PCBWay 12th Anniversary Badge Design

As part of the design contest to commemorate PCBWay’s 12th anniversary, I designed a sci-fi badge.

Design Concept

Taking inspiration from PCBWay’s 12 years of supporting many of us in different areas of technology, innovation, and creativity, I designed this badge based on the concept of identification cards within a sci-fi narrative. This idea reflects the future that PCBWay, through its different services, is allowing us to design and build.

For this design, the commemorative badge features aesthetically placed LEDs as the resverse mount technic to the light will shine through the badge; that simulate a breathing effect along the sides. The circuit automatically increases and decreases the brightness of the LEDs using two LM358 operational amplifiers that charge and discharge a capacitor. The incorporated transistor regulates the current flowing through the LEDs. All of this is controlled through a potentiometer that changes the charging and discharging speed of the capacitor, adjusting the speed of the breathing effect: a living technology!

Additionally, through a sliding switch, it is possible to select the badge’s aesthetic lighting function or use it as a small portable lamp through an Edison LED. In both functions, the badge is powered by a 3.7 V 150 mAh Li-ion battery, which can be recharged through a USB-C port integrated into the badge itself. Furthermore, the charging circuit electronics allow charging batteries up to 1 A, providing a third function as a battery charger.

A space has also been left to place a programmable RFID tag which, although not part of the circuit itself but rather an external element, allows the badge to function as an identifier or keychain. The silkscreen also includes an option for an ID box that the user can fill in, providing a way to customize a PCB.

For the aesthetic section, green and yellow colors were selected as they are commonly associated with PCBWay. The overall design also follows a sci-fi narrative through the badge’s asymmetric shape, while allowing the possibility of using it as a keychain, screwing it onto a surface, or attaching a clip on the back side.

Meanwhile, on the silkscreen we can see three words that represent what PCBWay has meant to me:

• CREATE: As human beings, creating ideas and transforming them into reality is part of a basic human need: expressing our ideas and emotions.
• INNOVATE: Every idea we create as human beings allows us to build identity and purpose, constantly overcoming limits by exploring new technological solutions and possibilities.
• BUILD: PCBWay has given us the opportunity to transform our ideas into functional projects that inspire and solve real-world problems or, as in this occasion, commemorate another year of work.

We conducted some tests to determine the size and shape, and we are still waiting for the electronic cards, which are expected to arrive on May 15. To help the interested community, I will provide feedback once the final card has been built.