flexible Printed Circuits

The cost of producing circuits on polyester is lower than the cost of polyimide circuits when the dimensions and functions are similar. However, the limitations on polyester flex circuits allow them to be used only in limited applications, so often cost is not a consideration in deciding the type of circuit.

Why Choose RSP?

RSP has been manufacturing flexible printed circuits since the 1980s. Over the past four decades, we have made millions of flexible printed circuits that are used in medical devices, in consumer and industrial products, in the automotive industry, and everywhere else! You have probably used or seen at least one of our flexible circuits in some device.

With our global operations supplying products to over 40 countries and thousands of clients, RSP has the experience and expertise you need to get the job done right. If you need to make these flex circuits, contact us today to make RSP your flexible printed circuit board manufacturers.

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As a product designer or inventor, you’re likely thinking about ways your product can better respond to the world around it or to the person who operates it. Sensors are one way for your product to do that. But what is a sensor?

At its most basic, a sensor is a device that receives physical input—temperature, pressure, or motion, to name a few—and relays that input. For example, a controller’s power button receives pressure input from the person that depresses it, and then transmits that information so the device can respond to that button push, turning the device off or on.
There are sensing technologies to fit any product type. Learn about the wide range of sensor types that RSP can help you implement to meet your customers’ needs.

Smart Sensors

The global smart sensor market is already over $30 billion and is forecast to nearly triple by 2024 (Source: Mordor Intelligence).

What is a smart sensor? It is a base sensor that also has an integrated microprocessor and some form of communication technology. Instead of just sending data along, like a base sensor, it takes input from the physical environment and uses that information to perform functions.

When smart sensors are used together, they become a wireless sensor network. Advances in technology have allowed sensors to become much smaller, lower cost, and more energy efficient, which has allowed them to be deployed in a variety of new applications.

North America is expected to be a high-growth area for smart sensors in the next decade due to the growing demand for IoT (internet of things), smart homes, and even smart cities, as municipalities seek to improve efficiencies and reduce their energy use.

RSP produces a wide range of sensors that can be used in smart sensor products.

Pressure Sensors

Pressure sensors measure the force exerted on a surface. One common example is a tire pressure gauge, which measures the force of air inside the tire relative to the pressure outside the tire (atmospheric). Pressure sensors can also be used to measure the flow of liquid or gas in a pipe.

RSP produces pressure sensors used in VR (virtual reality) gloves, shoe inserts, and digital musical instruments.

Temperature and Humidity Sensors

RSP produces temperature and humidity sensors used to track food safety on salad and hot bars as well as in medical storage cabinets.

There are different types of temperature sensors used in the market today, including resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), thermocouples, thermistors, infrared sensors, and semiconductor sensors. Each of them has a particular operating characteristics and pros and cons. They have one thing in common: they all measure temperature by sensing a change in the physical environment.

Motion Sensors

RSP produces motion sensors used in security systems. There are many types of motion sensing methods. They include:

• Passive infrared (PIR) sensors – Detect body heat (infrared energy). These are the most widely used sensors in home security systems.
• Microwave (MW) sensors – Send out microwave pulses and measure the reflection off a moving object.They cover a larger area than infrared sensors.
• Area reflective type sensors – Emit infrared rays from an LED. Using the reflection of those rays, the sensor measures the distance to the person or object.
• Ultrasonic sensors – Send out pulses of ultrasonic waves and measure the reflection off a moving object.
• Vibration sensors – Detect vibration.

Flow Sensors

Flow sensors measure the amount of a liquid or gas flowing through a section of pipe or tubing at a given time. RSP produces liquid flow sensors used in drink dispenser platforms as well as air flow sensors used in building automation. For example, one RSP product package integrates motion sensors in a hotel room to sense occupancy and then uses an air flow sensor to reduce HVAC needs and balance air pressure in the facility as usage and demand fluctuate.

In today’s interconnected world, the demand for smart technology is only growing. If you are integrating sensors and smart technology into your product, contact RSP now to find out how we can help.

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What is a Product Life Cycle and How Do You Manage It?

From a marketing perspective, a product life cycle is the period of time when a product goes through four stages – introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.

