1800s
Photosensitive coatings perfected, enabling use of photoengraving and setting the stage for future copper etching processes.

1903

German inventor Albert Hanson describes a flat foil conductor laminated to an insulating board, using multiple layers. The concept lays the groundwork for the printed circuit.

1907
Paul Eisler (right), "father of the PCB," is born in Vienna, Austria.

1913
British engineer Arthur Berry patents a print-and-etch method.

1948
US authorities rule that all electronic circuits for airborne instruments were to be printed.

1957

The Institute for Printed Circuits is founded in Chicago.

1950

Racal Electronics is founded in the UK.

1960s and 1970s
Boards were designed using 4:1, red-and-blue line vellum method for hand-taping components and tracks. A precision camera then produced the 1:1 negative manufacturing film. An experienced designer could lay out and tape a board at the rate of about two hours for each equivalent 14-pin IC on the board.

Pads were about 70 mils or greater, and traces and spacing were 25 mils. Boards were typically double-sided, with only a small percentage of multilayer boards, usually no more than four layers.

Gerber Scientific introduces RS-274-D as a machine-based format for vector photoplotters.

1963

Scientific Calculations founded.

1965

Racal Electronics founds Racal-Redac.

Mid 1960s

CAD comes into existence. Developed in three directions: blind-digitizer based CAD, design automation CAD and auto-interactive CAD.

1960s/70s

Boards were designed using 4:1, red-and-blue line vellum method for hand taping components and tracks. A precision camera then produced the 1:1 negative manufacturing film. Experienced designers could lay out and tape a board at the rate of about two hours for each equivalent 14-pin IC on the board.

Pads were about 70 mils or greater, and traces and spacing were 25 mils. Boards were typically double-sided with only a small percentage of multilayer boards, usually no more than four layers.

1970

Racal-Redac releases PDP 15-based PCB, schematic and silicon layout; Z-Router—line probe; and A-Route—Lee maze.

1974

Scientific Calculations introduces SCICARDS.

1975

Dansk Data Elektronik A/Z founded.

Racal-Redac releases MINI PCB design system, PDP11/34-based.

1976

Makoto Kaneko (above) founds Zuken.

University of Texas researchers James Truchard, Bill Nowlin and Jeff Kodosky found National Instruments.

Polar Instruments founded by ex Tektronix engineering manager Doug Campbell.

Dr. Charles Jennings, a Sandia Laboratories chemist, publishes the research that later becomes the guide for current carrying capacity and dielectric breakdown in industry standards for the next 30 years.