South Korean high-tech company LG Innotek has developed what it claims is the world’s smallest Bluetooth module for communications and IoT applications.

The heart of this module consists of a 250µm thick PCB substrate, developed and manufactured by the Austrian interconnections company AT&S in its location in Chongqing, China.

By applying its any-layer technology with stacked micro vias from top to bottom, it was possible to achieve the LG requirements in terms of package density for this Bluetooth module.

“One of the main challenges in the project is the handling of such super thin and small substrates during the entire manufacturing process,” said Wolfgang Brandl, AT&S director of sales. “It requires the most advanced PCB manufacturing equipment which is installed in our brand new facility in Chongqing, China. Additionally, such modules require new material developments with a super low coefficient of thermal expansion similar to silicon to ensure best in class reliability and manufacturability of the module. All these show the excellent technology development of AT&S in terms of miniaturisation and modularisation and gives us confidence that we are well prepared for future requirements.”

The entire Bluetooth module is the size of a grain of rice and includes more than 20 components including resistors, inductors and a communication chip. The module could be used for wireless earphones, smart lighting, hearing aids or continuous glucose monitoring, for example.

“I am proud that one of our interconnection innovations helped to realise this benchmark product from LG Innotek,” said AT&S CEO Andreas Gerstenmayer. “This is another proof for the innovation capacity of AT&S and the dedication our team is working on next generation interconnection.”

AT&S is a manufacturer of high-end printed circuit boards and IC substrates. It industrialises technologies for its core business segments of mobile devices and substrates, automotive, industrial and medical. The company has production sites in Austria (Leoben and Fehring) and plants in India (Nanjangud), China (Shanghai and Chongqing) and South Korea (Ansan near Seoul). The company employs roughly 10,000 people.