PCB Loading Current Calculation and Manufacturer Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PCB manufacturing processes face inefficiencies due to inadequate determination of loading current, leading to potential damage and wasted space, as well as variability in manufacturing capabilities among different manufacturers, necessitating a method to filter suitable manufacturers based on circuit board design requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that calculates the maximum loading current of a circuit board by analyzing manufacturing process parameters and assigns weight scores to manufacturers based on their capabilities, enabling the selection of the best fit manufacturers that meet the design requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed ratio between metal width and loading current is used for PCB design, then the design process is simplified, but the PCB may be damaged or spaces may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fixed ratio parameter approach to a dynamic calculation method that determines loading current based on actual copper sheet area, power plane characteristics, and manufacturing process parameters. This allows the design to adapt to specific PCB configurations rather than relying on generic fixed ratios, thereby improving reliability while maintaining design efficiency through automated calculation.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed ratio between metal width and loading current is used for PCB design, then the design process is simplified, but spaces on the PCB may be wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed ratio parameters with dynamic calculations that determine optimal metal width and loading current based on actual PCB requirements, copper sheet area, and manufacturing capabilities. This enables precise space utilization by calculating the minimum necessary metal width for each current requirement, thereby reducing wasted PCB space while maintaining design simplicity through automation.
3Loss of time
If manufacturers are selected without filtering based on manufacturing capabilities, then the selection process is faster, but the circuit board design requirements may not be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of manufacturing process parameters and capability matching before final manufacturer selection. By pre-evaluating manufacturers' capabilities against the specific PCB requirements (copper sheet area, power plane characteristics, loading current demands), the system filters suitable manufacturers in advance, ensuring design requirement compliance while maintaining efficient selection timing.
4Manufacturing precision
If detailed analysis of manufacturing process parameters is performed for each manufacturer, then the best fit manufacturer can be selected, but the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual, complex analytical processes with an automated computer-based system that performs detailed manufacturing process parameter analysis. The system automatically compares manufacturers' capabilities against PCB requirements, calculates loading currents based on copper sheet area and power plane characteristics, and ranks manufacturers accordingly. This substitution of manual analysis with automated computational methods reduces perceived complexity while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a loading current of a circuit board is provided. In the method, outline positions of metal regions and hollowed regions in each of the metal regions are recorded. Metal widths corresponding to scan lines in circuit board are calculated in a sequence, so that a minimum metal width on each of the scan lines is acquired. According to the minimum metal width, a maximum loading current of each of the metal regions is calculated. In addition, a method and a system for filtering manufacturers are provided. A processing apparatus of the system analyzes the maximum loading current and manufacturing process parameters of the circuit board, calculates a weight score of a manufacturing process capability parameter table of each manufacturer according to the maximum loading current and manufacturing process parameters, and filtering the manufacturers to produce the best fit manufacturer list.