Like other electronic devices, cell phones have undergone many advancements in the many years of their existence.

However, a cellphone’s difference is its many added utilities that have made it more popular for use. The cellphone has been transformed from just a communication device to a device with an almost endless possibility.

With added utilities, including cameras, music players, and even scanners, the cellphone has become a necessary luxury.

This increased function impacts the PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), accommodating these additional components as tiny elements connect on sometimes small or layered PCBs.

Hence, there is the need to properly ascertain the integrity of these components’ connections on the PCBs.

However,  X-ray machines are  mostly automated and can be modified to suit different inspection specifications.

One technology that has seen increased use for inspecting the integrity of PCB connections is X-ray technology. PCB X-ray inspection has enjoyed popularity in assessing cellphone’s PCBs because it can identify various defects even when hidden from the ordinary eye.

Workings of PCB X-ray inspection

When inspecting PCBs using X-ray technology, skilled technicians often pass the samples through the rays generated from an X ray machine.

This machine is a piece of industrial radiography equipment similar in principle to the X-ray equipment used in the medical field to scan human bones for fracture.

This Industrial radiography equipment generates radiations from an X-ray tube to penetrate the hidden parts and layers of the PCB and to locate flaws present within the board.

Nonetheless, a specified threshold dose is vital for the radiation generated. This dose should stay within the threshold so that it does not cause additional errors to the already present ones – if there are any errors.

The radiation then projects an image of the samples on a screen for onward analysis and identification of the defects using computer programs.

Defect detection using X-ray inspection

X-ray machine price is usually not a big deal since several imperfections can be identified when conducting PCB X-ray inspection. The ones that are often encountered are highlighted below.

• Registration defects occur due to misalignment of components with pads or solder balls on BGA (Ball Grid Array) systems. Computer analysis of the X-ray image can quickly identify this critical flaw employing image magnification and enhancement processes.
• A missing connection happens when either the solder is misplaced on the PCB or the solder balls are absent on the BGAs. Rough handling and packaging mishandling can usually cause missing connections.
• Voids in solder is another possible error that PCB X-ray inspection can easily detect. Solder joints can contain voids due to overheating of trapped compounds within the solder. This void may result in process failure later on.  
• Wrong solder placement often occurs when a solder ball is removed but not properly dislodged from the BGA. This misplaced solder ball often finds itself under or around another component leading to a possible bridging problem.
• Inadequate solder connection is encountered due to insufficient flow of solder to establish proper contact between the PCB and components. A cold solder joint can also lead to unsatisfactory solder connection if the flow heat required for the solder is not sufficient.
• Solder Bridges are putting an excessive quantity of solder on one or more PCB contacts. It also occurs when solder balls are delivered to the wrong contacts on the PCB. 

An X-ray inspection will identify such errors as dark spots even though no mark is expected in those areas. 

Identification of this flaw using X-ray inspection prevents failures that might occur during a power-up test of the PCB.

• The open connection will occur if there is no link between the solder and the pad contacts. This flaw might be attributed to inadequate melting of solders of one end, or both ends of a BGA, resulting in a loss of connection.
• Misaligned and missing components on PCB are placement errors that X-ray inspection can detect using polarization. A polarized capacitor, for instance, has an orientation that X-rays can check to confirm if it is right using its offset punch.

All these detection capabilities justify its benefits when considering X-ray machine price.

Final Take

The role of PCB X-ray inspection in ascertaining the integrity and quality of PCBs produced for cellphones cannot be overemphasized. This role has many merits that have made it popular in the electronic industry as the preferred method or inspection tool.

However, a critical look at the PCB manufacturer’s need is essential in choosing the best X-ray inspection solution that is well-suited to meet this need. 

This analysis is needed because X-ray inspection solution providers have developed a wide variety of X-ray systems. 

These systems can range from basic to well-advanced ones. They can carry functions that may include 2D or 3D imaging, single or multiple sampling production lines, and manual or automatic solution systems.

The foreign exchange market is the world’s largest, and most liquid marketplace. On a typical day, more than $6.6 trillion changes hands each day, mostly over the counter. These ‘OTC’ deals are made between individuals, private entities, and banks rather than your typical exchange. Up until recently, a lot of these trades were placed over the phone. But over the last couple of years, a big transformation has taken place. different forms of technology have found a place within this market which in turn has encouraged more traders to start investing and trading.

