Photoconductive Smart Breadboard for Dynamic Circuit Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of translating breadboard circuits to printed circuit boards (PCBs) is prone to errors, leading to lengthy design and troubleshooting times, and often results 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, using a photoconductive layer responsive to light and a digital light processing module to dynamically reconfigure circuit pathways, reducing the need for jumper wires and ensuring valid connections through real-time feedback and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional breadboard circuits with jumper wires are translated to PCBs manually, then circuit functionality can be achieved, but translation errors occur leading to mismatched or missed connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical projection to create a visual copy of the breadboard circuit layout directly onto the PCB. The projection system maps the physical breadboard connections onto the PCB design, allowing the designer to verify trace routing against the actual breadboard configuration, thereby eliminating translation errors between the two platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by projecting the breadboard layout onto the PCB during the design process. This immediate feedback mechanism allows designers to detect and correct connection mismatches before manufacturing, preventing errors from propagating to the final product.
2Productivity
If manual translation from breadboard to PCB is performed, then circuit design can proceed, but flawed PCBs are produced contributing to electronic waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary verification of PCB trace routing by projecting the breadboard layout onto the PCB design before manufacturing. This preliminary action allows designers to identify and correct potential flaws in the trace design early in the design phase, preventing the production of defective PCBs that would become electronic waste.
3Ease of operation
If numerous jumper wires are used on breadboards, then circuit connections can be established, but translation errors increase and troubleshooting becomes lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The optical projection system creates a visual representation of all jumper wire connections directly on the PCB, allowing the complex network of connections to be verified at a glance. This eliminates the need to physically trace each individual jumper wire, significantly reducing troubleshooting time while maintaining the flexibility of breadboard-based circuit assembly.
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 significantly reduces the time spent on circuit design and troubleshooting, minimizes errors, and prevents electronic waste by ensuring accurate trace geometry on PCBs, allowing for efficient and reliable circuit creation and reconfiguration.
Implementation Method 1
a photoconductive layer responsive to light, wherein the photoconductive layer modifies an electrical conductivity thereof in accordance with a pattern of light projected onto the photoconductive layer
Implementation Method 2
The photoconductive layer comprises an Inverse Faraday Effect (IFE) photo-magnetic nanoparticle layer, configured to alter magnetic and electrical properties thereof in response to light and magnetic fields
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamically reconfigurable circuit, method and computer program product, includes a photoconductive layer responsive to light, wherein the photoconductive layer modifies an electrical conductivity thereof in accordance with a pattern of light projected onto the photoconductive layer; a digital light processing (DLP) module configured to project the pattern of light onto the photoconductive layer, wherein the light is selectively patterned to reconfigure circuit pathways within the photoconductive layer; and a memory coupled to the DLP module, the memory configured to store configuration data and instructions for controlling the light patterns projected by the DLP module.