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In Praise of the Basics: Passives, Discretes, Magnetics, Wires, and Packaging

Oct. 24, 2023
No matter how sophisticated the software and how fast and powerful the logic, without the rest of the components, wiring, and packaging, nothing would work.

This article appeared in Electronic Design and has been published here with permission.

This article is part of the TechXchange: Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors.

We're lucky to live in an era with such dramatic and revolutionary developments in embedded electronics. Unfortunately, all too often, much of the attention paid to advanced technology focuses on the software and logic involved in the system.

It's important to remember that no matter how sophisticated the software and how fast and powerful the logic, without the discretes, passives, and magnetics on the board, the board itself, and the wires and packaging connecting and protecting it, none of it would work. Every component is a critical link in the chain of functionality of a system.

Discretes and Passives

When it comes to discretes like diodes, transistors, and other semiconductor devices on the board, the industry is in a state of disruptive growth, fomented by both material and topology advances. This evolutionary change is taking place in every sector, from power to sensors to software, leveraging one another upwards. For example, the advances in wide-bandgap semiconductors are fomenting growth in both passive and magnetic component performance as well as overall power circuit topologies.

The passives and magnetic components on the board are also often overlooked in their importance to the overall solution. Component size and performance is directly related to issues like power density and solution footprint. The benefits in reducing component size, provided by the migration to higher operating frequencies, are balanced by the challenges to the operating performance of those smaller components. 

Proper Connections and Packaging

These components and devices must be mounted to a circuit board that offers the necessary connectivity and dielectric performance demanded by the advanced systems to optimize their operation. In addition, the vias, wires, cables, and busbars involved must be the optimal solution for their role in the circuit. Power efficiency is directly tied to thermal management, and a board with poor parasitic performance adds to the waste energy in the system involved.

This includes both the packaging and the related cable connectivity as it relates to environmental resistance, shock and vibration tolerance, and overall performance. It extends to the related subsystems like mounting and racking. No matter how great the solution, if it isn’t properly deployed on good mounts on capable racks, with good packaging and protection, they're guaranteed to fail at some point.

The important thing to remember is that embedded electronic systems are a gestalt of all the components, magnetics, wiring, and packaging used, and any compromises in these vital devices can significantly negatively impact the resulting product or system. Only by paying proper attention to the selection of every component on the board and the related support subsystems can the result represent an optimal solution for the given application.

Read more articles in the TechXchange: Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors.

About the Author

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Microwaves & RF

Alix is Editor-at-Large for Microwaves & RF

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the U.S. military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications, most recently as Editor-in-Chief of Power Systems Design.

Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.

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