Magnetically Tunable Circuit Pathways for PCB Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for translating breadboard circuits to printed circuit boards (PCBs) often result in translation errors, leading to lengthy design and troubleshooting times, and can result in flawed PCBs that contribute to electronic waste due to mismatched or missed connections, especially with large numbers of jumper wires.
Innovation Solution
A smart breadboard or smart printed circuit board system that connects to a computer, allowing for the download of trace geometry and eliminating the need for jumper wires, using magnetically responsive materials and tuning elements to dynamically reconfigure circuit pathways in response to external magnetic fields, enabling precise and efficient circuit design and verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional breadboard circuits with jumper wires are used to translate to PCB, then circuit design flexibility is maintained, but translation errors and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical projection to create a visual copy of the breadboard circuit layout directly onto the PCB. The projector displays the trace geometry that should be routed on the PCB, allowing the designer to verify connections before manufacturing. This eliminates translation errors by providing a visual reference copy of the intended circuit layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by projecting the desired trace geometry onto the PCB surface. This allows the designer to see immediately whether the planned connections are correct and make adjustments before committing to the PCB layout, thereby reducing translation errors and rework.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional PCB manufacturing process is used, then permanent circuit connections are created, but any design flaws result in wasted PCBs and electronic waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary verification of the circuit design by projecting the trace geometry onto the PCB before manufacturing. This preliminary action allows designers to detect and correct any routing errors or connection issues in the digital domain, preventing flawed PCBs from being manufactured and thus avoiding material waste.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex trace routing is performed manually on PCB, then design flexibility is maintained, but design time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates and projects the trace geometry onto the PCB, copying the logical circuit connections directly into physical routing paths. This eliminates the need for manual trace drawing while maintaining design flexibility, as the traces can still be customized but are now generated automatically from the circuit schematic or breadboard layout.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the time spent on circuit design and troubleshooting, ensures valid connections, and minimizes electronic waste by allowing for accurate and efficient translation of circuit designs from breadboards to PCBs, thereby improving the reliability and sustainability of the circuit creation process.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetically responsive material configured to alter an electrical conductivity thereof in response to an external magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
the magnet is configured to create or modify circuit pathways by selectively aligning particles within the magnetically responsive material
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamically reconfigurable circuit, and method, includes a magnetically responsive material configured to alter an electrical conductivity thereof in response to an external magnetic field; a magnet operatively positioned to influence the magnetically responsive material, wherein the magnet is configured to create or modify circuit pathways by selectively aligning particles within the magnetically responsive material; and tuning elements including tuning screws and tuning contacts configured to adjust an alignment and density of the magnetically responsive material to adjust conductivity and reconfiguration of the circuit pathways.