Advanced Circuit Materials Enable New Technologies
Transcription
Advanced Circuit Materials Enable New Technologies
INSIDE TRACK with COPPER MOUNTAIN’S ALEX GOLOSCHOKIN p32 OCTOBER 2012 TRACKING TRENDS IN WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE p39 BUILD DUAL NOTCHES into UWB 1 ANTENNAS p56 TRUSTED ENGINEERING RESOURCE FOR 50 YEARS 3 www.MWRF.com WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE Portable Analyzers Bring Lab To The Precision Field NEW A PENTON PUBLICATION Periodicals Postage Paid • USPS 100 Approved Poly PRODUCTS ADDED DAILY DIGIKEY.COM/NEW www.defenseelectronicsmag.com • Power A Special Supplement Section to Microwaves to Penton’s Design & RF • Electronic Engineering Design & Sourcing Group Electronics Technology OCTOBER/NOVEMBER MARCH/APRIL 2010 2012 Electronic Passengers For C4ISR/EW systems UAVs Audio and text communications Platform systems Automotive 25 Video and imagery Temperature rise—°C Mission recording Situational awareness and C2 Lethality VICTORY data bus (VDB) FR-4 Unfilled HC Modified PPO SiO2-filled HC BN-SiO2-filled PTFE 20 Power distribution Threat detection and reporting Logistics 15 0.71°C/W 10 0.33°C/W 0.32°C/W 0.20°C/W 5 0.07°C/W Platform sensors Extra vehicle network interface 0 12 | LINKING VEHICLES FOR VICTORY 5 10 15 20 25 30 Input power—W Crew protection Electronic warfare 0 16 | COTS GEAR FOR MILITARY TESTING 21 | MATERIALS FOR MILITARY CIRCUITS 35 Design &Technology ART AGUAYO / SENIOR MARKET DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Rogers Corp., Advanced Circuit Materials Div., 100 S. Roosevelt Ave., Chandler, AZ 85226; (480) 961-8271, e-mail: [email protected], www.rogerscorp.com Advanced Circuit Materials Enable New Technologies circuit materials, the thermal conductivity (TC) of the material is often the main differentiator when the thermal management of a design is a concern. Selecting materials with the higher thermal conductivity will have the largest impact in reducing temperature from a PCB perspective. How can the TC of a PCB material impact the performance of a military system? To better understand how PCB materials with high TC values could benefit some designs, Military circuit and system designers rely on higha study was performed by circuit-materials supplier Rogers Corp. (www.rogerscorp. performance circuit materials to achieve greater com) on a number of different PCB matefunctionality from circuits that are smaller, lighter, rials (Table 1). Samples of each material 0.020 in. (0.5 mm) thick with 50-Ω transand less expensive than their predecessors. mission lines were evaluated with a 1.9ffective battlefield communications, GHz signal source 25 advanced unmanned aerial vehicles set to five different FR-4 (UAVs), and high-resolution radar power levels, with Unfilled HC 20 all have one thing in common—they rea top level of 26 W. 0.71°C/W Modified PPO quire more (technology) with less (size, Figure 1 details SiO2-filled HC cost, weight, and power consumption). the results of these 15 BN-SiO2-filled PTFE Circuit and systems designers are constantmeasurements. ly breaking new ground to meet the needs These materials 10 0.33°C/W of modern defense systems but, to do so, represent a fairly 0.32°C/W they have relied on an often-overlooked wide range of com0.20°C/W 5 component: circuit materials. After all, immercial materials, 0.07°C/W pressive advances in circuit materials techwith much different 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 material characternology have armed aerospace and defense Input power—W designers with the tools they need to meet istics. For example, demanding, modern requirements. by comparing FR-4 A key requirement for military compo- 1. These plots compare the temperature rise as a function of input to a polyphenylenenents and systems in recent years has been power at 1.9 GHz for five different PCB materials. oxide (PPO) circuit the reduction in form factor, while also inmaterial, the impact creasing functionality. Unfortunately, this of reducing the loss tangent by a factor of 5 combination usually results in an increase can be observed. When comparing modiin operating temperature, making thermal fied PPO circuit materials with RO4350B management an important concern for materials from Rogers Corp.