What are HDI BOARDS and Their Advantages

HDI printed circuit board has become a quantum leap of this century. For the last few decades, this futuristic invention is influencing the entire technical field optimistically. From a smartphone to a medical instrument, the practice of HDI is widespread. 

But what is an HDI? What are the goals of an HDI? Why is it different than a standard HDI? Where does it get applied? What are the designing tips? If you are interested in exploring these unknown facts, let’s get started. 

What is HDI PCB?

High-Density Interconnector, also known as HDI, is a type of PCB or printed circuit board comprising lots of interconnections and least area rather than a normal circuit board. In an HDI PCB board, the elements get positioned near each other to provide the circuit board a compact and portable look. In the modern world, HDI tends to get accepted and appreciated by distinct technological fields, including medical, automotive, military, etc.

Along with acquiring the least domain, an HDI circuit board enhances the signal integrity, modifies the overall execution of the board, consumes little time to get manufactured, and provides thousands of other benefits. This promising technology is such a show-stealer and inclines to retain a pretty bright destiny. 

Types of HDI Printed Circuit Boards

The classifications of a high-density interconnector PCB contain six different kinds. These six types of HDI PCBs are:

• Through vias from surface to surface
• Minimum of two layers with through vias
• Coreless construction with layer sets
• Through vias and buried vias
• Alternative formations of coreless forms with layer sets
• Passive substrate formation without zero electronic connection. 

Advantages of HDI PCBs?

The fundamental benefits of an HDI printed circuit board are:

Delivers enhanced signal integrity: The overall construction of an HDI board is quite solid, including a technology named “via-in-pad.” This cycle permits elements to get deposited readier to one another, curtailing the signal route distance. In this way, the single all-around disposition gets enhanced automatically. 

Modifies the prevailing performance: Using an HDI instead of an ordinary PCB can help your device to improve the all-around enactment significantly. With HDI boards, you can achieve a promising electronic performance along with adequate signal integrity. An HDI PCB can formulate a more convenient and president terminal derivative without compromising in its electrical executions.

Highly reliable: Unlike a normal PCB, an HDI is highly reliable. Whatever the circumstance is, the enactment of piled vias provides optimum strength and resistance power to the boards. So, once you invest in an HDI, you do not have to get worried about its performance for a long time. 

Deducts additional charges: You can make each penny count if you get your hand in an HDI PCB. This PCB assures quality and ample performance without zero extra charges. It works as an all-in-one circuit board. Hence, once you invest your money into a good quality HDI board, you do not need to purchase several normal PCBs for several programs. In this way, you can save a considerable amount of money. 

Convenient and trivial time-consuming: Creating an HDI PCB takes way lesser time than making a standard PCB. The number and amount of components need to develop an HDI board are not a lot. Consequently, the entire procedure becomes less time-consuming. 

Rather than that, it provides a lot more space to the mount particles, decreases power usage, and offers lightweight comparing to the normal PCBs. Therefore, using an HDI circuit board is far more profitable than wasting tons of money on unreliable ones. 

HDI PCB design tip

Designing an HDI PCB mandates the exact ratio of knowledge and experience. Therefore, these are a few tips you must follow while designing an HDI PCB. 

• You are unrestricted to select the micro vias for piling and organizing. These vias can get positioned against one another as well as against distinct board vias. 

• Borrowing more than three sequential plates is not suggested unless there are zero options left. 

• For the surface alliance, it would be generous to use the outermost layer. By doing this, the PCB can enhance the EMI and EMC functions.

• The power plane should be in the middle layer of the board. This is the nicest option for an HDI PCB with more than eight panels. 

• If the integrated circuit is sophisticated, you must incorporate a promising fan-out technique like BGA, QFN, etc. A good quality fan-out technique assures the deduction of sequential laminations. 

• It is reasonable to use stack vias in case the HDI is multi-layered. Although it might charge a lot yet, it has a long life.  

If you follow these tips while designing an HDI PCB, you will surely succeed in your mission. 

The difference between HDI and standard PCBs

There is a massive distinction between an HDI and a conventional PCB. From the manufacturing procedure to the outcome, you can find drastic disparities between these two. Some of the major discrepancies between HDI and a basic PCB are listed down below. 

Manufacturing technique:

Firstly, there is a huge discrepancy between these two types of PCB is in using micropore connections while manufacturing. When it comes to the use of technology, an HDI PCB wins the title of being more progressive than a standard PCB. HDI gets developed using micropore technology. The usage of micropore provides lots of advantages. It reduces unwanted interference in the board as well. On the other hand, a standard and basic printed circuit board get formulated by the conventional drilling method.

The circuit viscosity:

Unlike a standard printed circuit board, an HDI board gets created connecting multiple layers. The technological level of the plate depends on the consistency of the layers. Where the normal HDIs are a one-time build-up, the high-end HDIs provide two times building-up facility. But with a standard PCB, this process does not work. It goes through a complicated squeezing procedure as well as costs more than an HDI. 

Overall performance:

In this case, an HDI always defeats a standard PCB. It is seen that the overall electronic performance of an HDI PCB is way better than a normal one. It executes like a pro in radio frequency interference, electrostatic combustion, electromagnetic wave interference, and other cases. Additionally, in developing and curating signal quality, HDI PCB is better than a standard one. This PCB prototype can develop a more convenient and president terminal derivative without compromising in its electrical executions. Hence, if you are thinking of adopting an HDI PCB, do not get worried about its performance and just go for it. 

These, in short, we’re the essential distinctions between an HDI PCB and a standard PCB. 

What are the applications of HDI PCBs?

HDI PCBs have lots of usage in modern world technologies. A handful of applications of the HDI printed circuit board are discussed below. 

Modern devices:

Smartphones, laptops, computers, tablets, smartwatches- the current world is entirely these gadgets oriented. HDI circuit boards easily get employed for having a sleek design while making the PCB structure of these electronic devices. 

Automotive and Aerospace:

From the last few years, vehicle and aerospace manufacturers are choosing tinier HDI PCBs over larger and complicated standard PCBs. In this way, the vehicles can save lots of space, providing the car a chic look. On the other hand, HDI is way more cost-effective. The usage of HDI PCBs in cars delivers a great driving experience and a cozy ride every time. 

Medical industry:

Another criterion of HDI application is in medical commerce. Several types of equipment in the medical department get produced using this technology. In this sector, miniature gadgets are in demand from the beginning. Hopefully, we have found HDI PCBs that help create micro cameras, several implant appliances, etc. For instance, with the benefit of HDI, complex medical tests like colonoscopy have become easier to perform. 

Military:

Having a solid and compact structure doesn’t allow an HDI PCB to break down or get damaged easily. Therefore, it comes to use in military sectors where dangers and damages are nothing unexpected. Additionally, it gets used in missile launching, defense networks, and other communicating purposes. 

Designing using HDI

HDI contains a myriad of formation that influences the entire density of the PCB. Therefore, while designing an HDI, one must keep some points in mind. These are: 

• Remember that space is the fundamental prerogative. 
• You must understand the indication of the buried and blind vias.
• You must avoid any kind of solder-related issues.
• Review your plan.

Once you follow these processes, nothing can stop you from creating a perfect HDI printed circuit board. 

Hopefully, the whole concept about HDI, its benefits, design tips, applications, and how it stands apart from standard PCBs are evident so far. However, don’t expect to understand everything in detail unless you are an engineer and HDI manufacturer. If you are in search of making a faultless HDI, make sure to look for help. Always contact a professional for the best result.