What Is a PCB Stackup?

A PCB stackup refers to the specific arrangement of conductive copper and insulation layers on a PCB, which forms its structural and electrical foundation. These alternating layers form the pattern upon which PCB designers build the design components, and they influence factors like power delivery, signal integrity, thermal management, and overall PCB performance.

A poorly designed stackup will negatively impact the circuit’s performance. Here’s all you need to know about this configuration, including the different types and how to design them.

Why is the PCB Stackup Important?

Determines the Board’s Electrical Performance

A well-designed PCB stackup directly impacts the power and signal delivery on the board. Ideally, the stack should provide the shortest path from source to destination, to reduce effects like parasitic capacitance and inductance. By using the shortest path, the stack will also increase signal speed and power delivery.

Influences Signal Integrity and Reduces Noise

Signal noise is similar to the static you can hear on radio, which distorts sound output. A properly designed PCB stack eliminates signal noise or interference by positioning traces far apart or separating the analog and digital circuit sections. The choice of material can also reduce noise if it has a low dielectric constant.

Affects Electromagnetic Compatibility and Reduces Emissions

An EMC-compliant PCB stack shouldn’t interfere with other systems or be interfered with. It employs strategies like shielding, impedance matching, and trace spacing to prevent these negative effects.

What Materials are Used in PCB Stackups?

Copper for Conductive Layers

Copper is the material of choice for signal traces, as well as power and ground planes. Power and ground planes are wider copper surfaces that supply power or provide a low-resistance return path, respectively.

Prepreg and Core for Insulation

The PCB core is a hardened and cured material that provides structural support. It also insulates two adjacent copper layers in dual or multilayer boards. Some multilayer boards can have two or more core layers to enhance the structural integrity. A typical example of core material is FR4.

Prepregs only provide insulation. These dielectric materials are usually sandwiched between two cores or between the core and the copper foil.

Special Materials for High Frequency Applications

Materials like Rogers, Isola, and DuPont are ideal core/substrate materials for high-frequency PCB construction because they have a low dielectric constant and loss.

Common Types of PCB Stackups

Single-Sided With One Conductive Layer

These are the simplest PCBs because they have only one copper layer with the components mounted on one side.

Double-Sided With Two Conductive Layers

The two conductive layers in this board stackup provide twice as much routing space as a single-sided PCB of the same size. This kind of board also has components mounted on both sides. It’s still relatively easy to design.

Multilayer PCBs with 3+ Layers

These boards have the most complex stackup designs because they have at least three copper layers. As the layer count goes up, the PCB's design becomes more complex, and the cost increases. Design-wise, you have to consider factors like signal integrity, impedance matching, and noise when creating the stack.

Common Types of PCB Layer Stackups

PCB layers

2-Layer PCBs

2-layer boards have one copper layer on each side of the substrate. This simple design is ideal for non-complex devices like power supplies, HVAC, power conversion systems, and scientific calculators.

4-Layer PCBs

These PCBs add on two internal dedicated planes for the power and ground. Their primary use is in power electronics with small digital sections. Complex industrial systems also rely on this 4-layer stack PCB.

An example of a 4-layer PCB stack up

6-Layer PCBs

A 6-layer PCB is equivalent to a 4-layer board with two extra signal layers. This board is common in advanced communication equipment.

An example of a 6-layer PCB stack up

8-Layer PCBs

8-layer circuit boards have two additional signal layers added to a 6-layer board, which provides more routing flexibility. This design also makes it possible to have a dense circuit. Typical applications include telecommunication equipment and high-speed computing devices.

An example of an 8-layer pcb stack up

10-Layer PCBs

A 10-layer stack has alternating signal and ground layers in the outer four layers to prevent interference. The two innermost copper planes provide power, one for each side. This arrangement creates complex boards for applications like GPS devices and internet servers.

How is a PCB Stackup Designed?

Considering Signal and Power Integrity Early

PCBs pack large circuits into a thin stack, which exposes the signal and power lines to interference, especially in multilayer designs. Planning the design early is critical to prevent issues like signal degradation and interference.

For instance, in a 10-layer PCB, the outer 4 layers on each side alternate between signal and ground. This design creates noise-canceling barriers between the signal lines. The top and bottom layers should also be signal traces to mount the components.

Besides proper layer arrangement, other factors like via placement, via plugging, and separating the grounds for analog and digital sections ensure the board has signal and power integrity.

Balancing Cost and Performance for Efficiency

Reducing the copper layer count and using cost-effective materials for the core and prepreg will keep costs low. However, these cost-cutting measures can harm performance.

In a PCB with digital and analog components, for example, the stack should have at least two ground planes for these two component categories. The insulating layers are equally as important, especially in high-speed, high-frequency PCBs.

A core material like Rogers is better for such circuit boards, but it’s costlier than FR4. You have to balance between these two factors when developing the stack.

Selecting Appropriate Materials for Specific Applications

Copper is the standard material for the power, signal, and ground layers. What changes is the core material, and FR4 is the most common because it’s affordable.

But it has its limitations. FR4 is not ideal for circuits with multiple LEDs because it can’t dissipate the heat efficiently. In high-temperature cases, aluminum or ceramic makes the best core material.

