What Is An IC Board

RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY
What is an IC board?
An IC board is a type of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) that
contains integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on the board. Typically, you
solder an IC to the surface of the PCB assembly and wires attached to it.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about IC boards. It
includes identifying common ICs found on boards, their applications, and
what types of damage can happen to them.
Table of Contents
How do IC boards work?
IC on boards work using components and connections. Depending on the
requirements, they come in different sizes and forms. But, most contain
several interconnecting wires that link the components together.
They also require mechanical support for the wires that link components
and those that go outside to meet other devices. The board can provide
the support or an outer frame that holds those internal wires and those
external ones.
In most cases, IC boards have contact pathways that keep the components
from being electrically connected. It is usually the case with outer frames
PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

as well as the board. Imagine a circuit without these pathways, and it will
be hard to imagine how they work at all.
The main thing to remember about IC boards is that they contain several
connections. These links connect link various components together. They
require mechanical support, both internal and external, to function
properly.
Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now
Types of IC boards surface mounts
It is a system of the most modern electronics where you mount the
different elements on a common base. So, one can easily remove and
place them anywhere on this base and move it around.

It is the type of board where you mount six or more chips on each side,
but not immediately next to each other, but of course, they are just
adjacent to each other.
We use this method when you mount only four or five chips. They are all
located on the same side of the board and not one next to the other.
The method we attach all chips directly to a substrate allows us to connect
them to the outer circuit by using conductive areas that run along their
sides.
Mechanisms of IC boards
The main reason for using IC boards is to offer a stable and durable base
for devices, such as semiconductor components, which need to connect.
We use IC boards for installing these devices or components. Also, we use
them for making connections between two integrated circuits since they
are the main reason for connecting these devices.
We install IC boards to link components that we may operate by using a
single power supply instead of several power supplies. It is to link devices
that we cannot change if something goes wrong with them. The main
purpose is not to change its operational parameters at any cost.
Purpose of IC boards:

With today’s modern technology and modern electronic devices and
components, the use of IC boards has become part and parcel of almost
all electronic systems, especially when we speak about small or
medium-sized electronic systems.
The only difference is that in some circuits, there is no need for using IC
boards. Since they are already complete and complete, they need to look
for new ways to improve them is to introduce new components or
elements.
Can we use IC boards for producing consumer products? Yes, IC boards
are compatible with consumer products.
We use these boards in modern electronic appliances because they come
in smaller sizes that are compatible with various small electronic devices.
This feature allows the use of them in special kinds of appliances that
millions of people can use worldwide, which was not possible before the
invention of electronics.
However, the main reason is that the IC boards are very cheap, so
consumers can easily introduce these devices.
Can you use IC boards for industrial products? Certainly, IC boards are
now used in industrial products as well. Most of these components are

not dependent on each other now, so they do not affect the rest of the
system if one fails.
Microcontroller Application Areas
A microcontroller is a small computer chip (IC) designed to control
machines’ speed, direction, and other mechanical tasks. We use
microcontrollers in industrial, medical, automotive, consumer
products, robotics, and other electronics.
The heart of any machine is its microcontrollers; this is where all the
significant electrical signals come from and go. We also use the
microcontrollers for anything in the machine function. A manufacturing
line may use a microcontroller to signal when to start the next circuit,
while another may use one to help with the assembly process. The most
common application areas are in the following:
1. Automation – We can use these components in many forms of
machines. It includes assembly lines, packaging lines, printing
machines, and robotic devices. We can integrate them into
automated equipment or directly wire them into the machinery
itself.

2. We use industrial Control in industrial control systems. It includes
automated control systems, industrial robots, and factory
automation.
3. Medical – We use ICs for medical equipment such as X-Ray
machines, Endoscopes, and blood pressure machines. Company
physicians use them for small patient monitoring systems or send
them to the machine’s manufacturer to integrate them into it.
4. Mechanical – These are usually found in assembly line equipment
like robotic arms, conveyors, and pick/place units (aka robotic
hands).
5. Vacuum – We usually find them in specialty machines for
maintaining or servicing vacuum systems, such as vacuums used in
warehouses or food processing plants.
6. Test – We use them in measuring instrumentation equipment, test
chambers, temperature control devices, and other measurement
instruments.
7. Misc Electrical – We find them on the back of electrical equipment
that requires large amounts of power to control equipment like fans,
lights, and electrical gates.
8. Industrial – We use them in industrial applications like forklifts,
industrial robots, and industrial computers.
Application of ICs on PCBs

