Originally published at: https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/dont-let-annular-rings-drive-you-crazy/ Annular rings are one of the biggest concerns of PCB designers. You know that you may place your via right in the middle of the pad in the design files, but it just does not mean that you will 100 percent avoid tangencies, or even worse, breakouts. Let’s talk about annular rings, shall we?| SierraConnect
I’m working on a six-layer PCB with the following stackup: L1: Top (signals) L2: GND L3: Signal L4: PWR L5: GND L6: Bottom (signals) Some high-speed signals (USB3 differential pairs and a 4-bit SDIO bus) had to be routed on L3 due to space constraints. To maintain return paths, I’ve added stitching vias near signal vias when moving between layers. My question is: since L2 and L4 are both solid reference planes, do I also need stitching capacitors at the start and end of these L3 traces? O...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Originally published at: https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/designing-fabricating-uhdi-pcbs/ Ultra-HDI PCBs are becoming essential in high-speed applications such as AI systems, where circuit density and signal integrity are critical. As operating frequencies go beyond 25 GHz, even small variations in line width, spacing, and impedance can lead to significant signal losses. UHDI technology supports extremely fine features and tight tolerances, making it possible to maintain signal quality whil...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Join our webinar with EMA Design Automation on design considerations and simulation of RF components! Webinar agenda: Typical component placement challenges in radio-frequency circuits Active RF component considerations o Selecting the right RF amplifier o Ensuring frequency stability with oscillators o Using mixers for frequency conversion Passive RF component considerations Effects of component parasitics on circuit performance Techniques to achieve uniform impedance in RF layouts Selecting...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
PCB vias are plated holes that establish an electrical connection among different layers of a PCB. Vias enable the miniaturization and complexity that advanced electronic designs demand, allowing signals and power to navigate through dense circuit topologies. Functionality of vias: what do they really do? Vias act as essential connectors, enabling electrical signals or power to transition between different layers of a printed board. Without vias, signal routing would be restricted to a single...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Solder mask isn’t just cosmetic, it plays a big role in preventing defects during both fabrication and assembly. A few takeaways from our DFM webinar: Solder mask web: Always allow at least 4 mils. Anything tighter requires a special conversation with your fabricator. Color choice: While black solder mask with red silk looks sharp, it’s far harder to process. Black requires much more exposure energy, leading to uneven curing, higher defect risk, and more headaches in manufacturing. Best p...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
A return path in a PCB refers to the low-impedance path through which current flows back to the source after passing through a circuit component. The return current typically traverses through ground planes or adjacent conductive layers to complete the circuit loop. If the return path is poorly designed, return currents may detour, increasing the loop area and making the circuit susceptible to noise, crosstalk, or EMI, especially in high-speed digital or analog circuit designs. Factors affect...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Originally published at: What is ITAR for PCBs? | Sierra Circuits Think about the technology that your company has developed recently and planning to have a patent. You are even ready to roll this out commercially, but then you suddenly learn that some legal requirements may apply. And these requirements include civil and criminal sanctions that can land you in jail for up to 10 years.| SierraConnect - Latest posts
I am working on a backplane PCB in which we have five PSU modules (230 VAC input, 5V DC output) and five custom designed application boards. I will be using 70 um thick layers in backplane PCB. In PCB designs, we sometime use two layers for DC power which we call power planes and two layers for Gnd but this is for DC power and Gnd. Can we also do the same for AC main single phase lines on the PCB ? I mean to route each AC main line on two layers using wide tracks.| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Back when two-layer boards were the norm, one of the main reasons for using a hatched pour was to help balance copper density between each PCB layer and reduce the risk of warping during fabrication. A hatched pour behaves mechanically more like a set of traces than a continuous copper plane, which made it less prone to stress compared to a solid fill when paired with routing on the opposite side. In current HDI manufacturing, you rarely see hatched planes used for this purpose, but the same ...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
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I was wondering if with single layer metal PCBs, can the PCB be built so that 1/8” of the border around the edge of the PCB and the mounting holes can be free of copper, soldermask, and Tpreg so that only the exposed aluminum baseplate is there? This exposed aluminum baseplate would then serve as bonding areas for other metal objects that will contact those areas. It would look a lot like the figure I screen shot captured from your website shown below:| SierraConnect - Latest posts
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Cut Through the NOISE with Neil Jarvis | Trace Talks EP 9 When it comes to RF engineering, some building blocks are absolutely essential. In the latest Trace Talks, Neil Jarvis highlighted one of the most important: amplifiers. What makes them cornerstone components? They take a small signal and make it bigger, whether at the front end of a smartphone or the back end of a base station. But nothing’s perfect: engineers have to work around limitations like intermodulation distortion, compress...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
We just pulled this gem from our recent webinar, and it’s too good not to share. If you’re working on RF layouts, these are the trace routing habits you’ll want to keep in your back pocket: • Keep your traces short → less attenuation, cleaner signals. • Terminate wisely → series resistors up front, or parallel at the receiver to tame reflections. • Match bends & bias on differential pairs → symmetry matters. • Separate arc traces from straight traces → reduce coupling he...| SierraConnect - Latest posts
What’s the min drill size you can reliably manufacture?| SierraConnect - Latest posts
My flexible PCB design requires a stiffener. Since the stiffener is a separate component from the flex circuit itself, I’m unsure about the best way to define it in my PCB design files. Should I use a dedicated mechanical layer to outline the stiffener placement, or would it be more appropriate to define it as part of the coverlay layers? What’s the recommended industry practice for documenting stiffeners in flex PCB designs?| SierraConnect - Latest posts
Hi Team, i am working 2-layer pcb. customer want to meet the thermal fillet should be 100%. for achieve thermal spokes are added for all PTH components. but i have not clarity how much anti pad need to provide for 1.75 pad /1mm drill. 5mil anti pad provided between pad edge to shape. 10mil spacing provided pad edge to shape to connect, which is best to meet 100% fillet.| SierraConnect
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Originally published at: https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/how-to-design-reliable-microvias-in-your-pcbs/ Microvia failure occurs due to the thermal stresses that arise during the PCB assembly process. These stresses can have a significant impact on the reliability of the plated hole. Key design strategies for enhancing microvia reliability include selecting suitable materials for laser drilling, adhering to IPC-T-50M guidelines, and implementing stack-up configurations in alignment with IPC...| SierraConnect
Originally published at: https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/building-pcb-prototype-from-scratch-designers-guide/ Designing a PCB prototype from scratch requires in-depth technical analysis and precise execution. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the process, including every critical step from requirement gathering to final testing and regulatory compliance. Highlights: When creating a PCB prototype: Identify the end application, budget, and regulatory needs to set clear design ...| SierraConnect