Low loss PCBs (low loss printed circuit boards) are circuit boards specially designed for reduced attenuation and losses due to the PCB's electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. These PCBs are deployed for high-speed applications like telecommunication, medical, aerospace, automotive, RF and Microwave, defence, and handheld device applications. Low loss PCBs generally have very high physical endurance, making them reliable for longer.
Low loss PCBs are generally very expensive so why should one use them over normal PCB boards? High-speed signals use high-frequency signals, and signal integrity of such signals is very important to maintain. Hence, we use various materials and techniques to ensure that the signal integrity is maintained. Attenuation and loss of signals (especially analog signals) may result in data loss in signal or data misinterpretation for high-frequency signals. Such situations are unwanted in any transmission of data hence signal loss and attenuations are required to be minimised. Low loss PCBs are built to minimise signal loss and transmission attenuation.
The choice of the material of the substrate or the core in a low loss PCB is of utmost importance. The core of the low loss printed circuit boards should have:
Some examples of materials with all the above characteristics are:- Rogers RO4003C and 4350B, Isola Astra MT77 and 100G, Panasonic Megatron 6 and Megatron 7 and ITEQ IT998 and IT968. Rogers, Isola, Panasonic and ITEQ are some of the most reputed manufacturers of circuit board materials.
Impedance control is the biggest factor contributing to signal integrity. Impedance is the obstruction of alternating current due to the combined effect of reactance and resistance on a PCB board. The impedance must be kept uniform throughout the path of the high-frequency/speed signal. There are two types of impedance-controlled trace: –
Some protocols have their own defined impedance with tolerance. One must strictly follow the impedance profile of the protocol they are using for best signal integrity. For example, ethernet uses 100 Ohms of differential impedance, USB 3.X uses 90 Ohms of differential impedance, and GPS antenna circuitry uses 50 Ohms of single-ended impedance.
Failing to maintain controlled impedance results in increased signal reflections, increased Bit Error Rate and increased signal attenuation, thereby compromising signal integrity which defeats the whole purpose of low loss PCB. It is much better to keep a tighter precision for impedance control for better signal integrity.
A low loss PCB must have a sufficient amount of copper (copper by weight). There must be a sufficient amount of copper to be able to conduct current without heating the copper and without maximising conductivity for high-frequency signals.
Other factors are techniques used for drawing traces on a low loss PCB like avoiding long traces, length matching, avoiding right-angled bends, avoiding branching of signal traces, etc. Even the most ideal materials and most perfect impedance control will not help in low loss PCB if the traces are not drawn properly on the PCB.
While low loss PCBs are expensive, low loss printed circuit boards are essential for a wide variety of applications. One must have a very clear idea of the requirements, to get affordable low loss PCBs.
Choose the Suitable Material:– While choosing the material, a dilemma of cost versus performance is very common in high-speed PCBs. Broadly one can categorise the materials available in the market as General Purpose, Low Loss, Very Low Loss and Ultra Low Loss materials and are more expensive as per their chronology. Many vendors support and advise with the choice of materials when asked.
Choose the Suitable Surface finishes:-Low loss PCBs also require more expensive PCB features like surface finishes, tighter impedance control, more copper in PCB, more tests and quality control and use of advanced fabrication techniques, which also must be factored in the cost of a Low Loss PCB.
Omit Unnecessary Functions and Technologies:-Adding more sophisticated features or technologies in PCB will increase the price of a Low Loss PCB accordingly. It is recommended to use more high quality and sophisticated features for better impedance and reliability, but do not overdesign unnecessary functions or technologies in PCB production which may increase the cost a lot.
High-speed and high-frequency signals tend to distort signal transmission, so low loss printed circuit boards are often used in high-speed signal and high-frequency signal transmission. Low loss PCB can keep the signal intact under high-speed and high-frequency transmission, and also improve energy efficiency, so it is a very important PCB. When acquiring ideal ground damage PCBS you need a reliable low loss printed circuit board supplier, and our Viasion is your only option, given our 16 years of manufacturing experience in low loss PCBs. We have many advantages, some of which are as follows:
State-of-the-art manufacturing technology:We utilise modern, cutting-edge manufacturing processes and technologies to ensure the production of high-performance, low-loss PCBS according to the range of signal loss values required by our customers.
High-quality materials:We purchase high-quality dielectric loss materials such as PTFE, Rogers, or other advanced laminates according to customer requirements to provide customers with low loss PCBS that ensure good signal integrity and minimal transmission losses.
Rigorous testing: We implement strict quality control measures, including advanced test methods such as impedance control and network analysis, to ensure that every low-loss PCB meets high-performance standards.
Certification: Our production facilities are ISO certified, which guarantees high-quality production.
Through modern manufacturing techniques and strategic material sourcing, we offer competitive prices without compromising the quality of low loss printed circuit boards.
We are able to supply small and medium-sized outputs of low loss printed circuit boards according to customer requirements to meet customers’ customised needs. We can deliver the goods quickly after manufacturing to ensure that customers receive the goods in a timely manner.
We are a professional supplier of low loss PCB, please check our official website to place an order, to ensure that you will receive the ideal products after the order.
Viasion Technology is your trusted partner & one-stop shop for PCB fabrication, components sourcing, PCB assembly and electronic manufacturing. With more than 16 years of experience, we have been supplying high-quality PCBs with competitive pricing for 1000+ customers worldwide. Our company is ISO9001:2015 Certified & UL Listed, and all our products are 100% E-tested and inspected by AOI & X-RAY to meet the highest industry standards. So please get an instant quote from our sales team now, and we will take care of the rest.
Low loss PCB is a specialized circuit board designed and produced with low-loss material to reduce electrical losses when signals are sent through it.
Low loss PCBs are constructed with an eye towards the signal integrity of the board. The board is fabricated with a combination of specialized m
