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Connectivity in A Wireless World. Cables Connectors 2014. A Special Supplement To
Connectivity in A Wireless World. Cables Connectors 2014. A Special Supplement To
Connectors 2014
Cables�and�Connectors�Supplement
Signal Launch
Methods for
RF/Microwave PCBs
John Coonrod
Rogers Corp., Chandler, AZ
T
� ransferring high frequency energy
from a coaxial connector to a printed
circuit board (PCB) is often referred
to as a signal launch and it can be difficult to
characterize. How efficiently energy is trans-
SIGNAL LAUNCH DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION
A signal launch from a coaxial cable and
connector to a microstrip PCB is illustrated
in Figure 1. The electromagnetic (EM) fields
traveling through the coaxial cable and con-
ferred can vary a great deal from one circuit nector have a cylindrical orientation while the
structure to another. Factors such as the PCB EM fields in the PCB have a planar or rect-
material, its thickness and the operating fre- angular orientation. When the fields transi-
quency range affect performance, as well as tion from one propagating medium to another,
the connector design and its interaction with they change orientation to accommodate the
the circuit material. With an understanding of new environment, causing anomalies. The
the issues, including the differences in signal- transition depends upon the type of medium;
launch configurations, and by reviewing some whether a signal launch is being made, for
examples of ways to optimize RF/microwave example, from a coaxial cable and connector
signal launches, performance can be improved. to microstrip, grounded coplanar waveguide
Achieving an effective signal launch is de- (GCPW), or stripline. The type of coaxial con-
sign dependent, with broad- nector also plays an important role.
COAX band optimization typically Optimization may involve several variables.
CABLE more challenging than narrow- Understanding the EM field orientation within
band. Design of a high frequen- a coaxial cable/connector can be useful, but
MICROSTRIP
TRANSMISSION LINE cy launch usually grows in diffi- the ground return path must also be consid-
culty with increasing frequency, ered as part of the propagating medium. It is
END LAUNCH and can be more problematic often beneficial to achieve smooth impedance
CONNECTOR with thicker circuit materials transitions from one propagating medium to
Fig. 1 Signal launch from a coaxial and more complicated circuit another. Knowing the capacitive and inductive
cable and connector to a microstrip. constructions. reactances at impedance junctions can provide
Reprinted with permission of MICROWAVE JOURNAL® from the March 2014 Supplement.
©2014 Horizon House Publications, Inc.
Cables�and�Connectors�Supplement
CONNECTOR
launched microstrip
circuit, where the
SIGNAL PLANE PIN body of the circuit
is microstrip but
MICROSTRIP TRANSMISSION
LINE PCB
PATH the signal launch
GROUND PLANE SIDE VIEW
area is a grounded
coplanar-waveguide
(GCPW). Coplanar
launched microstrip
MICROSTRIP
is advantageous be-
TRANSMISSION LINE cause it minimizes
3D VIEW the ground return
(a)
path and has other
beneficial proper-
ties. When using
a connector with
COPLANAR LAUNCHED ground pins on both
MICROSTRIP TRANSMISSION LINE
sides of the sig-
3D VIEW nal conductor, the
(b) ground pin separa-
Fig. 2 Representation of a thick mi- tion distance can
crostrip transmission line circuit and the have a significant
lengthened ground return path back to the impact on perfor-
connector (a), a grounded coplanar launched mance. It has been
microstrip circuit (b).
demonstrated that
insights into the expected behavior. this distance im-
When three-dimensional (3D) EM pacts the frequency
simulation is available, current-densi- response.1
ty mapping can be used. In addition, In an experi-
best practices associated with radia- ment with a coplanar
tion loss can serve as guidelines. Fig. 3 Coplanar launch microstrip circuit tested with similar end launched microstrip
Although the ground return path launch coaxial connectors having different ground separations. on 10-mil-thick
between a signal launch connector RO4350B lami-
and a PCB may not appear to be an nate from Rogers
issue, the ground return path from lengthy for a thick microstrip trans- Corp., similar connectors are used, but
the connector to the PCB are ideally mission line. Using a PCB material with different ground spacings at their
continuous and uninterrupted; this with a relatively high dielectric con- coplanar launch interfaces (see Figure
may not always be the case. There is stant can exaggerate the problem by 3). Connector A has a ground separa-
typically some small surface resistance leading to a longer electrical length in tion of approximately 0.030", while
between the metal of the connector the ground return path. Any lengthen- Connector B has a ground separation
and the PCB. There may also be small ing of this path can result in frequen- of 0.064". The connectors launch onto
conductivity differences between the cy-dependent issues typically linked to the circuit the same in both cases.
solder that joins the different parts a localized difference in phase velocity The x-axis shows frequency, with
and the metal of those parts. These and capacitance. Both are related and each division representing 5 GHz.
small differences usually have minor affect the impedance in the transition Performance is comparable at lower
effects at lower RF and microwave area and cause differences in return microwave frequencies (< 5 GHz),
frequencies, but they can significantly loss. Ideally, the length of a ground re- but above 15 GHz, performance of
affect performance at higher frequen- turn path should be minimized, with the circuit with wider ground sepa-
cies. The actual length of the ground no impedance anomalies in the signal ration degrades. The connectors are
return path can play a role in the qual- launch area. Note that the ground- similar, although there is a slight dif-
ity of launch that is achieved with a ing point of the connector in Figure ference in pin diameters between the
given connector and PCB combina- 2a is shown only on the bottom of the two models, Connector B has a larger
tion. circuit. This is a worst-case scenario. pin diameter and is designed for use
As Figure 2a illustrates, when EM Many RF connectors have grounding with a thicker PCB material. This may
energy transitions from a connector pins on the same layer as the signal. In also have contributed to the perfor-
pin to the signal conductor of a mi- that case, the PCB will have ground mance differences.
crostrip PCB, the ground return path pads there, as well. A simple and effective method for
back to the connector housing can be Figure 2b represents a coplanar optimizing signal launch is to mini-
Cables�and�Connectors�Supplement
0
1: 13.438575 GHz –14.942 dB
1 1: 5.000000 GHz –0.44104 dB
–2.00 2 2: 10.000000 GHz –1.0006 dB
3 4 5 3: 15.000000 GHz –1.3431 dB
–4.00 4: 20.000000 GHz –1.5935 dB
>5: 25.000000 GHz –2.4772 dB
1: 13.438575 GHz –14.695 dB
–6.00 1: 181.8060 ps 52.210
0.00000 H 0.00000
–8.00 Dist (Refl) 27.252 mm
2 2: 460.4560 ps 52.247
–10.00 0.00000 H 0.00000
1 Dist (Refl) 69.021 mm
–12.00 1
–14.00
–16.00
–18.00
–20.00
>CH1: START 10.0000 MHz STOP 50.0000 GHz