PCB multilayer circuit boards are essentially made by laminating and bonding several pre-etched single or double-sided boards. So, what are the advantages of PCB multilayer circuit boards compared to single or double-layer boards?
- High Assembly Density and Small Size: As electronic products become increasingly compact, the demand for higher precision and functionality in circuit boards grows, leading to a greater need for multilayer boards.
- Convenient Wiring and Reduced Wiring Length: Multilayer boards facilitate easier wiring, significantly shortening the connections between components, which enhances signal transmission speed and effectively boosts the performance of the circuit board.
- Improved High-Frequency Circuit Performance: With the addition of a ground layer, signal lines form a constant low impedance to the ground layer, greatly reducing circuit impedance and improving shielding effectiveness.
- Enhanced Thermal Management: For electronic products requiring high thermal dissipation, multilayer boards can incorporate a metal core heat dissipation layer, meeting needs for shielding and heat dissipation. This is particularly prevalent in mid-to-high-end electronic products, especially those with increasing demands for multifunctional capabilities.
In terms of performance, multilayer circuit boards surpass single and double-sided boards. However, as the number of layers increases, so does the manufacturing cost, along with longer processing times and more complex quality inspections.
The most common multilayer boards are four and six-layer boards. The difference between a four-layer and a six-layer board lies in the addition of two internal signal layers between the middle, ground, and power layers, making the six-layer board thicker than the four-layer one. Single and double-sided boards are easily distinguishable by holding them up to the light; aside from the wiring on both sides, the rest of the board is translucent. However, distinguishing between four-layer and six-layer boards without specific markings is not as straightforward. Overall, due to their design flexibility, economic superiority, and stable and reliable electrical performance, multilayer circuit boards are now widely used in the manufacturing of electronic products.
