Abstract:
Reducing via stub resonance in printed circuit boards. In one aspect, a method for reducing via stub resonance in a circuit board includes determining that resonance exists for a signal to be transmitted through a signal via extending across a plurality of layers in the circuit board. The resonance is caused by a via stub of the signal via, the via stub extending past a layer connected to the signal via. A location is determined for a ground via to be placed relative to the signal via, the location of the ground via being determined based on reducing the resonance for the signal to be transmitted in the signal via.
Abstract:
A circuit board comprises a center segment distributing power and low-speed signaling, and outer segments for high-speed signaling. The segments use dielectric materials with different dielectric constants, with the outer segments supporting higher-speed signal transmission.
Abstract:
A high-speed router backplane is disclosed. The router backplane uses differential signal pairs on multiple signal layers, each sandwiched between a pair of digital ground layers. To reduce routing complexity, at least some of the differential signal pairs route through a via pair, somewhere along their path, to a different signal layer. Specific via designs reduce differential signal distortion due to the via pair, allowing the backplane to operate reliably at differential signal rates in excess of 3 Gigabits per second. In particular, each via passes through nonfunctional conductive pads on selected digital ground plane layers, the pads separated from the remainder of its ground plane layer by a clearance, thereby modifying the impedance of the via and reducing reflections from the stubs created by the via.
Abstract:
A semiconductor package substrate is provided, which includes a substrate body having a plurality of conductive through holes formed therein, wherein at least two adjacent conductive through holes are formed as a differential pair, each of which has a ball pad formed at an end thereof; and at least one electrically integrated layer formed in the substrate body, and having an opening corresponding to the two adjacent conductive through holes formed as the differential pair and the ball pads thereof. Thus, the spacing between the conductive through holes and the electrically integrated layer and the spacing between the ball pads can be enlarged by the opening, so as to balance the impedance match.
Abstract:
A circuit board design is disclosed that is useful in high-speed differential signal applications uses either a via arrangement or a circuit trace exit structure. In the via arrangement, sets of differential signal pair vias and an associated ground are arranged adjacent to each other in a repeating pattern. The differential signal vias of each pair are spaced closer to their associated ground via than the spacing between the adjacent differential signal pair associated ground so that differential signal vias exhibit a preference for electrically coupling to their associated ground vias. The circuit trace exit structure involves the exit portions of the circuit traces of the differential signal vias to follow a path where they meet with and join to the transmission lines portions of the traces.
Abstract:
The disclosed board fabrication techniques and design features enable the construction of a reliable, high-layer-count, and economical backplane for routers and the like that require a large number of signaling paths across the backplane at speeds of 2.5 Gbps or greater, as well as distribution of significant amounts of power to router components. The disclosed techniques and features allow relatively thick (e.g., three- or four-ounce copper) power distribution planes to be combined with large numbers of high-speed signaling layers in a common backplane. Using traditional techniques, such a construction would not be possible because of the number of layers required and the thickness of the power distribution layers. The disclosed embodiments use novel layer arrangements, material selection, processing techniques, and panel features to produce the desired high-speed layers and low-noise high-power distribution layers in a single mechanically stable board.
Abstract:
A method and structure are provided for implementing enhanced differential signal trace routing in a printed circuit board. The structure includes a differential signal trace pair and a differential pair via arrangement including a pair of vias. The pair of vias is coupled to the differential signal trace pair for routing the differential signal trace pair between first and second layers of the PCB. The vias are laterally offset by a predefined spacing sharing overlapping clearance holes and are diagonally oriented to allow minimal separation of the differential signal trace pair and matched signal trace lengths of the differential signal trace pair.
Abstract:
A Quadrax to Twinax conversion apparatus includes stacked trace layers of transmission line with a ground plane between the trace layers. Embodiments include trace layers of stripline or microstrip. Orthogonal plated through holes include a diagonal pair of through holes in electrical contact with traces on one of the trace layers and another diagonal pair of through holes in electrical contact with another trace layer. Contact pins extend through these orthogonal plated through holes with one pair of pins making electrical contact with one trace layer and the other pair of pins making electrical contact with another trace layer. The conversion apparatus electrically connects Twinax cables to respectively different trace layers without crossing over or disturbing the relative positions of the Quadrax diagonal pairs for very efficient high-speed data transfer from four wire Quadrax to two wire Twinax cables.
Abstract:
A high-speed, high-power modular router is disclosed. As opposed to conventional designs using optical backplane signaling and/or bus bars for power distribution, the disclosed embodiments combine high-power, low-noise power distribution with high-speed signal routing in a common backplane. Disclosed backplane features allow backplane signaling at 2.5 Gbps or greater on electrical differential pairs distributed on multiple high-speed signaling layers. Relatively thick power distribution layers are embedded within the backplane, shielded from the high-speed signaling layers by digital ground layers and other shielding features. A router using such a backplane provides a level of performance and economy that is believed to be unattainable by the prior art.
Abstract:
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate including a metal portion and a resin portion and having a plurality of through holes formed in the resin portion, conductive members formed within the through holes, a semiconductor chip attached to one surface of the substrate, and a plurality of solder balls attached to the other surface of the substrate. The semiconductor chip and solder balls are electrically connected through the conductive members.