SchmartBoard Awarded Key Circuit Prototyping Patent

April 17, 2009 - PRLog -- Fremont, CA – SchmartBoard announced today that patent 7,511,228 has been granted for SchmartBoard’s “EZ” technology for hand soldering Surface Mount Technology (SMT) electronic components.

In summary, the patent covers a modification of circuit board technology.  A normal Printed Circuit Board (PCB) consists of two main components on the surface.  The solder mask, are the colored areas, and the electronic pads, which are the metallic areas.  The electronic pads are on top of the solder mask, and this is where the electronic components are placed.  This system works great when circuits are mass-produced using precise robotic pick and place technology.  However, when circuits need to be hand soldered for projects or prototyping, the average engineer does not have the dexterity or expertise to do it. Alternatively, it is very expensive to have a custom PCB fabricated and parts assembled on it.

SchmartBoard’s new patent calls for the solder mask to be much higher than the pads.  Additionally the pads are “pre-tinned” with solder.  What this modification does is allow the electronic components to easily be hand placed by virtually anyone.  Because the solder is already on the pads, a user simply takes a soldering iron and melts the solder to the component leads or runs the boards through a re-flow oven.  This technology makes it virtually impossible to create shorts or bridges when hand soldering SMT components.

“Our technology is utilized by three main user groups: industry, education and hobbyists,”  says Neal Greenberg, SchmartBoard’s VP sales and marketing.  “It has saved significant time and money for industry, allowed SMT technology to be used in education, and has made it possible for hobbyists to use current component technology.  SchmartBoard’s website has videos of SMT parts being soldered and offers a free demo board with chip for users to try for themselves before purchasing.  Standard SchmartBoards with “ez” technology have a suggested retail price of $9.99 and are available through SchmartBoard’s website and leading electronic distributors.”

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SchmartBoardTM is committed to helping engineers, students and hobbyists develop electronic circuits faster, easier, and less expensively than previously possible. SchmartBoard’s patented Electronic Circuit Building Blocks makes this possible. SchmartBoard’s “EZ” Technology and Solder By NumbersTM program makes the soldering of surface mount components and circuit creation accessible to virtually anyone.