BeTheSignal
A mid-life kicker for circuit board technology
Eric Bogatin
2/10/2011 1:03 AM EST
Smaller, higher bandwidth, lower loss
"This superstructure of holes in the signal path, the return path and the dielectric between enables us to design a PMTL stripline with lower loss than a conventional stripline or microstrip," Izadian said. With plated holes on either side of the signal line connecting to the return path, each PMTL becomes a coax-like channel, dramatically reducing the cross talk.
Samtec, manufacturing partner with RFConnext, has introduced a new flex cable jumper based on the PMTL concept.
"The PMTL flex cable is smaller, higher bandwidth, lower loss and more flexible than the ribbon cable version," Julian Ferry, said.
Ferry and Izadian presented measured data at DesignCon 2011 showing a 30 percent reduction in dielectric constant and 30 percent lower loss compared to an equivalent cross section stripline transmission line in the same low cost FR4 boards.
"The basic design features of the PMTL structures are material agnostic," Izadian said. "They can be constructed in any laminate material, and similar reductions in dielectric constant and loss are expected."
"A critical feature of the PMTL structure is that it uses conventional board manufacturing technology. Any board shop can manufacture these interconnects, based on our design guidelines," Izadian said.
Ferry is looking at current applications where the loss in specific backplane channels is so high an embedded optical fiber is being considered as an alternative. "A low loss PMTL channel is a prime candidate to replace the fiber."
The next products Ferry is exploring are low cost flex cables for VNA and TDR test applications. With their low loss, flexibility and mechanical stability, Ferry says these PMTL flex cables have much better phase stability than even high performance coax cables.
More information can be found at www.rfconnext.com, or contact Jamal Izadian at jsi@rfconnext.com.
"This superstructure of holes in the signal path, the return path and the dielectric between enables us to design a PMTL stripline with lower loss than a conventional stripline or microstrip," Izadian said. With plated holes on either side of the signal line connecting to the return path, each PMTL becomes a coax-like channel, dramatically reducing the cross talk.
Samtec, manufacturing partner with RFConnext, has introduced a new flex cable jumper based on the PMTL concept.
"The PMTL flex cable is smaller, higher bandwidth, lower loss and more flexible than the ribbon cable version," Julian Ferry, said.
Ferry and Izadian presented measured data at DesignCon 2011 showing a 30 percent reduction in dielectric constant and 30 percent lower loss compared to an equivalent cross section stripline transmission line in the same low cost FR4 boards.
"The basic design features of the PMTL structures are material agnostic," Izadian said. "They can be constructed in any laminate material, and similar reductions in dielectric constant and loss are expected."
"A critical feature of the PMTL structure is that it uses conventional board manufacturing technology. Any board shop can manufacture these interconnects, based on our design guidelines," Izadian said.
Ferry is looking at current applications where the loss in specific backplane channels is so high an embedded optical fiber is being considered as an alternative. "A low loss PMTL channel is a prime candidate to replace the fiber."
The next products Ferry is exploring are low cost flex cables for VNA and TDR test applications. With their low loss, flexibility and mechanical stability, Ferry says these PMTL flex cables have much better phase stability than even high performance coax cables.
More information can be found at www.rfconnext.com, or contact Jamal Izadian at jsi@rfconnext.com.
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