Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Multi-layer PCBs are usually used in high-speed, high-performance systems. Some of the layers are used for power or ground reference planes. These planes are usually solid planes without partitions. Regardless of the purpose of these layers and the voltage, they will serve as current return paths for the adjacent signal traces.

The most important thing to construct a good low impedance current return path is to plan the design of these reference planes reasonably. Figure 1 shows a typical multilayer PCB stack-up configuration.

The signal layer is mostly located between these metal entity reference plane layers, forming a symmetrical stripline or an asymmetrical stripline. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces (top and bottom) of the board are mainly used to place component pads. There are also some signal traces on them, but they should not be too long to reduce direct radiation from the traces.

HDI Design PCB Multilayer Rigid PCB

A typical multilayer PCB stack configuration

Usually,  P represents the reference plane layer; S represents the signal layer; T represents the top layer; B represents the bottom layer. Below is a 12-layer PCB to illustrate the structure and layout of a multi-layer PCB, as shown in Figure 6-14. The use of its layers is allocated as “T—P—S—P—s—P—S—P—S— s-P-B”.

Here are some principles for multilayer PCB stack design.

1 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Set the DC voltage for the reference plane: An important measure to solve the power integrity is to use decoupling capacitors. The decoupling capacitors can only be placed on the top and bottom layers of the PCB. The effect of the decoupling capacitors will be severely affected by the wiring and Due to the influence of pads and vias, the traces connecting the decoupling capacitors should be as short and wide as possible, and the vias should be as short as possible.

As shown in the figure, the second layer is set as the power supply for high-speed digital devices (such as processors); the fourth layer is set as the high-speed digital ground, and the decoupling power supply is placed on the top layer of the PCB; this is more reason the design of. In addition, try to ensure that the signal traces driven by the same high-speed device use the same power layer as the reference plane, and this power layer is the power source of the high-speed device.

2 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Determine the multi-power reference plane: the multi-power layer will be divided into several physical areas with different voltages. As shown in the figure, the 11th layer is allocated as the multi-power layer, then the signal current on the 10th layer and the bottom layer nearby will be Will encounter undesirable return path, causing gaps in the return path. For high-speed signals, this unreasonable return path design may cause serious problems. Therefore, high-speed signal wiring should be far away from the multi-power reference plane.

3 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Multiple ground copper layers can effectively reduce the impedance of the PCB and reduce common-mode EMI.

4 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

The signal layer should be tightly coupled with the adjacent reference plane (that is, the dielectric thickness between the signal layer and the adjacent copper layer should be small); the power copper and ground copper should be tightly coupled.

5 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Reasonable design of wiring combination: In order to complete complex wiring, the layer conversion of wiring is inevitable, and the two layers spanned by the same signal path are called a “wiring combination”. When switching between signal layers, ensure that the return current can flow smoothly from one reference plane to another.

In fact, the most common wiring combination design is to avoid the return current from flowing from one reference plane to another but to simply flow from one surface of the reference plane to another.

As shown in the figure, the 3rd and 5th layers, the 5th and 7th layers, and the 7th and 9th layers can all be used as a wiring combination. However, it is not a reasonable design to use the 3rd and 9th layers as a wiring combination. It requires the return current to be coupled from the 4th layer to the 6th layer, and then from the 6th layer to the 8th layer.

This path is for the return current It is not smooth. Although it is possible to reduce ground bounce by placing decoupling capacitors near the vias or reducing the thickness of the dielectric between the reference planes, it is not the best strategy and may not be implemented in actual systems.

6 Multilayer Rigid PCB Design Stack Rules

Set the wiring direction: On the same signal layer, ensure that most of the wiring directions are consistent and orthogonal to the wiring direction of adjacent signal layers. As shown in the figure, the wiring directions of the 3rd and 7th layers can be set as the “north-south” direction, and the wiring directions of the 5th and 9th layers can be set as the “east-west” direction.

For different systems, the configuration of the laminated design is different. Here are some commonly used configurations, as shown in the table.

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