PTFE materials (Teflon) provide stable dielectric properties at higher CTEs, making them ideal for high-speed, high-frequency applications. Rogers is a ceramic-filled PTFE, which makes it more stable than regular PTFE, but more costly as well.

What Factors Influence PCB Stackup Design?

Number of Layers Based on Complexity

Complex circuits require more layers because it’s necessary to separate the traces to accommodate the complex routing. Increasing the layers also makes it possible to have a high-density design, increasing the functionality and capability of the board. Vias interconnect the copper layers in the stack, and you can use via-in-pads to save on space.

Type of Signal (Digital or Analog) Being Used

Analog components are more susceptible to noise due to their operation in the linear regime. The stack should have separate ground planes for the high-and low-frequency analog signals. To maintain a consistent ground potential throughout the system, you can use stitched vias to interconnect these ground planes separately.

PCB vias

However, digital components operate at saturation, meaning only high noise levels can cause interference. These parts don’t require separate ground planes for high-frequency and low-frequency signals.

Impedance Requirements for Signal Integrity

Consider these factors for impedance matching:

• Trace geometry
• Spacing between the signal trace and its return path
• Dielectric material (core and prepreg)

What are the Challenges in PCB Stackup Design?

Managing Cross-Talk Between Closely Packed Traces

The closely packed PCB stack in high-density circuits has thin insulations between the layers. This stackup increases the chances of cross-talk. But it’s possible to avoid this issue by optimizing the trace routing and arranging the layers in an alternating pattern between ground and signal.

Ensuring Impedance Control Across All Layers

Impedance matching is more challenging in high-frequency multilayer circuits. But modifying the stackup arrangement and prepreg thickness can ensure better impedance control. Materials like PTFE enable more precise impedance matching between the signal layers because they have a low dielectric constant and loss.

Balancing Thermal Management With Electrical Performance

A material like ceramic provides the best thermal management, but its electrical performance, specifically impedance matching, is not the best.

How does Layer Count Affect PCB Stackup?

More Layers can Improve Signal Integrity

Increasing the layer count to have dedicated power and ground planes improves signal integrity. In RF PCBs, the ground plane should be adjacent to the signal layer to provide the shortest return path.

Higher Layer Count Increases Manufacturing Costs

The more layers in the stack, the higher the cost of the board. These extra layers jack up the price in two ways. First, there are the extra materials needed to fabricate them. Second, there are the additional manufacturing and labor costs associated with processes like etching, lamination, and hole drilling.

Complexity in Design and Testing Increases

Designing a multilayer PCB is a complex process that requires keen attention to detail. After passing DFM, DFA, and DFT checks, manufacturing is more complicated, and so is the testing process. Therefore, the lead time will be longer.

How do Environmental Considerations Impact PCB Stackup?

Choice of Materials for Thermal Management

PCBs designed for high-power applications will generate more heat. They’ll need highly thermally-conductive dielectric materials like aluminum and ceramic to dissipate the heat efficiently.

Design Adjustments for Harsh Environments

Using polyimide as the dielectric material in the stack will make the PCB more stable under high-temperature environments. But for humid and corrosive environments, the board should have a conformal coating, which also protects against thermal shock, vibration, and static.

Compliance with Environmental Regulations

Stricter environmental regulations, such as the EU’s ban on PFAS substances or forever chemicals, can affect the type of material you use in the stackup.

PCB Stackup Requirements

Foil Construction vs. Cap Construction

Foil is better than cap because it enables easier manufacturability with a better yield. The process also requires less core substrate material, which lowers the fabrication cost.

Cap construction is only recommended for hybrid circuit boards that have specialty laminates. You can also use this process if the PCB has blind vias and you don’t have the required drilling tools, like laser drills.

Board Component Density (Number of Layers and Spacing)

A board’s component density is one of the most common drivers for multilayering. Each component requires at least two traces to break out its signals, so the more they are, the more traces are required inside the board, which might require several copper layers.

High pin count processors or packages like BGA complicate the stack further, because each one requires multiple traces to break out their signals. If the board has several of these components, its stackup must accommodate the wiring for all these incoming and outgoing signals.

Component Types and Interfaces (Analog, Digital, Mixed Signal, High-Speed)

Creating the stack for purely analog or digital PCBs is relatively easy. The ground planes should be separate for high-frequency and low-frequency circuits in the analog type, and just one for digital components. In a mixed-signal assembly, the board needs at least these three ground planes.

Ground planes are important in high-speed, high-frequency circuits, but the most critical aspect is impedance matching.

PCB Stackup FAQs

How do Power/Ground Planes Function in PCB Stackups?

Power and ground planes are dedicated copper layers in the PCB stackup that distribute power and provide a low-impedance return path. These return paths help reduce EMI by channeling the disturbance outside the circuit.

How does Plane Decoupling Help in PCB Stackup Design?

Plane decoupling is a technique that uses decoupling capacitors near power and ground plane pairs to provide clean power to noise-sensitive components.

How do EMI/EMC Considerations Affect PCB Stackup Design?

EMI/EMC considerations lead to careful placement of signal, power, and ground planes. The stack can even have shielding layers.

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