—with both military circuit and system designers. One considered low-loss RF circuit materials— way that most electrical engineers have the effects of using RO4350B and its higher traditionally dealt with the problem of tem2. These photographs compare a sample perature rises at the circuit-board level has been by specifying printed-circuit materials of RT/duroid 5880LZ PCB material before with lower dissipation factors. But the dis(top) and after (bottom) 500 thermal sipation factor is just one characteristic of a shock cycles. printed-circuit-board (PCB) material from a list of parameters that can also provide inTable I: Comparing PCB materials sights into how a material can impact that Material Dielectric Dissipation Thermal conductivity need for more functionality from less size, constant factor (W/m/K) weight, and cost. Epoxy/glass 4.5 0.02 0.4 In comparing materials with different dissipation factors, for example, the lossModified PPO 3.65 0.004 0.4 tangent difference can be an order of magRO4350B® high3.66 0.003 0.7 nitude between two PCB materials, such frequency laminate as epoxy glass and polytetrafluoroethylene RT/duroid® 6035HTC 3.50 0.0014 1.4 (PTFE) circuit laminates. For low-loss Temperature rise—°C E DEFENSE ELECTRONICS • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 S21 Design &Technology Frequency (GHz) 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 8 to 50 GHz Average Dk Dispersion (%) 3.60 3.55 Dielectric constant (Dk) TC results in a close to 50% reduction in temperature rise. For optimal thermal management, selection of a material with both low loss tangent and high TC is desired. In a quest for the best balance of low loss and high TC, a material like RT/duroid 6035HTC from Rogers Corp. features a low loss tangent of 0.0014 at 10 GHz and a TC of 1.4 W/m/K. The laminate is based on a PTFE resin with high-TC ceramic filler. As the measured response of Fig. 1 shows, the level of RF power to the PCB based on the 6035HTC material has minimal impact on temperature rise. The combination of low-loss tangent and high TC is the reason for this: While other PTFE materials are available with lower loss tangents (as low as 0.009), their TC values are also much lower, in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 W/m/K. This will result in far inferior results in terms of thermal management compared to RT/duroid 6035HTC material. Cost is also a consideration when select- 3.50 3.482 1.2% 3.45 3.40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Frequency—GHz 3. The change in dielectric constant with frequency for RO4350B LoPro laminate helps determine the dispersion for the material from 8 to 50 GHz. for QPL Approved Space and Military Frequency Control Products Precision Devices Inc. (PDI) has been a trusted source of high reliability frequency control devices for the most demanding applications and environments since 1989. ∙ Made-to-Order Products ∙ QPL Approved ∙ Certified for Space and Military Applications - MIL-PRF-38534 - MIL-PRF-55310 - MIL-PRF-3093 ∙ Wide Range of Products - Precision Quartz Crystals - Crystal Filters - LC Filters - Crystal Oscillators - OCXO, TCXO, VCXO, XO ∙ Custom and Standard Package Types ∙ Full Scope of Reliability and Testing Capabilities Made in the USA www. pdixtal.com 1-800-274-XTAL(9825) [email protected] S22 Dk 3.58 3.53 3.51 3.49 3.49 3.48 3.48 3.47 3.47 3.47 3.47 ing a PCB material. In the case of the lowloss materials, the resin used in these materials is either a thermoset type (such as epoxy, PPO, or butadiene) or PTFE based. The materials using PTFE tend to be more expensive. Processing these materials [such as the use of plated-through holes (PTHs) for connections through the PCB] and special handling requirements can also be pricier. Among the thermoset materials that would present cost advantages, RO4350B laminate has the best thermal performance. While greater by a factor of 3 over RT/duroid 6035HTC material in terms of TC, it still is significantly lower than other potential thermoset RF material choices. The importance of reliable PCB performance on the battlefield cannot be overemphasized; mission success can depend on an electronic function such as communications. Modern communications systems, such as software-defined radios (SDRs), are designed not only for reliable, highspeed communications, but to do so securely even in hostile operating conditions. Such radios are used not only by personnel, but also on board satellite systems, airships, and on UAVs. All of these advanced military systems have depended on new developments in high frequency materials, which have been critical in reducing weight and size while also increasing functionality. In the past, foam-based PCB materials OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 • DEFENSE ELECTRONICS Design &Technology Table 2: Materials used in airborne applications have been developed to provide advantages Material Dielectric constant in weight, but such materials were difficult to process using traditional PCB handling methods (for example, no PTH capabiliRT/duroid 5880 2.2 ties). Ultimately, these materials were reRT/duroid 6002 2.94 moved from the market. RT/duroid 5880LZ 1.96 For space and airborne applications, Krytar Mil Ad Designs_Krytar.HalfPg.Mil.ad.mw&rf/DE 1/14/11 11:38 AM Page 1 Dissipation factor Density (g/cm3) Coefficient of thermal expansion in the z-axis (ppm/°C) 