GLEN ELLEN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Speeding Edge, www.speedingedge.com, a leading industry training and consulting firm specializing in signal integrity and high-speed system design, today announced that it will be offering its latest one-day public course in Costa Mesa, California on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel Orange County/Costa Mesa. The course, which is entitled, “PCB Stackup Design—Optimizing Signal Integrity, Manufacturability and Reliability of a Printed Circuit Board,” focuses on high-speed differential signaling issues. The course is co-sponsored by Isola Group which will provide information on core and prepreg materials; the impact of material selection and an overview of available materials.
Ritchey noted, “Most of today’s design challenges arise from the improper design of power delivery systems (PDS). And, a crucial element in PDS design is high-speed differential signaling. Where differential signaling was once the focus of only a small portion of the designs being done, today virtually every new design being initiated has to take high-speed differential signaling into account. And, one of the biggest aspects of differential signaling is controlling signal skew.”
“The unfortunate problem is that many engineers wait until too late in the overall design process to start worrying or addressing high-speed differential signaling issues,” Ritchey continued. “Then, by the time they determine they have a problem, it’s too late to do anything about it and they end up having to scrap boards and/or restart their design process all over again. One of the best ways to address these signaling issues is to make sure that the right materials are selected and that the layers in the stackup are arranged properly. Especially important is understanding the types of glass weaves that are available and how to effectively evaluate and select materials that are going to best address high-speed differential signaling issues.”
Additional topics addressed in the class include accounting for copper roughness and its overall affect on signal loss. Ritchey explained, “Right now, no industry standard exists for specifying copper roughness and there are a number of conflicting opinions on this topic so lots of people are shooting in the dark hoping that the copper roughness they specify turns out to be the correct one for their particular design implementation. This class provides engineers with sound, empirical data that will ensure that their designs work right the first time.”
About the course:
The first portion of the course is conducted by Isola Group. Isola will provide an overview on available laminate and prepreg materials including information on how laminates and prepreg are manufactured. Information on glass building blocks that are available including explanations of nomenclature of glass fabric and why certain fabrics are used for various designs will be discussed. Isola will discuss the different copper types available and the effects on signal integrity; the impact of core and prepreg material selection and what engineers should be looking for during the evaluation and selection process. Electrical test methods for core materials will also be discussed to show differences in test methods and material testing that can affect high speed digital designs.
The second portion of the course will be conducted by Lee Ritchey. This five hour training session addresses several industry-critical issues including accounting for copper roughness and its affect on overall signal loss; specifying copper roughness to ensure repeatable loss from lot to lot and fabricator to fabricator; specifying glass weave styles to minimize differential skew; determining plane copper thickness to ensure power delivery needs are met and specifying dielectric materials that are readily available and economical to manufacture. The cost of the course is $500 and those wishing to attend can register through the company’s website, www.speedingedge.com.
About Speeding Edge
Speeding Edge is a leading industry training and consulting firm specializing in the high-speed PCB and system design disciplines. Founded in 1994, by Lee W. Ritchey, a recognized industry expert in these design disciplines, the company offers private, on-site training classes to high tech companies as well as public courses through its own auspices as well as sessions at industry conferences and trade-shows around the world. More than 8,000 engineering professionals have attended these courses. Speeding Edge is based in Glen Ellen, California. Additional information about Speeding Edge is available at http://www.speedingedge.com.