Where did it all start?

History tells us that people were exchanging and trading different forms of currency as far back as Biblical times. Stalls were set up in and around market places, allowing those that visited to exchange one currency for another. By the 4th century AD, the currency market was under the control of the Byzantine Empire due to its importance in the world of trade.

By the Mediaeval period, the Italian Medici family were exchanging currencies on behalf of local textile merchants and opened banks to facilitate it. They kept track of the exchange between foreign and local currencies in a book called a Nostro. By the 18th Century, Amsterdam had created the world’s first forex market and exchanged currencies between the County of Holland and England. But it wasn’t until 1880 that foreign exchanges were officially established in the US. This was the same year that the Gold Standard was first used.

The 20th century was dominated by the pound sterling and exchanges in London, Paris, New York, and Berlin. Wealthy and influential families like the Klienworts were considered pioneers and leaders in this way of working.

Over the following years, exchanges opened in almost every country in the world. Each capital typically has its own exchange and is surrounded by a plethora of investment, trading, and financial businesses. A multi-billion industry in its own right, asides from the trading volume, it has a big impact on business, economy, and even fiscal matters.

Ok, but what is forex?

We’ve established that the forex market is about currency exchange and has been around for many years, but what is forex trading? How does it work? When you get deeper into forex you’ll start hearing all about currency pairs, which can be major, minor or exotic. They come in pairs because, when compared to another currency, every currency has a certain value. This value represents how much of the other currency you will get when you trade it.

The value of each currency changes depending on demand, economic and political events, social situations, and even business matters. Traders will typically hold one currency until it reaches a certain value when compared with a different currency. At this point, they will exchange it, or buy the other currency in the hopes of making a profit.

This was once done in person, via email, or over the phone. But in 2021, there are a number of more technologically advanced ways to work.

Technology and forex

The way we work has undergone drastic changes in the last few years. Most of the things we do have become fully digitised, or are gradually being replaced by online options. Banking, financial services, and all kinds of trading are now being conducted through digital platforms and over the Internet.

Trading apps

In 2020, there were more than 2.8 billion smartphone users worldwide. Growing at a rate of around 100 million every single year, the demand for mobile-based solutions is increasing. While there is still a need for web-based platforms, mobile-optimised apps and websites are a must. As more and more casual traders start to invest in forex, the demand to be able to do so “on-the-go” has increased. They do not want to have to log onto a computer every time they want to execute a trade, instead preferring to do so with the swipe of a thumb from their mobile device.

AI trading

Artificial intelligence has made huge strides in the last few years. It’s now widely used in a number of ways including customer service, advertising, and data gathering and processing. In fact, most of us have interacted with an AI assistant or chatbot and not even realized it! But AI has also found a great integration use case in the forex trading market.

Before the use of AI, traders or trading agents would have to sit, watch, and be ready to execute trades at exactly the right moment. A mistake, a pause, or missing a moment by just a second could result in significant losses. AI trading allows traders to set certain parameters and when they are met, they can pre-specify what action should occur. This removes a lot of human error, but also emotional trading which can also lead to big losses.

Blockchain 

The technology that underpins bitcoin has been making waves in its own right for quite some time now. Once eyed with cynicism, it is now being embraced by some of the world’s largest banks, financial institutions, companies, and even governments. It is also being introduced into the forex market.

A fully decentralized and immutable system, blockchain can record and store every single forex transaction. Once they are on the blockchain, they cannot be changed or reversed in any way. This could usher in a new era of accountability and transparency for the sector as well as making transaction management much easier.

The forex market is continuing to grow at a stratospheric rate. Fuelled by growing interest and the integration of new technology, it’s becoming more accessible to all kinds of users. While it was once something that was only for professional or experienced investors is now open to all and is enjoyed by people the world over. Recent volatility in the markets has also encouraged people to get their mobiles out and start trading on online forex trading platforms, as well as keeping up to date with all the latest financial news. As our world gets more digitised we can expect the trend of interest in forex to continue. Trading volumes will go up, and the number of technological enhancements specific to the forex sector will surpass what most of us can currently imagine.