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SIMPLE RF PCB LAYOUT TIPS

 Pratik Panda (http://iot-bits.com/author/iotbitadmin/)  October 29, 2017
 One comment (http://iot-bits.com/simple-rf-pcb-layout-tips-tricks/#comments)

Ultra high frequency traces and antennas are an integral part of wireless designs
built for the Internet of Things.
RF PCB layout may seem tricky and confusing, but it is not! There are just a few
things that you need to know and watch out for and you are usually good to go from
there.

Some illustrated RF PCB layout tips

Here are some tips on how to do it right – with images to illustrate them!

1. No RF layout can be perfect

It is not your fault if your antenna does not perform like it was expected to perform
in your simulations. It is perfectly normal because the antenna impedance is
influenced objects surrounding it and may shift in a way that cannot be predicted in
software simulations.
The best you can do is add a matching network that lets you tune the antenna in
your final product.
Matching is not just required for antennas, but also for proper interfacing between
different RF components or subsections on board.
 2. Make everything 50 ohms
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If you have never tried out RF PCB layout before
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esp32-flash-completely/)
proper tools for simulating your design in 3D, the best you can do is pick
components that have a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms on RF ports.
The trace impedance on your PCB that carries RF signals can also be made 50 ohms
by adjusting its width appropriately. You can calculate the trace width using online
trace impedance calculators (https://www.eeweb.com/tools/microstrip-
impedance)or microstrip impedance calculators.
It is also easy to find parts (such as filters, amplifiers, antennas, etc) with 50 ohms
characteristic input/output impedance.

3. Lay out RF first - ALWAYS

Remember, RF traces are EXTREMELY high frequency signal carrying structures. If
you lay them out last, or if you try to lay them out when the board has already
gotten rather clumsy, you will make compromises with the trace layout that can
make your design fail. For example, here is the RF stripline (marked in yellow) with a
sharp bend (90 degrees) just because there was no other way to route it. This is
NOT how RF traces should be laid out!
Always leave adequate space around the signal trace for smooth bends and
isolation of the RF signal.
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4. Isolation is important
Isolating an RF trace is important. An RF trace must be properly isolated from other
high speed signals (such as clock traces for crystals, USB differential pairs, HDMI,
ethernet, etc).
This is often done by “via stitching”, i.e. stitching vias around the RF trace to prevent
it from interfering with other components on board.
Note that improper isolation will not render your design defunct, but it deteriorates
the receiver performance and average data throughtput in most cases.
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5. Keep inductance low

The ground inductance really makes a huge difference in RF design. If your RF
chipset is grounded through a single via or narrow ground trace – you have a
massive ground inductance. And as you know, high frequency does not like
inductance. Therefore, always ground the RF chipset adequately. If it is a QFN with
ground pad, use at least 9 power vias. Ensure a large, continuous ground plane
under the chip and RF trace as well.
If you have free space on the top layer, you should always have a ground fill that is
connected to the inner ground layer through as many vias as practically possible
(your PCB manufacturer would be mad at you, don’t add a thousand vias!).
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6. Don't break the ground plane

You may sometimes find yourself designing an RF system where you also have audio
or analog circuitry on the same circuit board – and close to RF system.
It may be tempting to have a different ground plane to isolate the ground for the
analog section. But by doing that, you are probably affecting your RF section
severely. Also, note that if you break the ground plane under the RF trace, you may
have a design that does not work.
Here is an example of what you should NOT do:
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Need help with RF design?

We would love to help you design your own RF systems, especially Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth enabled designs. If you need help with RF layout, antenna tuning or
troubleshooting, we offer consulting services for the whole development cycle.
Contact Us (http://iot-bits.com/contact/) if you want us to help design an RF system
for you, manufacture a couple of prototype PCBs and analyze its performance – we
can do it all!

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1 THOUGHT ON “SIMPLE RF PCB LAYOUT TIPS”

Howard says: Reply

March 26, 2020 at 8:05 PM (http://iot-bits.com/simple-rf-pcb-layout-tips-tricks/#comment-10997)
Great references

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