0.0009 2.2 237 0.0012 2.1 24 0.0019 1.4 42 Cover your bases with KRYTAR KRYTAR, Inc., founded in 1975, specializes in the design and manufacturing of ultra-broadband microwave components and test equipment for both commercial and military applications. Products cover the DC to 67 GHz frequency range and are designed for a wide range of applications including: ❏ Test Equipment ❏ Simulation Systems ❏ SATCOM & SOTM ❏ Jammers for Radar & IEDs ❏ Radar Systems ❏ EW: ECM, ECCM & ESM KRYTAR has a commitment to technical excellence and customer satisfaction. These principles form the basis for the steady growth that has earned KRYTAR an enviable reputation in the microwave community. Cover your bases. Contact KRYTAR today for more information. MIL-Qualified RF, Microwave & mmW Components ❏ Directional Couplers to 67 GHz ❏ 3 dB 90° Hybrid Couplers to 40 GHz ❏ 3 dB 180° Hybrid Couplers to 26.5 GHz ❏ Beamforming Networks to 18 GHz ❏ Power Dividers to 45 GHz ❏ Detectors to 40 GHz ❏ Custom Applications www.krytar.com 1288 Anvilwood Avenue • Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Toll FREE: +1.877.734.5999 • FAX: +1.408.734.3017 • E-mail: [email protected] S24 many programs have relied on materials based on PTFE/random glass (such as RT/duroid® 5880 material from Rogers Corp.) or PTFE/ceramic filler (RT/duroid 6002 material from Rogers Corp.) because of either the low dielectric constant and loss tangent (lower electrical loss) or low Z-axis coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE, for high PTH reliability) and stable temperature performance. But increasing system demands for lighter-weight materials motivated further PCB materials development for additional savings in weight. This has resulted in the development of a material such as RT/duroid 5880LZ from Rogers Corp., which combines the benefits of low dielectric constant with the low Zaxis CTE of the RT/duroid 5880 and RT/ duroid 6002 materials, but with a 30% reduction in density (see Table 2). The RT/ duroid 5880LZ material is suitable for lightweight antennas requiring a low dielectricconstant material. Bond layers for the material can be either thermoplastic or thermoset films (Table 3 shows three options for use with RT/duroid 5880LZ). The unique properties of RT/duroid 5880LZ are achieved through the use of a select filler system, which also makes possible the excellent thermal cycling reliability of PTHs formed in the material. To evaluate the thermal cycling reliability of PTHs formed in RT/duroid 5880LZ, testing was performed on 0.060-in.-thick material with 0.0198-in.-diameter viaholes. Samples were exposed to 500 air-to-air thermal shock cycles at −55 and +150°C. No failures were found in any of the 125 PTHs tested. The growing use of mobile data has impacted electronic design in commercial as well as in military circles. According to a report by a leading data firm,2 the amount of mobile data is projected to practically double every year through 2016. These demands fuel the need to develop faster electronic systems that can handle not only the mobile data portion of a network but also data from fixed sources, as networks move towards serial data rates of 40 Gb/s. These trends hold true in the case of both OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 • DEFENSE ELECTRONICS Design &Technology Table 3: Comparing bond-film options for RT/duroid 5880LZ Material FEP film Dielectric constant Dissipation factor 2.1 0.003 2.28 0.003 450 (TP) 2929 bondply 2.94 0.003 475 (TS) 5/12/11 10:06 AM Page 1 High Efficiency v Light Weight v Small Size Give us a call to find out how our commitment can support your mission success. It’s that simple. v Uplink and Downlink Amplifiers • C, X, Ku, and Ka-Band • Power Amplifiers Up to 100 Watts • Low-Noise Amplifiers 1–18 GHz v Power and Driver Amplifiers for SAR • X thru Ka-Band • Up to 100 Watts v Up Converters and Transceivers • C thru Ka-Band • Compact, Space-Saving Designs v Surface Terminal Amplifiers • C thru Ku-Band • Up to 100 Watts v CDL and TCDL Subassemblies • IF and RF • Digitally Controlled 241 East Java Drive • Sunnyvale • California 94089 Phone: 408-541-0596 • Fax: 408-541-0794 • www.cttinc.com • E-mail: [email protected] S26 565 (TP) 3001 bonding film An Uncompromising Approach to Ultimate Mission Success Employing multipurpose payloads including EO/IR, EW, SAR and others, UAVs can now transmit complex information directly to troops in the field while simultaneously sending the information halfway around the world for analysis. CTT, Inc. continues its expansion of GaAs- and GaN-based solid-state amplifier products and subassemblies designed to accommodate these ever evolving requirements. CTT’s UAV experience includes participation in data and video communication links on programs including Shadow, Hunter, Predator/Reaper, Pioneer, Global Hawk