PCB Stackup Design Considerations for Intel® FPGAs

Download PDF
ID 683883
Date 6/28/2017
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. PCB Stackup Design Considerations for Intel® FPGAs
1. PCB Stackup Design Considerations for Intel® FPGAs x
1.1. PCB Stackup Construction 1.2. Material Selection 1.3. Glass Transition Temperature 1.4. PCB Stackup Design 1.5. PCB Panelization 1.6. Conclusion 1.7. Specific Recommendations for Intel® FPGA Devices 1.8. References 1.9. Document Revision History
1.2. Material Selection x
1.2.1. Material Loss Considerations
1.2.1. Material Loss Considerations x
1.2.1.1. Relative Dielectric Constant 1.2.1.2. Loss Tangent 1.2.1.3. Fiberglass Weave Composition 1.2.1.4. Skin Effect
1.4. PCB Stackup Design x
1.4.1. Layer Count 1.4.2. Signal Layers 1.4.3. High Speed Signal Layer Planning 1.4.4. Power and Ground Layers 1.4.5. Power Plane and Capacitor Placement Strategy 1.4.6. Planar Capacitance and Spreading Inductance 1.4.7. Plane Layer Separation 1.4.8. Copper Weight 1.4.9. Hybrid Construction
1.4.5. Power Plane and Capacitor Placement Strategy x
1.4.5.1. General Rules for Capacitor and Power Plane Placement 1.4.5.2. Rules for Transceiver Power Plane Placement 1.4.5.3. Rules for High-Current Power Rails 1.4.5.4. Rules for PLL and Other Power Rails
1.7. Specific Recommendations for Intel® FPGA Devices x
1.7.1. Stratix® 10 Device Recommendations 1.7.2. Stratix® V Device Recommendations 1.7.3. Stratix IV Device Recommendations 1.7.4. Arria® 10 Device Recommendations 1.7.5. Arria® V Device Recommendations 1.7.6. Arria II Device Recommendations 1.7.7. Cyclone® 10 Device Recommendations 1.7.8. Cyclone® V Device Recommendations 1.7.9. Cyclone® IV Device Recommendations 1.7.10. Cyclone III Device Recommendations
1.7.1. Stratix® 10 Device Recommendations x
1.7.1.1. Stratix® 10 Device Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.2. Stratix® V Device Recommendations x
1.7.2.1. Stratix® V GX, GT, and GS Family Power Plane Placement Example 1.7.2.2. Stratix® V E Family Power Plane Placement Example 1.7.2.3. Stratix® V Transceiver Channel Breakout Recommendations
1.7.3. Stratix IV Device Recommendations x
1.7.3.1. Stratix IV GX and GT Family Power Plane Placement Example 1.7.3.2. Stratix IV E Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.4. Arria® 10 Device Recommendations x
1.7.4.1. Arria® 10 Device Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.5. Arria® V Device Recommendations x
1.7.5.1. Arria® V Device Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.6. Arria II Device Recommendations x
1.7.6.1. Arria II GX Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.7. Cyclone® 10 Device Recommendations x
1.7.7.1. Cyclone® 10 LP Device Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.8. Cyclone® V Device Recommendations x
1.7.8.1. Cyclone® V Device Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.9. Cyclone® IV Device Recommendations x
1.7.9.1. Cyclone® IV GX Family Power Plane Placement Example 1.7.9.2. Cyclone® IV E Family Power Plane Placement Example
1.7.10. Cyclone III Device Recommendations x
1.7.10.1. Cyclone III Family Power Plane Placement Example
1. PCB Stackup Design Considerations for Intel® FPGAs

1.2.1.1. Relative Dielectric Constant

The relative dielectric constant (εr) is a measure of a material’s ability to be polarized by an electric field and store electrostatic energy, as well as its ability to facilitate signal propagation. The relative dielectric constant varies with frequency. Material datasheets often refer to this parameter as Dk. Low εr or Dk materials make excellent insulators and are good for isolating signals on adjacent layers.

From a board designer’s perspective, the benefits of a lower dielectric constant include the following:
  • Better insulation
  • Faster signal propagation through the material
  • Higher trace impedance for a given trace geometry
  • Smaller stray trace capacitance

PCB manufacturers typically characterize εr at 1 MHz. However, the dielectric constant of a material is generally a function of its frequency. As frequency increases, εr is reduced. Because of this non-uniformity, a transmission line’s impedance can vary from its calculated value at 1 MHz, causing it to differ from what a propagating signal actually sees on the channel. As board designer, you should get the Dk value at high frequency range for using the high data rates signal on the board.

Because digital signals are comprised of many frequencies (harmonics), the resulting difference in impedance that is presented to the different harmonics can cause signal loss from both reflections and phase distortion (phase jitter) arising from the different harmonics arriving at the destination at different times.

Always choose lower εr material with a flat frequency response whenever possible for best signal performance and to minimize signal distortion and phase jitter.

Level Two Title