Getting Started with an nRF52 Series MCU Part Four

We're closing out our nRF52 series with Tech Consultant Zach Peterson illustrating a few production-oriented changes, as well as a design review.
0:00 Intro
0:38 Board Changes & Error Resolution
3:30 Beginning the Design Review
7:07 Ghost Wires & Ground
9:48 Resistors & Impedance Matching
17:09 Vias & Output
👉 Read the tutorial here: resources.altium.com/p/gettin...
👉 Download the Design Files Here: www.nwengineeringllc.com/file...
👉 Impedance Matching Network S-Parameters Simulation: resources.altium.com/p/simula...
👉 nRF52 Series MCU Part Four Board Changes: • nRF52 Series MCU Part ...
For more PCB Layout videos, click here: • PCB Layout
For more Getting Started with an nRF52 Series videos, click here: • Getting Started with a...
For more PCB Design for Beginners videos, click here: • PCB Design for Beginners
For more Tech Consultant Zach Peterson videos, click here: • Technical Consultant Z...
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[@sanjikaneki6226]

I dont see the link to the article/blog post where u mentioned why you want to have series resistors on all IO lines

[@dreamofmirrors]

Altium really knows how to get people to use their tool!

[@myetis1990]

excellent! keep up good work Zach :) sure it is such a playlist that should be exploited for its wealth of knowledge hope videos about SI PI analysis tools usage come out after this project

[@BMM66666]

Hi Zach, how do u calculate the load impedance in the video 15:06 ? What is the formula about it? Thx.

[@shahrukhp3355]

No Design Files availble in download..

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Try the link in the description again, I copied it over and tested it, the link should work

[@2arc.]

Hello. I would like to thank you because although I don't use altium I have taken advantage of your considerations on projects in pcb mainly in 4 layers with ethernet and usb in my drawings.

[@AltiumAcademy]

Thanks for sharing

[@blanchehermine]

Why would you remove solder mask from the antenna? In nRF design they have it and you don't want the surface finish to affect the characteristics of the designed antenna.

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

I've always removed soldermask at 2.4 GHz and above. Solder mask also creates loss, and the loss tangent is higher than FR4 laminates at lower frequencies, so you start to notice it right around about 2 GHz. You could do a nickel-free plating and you will have less loss than ENIG/ENEPIG.

[@RSP13]

@@Zachariah-Peterson But solder mask is still better than regular ENIG/ENEPIG, right?

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

@@RSP13 Solder mask is still better than ENIG, ENEPIG is better than ENIG and only a little worse than solder mask. At 2.4 GHz the losses are very similar but the trend still holds. In general, solder mask is more lossy than low-loss alternatives like OSP or ImAg, but those two platings have problems with long-term reliability and shelf life, so even in RF applications you could go with ENIG/ENEPIG at the lower frequency used here and you would not have large additional losses. For example, ImAg will tarnish over time and it is not as durable as ENIG. OSP has limited shelf life and needs to be used soon after board fabrication. You could use something like ImSn, but that will produce tin whiskers over time; it's probably a non-issue on antennas but it is important on your exposed component leads, especially where power is applied. So if you're willing to take a little bit of extra loss at 2 GHz with much higher reliability, ENIG or ENEPIG is the way to go.