PCB Routing

Routing in your PCB makes copper connections between components, and best routing practices will help ensure signal integrity, low crosstalk, and low EMI. Browse our library of resources to learn more about routing in your PCB and how the best PCB layout software helps you obey routing rules and signaling standards.

PCB Routing in Altium Designer Design Rules for PCB Routing Efficient PCB Routing Tools (Webinar)

Mode conversion

A Guide to Mode Conversion, Its Causes, and Solutions Differential pairs are most often discussed in terms of their impedance and length matching tolerance, both with the goal of ensuring proper termination at the receiver and suppression of common mode noise. On interconnects, such as board-to-board connections or cascaded transmission line arrangements, you have an important EMC compliance metric that is sometimes overlooked. This is mode conversion, which can be visualized in an S-parameter Read Article

Differential stripline impedance calculator

Differential Stripline Impedance Calculator Try our differential stripline impedance calculator, built based on Wadell’s equations. Read Article

Differential Microstrip Impedance Calculator

Differential Microstrip Impedance Calculator Learn more about using and interpreting results from a differential microstrip impedance calculator. Read Article

differential pair impedance calculator

Differential Pair Impedance: Using a Calculator to Design Your PCB Do you know what to look for in your differential pair impedance calculator? We've compiled the important information you need to know in this short guide. Read Article

pcb via size

PCB Via Size and Pad Size Guidelines Do you know what PCB via size you should use in your PCB layout? We’ll look at a few simple ways to answer this question. Read Article

tented vias

When to Use Tented Vias in Your PCB Layout Some designers swear by tented vias and prefer to always use them. When should these be used and when should they be avoided? We’ll explore in this article. Read Article

Gibbs phenomenon

How the Gibbs Phenomenon Produces Measurement Artifacts The Gibbs phenomenon is a measurement artifact that can be mistaken for real signal integrity problems like ground bounce, ringing from reflections, or resonance on short lines. Read Article

HDI PCB design and HDI PCB manufacturing process

Design Basics for HDI and the HDI PCB Manufacturing Process As the world of technology has evolved, so has the need to pack more capabilities into smaller packages. PCBs designed using high-density interconnect (HDI) techniques tend to be smaller as more components are packed in a smaller space. An HDI PCB uses blind, buried, and micro vias, vias in pads, and very thin traces to pack more components into a smaller area. We’ll show you the design basics for HDI and how Altium Designer^® can help you create Read Article

Reduce copper losses

Recover Conductor Losses By Clearing Your PCB Ground Layer Need to recover some conductor losses? Here’s how clearing out your ground plane near an I/O or connector can help. Read Article

Differential Impedance Specification

How to Design to a Differential Impedance Specification Differential impedance is sometimes misunderstood and it depends on multiple factors. Learn more about trace width design needed to reach a specific differential impedance target. Read Article

Differential Pair Spacing

Should You Use Tight vs. Loose Differential Pair Spacing and Coupling? We get a lot of questions about trace impedance and how to calculate the right trace size to hit a specific impedance in a manufacturable PCB. Just as important as determining an appropriate trace width for a single-ended trace is determination of an appropriate spacing between two traces in a differential pair. So the question is, how close do the traces in a differential pair need to be to each other, and is the need for “tight coupling” really Read Article

USB 2-layer PCB

Routing Requirements for USB 2.0 on a 2-Layer PCB In an earlier blog, I discussed some of the basic points in preparing routing rules for 2-layer PCBs to support routing and layout with digital signals. In particular, we looked at some of the basic stackup and routing rules needed to support a digital interface like I2C or SPI on a 2-layer PCB. When working with these interfaces, a few simple guidelines can help ensure signal integrity in your board and cut down on EMI. What about an impedance Read Article

2-layer PCB Routing

Can You Route Digital Signals on a 2-layer PCB? 2-layer PCBs are a common entry-level choice for designers, and they can even support high speed designs if built correctly. Read Article

4 Layer PCB Stackup

Two Alternative 4 Layer PCB Stackups With 50 Ohms Impedance Need a 4-layer PCB stackup that can support high speed components on both sides of the board? Consider these alternatives to the typical 4-layer stackup. Read Article

microstrip to ground clearance

Microstrip Ground Clearance Part 2: How Clearance Affects Losses In a previous article, I provided a discussion and some simulation results on the necessary clearance between impedance controlled traces and nearby grounded copper pour. What we found was that, once the spacing between the pour and the trace becomes too small, the trace becomes an impedance-controlled coplanar waveguide (with or without ground). We also saw that the 3W rule for the spacing between the trace and the grounded copper pour is a bit Read Article

Differential Pairs and Differential Signals

What Are Differential Pairs and Differential Signals? Differential pairs and differential signals are the mainstay of high speed digital communication and data transfer. Read Article

PCB routing

How to Route a PCB Learn about Routing a PCB and how to design traces to proper routing in any device. You can access the best PCB routing features in Altium Designer. Read Article