3 ms·
Choosing a four layer stackup was a really instructive point for the purposes of his blog post, but kind of a bad rule of thumb to carry forward on a profession
by cushychicken 6y ago
Choosing a four layer stackup was a really instructive point for the purposes of his blog post, but kind of a bad rule of thumb to carry forward on a professional level.
PCBs are built in a sandwich stack. The middle dielectric layer, or "prepreg", is way thicker than the dielectric layers in the outer layers. This doesn't seem like a big deal, but for the speeds that a DDR interface runs at, it creates a higher impedance return loop for whatever you end up routing on layer 3. (Typically DQs, in my experience.)
You can avoid this entirely by building with a six layer stackup, and routing your DRAM signals on layers 1/2/3, keeping layer 2 as an unbroken ground plane. The result: nice, low impedance return tracks.
Yes, Jay is right - most of the time, this doesn't create problems. But when it does, it's pretty challenging to fix without a board spin, and when you're doing this professionally, that loses you time, creates risk, and is generally hella stressful.
- joezydeco 6y agoWell said. And we're not even mentioning what happens when you start adding other criss-crossing traces for parallel LCDs and cameras into the mix. Those usually creep into the 30-40 MHz range, 18-24 lines per device with no differential lines. And I haven't even thought about USB-C yet. And you still need to pass radiated emissions testing. Even those right-angle DIMM connectors for the SOMs spray RF noise everywhere when you put video on them.
- cushychicken 6y agocough cough METAL ENCLOSURE cough cough :)
- joezydeco 6y ago(injection molded ABS with thin-film deposition aluminum)
- cushychicken 6y ago:o