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A PCB board, or a printed circuit board, is a medium used to connect or “wire” components to one another in a circuit.
It takes the form of a laminated sandwich structure of conductive and insulating layers: each of the conductive layers is designed with an artwork pattern of traces, planes and other features (similar to wires on a flat surface) etched from one or more sheet layers of copper laminated onto and/or between sheet layers of a non-conductive substrate
A motherboard, also called mainboard, system board or logic board, is the main printed circuit board in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems.
It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals
Single-sided PCBs: These have only one layer of copper on one side of the substrate. They are the simplest and cheapest type of PCBs, but they have limited functionality and wiring density.
Double-sided PCBs: These have two layers of copper on both sides of the substrate, connected by through-hole vias. They are more versatile and compact than single-sided PCBs, but they still have some limitations in routing complexity and signal integrity.
Multi-layer PCBs: These have more than two layers of copper, alternating with layers of substrate. They can have up to 30 or more layers, depending on the design requirements. They offer higher functionality, wiring density, signal quality and reliability than double-sided PCBs, but they are also more expensive and difficult to manufacture and test.
Rigid PCBs: These have a rigid substrate that does not bend or flex. They are the most common type of PCBs, used in most electronic devices. They can be single-sided, double-sided or multi-layered.
Flexible PCBs: These have a flexible substrate that can bend or fold. They are used in applications that require conformability, such as wearable devices, medical implants and aerospace systems. They can also be single-sided, double-sided or multi-layered.
Rigid-flex PCBs: These combine rigid and flexible substrates in one PCB. They offer the advantages of both types, such as stability, durability, flexibility and space-saving. They are used in complex and high-performance devices, such as cameras, smartphones and military equipment.
Substrate: This is the base material that supports the conductive layers and components. It is usually made of fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin (FR4), which is strong, stable and heat-resistant. Other materials include paper-based phenolic resin (FR2), polyimide (PI), ceramic, metal-core and others.
Copper: This is the most widely used material for the conductive layers or traces on PCB boards. It is highly conductive, easy to etch and solder, and relatively cheap. The thickness of copper can vary from 0.5 oz to 4 oz per square foot, depending on the current carrying capacity and signal frequency required.
Solder mask: This is a protective layer that covers the copper traces and prevents short circuits, corrosion and damage. It is usually green in color, but it can also be blue, red, black or white. It is made of epoxy or polyimide resin with pigments.
Silkscreen: This is a layer that prints labels, symbols and logos on the PCB board for identification and assembly purposes. It is usually white in color, but it can also be black or yellow. It is made of epoxy ink or liquid photo-imageable (LPI) ink.
Raspberry Pi: Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer that runs a full Linux operating system and can be used for various applications, such as web browsing, media streaming, gaming, robotics, and more. Raspberry Pi has a powerful processor, memory, and graphics, as well as built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, HDMI, and audio ports. Raspberry Pi can also interact with external devices and sensors through its 40-pin GPIO header. Raspberry Pi supports many programming languages, such as Python, C, Java, Scratch, and more.
Arduino: Arduino is a microcontroller board that can be programmed to perform specific tasks, such as controlling motors, LEDs, sensors, and other components. Arduino has a simpler processor, memory, and graphics than Raspberry Pi, but it consumes less power and can run on batteries. Arduino does not have built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, HDMI, or audio ports, but it can be connected to various shields and modules that provide these functionalities. Arduino has a 14-pin digital I/O header and a 6-pin analog input header. Arduino can be programmed using the Arduino IDE and the C/C++ language.
Onion Omega2+: This is a tiny IoT board that runs Linux and has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It is compatible with Arduino shields and can be programmed using Python or Node.js. It is cheaper than Raspberry Pi but has less processing power and memory
NVIDIA Jetson Nano: This is a powerful AI board that runs Linux and has a quad-core CPU and a 128-core GPU. It can handle complex tasks such as computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and more. It has similar ports and GPIO pins as Raspberry Pi but also supports MIPI CSI cameras. It is more expensive than Raspberry Pi but has better performance and graphics
ASUS Tinker Board S: This is a hobbyist board that runs Linux or Android and has a quad-core CPU and a Mali GPU. It has similar ports and GPIO pins as Raspberry Pi but also has 16GB of eMMC storage. It supports 4K video output and 192kHz/24-bit audio output. It is slightly more expensive than Raspberry Pi but has better audio quality
Odroid N2+: This is a high-performance board that runs Linux or Android and has a hexa-core CPU and a Mali GPU. It can handle multitasking, gaming, media playback, and more. It has similar ports as Raspberry Pi but also has an IR receiver and an RTC battery holder. It has 40-pin GPIO pins but they are not fully compatible with Raspberry Pi. It is more expensive than Raspberry Pi but has faster speed and lower power consumption
Udoo Bolt V3: This is a mini PC board that runs Windows or Linux and has an AMD Ryzen CPU and a Radeon Vega GPU. It can support VR applications, gaming, video editing, and more. It has various ports such as USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI 2.0a, DisplayPort 1.4a, SATA III, M.2 NVMe SSD slot, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.2 LE. It also has an Arduino-compatible microcontroller that can be programmed using the Arduino IDE. It is much more expensive than Raspberry Pi but has superior performance and functionality
Orange Pi 5: This is a media board that runs Linux or Android and has an Allwinner H6 CPU and a Mali GPU. It can support 4K video decoding and encoding, HDR10/HLG video processing4, HDMI 2.0a output, SPDIF audio output, USB 3.0 port, Gigabit Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5, IR receiver, microphone input, camera interface, LCD interface, touch panel interface. It also has 26-pin GPIO pins that are compatible with Raspberry Pi. It is cheaper than Raspberry Pi but has better media capabilities
Arduino Mega 2560: This is an advanced microcontroller board that can be programmed using the Arduino IDE. It has more memory (256KB flash), more pins (54 digital I/O pins), more serial ports (4 UARTs), more PWM channels (15), more analog inputs (16), than the Arduino Uno. It also supports various shields and modules that provide additional functionalities. It is more expensive than Arduino Uno but has more features and flexibility.