PCB Design for Radio Frequency (RF) Boards

This course provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to create IPC-compliant PCB designs for high-speed analog, radio (RF), and microwave frequencies. This program is designed to provide circuit board designers with a balanced foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in printed circuit board design. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Design boards for high-speed analog and RF/microwave frequencies.
  • Understand the trade-offs in materials used in these applications.
  • Define a board stackup that implements structures that will meet the needs of these designs.
  • Understand and mitigate signal integrity issues for these designs.
  • Understand and define the effects of mechanical retention needs for these applications.
  • Define and implement the tighter manufacturing tolerances needed for these designs.
  • Understand the use of mixed material stackups in these designs.
  • Understand the documentation requirements for these designs.
Member Price
$1,600.00
Non-member Price
$2,000.00
Access
90 Days From Enrollment
Class Schedule

  • Course Level: Advanced

  • Training Time

    6 weeks (12 two-hour online instructor-led sessions)

  • Certificate of Completion

  • Seasonal Enrollment

    Access for 90 Days

Questions

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Download the syllabus.

All virtual class sessions are recorded for review. The instructional content of the course is design software independent. During the course's hands-on part, the instructor will use the Altium design tool to demonstrate concepts and methodologies. Students are free to use the software they choose to submit their work. For students who do not have access to a design software program, IPC will provide a 1-year subscription to Altium Designer.

WEEK 1– BASIC CIRCUIT DESIGN
Key concepts include:

  • RF Signals
  • Stackup management
  • Basic routing

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT:

  • Design stackup for a simple board. Complete by Week 2 Lecture 2

WEEK 2– ADVANCED CIRCUIT DESIGN
Key concepts include:

  • Advanced RF signal concepts
    • Insertion loss
    • Skin effect
    • Wave guides
  • Advanced Routing concepts
    • Guard bands/picket fences
    • Antennae
  • IPC standards

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: Design a board for an antenna Define stackup/stackup zones. Complete by Week 3 Lecture 2

WEEK 3– MATERIALS
Key concepts include:

  • What materials are used in these designs
  • How to define
  • Physical and mechanical properties
  • Trade-offs in different material types
  • IPC standards

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: Define board multiple RF layers for a communications application. Complete by Week 4, Lecture 2

WEEK 4 – MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Key Concepts include:

  • Understand the manufacturing process used in these designs
  • Understand special fabrication allowances for space designs
  • Understand assembly challenges and mitigation with these designs
  • Extended qualifications
  • Tailored test and certification

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: Design board for an RF application using specialty material requiring a tailored assembly process. Complete by Week 5, Lecture 2

WEEK 5 – DOCUMENTATION
Key concepts include:

  • IPC-2610 series.
  • IPC-D-325.
  • IPC-J-STD-001
    • Space addendum
  • Documentation methodology
  • Special feature call outs

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT: Create a documentation package. Define all special requirements described in lecture. Submit by Week 6, Lecture 2

WEEK 6 – CONTENT REVIEW AND FINAL EXAM

  • Lecture 1: Review
  • Lecture 2: Final Exam
     

This course is ideal for designers, engineers, technicians, and other individuals who want to acquire or increase their ability to meet the design, manufacturing, and routing challenges posed by designs that employ high-speed analog, radio (RF) and microwave frequencies. 

IPC strongly recommends that students either complete the IPC Introduction to PCB Design I & II courses OR possess a solid foundation in electrical theory, be able to use PCB design software, and have familiarity with:

  • Schematic symbol creation 
  • Schematic generation 
  • Documentation and dimensioning 
  • Standard rigid printed board design 
  • Printed board manufacturing 
  • Printed board assembly 
  • Basics of signal integrity 

IPC strongly recommends that students either complete the IPC Introduction to PCB Design I & II courses OR possess a solid foundation in electrical theory, be able to use PCB design software, and have familiarity with:

  • Schematic symbol creation 
  • Schematic generation 
  • Documentation and dimensioning 
  • Standard rigid printed board design 
  • Printed board manufacturing 
  • Printed board assembly 
  • Basics of signal integrity 

 

IPC offers different instructional modalities to suit participants with different needs and preferences. This program is only available in the following modality:

Online-instructor-led: Participants go online to meet with an IPC-certified industry expert at a fixed time twice per week for the duration of the course. Class sessions are usually 1.5 to 2 hours. Participants can also access a video recording of each class session on their IPC EDGE course dashboard.

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