Advantages of HDI PCB | disadvantages of HDI PCB

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of HDI (High Density Interconnection) PCB. It mentions HDI PCB advantages or benefits and HDI PCB disadvantages or drawbacks.

What is HDI PCB?

Introduction:
PCB technology has been evolved constantly right from single sided, double sided to multilayer, flex, rigid-flex and so on. HDI is the short form of High Density Interconnection. HCI PCB refers to circuit board with higher wiring density per unit area. HDI PCB consists of finer spaces and lines, minor vias and capture pads, higher connection pad density etc.

HDI PCB

HDI boards are one of the fastest growing PCB technologies. These contain blind and/or buried vias and often contain micro-vias which are 0.006 or less in diameter. Moreover HDI boards consist of high circuit density compare to traditional circuit boards.

HDI technology leads to space reduction, line reduction, via diameter reduction, BGA pitch reduction, pre-preg thickness reduction, board thickness reduction etc. Moreover HDI PCB supports about 4 to 24 number of layers. PCB thickness in the range from 0.4 to 2.8 mm are supported. Minimum track/gap of about 65/65 µm are supported.

Benefits or advantages of HDI PCB

Following are the benefits or advantages of HDI PCB:
➨It allows more components in small board areas as HDI PCBs are populated on both the sides. Hence HDI PCB offers denser trace routing.
➨It decreases power usage as a result long battery life can be achieved.
➨It offers light weight and small size PCBs.
➨Fast signal transmission with enhanced signal quality can be achieved using HDI PCB.
➨It offers space to mount more components compare to traditional PCB.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of HDI PCB

Following are the limitations or drawbacks or disadvantages of HDI PCB:
➨Technologies are at evolving state.
➨There are different ways to achieve similar technology (copper, filling, drilling).
➨Lower yield.
➨Requires expensive equipment.
➨Limitations of HDI PCB are linked to reliability of plated holes. Limitations of blind via is aspect ratio. Aspect ratio refers to division of material thickness by hole PTH diameter.
➨The main problem is plating process. To assume good hole plating integrity, aspect ratio is limited to 1:0.8 for blind vias, where as advanced value is 1:1. Due to aspect ratio limitation, PCB manufacturers select special pre-pregs i.e. very thin, with appropriate reaction to laser drilling.
➨HDI multilayers must be built up with appropriate materials.
➨Standard pre-pregs contain fiber glass which is huge for laser drilling. Moreover glass contained in the pre-pregs changes laser direction and creates mediocre or wrong shape quality of laser via holes.
➨Via holes are sensitives. Vias are similar to rivets which are used during assembly process. ROHS applies high thermal stress on vias. Expansion of material in z-axis stresses the vias. The trend is to continuously reduce via diameter and increase the reliability.


Definitions and standards for HDI

• IPC-DD-135 Qualification Testing for Deposited Organic Interlayer Dielectric Materials for Multichip Modules (8/95)
• IPC-2226 Sectional Design Standard for High Density Interconnect (HDI) Boards (04/03)
• IPC/JPCA-2315 Design Guide for High Density Interconnects (HDI) and Microvia (06/00)
• IPC-6016 Qualification & Performance Specification for High Density Interconnect (HDI) Layers or Boards (05/99)
• IPC-4104 Specification for High Density Interconnect (HDI) and Microvia Materials (5/99)



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