and others. Building on this experience, CTT is well positioned to offer engineering and production technology solutions – including high-rel manufacturing – in support of your complete UAV system requirements. More than twenty-five years ago CTT, Inc. made a strong commitment to serve the defense electronics market with a simple goal: quality, performance, reliability, service and on-time delivery of our products. Lamination temperature (°F) (FPGAs) in military electronic systems has made these systems more intelligent, but also more reliant on the capability of processing more data faster. As serial data rates have increased from 2.5 Gb/s in the early 2000s to 9.8 Gb/s, and now to 40 Gb/s, the push has increased for PCB materials with the loss and dispersion characteristics that can support these data rates. High-speed digital signals, which can be viewed as a combination of fundamental and harmonic frequencies, are extremely broadband in nature and require PCB materials that can handle broadband signals. For high-speed digital projects, designers are turning to PCB materials that have traditionally been used in RF/microwave circuits, such as RO4350B LoPro copper foil material in 0.004-in. thickness. This PCB material provides very stable performance over a wide bandwidth. Figure 3 shows test results from 8 to 50 GHz for RO4350B LoPro material, where the dielectric constant dispersion is only 1.2%. This low value ensures that the shape of a high-speed digital pulse is preserved through a PCB, since the pulse’s various signal components (fundamental, harmonics) travel with minimal time differences through the PCB’s signal path. Another material characteristic that is important for maintaining signal integrity is loss. Materials are characterized in terms of both dielectric and conductor losses. For many applications, it is important to select a material with minimal conductor losses, since any gains made by choosing materials with low dielectric losses could be lost by increased conductor losses. Figure 4 details the improvement in insertion loss for RO4350B LoPro material. At 20 GHz (the fundamental frequency of a 40-Gb/s signal), reduction in insertion loss is about 30% over traditional RO4000® material, helping protect the amplitude of the overall signal. For high-speed digital applications, the use of RO4350B with LoPro foil enables circuit designers to not only preserve signal integrity but, with the 0.004-in. thickness of the material, to accommodate OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 • DEFENSE ELECTRONICS complex multilayer designs while keeping overall thickness low. These material advances represent just a handful of the improvements made in PCB materials in recent years. These have been motivated by the needs of electronic designers not only for military applications, but in commercial, industrial, automotive, and medical electronics industries to do more with less: to achieve increased electronic functionality from smaller, lighter, and less-expensive PCB materials. DE References 1. Horn, Caisse, Willhite, “Measurement and Modeling of the Effect of Laminate Thermal Conductivity and Dielectric Loss on the Temperature Rise of HF Transmission Lines and Active Devices,” DesignCon 2012. 2. “Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 20112016,” February 2012. 4-mil RO4350B LoPro 4-mil RO4350B 1 -0.120 5 -0.389 -0.277 10 -0.658 -0.461 15 -0.908 -0.638 20 -1.121 -0.799 25 -1.335 -0.953 30 -1.551 -1.098 35 -1.764 -1.301 40 -2.004 -1.399 45 -2.149 -1.489 50 -2.274 -1.654 0 -0.5 Loss—dB/in. commercial and military systems, with an increasing amount of defense-related data produced by remote sensors, surveillance systems, and a growing number of military electronic systems in general. The increasing speeds of digital signal processors (DSPs) and field-programmable gate arrays ctt.uav.ad.fp.11.09_CTT UAV.half.pg.MW&RF Loss (dB/in.) Frequency (GHz) -1.0 -0.101 4-mil RO4350B 4-mil RO4350B LoPro -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Frequency—GHz 4. These plots of insertion loss versus frequency compare standard RO4350B laminate with RO4350B LoPro material with low-profile copper conductor. Ranked Top 4 in North America Leading the PCB Industry in Quality & Innovation We invite you to visit our state-of-the-art facilities in Colorado, Arizona, & Minnesota totaling over 180,000 sq. ft. BEST ON-TIME Shipping Record EXPEDITES...a Specialty! SAME DAY & WEEKEND TURNS 24 Hour “Live” Tech Support No Minimum Order #1 Rated “FREE” PCB Layout Software: www.PCBArtist.com Industry’s Largest Customer Database FREE Tooling on Standard Spec Orders Space & Flight Approved Supplier INSTANT ONLINE Quotes, Orders, and Status Free File Check within minutes at www.FreeDFM.com Your TOTAL PCB Solution! 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