When I recently watched the sci-fi classic “Blade Runner,” I was struck by how the movie’s special effects team in 1984 got one aspect about the future so wrong: the big and boxy computer screens. Funny, I thought, they could envision flying cars and lifelike robots, but not flat screen monitors.

Now, of course, flat screens and thin products are everywhere. From TVs and cell phones to electronic readers and tablets, it seems today’s gadgets can’t be too thin or too rich in features. The proliferation of smart mobile appliances with smaller form factors, increased power densities, faster processors, and extended battery life is a trend that presents many challenges for consumer electronics designers. Keep reading…