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Design Circuit
Column from: Patrick Crawford
Patrick Crawford is the manager of design standards and related industry programs at the Global Electronics Association. Patrick manages the IPC-2581 Generic Requirements for Printed Board Assembly Products Manufacturing Data and Transfer Methodology Standard, IPC-2231 DFX Standard, and the IPC-175x family of materials and substances, lab report, and responsible minerals sourcing declaration standards. He is currently the liaison to the Design Community Leadership, the industry leadership group of IPC Board Design Standards. Patrick and the Design Community Leadership work to develop the IPC Board Design Standards program as the Global Electronics Association redoubles its efforts to serve the printed board design engineering industry.
Patrick earned his master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, where his studies focused on the growth of nanoscale carbon allotropes for use in next-generation memory devices and novel biomedical applications.
May 24, 2022
Design Circuit: Green Ambition for the Electronics Manufacturing Industry
Regulations, policies, and plans are being adopted around the world which require manufacturing companies of all kinds to implement sustainable engineering practices. These efforts are numerous and are intended to protect human and environmental health as well as the integrity of supply chains that may rely on non-renewable resources. While these regulations largely focus on limiting the release of chemicals—either during production or end-use—that contribute to anthropogenic climate change, most also address the potential hazards to both workers and consumers posed by the process chemicals and materials used to manufacture a product.November 18, 2021
Design Circuit: The Cost of Compliance and How Data Transfer Standards Can Help
In the more than half-century since the rise of electronic devices, nearly every human being on the planet has, at some point in their life, come into contact with one. As this contact became an inevitability in most parts of the world, human health and safety also became a critical factor in the design of all electronics. From this need to protect users from the myriad deleterious effect of toxins in electronics there arose dozens of global regulations regarding hazardous substances.June 16, 2021
Design Circuit: The IPC PCB Design Desk Reference is On Its Way
Last month, a group of industry experts met to review and finalize IPC-DR-DES, a PCB Design Desk Reference that is designed to help designers and engineers understand the requirements and critical parameters of IPC design standards. While I have referred to this project in previous columns, it is now in final draft.April 01, 2021
Design Circuit: IPC-2231A—Insights from the IPC 1-14 DFX Subcommittee
In mid-2019, IPC released IPC-2231, DFX Guidelines, a comprehensive guide for establishing best practice methodology in developing a formal DFX (design for excellence) process for laying out printed boards and assemblies. The sections pertaining to these major theme areas discuss how they impact the overall performance and cost of the final board assembly.January 14, 2021
Design Circuit: 2021 Updates to IPC Design
A year of COVID-19 has taught the world how to operate more efficiently in the virtual amphitheater, and IPC is no different. While standards development meetings have historically occurred via teleconference, and most internal IPC business is conducted remotely, our larger programs—training and educational activities, full-day development meetings, hand-soldering competitions, etc.—have always relied on face-to-face collaboration.November 20, 2020
Design Circuit: Failures of Imagination—A Column of Caution
Regarding board design, IPC has been busy. Patrick Crawford previews work going on with IPC-2581—often referred to as DPMX—IPC-2231, and IPC Design and focuses on the advancement of electronics and technology in general.September 30, 2020
Design Circuit: IPC-2231 Captures Board Design Best Practices
There are new document revisions being prepared for industry review throughout the IPC standards development ecosystem. Patrick Crawford focuses on one such document: the IPC-2231 DFX Guidelines, which is currently being revised into IPC-2231A and will help create excellent boards.August 13, 2020
Design Circuit: An Update on the Italian IPC Design Chapter
Patrick Crawford had the opportunity to speak with Pietro Vergine, the chair of the leadership team for the new Italian IPC Design Chapter. He spoke with Pietro about the design space in Italy, as well as his plans for the Italian IPC Design Chapter.July 29, 2020
Design Circuit: There Is No Knowledge That Is Not Power
Patrick Crawford from IPC Design highlights its exciting portfolio of online courses, on-demand lectures, and quiz features designed to enhance your skills and abilities. Take your learning to the next level!June 15, 2020
Design Circuit: An Update on IPC and IPC Design
While the world seemingly stands still, IPC’s technical standards committees are teeming with activity. Patrick Crawford explores the attendance growth for virtual standards meetings, as well as future plans and hopes for IPC and IPC Design.May 12, 2020
Design Circuit: Competition as a Tool for Growth
In his debut column, Patrick Crawford—manager of design programs and related industry programs at IPC—highlights the new IPC Design program and announces plans for an international printed board design competition, which will also include a student division.
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