ICs are usually embedded with leads to attach to the circuit board. Three
main types of application patterns that we can find on the circuit boards:
1. Surface Mount – This is the most common type of application used
for most ICs. We usually find them on equipment where space is at
a premium, such as printing machines, medical equipment,
packaging machinery, etc. We can find this type of circuit board with
any IC on it.
2. Through Hole – This type of PCB usage is not as common as surface
mounted, but we use it in more complex PCBs requiring lots of IC
connections, usually on less space-critical equipment.
3. Hybrid – This type usually uses a mix of both through-hole and
surface mount connections to the IC.
Common IC parts:
1. Ceramic: These parts contain ceramic and are usually found in small
and medium devices (5mm and larger).
2. Thin Miniature Metal-Can: We can attach these parts to Integrated
circuits integrated circuit using wire leads or fine solder bumps. We
use them for power amplifiers, voltage regulators, DC-DC
converters, oscillators, etc., where size is critical.

3. SMD: Small Surface Mount Device. We commonly find these devices
in logic or memory circuits.
4. Through-Hole: We typically find these parts in large devices (5mm
and up). We use them mostly in device chassis, power supply units,
and output circuits of MOSFETs, Op-Amp chips, etc., where space is
at a premium.
5. BGA: Ball Grid Array. We use these parts for components that
require the highest reliability and performance, like
computers, digital TVs, etc. BGA’s can be anywhere from 25 to 500
micrometers in size.
6. Flip Chip: These parts are usually small components (5mm and up).
We typically use them in devices like D/A converters, memory
circuits, microprocessors, and microcontrollers.
7. QFP: Quad Flat Pack. We find these components in the most
complex devices in electronics, like cell phones, computers, etc.
8. CSP: Ceramic Small Package. We use these parts in complex devices
like cell phones, computers, etc., where space is premium or needs
to be very small but still contain many components.
9. LCC: Low Profile Surface Mount Device
A PCB must go through four steps:

There are different types of designs like custom design and standard
design. When designing a PCB, it is normal for engineers to choose one of
the two. However, in some cases, they also need to use both methods. For
example, when designing a circuit board with soldered components, they
need to use standard design since they are using soldered components,
all of which have standard designs. It is only in the case of custom design
that engineers need to use it.
If an engineer uses both methods, he must know how to work with both
since they are both different. So, he must know which tools are essential
in each one of these steps. He must also learn how to use each tool for
completing the design process. An engineer can work with them in a
certain way or another depending on his knowledge about the tools and
their functions.
To use a design tool, an engineer must first know how it works, and then
he must look for a good user guide that will reveal the correct ways of
using these tools. After that, he should start working with it.
A PCB designer usually uses a CAD system to produce the designs of
boards. These CAD systems are generally very powerful, and they can
produce incredible results. The main purpose of using CAD systems is to
design the board and then send them to manufacturers.

How do I install IC?
An IC contains leads and leads pinout. Also, it is very useful to spend some
time learning about the various leads before installing the IC. A lead
contains an internal connection that connects to another pad on the PCB
or another device.
Leads are usually connected to the IC’s pins using solder but can also
connect through wire bonding or wire-bonding pins via metal plating onto
the leads.
Sometimes, as an alternative, we can attach ICs to the PCB utilizing epoxy
or resin.
The first step should be to prepare the PCB and other equipment, such as
power supply modules and conduits for connection. The second step
should be choosing and designing the IC and connecting components and
wiring (other ICs or parts on the PCB or devices like diodes). The last step
should be to attach all components and connections with solder.
IC boards installation process

