Gamechangers Come in Many Forms

Merriam Webster defines a game changer as "a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way". First known use of "game changer" -- 1993.

            

In just the past month, at least two "gamechanger" examples have come about in the electronics world. One is a product developed by Henkel called Loctite GC 10 solder paste, which the company has touted as the first-ever temperature stable solder paste. Up to now PCB solder paste, with all of the various additives needed for optimum process soldering, required refrigeration from manufacturer to user and until use. It also had a brief shelf life, generally between 3-6 months.  Imagine the challenges involving a PCB manufacturing facility in Ecuador, India, or Indonesia, and the need for "fresh" solder paste that may or may not have remained refrigerated en route to delivery.

            

Yes. This new "temperature stable" solder paste may be an important game changer for the worldwide electronics manufacturing community.

            

A second "gamechanger" example is the recent development by Columbia University Engineering researchers of a technology that enables full-duplex radio integrated circuits (ICs) -- that can be implemented in nanoscale CMOS-- to enable simultaneous transmission and reception at the same frequency in a wireless radio, something never done before.  This, too, may be a bona fide gamechanger.     

Gamechangers in the development and manufacture of passive electronic components such as those produced by ETI companies sometimes (but, not often) come in the form of breakthroughs or discoveries. More often, our engineers are found working behind the scenes with customers who have need for our circuit design and application experience, in addition to our excellent products.

            

Our engineers' suggestions often improve performance, or, achieve the required performance for less cost (see example). We call it "Component Design For Manufacturing" (CDFM), a process by which our component design engineers work with customers' circuit design engineers to work through the circuit's requirements, tolerances, and alternatives (including variations in component design) to arrive at the most cost effective solution.

            

Is CDFM a gamechanger? Our customers might think so. To us, it's just a better way of doing business.

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