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The Importance of PCB Stackup Design in Your Next Project Layout

In PCB design, it isn’t uncommon for junior designers to quickly throw components into a layout to move to the “fun” part of routing the traces. With PCB design, as with bridges, all the work can be wasted effort if the substrate isn’t designed correctly. Therefore, it is essential first to configure the layer stackup of the board to support the needs of the design. Here are some more details about the importance of PCB stackup design and what to be aware of before going into the layout.

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The characteristic impedance of transmission lines starts with the board stackup.

Methods for Failure Analysis in Circuit Board Systems

Circuit boards have an analysis process they can go through when they suffer a failure. Although a PCB failure doesn’t command the same amount of attention as an accident, it is still essential to understanding the error and preventing it from happening again. Here is a closer look at failure analysis in circuit board systems to better understand this aspect of PCB design and development.

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Becoming a PCB Designer: The Basics and Beyond

The PCB designer career field is projected to continue growing for the foreseeable future, and designers earn far above the average annual income in the United States. If this sounds like a career field that you would be interested in, keep reading. There’s a lot more to tell about becoming a PCB designer.

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PCB layout constraints

Microstrip vs. Stripline: Comparing Manufacturing Methodologies

As signal speeds got faster on printed circuit boards, their potential for emitting or being victimized by noise and interference also increased. Many steps were taken to clear the signal’s pathways, including arranging the board stackup in microstrip or stripline configurations to achieve the best signal integrity. This setup protects sensitive high-speed signals from much of the noise and interference by routing them on a layer adjacent to a reference plane. Let’s take a closer look at microstrip vs. stripline layer configurations and how they may apply to your next design.

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The characteristic impedance of transmission lines starts with the board stackup.

How to Reduce Parasitic Capacitance in PCB Layout

While your PCB layout will never be completely rid of parasitics, you can reduce parasitic capacitance in a PCB layout or take some steps to limit its effects on signal and power integrity. Whether you’re engaging with a PCB service bureau or creating the layout yourself, follow some guidelines to ensure parasitic capacitance does not cause your design to fail.

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