PCB Design | Sierra Circuits Blog

Posted on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 by Pankaj Shrotre

How Does Trace Width Calculation Impact PCB Design?

Yes, It may Ruin Your PCB In-house Party.

Traces within the PCB are used to connect various components to various connectors. These traces can be identified as continuous paths of copper that exist on the surface of a circuit board. The trace width becomes crucial as it directly impacts on the working of the PCB. Additionally, increasing electricity flowing through PCB traces produces an immense amount of heat. Monitoring trace widths also helps minimize the heat build-up that typically occurs on boards. The conductor width also determines the resistance of the traces that directly affect the electricity flow.

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Posted on May 21, 2019May 23, 2019 by Rahul Shashikanth

Via: The Tiny Conductive Tunnel That Interconnects the PCB Layers

Vias are miniature conductive pathways drilled into the PCB to establish electrical connectivity between the different layers. Basically, a via is a vertical trace in a PCB.

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Posted on May 16, 2019May 16, 2019 by Amit Bahl

Comparing the Manufacturability of PCB Laminates

This presentation will discuss how to properly select PCB laminates or materials. Before selecting begins, there are many factors to consider. Make sure material characteristics fit your specific board requirements and end application. Today, we will focus on the dielectric properties, cost, and manufacturability of materials suitable for high-speed PCB designs.

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Posted on April 5, 2019 by Rahul Shashikanth

Wet PCB Etching Using Acidic and Alkaline Methods

PCB etching is a process of removal of unwanted copper (Cu) from the circuit board. When I say unwanted, it is nothing but the non-circuit copper that is removed from the board. As a result, the desired circuit pattern is achieved.

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Posted on April 4, 2019 by Steve Sandler

Ultra-low Impedance Testing Using the 2-Port Shunt-Through Measurement Technique

Measuring ultra-low impedances (20 micro-ohm) is a challenge for any power distribution network (PDN) design engineer. The 2-port shunt-through measurement is the standard method for measuring milliohm impedances up to very high frequencies (GHz). Unfortunately, this measurement includes an undesirable ground loop related to the instrument grounds and test setup cabling. The ground loop introduces significant errors if proper care is not taken. This application note shows how to measure as low as 20 μΩ using the Picotest J2102A as a ground loop breaker.

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Posted on April 3, 2019 by Rahul Shashikanth

Prepreg: The Slice of Cheese in your PCB

As simple as it is, a prepreg is nothing but an insulation layer. Prepreg is a dielectric material that is sandwiched between two cores or between a core and a copper foil in a PCB, to provide the required insulation. You can call it as a binding material as well. It either binds two cores or a core and a copper foil.

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