1. Read the instructions carefully before beginning the exercise to
ensure that you understand them well and do not leave anything
out when preparing for assembly or application.
2. Use the proper tools when soldering. We should use a soldering
iron with a temperature between 220 and 260 degrees Celsius since
the higher temperature can damage electronic components and
materials in many ways, including causing excessive heating in
terms of causing insulation breakdowns or thermal shocks.
3. Be careful not to scratch the leads by using something like a metal
tweezer, which can cause the leads to break off or get damaged.
4. Do not touch the pins with anything that can cause static electricity
(e.g., hairdryer).
5. Make sure that you do not get anything (i.e., solder, flux, etc.) on the
contacts of the IC; otherwise, it will get damaged and become
useless after some time.
6. Do not leave any excess solder on the leads, as it can cause a short
circuit or cause problems with the operation of the device.
7. Do not bend, twist or expose ICs to excessive heat, moisture
or humidity during installation and use.
8. After attaching an IC, do a test run before using it in another device
or circuit to ensure that everything is working correctly.
Types of damage to common ICs

Two main types of damage can occur to ICs on PCBs – Physical Damage
and Electrical Damage. However, many other types of damage to ICs do
not strictly fall into either category (e.g., misapplication, inappropriate
handling, etc.).
Physical damage includes circuit board flexing caused by flexing flex. It
results in the flexing star points (small metal pins connecting between the
board and the IC) breaking or bending.
Electrical damage affects the solder bond between the leads of the IC and
the PCB pads. It can cause an open circuit or short circuit. Short circuits
are usually bent leads connecting to other pads, while open circuits have
broken leads.
You should take special care should when handling ICs since they are very
sensitive to mechanical shock. The reason being is that an IC is very fragile
and small, so it can easily get damaged if dropped or hit by debris.
ICs themselves are sensitive to certain chemicals. For example, one can
damage some ICs by exposure to solvents. Be careful not to put them in
places where they can get exposed to chemicals.
We should use care when installing the IC on the circuit board. Firmly
press them down onto their pads with your index finger or thumb after
you have applied flux to the pads and leads of the IC.

Some ICs contain ceramic packages, and we should handle them with care.
They are very fragile and can easily break if dropped or struck by debris.
Some ICs contain polysilicon package and can break if looked at directly. It
happens because the package will heat up significantly.
You should take care when handling these types of ICs as they can easily
get broken or broken off during handling and overheat and potentially
become damaged due to excessive heat.
Choosing a suitable IC board
The main reason for using these boards is to link components that may
want to operate using a single power supply instead of several power
supplies. It is to link devices that we cannot change if something goes
wrong with them. The main purpose is not to change its operational
parameters at any cost. In addition, IC boards have different designs that
depend mainly on the size of the components they will include and how
easy they are to use or manufacture.
A PCB designer must be knowledgeable about these designs since they
are the ones that will help them to select the best one for creating the PCB.
After considering this, he must also know how each design works.

However, to use these designs properly, an engineer needs to analyze all
options first and then make correct choices. When an engineer chooses a
certain design over another one, he needs to know how it works and other
designs’ features.
In addition, the manufacturing process of each design is also essential
when choosing a certain type of design. In this way, an engineer can select
the most suitable one that is easy to manufacture. We highly recommend
that he consider all things before deciding on a specific type of design.
The first step is to choose the best design for an IC board. After that, he
can go to the second step, choosing how he will manufacture the board.
All these steps are quite necessary, so the engineer should know them
well. Also, he should learn how to implement them correctly.
Things to keep in mind
 To do the IC board design, first, you should take some time to think
about the whole system that will include this board. Then you can
start to consider different kinds of designs that we can use for this
purpose.
 After considering all these points, you must start with one of these
designs based on your choice. You should start producing the
designs with CAD systems.

 In the end, your design is ready for manufacturing to prepare all
these files for manufacturing process production.
IC board manufacturing process
Choose the best design for an IC board
The first step of producing an Integrated Circuit board is to choose the
best design for it. To make sure that everything will be fine, we
recommend that you consider all details before deciding. You can
consider the type of components you will use, the number of these
components included in the design, and how much space each
component will need. When you have all these factors in your mind, you
can make a good choice.
Selecting a PCB manufacturing company
After creating a PCB design suitable for creating a particular product, a
PCB designer must now decide how to manufacture this board. You must
make this decision carefully because there are different choices. The main
factors that you should consider when choosing this manufacturing
company are the types of manufacturing processes they use, their
production capacity, and the cost of their services. Having a global
manufacturer such a RayMing PCB and Assembly will help ensure that

your product will be up to standard since you are contracting them for an
assembly job.
Selecting each design to manufacture
When the PCB designer selects a certain design, he must know the
manufacturing process. This process is quite essential. Otherwise, he may
choose the wrong one for this product or create problems in its
production. These problems can occur when he does not consider the
entire process of the board’s manufacturing process. If this happens, he
will make mistakes in his design and its production.
Selecting suppliers for components
After selecting the PCB manufacturing company and designs, an engineer
must establish a list of suppliers for components. Then, he can ask them
to provide him with what he needs in his design.
Establishing an assembly process
After receiving all components of the product, an engineer must establish
an assembly process to test the functionality of this product. He must
also test the boards to see if the manufacturing process is correct and
working fine.

