Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for ball grid array land patterns are provided. A ball grid array land pattern includes a plurality of land pads and electrically conductive traces. The plurality of land pads is arranged in an array of rows and columns. A perimeter edge of the array includes a pair of adjacent oblong shaped land pads. An electrically conductive trace is routed between the pair of adjacent oblong shaped land pads from a land pad positioned in an interior of the array to a location external to the array. The oblong shaped land pads are narrower than standard round land pads, and thus provide more clearance for the routing of traces. The oblong shaped land pads enable more land pads of the land pattern array to be routed external to the array on each routing layer, and thus can save printed circuit board component and assembly costs.
Abstract:
A modular electronic architecture according to which electrical components are distributed across substantially identical, interconnected circuit elements or assemblies is provided. Scaling of the electronic device can be achieved by selecting different numbers of circuit elements. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide for a compact assembly, formed from interconnection of separate circuit boards in a stack. Particular applications include the provision of beam forming networks in connection with phased array antennas in which the beam forming networks are formed on circuit boards having an area that is about the same size as the area of a circuit board on which the antenna elements are formed.
Abstract:
Techniques for optimizing application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and other IC pin assignment corresponding to a high density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit board (PCB) layout are provided. Applying the techniques described herein, pin assignments may be systematically and strategically planned, for example, in an effort to reduce the PCB layer count and associated cost, increase signal integrity and speed, reduce the surface area used by an ASIC and its support circuitry, reduce plane perforations, and reduce via crosstalk when compared to conventional designs with an ASIC mounted on a multilayered PCB.
Abstract:
Various techniques are disclosed for identifying different fanout via configurations that can be created using fanout vias, and then arranging those fanout via configurations in an alternating manner in order to increase the amount and/or area of routing channels available to route traces to the fanout vias. According to some of these techniques, a first fanout via configuration is selected, which can connect a component pin to a first layer of a multilayer printed circuit board. Next, a second fanout via configuration is selected, which can connect a component pin to a second layer of a multilayer printed circuit board different from the first layer. When the printed circuit board is designed, lines of these vias configurations are formed to correspond to a component that will be mounted on the printed circuit board. Each line will have a series of the first fanout via configuration alternating with a series of the second fanout via configuration. Further, two or more fanout via configurations of the same type can be arranged into a via configuration model. A printed circuit board design may then have lines of different via configuration models, such that each line has a series of one type of fanout via configuration model alternating with a series of another type of via fanout configuration model. Alternately or additionally, yet another type of fanout via configuration may be identified. Fanout via configurations of this other type may then be placed along a diagonal line bisecting the area of a printed circuit board design corresponding to the location at which a component will be mounted, in order to preserve routing channel area along the diagonal line.
Abstract:
Compact sub-assemblies of flexible circuits and drivers are provided. The sub-assemblies can occupy less space in an electronic device than conventional sub-assemblies. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the flexible circuits can be attached to or wires can be disposed on portions of the substrate that previously were unoccupied in conventional sub-assemblies. In one or more embodiments, the sub-assemblies of the present invention also can have wires disposed underneath the driver or vary the width of the wires. In one or more embodiments, the sub-assemblies of the present invention also can have composite wires that occupy less space than wires of conventional sub-assemblies, while still maintaining similar energy flux.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus to improve routing density through asymmetric array of vias are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of vias may be asymmetrically distributed relative to the distribution of a plurality of pads. Other embodiments are also described.
Abstract:
A printed circuit board having micro-vias used to connect a portion of the contacts in a selected row or column to the first internal layer of the board, thereby creating routing channels on the second and subsequent internal layers of the board between selected rows or columns of through-board vias used to connect the remaining contacts and a BGA package adapted to be used with the printed circuit board.
Abstract:
An electronic system having a backplane designed for efficient routing of signal traces. The system includes two or more daughter cards that are connected to multiple other daughter cards in the system. These daughter cards are mounted centrally to the backplane in the system. Connections between those two daughter cards and the backplane are made through electrical connectors that are distributed in columns along the length of the daughter cards. The connectors are positioned with space between the connectors. The space forms routing channels such that signals that must be connected to the central cards from a daughter cards on either side may be routed through the routing channels.
Abstract:
Integrate circuit die terminal arrangements and configurations for mounting an integrate circuit die on a package substrate to reduce package transmission paths. In one embodiment, terminals for signals sensitive to trace length outside a die are arranged at the corners of the die. The die is mounted on a package substrate in an angle with respect to a package substrate to point the corners of the die at the edges of the package substrate to reduce trace length outside the die. The center of the die may or may not coincide with the center of the substrate. In one embodiment, when compare to a centered, non-rotated die mounting position, mounting a die with corners pointing at the edges of the package substrate does not cause significant differences in substrate warpage.
Abstract:
An electronic circuit includes a first semiconductor device (4) and a second semiconductor device (3) on a mounting substrate. The mounting substrate includes a plurality of mounting substrate lines (201 to 204) which are connected in common with external terminals of a plurality of bits of the first semiconductor device and external terminals of a plurality of bits of the second semiconductor device for every bit. The mounting substrate lines have lengths thereof from the external terminals of the first semiconductor device to the external terminals of the second semiconductor device made unequal for respective bits. Assembling lines (361 to 364) which reach connecting electrodes of a semiconductor chip from the external terminals of the second semiconductor device have made lengths thereof unequal for respective bits. Here, the unequal lengths of the mounting substrate lines have a relationship which offsets the unequal lengths of the assembling lines. According to such a constitution, it is unnecessary to set lengths between the external terminals of the second semiconductor device and the connecting electrodes of the semiconductor chip equal.