Abstract:
Printed circuit board (PCB) design is frequently overlooked and underestimated by circuit designers. The quality of circuits measurements, however, is strongly correlated with having a well-designed PCB. This applies to practically all circuit areas including analog, digital, RF, and power applications. This tutorial sheds light on the concepts and techniques behind building high-performance and high-speed PCBs. While this tutorial does not cover basics and fundamentals of PCBs, it presents empirical and commonly practiced methods to deliver professional layouts. This includes studying PCB traces from a transmission line point of view, structuring vias and planes for optimal results, PCB material selection for electrical and mechanical performance measures, and mounting techniques for various ICs packaging.