Final steps
The last step of producing an IC circuit board is checking all aspects of the
component’s design. This step is quite essential because it will help the
engineer to use this product correctly.
To choose a suitable design for creating a specific product, an engineer
should consider all factors relating to its manufacturing.
Conclusion
The essential components needed for any electronic system, such as an IC
board, come from manufacturers worldwide. Almost every producer is
selling printed circuit board designs which you can find in several online
shops.
Nowadays, there are also specific boards that you can find, designed
especially for the main parts of specific electronic systems and not just for
general use.
There are many different characteristics of printed circuit boards that
differ between the various models. It makes it very important to consider
what you need before buying any of these boards. Because no matter how
many features it has, if they are not necessary for your specific purpose,
you will just be wasting your money.

Related Posts:
1. Altium Rotate Board – How to Rotate a Board in Altium Designer
2. What do you need to know about Sub PCB Board?
3. What is PCB Board Specification?
4. About the TG170 PCB Circuit Board
https://www.raypcb.com/ic-board/

What Is An IC Board

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

What Is An IC Board

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RAYMING PCB & ASSEMBLY

contains integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on the board. Typically, you

includes identifying common ICs found on boards, their applications, and

what types of damage can happen to them.

How do IC boards work?

IC on boards work using components and connections. Depending on the

several interconnecting wires that link the components together.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

be hard to imagine how they work at all.

connections. These links connect link various components together. They

require mechanical support, both internal and external, to function

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Types of IC boards surface mounts

It is a system of the most modern electronics where you mount the

place them anywhere on this base and move it around.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

adjacent to each other.

The method we attach all chips directly to a substrate allows us to connect

for devices, such as semiconductor components, which need to connect.

We use IC boards for installing these devices or components. Also, we use

are the main reason for connecting these devices.

We install IC boards to link components that we may operate by using a

single power supply instead of several power supplies. It is to link devices

purpose is not to change its operational parameters at any cost.

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

With today’s modern technology and modern electronic devices and

all electronic systems, especially when we speak about small or

medium-sized electronic systems.

for new ways to improve them is to introduce new components or

Can we use IC boards for producing consumer products? Yes, IC boards

are compatible with consumer products.

We use these boards in modern electronic appliances because they come

consumers can easily introduce these devices.

now used in industrial products as well. Most of these components are

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

system if one fails.

Request PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Quote Now

Microcontroller Application Areas

A microcontroller is a small computer chip (IC) designed to control

machines’ speed, direction, and other mechanical tasks. We use

microcontrollers in industrial, medical, automotive, consumer

products, robotics, and other electronics.

microcontrollers for anything in the machine function. A manufacturing

common application areas are in the following:

1. Automation – We can use these components in many forms of

machines. It includes assembly lines, packaging lines, printing

machines, and robotic devices. We can integrate them into

automated equipment or directly wire them into the machinery

PCB Manufacturing & Assembly Services https://www.raypcb.com/

2. We use industrial Control in industrial control systems. It includes

automated control systems, industrial robots, and factory

3. Medical – We use ICs for medical equipment such as X-Ray

machines, Endoscopes, and blood pressure machines. Company

physicians use them for small patient monitoring systems or send

them to the machine’s manufacturer to integrate them into it.

4. Mechanical – These are usually found in assembly line equipment

like robotic arms, conveyors, and pick/place units (aka robotic

5. Vacuum – We usually find them in specialty machines for

maintaining or servicing vacuum systems, such as vacuums used in

warehouses or food processing plants.

6. Test – We use them in measuring instrumentation equipment, test

chambers, temperature control devices, and other measurement

7. Misc Electrical – We find them on the back of electrical equipment