1. The introduction stage occurs when a new product launches into target markets. Low competition is an intrinsic characteristic of this stage in the new product’s life cycle. The company may price the product very high to appeal to early adopters, or it may start with a lower price point meant to capture market share quickly.
2. The growth stage can be slow or immediate and is the time period when the product gathers market momentum with promotions, ads, and word of mouth. It is characterized by an increase in customers and competitors to further expand the markets. For example, the iPhone showed spectacular growth within 6 months of its launch in 2007. Within a year, competitors such as LG, HTC, and Samsung launched their own iPhone-like products that have now defined the touchscreen feature of smartphones.
3. The maturity stage can cover years when product sales remain constant, as the market becomes saturated with healthy competition. The only way to grow the business is to expand into foreign markets or introduce product variants to capture new demographics. For example, a cell phone that was introduced only a few months ago might feature new colors or variations in form or body style to attract new buyers and further extend its maturity stage.
4. The decline stage marks the end of maturity, when product sales start to diminish for various reasons, such as better products from competitors or the emergence of new technologies.

Product Birth and Death

From a technology perspective, a product starts its life from the time technology is developed in the research and development stage, where the concept is realized into a prototype prior to being launched into the market. Depending on the extent of the innovation, product design can begin years before it is even introduced. For instance, RSP has been working with a client for over 5 years perfecting and fine-tuning a new sensor technology for consumer products.

The end stage of a product is rarely definite, such as when the last VHS player from JVC rolled out of production in 2008 – more than 10 years after the DVD started to supersede it. Many products are sold in secondary markets, which indirectly extends the product life cycle. It is also not uncommon for many of them to be sold in developing countries, which effectively extends the maturity stage of a product years after it is no longer produced and sold in developed countries.

Are you dreaming of a new product and how it will change the market? Or, maybe you’re creating a brand new market? But when it comes to executing the product, you’ve realized you need some help. And that’s where we come in.

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• PCB assembly
• Surface mount technology
• Conformal coating
• Soldering
• Testing
• Box builds

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assembly

With over 20 years’ experience in PCB assembly, RSP is the perfect one-stop shop for small, medium, and large volume production.

Our PCB assembly services are ideal for:

• Engineering firms
• Start-ups, including Kickstarter and Indiegogo crowdfunded projects
• Established companies in the industrial, consumer, IOT, and medical industries.

With RSP, you get PCB components procurement and assembly all in one. We work with many types of assemblies, including rigid, flex, and combination rigid/flex.

Surface Mount Technology (SMT)

The majority of electronic products require surface mount components, so the bulk of the PCB assembly is completed in the SMT department.

The SMT department includes solder paste inspection, SMT placement (pick and place machines), oven and heating technology, automated optical inspection, and component storage solutions.

Conformal Coating
Conformal coating and potting services provide protection for printed circuit board assemblies in harsh environments and defend against dust, moisture, chemicals, and extreme temperatures.

Conformal coating can be applied by hand or machine depending on the requirements. Para Tech engineered parylene deposition system for their pvd coating equipment so you can easily get it applied by a machine. By being electrically insulating, conformal coating maintains long-term surface insulation resistance levels (SIR) and thus ensures operational integrity of the board assembly.

Soldering
In order to meet multiple demands and designs, RSP works with wave soldering for single-sided assemblies, selective soldering for double-sided board assemblies and added flexibility, and hand soldering to accommodate special wires, batteries, components, and space constraints.

Testing
Testing is essential for any electronic assembly manufacturer. RSP utilizes flying probe testing and functional automation testing, and can design and build automated functional test fixtures.

Box Builds
As a custom contract turnkey manufacturer, RSP is able to offer extensive assembly and box build services. Our team works closely with clients to develop detailed assembly and work instructions to ensure the build is successful every time. And our assembly lines and assembly cells practice lean manufacturing for effective and efficient results.

RSP has been a trusted manufacturing partner of thousands of clients for over 55 years. Call us today to see how we can help you!

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For those not familiar with Near Field Communication (NFC), it’s a wireless communication protocol between two electronic devices that are in close proximity, usually 4cm or less. This technology is very common in smart phones allowing for mobile payments, paperless ticketing, sharing of pictures and much more. This technology is extremely versatile and is revolutionizing products world-wide. Industries are also taking note and including it in automotive, medical, retail and other mobile device applications.

Advantages of NFC:

• End-to-end mobile marketing solutions
• Integrates easily into label / packaging
• Cloud-based software platform

NFC puts brands directly in touch with their customers eliminating search engines, online marketplaces, and social platforms.  This allows the brand to better control the messaging and enhance customer loyalty and ultimately drive sales. Some potential applications for NFC technology include the following, but opportunities are endless:

• A life-saving medical device that when ‘tapped’ with your phone plays an instructional video on the site of an emergency and alerts an emergency response.
• A digital musical instrument that provides marketing and educational videos in a retail setting, then, after purchase can push notifications of nearby events of interest, instructional videos, and even recommend local instructors.

Contact us today to see how RSP can integrate Near Field Communication (NFC) technology into your product!

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