Know About RF and Microwave Printed Circuit Boards

Know About RF and Microwave Printed Circuit Boards

PCBs are an integral part of almost all electrical, electronic and electromechanical devices and gadgets today. They are made of various materials such as FR4, plastic, fiberglass, copper, and so on depending on the application requirements. However, some mission critical application requirements are very specific, and their printed circuit boards need to be designed accordingly using special materials. RF and microwave printed circuit boards are one such type of specially designed boards which can operate in medium to high frequency ranges. These frequency ranges are the most common in smartphones as well as military radars. By looking at these applications, perhaps, one can understand the role played by these printed circuit boards, isn’t it?

What You Require to Make RF and Microwave Printed Circuit Boards? 

There are many PCB manufacturers and assemblers who specialize in regular PCBs of various layers and materials, used in electronic devices. Not all of them may have the infrastructure to make RF and microwave printed circuit boards. The increasing demands of device manufacturers as well as the advancements in electronics have only pushed further the edge and advancements in these PCBs. Here are a few pointers regarding what goes into making these PCBs:

• These boards are made with superior quality FR4 materials, PTFE woven with microfiber glass, or ceramic filled hydrocarbons.
• These materials are thick as well as flexible, and have a good coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
• Their copper and core material surface finish is smooth.
• These materials contribute to a very stable board structure, and make the PCBs functional in extreme temperature environments.
• The frequency signals can travel at a high speed through the board circuit, with minimal or no impedance.
• Combinations of materials in the board stack up ensures reduced overall costs and optimum performance.
• Nowadays, PCBs have complex designs with several components mounted on them. With these type of PCBs, it is easy to mount fine pitch components accurately.
• CTE materials enable very high number of layers even more than 20 or 30, and easily accommodate complex designs and layouts.
• To differentiate between RF and microwave, the frequency range is important. Typically, PCBs designs more than 100 MHz fall in the radio frequency category. However, for actual RF applications, the boards are designed for frequency range more between 500MHz and 2GHz.
• Microwave applications use PCBs which support a frequency beyond 2 GHz.
• These boards are designed to operate on a certain frequency and pass signals within a band or specified frequency range.
• While the materials used for making these PCBs are specific, the equipment used is also special. For instance, plasms etch machinery is used to make thru-holes in these boards with tight tolerances and minimum deviation.
• Laser equipment is also widely used for RF board circuits. This is typically used for imaging and achieving tight tracing widths.
• For boards dealing with such high frequency applications, the. thermal or heat management is an important aspect. So, the coating or laminating materials used for these boards are also safe enough and enable heat transfer through conduction, convection, and radiation.

If you have specific application requirements and need PCBs to operate in high frequencies, ensure you partner with an experienced PCB servicers player who also has the tools and infrastructure to make RF and microwave printed circuit boards. Twisted Traces designs, fabricates, and assembles these type of PCBs. The company has a market presence of over three decades.