When you are designing a circuit board, you need to make sure that you know all about the different components. In PCB design, many designers choose to go for a high speed design meaning that they will need the right type of transmission lines for the job.
Here, we are going to talk you through some of the different types of transmission lines. Keep reading to find out more.
1] Co-Axial Cable
One of the most common transmission lines is the co-axial cable. This tends to consist of a conducting wire which is made of copper and is coated with polyethylene or Teflon material. The whole cable is enclosed in plastic for safety.
The great thing about this type of transmission line is that it is great for the more complicated paths and can be used for high speed design. Make sure to choose this type if you are creating a high speed PCB.
2] Micro Strip
When it comes to a micro strip transmission line, you will find that it is relatively simple and consists of a copper track which runs along one of the sides of the PCB. The other side of the PCB is a plain ground plane.
This is a type of transmission line that works well with very high frequencies and there are very little losses with a micro strip.
3] Balance Two Wire
One of the lowest cost types of transmission design is the balance two wire type. The design of this for your PCB is quite simple but you should know that it is quite difficult to design a complicated path with this. You should avoid using this type of transmission line for those PCBs with high frequencies.
4] Fibre Optic
Fibre Optic transmission lines have become very popular in recent years thanks to the telecommunication industry. This is a very modern method of transmission and it comes with a lot of benefits to the PCB designer. Fibre Optic is a lot lighter than copper cables and it is very reliable. Consider using this for your PCB if you are looking for a modern solution.
5] Wave Guide
The final type of transmission line that we are going to discuss is the wave guide. This type of frequency tends to carry microwave frequencies and it can come in very handy.
There are two main types of wave guide including rectangular wave guide and circular wave guide. Wave guide is usually used on navigation aids and it can be used in the communication system.
Final Thoughts
If you are planning on designing a PCB in the future, make sure to use the best possible online design software and choose your transmission lines carefully.
If you don’t choose the right transmission line, you face having problems with your PCB, so this is a very important decision. If your PCB is going to use high frequencies, then make sure to choose a transmission line capable of handling this.
