Fremont, CA-SchmartBoard announced today that patent,228 was granted to 7,511 Schmartboard's "EZ" technique for hand soldering Surface Mount Technology (SMT) electronic components.
In summary, the patent covers a modification of the circuit board technology. A normal printed circuit board (PCB) consists of two main components on the surface. Solder mask, is the colored areas, and the electronic pads, which is the metallic areas. The electronic pads are on top of the solder mask, and that's where the electronic components are placed. This system works well when circuits are mass-produced with precise robotic pick and place equipment. However, not the average engineer when circuits need to be hand soldered for projects or prototypes, skill or expertise to do it. Alternatively, it is very expensive to have a custom PCB fabricated and parts on it.
Schmartboards new patent requires solder mask being much higher than pillows. The pads are also "pre tinned" with solder. What this amendment does is to electronic components for easy hand-placed by almost anyone. Because the solder already on pillows, a user simply takes a soldering iron and the solder melts component lead or go boards through a new flow furnace. This technology makes it almost impossible to create shorts or bridges when the soldering SMT components.
"Our technology is utilized by three primary user groups: industry, education, and hobbyists," says Neal Greenberg, Schmartboard's VP of sales and marketing. "It has saved a lot of time and money for the industry, SMT technology to be used in education, and has made it possible for amateurs to use current component technologies. Schmartboards website has videos of SMT components are soldered and offers a free demo Board with chip for users to try before they buy. Standard SchmartBoards with "ez" technology has a suggested retail price of $ 9.99 and is available through the Schmartboards website and leading electronic retailer. "
SchmartBoardTM is committed to assisting engineers, students and hobbyists developing electronic circuits, faster, easier, and less expensive than previously possible. Schmartboards patented electronic circuit building blocks makes this possible. Schmartboard's "EZ" technologies and brazing of NumbersTM program makes soldering of surface mount components and circuit creation accessible to almost everyone.