Investigating the Catalyst for the Growth of LiDAR Technologies
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology has become a game-changer in various industries. From autonomous vehicles to city planning, LiDAR's ability to map objects and terrain in real-time has proven invaluable. However, designing PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) for LiDAR sensors poses unique challenges, particularly in terms of vibration resistance and thermal efficiency.
Recent challenges faced by a customer involved a specific issue with wire bondable gold that other PCB manufacturers were unable to address. Sierra Circuits, a renowned name in the industry, stepped up to the plate, delivering PCBs that met the customer's stringent requirements.
The Key to Success: Advanced PCB Design Strategies
To create PCBs suitable for vibration-resistant and thermally efficient LiDAR sensors, Sierra Circuits employs a combination of mechanical robustness, advanced thermal management, and strategic material selection.
Pedestal PCB Technology
One of the key strategies is the use of pedestal PCB technology, which features built-in copper or aluminium conductive pillars. These pillars elevate components above the main board, effectively transferring heat away from high-power components, reducing operating temperatures by 20-35°C, and significantly strengthening the PCB structure to prevent solder joint failures caused by vibration.
Material Selection
The choice of materials is crucial. For sensors exposed to high thermal stress, polyimide (PI) is preferred due to its excellent thermal resistance (up to 260°C) and mechanical flexibility, which helps absorb vibrations without cracking. Rolled annealed (RA) copper foils are also favoured due to their endurance against repeated bending and mechanical stress.
Rigid-Flex PCB Structures
A 4-layer rigid-flex PCB with high-Tg FR-4 rigid layers and flexible polyimide layers is ideal for LiDAR sensors that require both mechanical stability and thermal cycling endurance. This construction combines mechanical strength in rigid zones with flexible areas that absorb vibration and thermal stress without delamination.
Thermal Design Solutions
Thermal design solutions are integral to vibration-resistant and thermally efficient LiDAR sensor PCBs. Intelligent thermal distribution layouts can improve temperature uniformity by around 45%. Direct copper pillar connections reduce thermal resistance by up to 60%, enhancing heat dissipation efficiency.
Ensuring Thermal Cycling Resilience
Material optimization and precise manufacturing (such as laser drilling with tight tolerances ±0.05 mm) reduce thermal stress damage to solder joints and electronic components, which is critical for LiDAR sensors used in environments with mechanical vibrations and temperature fluctuations.
Signal Integrity and Layout Optimization
While not specific to vibration or thermal matters, optimizing PCB layout for signal clarity using AI-driven design tools can improve performance reliability under demanding conditions typical of LiDAR sensor applications in automotive or industrial environments.
In summary, integrating advanced thermal dissipation features like pedestal PCBs, selecting high-performance flexible materials such as polyimide with RA copper, and building with rigid-flex multilayer structures provide the most robust and thermally efficient PCB designs for vibration-resistant LiDAR sensors.
The Impact of LiDAR Technology
LiDAR technology is making waves in numerous industries. From large farms to city planning, mining, and power line maintenance, LiDAR's ability to generate accurate data on objects and terrain is revolutionizing these sectors.
For instance, LiDAR can be used in large farms for better resource allocation, in city mapping for the planning of mass transit systems, for generating data on the volume of mineable material in an open mine, and for periodic maintenance of power lines. LiDAR mounted on drones can even be used for cost-effective mapping of terrain.
Sierra Circuits continues to aid customers in innovating and commercializing LiDAR technology with its quickturn PCBs. With its strict adherence to timelines and highly consistent and reliable delivery services, Sierra Circuits is a trusted partner in the LiDAR revolution.
[References available upon request]
[1] Pedestal PCB with copper pillar technology for thermal and mechanical enhancement. [2] Flexible PCB materials polyimide and rolled annealed copper for thermal stability and bending endurance. [3] Use of rigid-flex PCBs combining rigid FR-4 with flexible polyimide layers for vibration resistance and thermal cycling endurance. [4] AI-assisted optimization for signal integrity and thermal management in sensor PCBs. [5] LiDAR can be used in large farms for better resource allocation. [6] LiDAR uses pulsed laser light for mapping. [7] The customer's LiDAR sensors needed PCBs that could withstand thermal cycling without a decrease in performance. [8] LiDAR is great for generating data on the volume of mineable material in an open mine. [9] The customer's LiDAR sensors required PCBs with exceptional signal performance for continuous 3D point data. [10] The customer had concerns about dielectric thickness and line widths in high-speed and multi-layer circuit boards. [11] LiDAR can be used for city mapping for the planning of mass transit systems. [12] LiDAR can be used for periodic maintenance of power lines. [13] The customer required IPC Class 2 PCBs that were vibration-resistant for LiDAR sensors operating in high-vibration environments. [14] The technology LiDAR stands for is light detection and ranging. [15] The customer's LiDAR sensors called for AuPd gold wire bonding, a challenging manufacturing process. [16] Sierra Circuits is known for its strict adherence to timelines and highly consistent and reliable delivery services. [17] LiDAR sensors mounted on drones can be used for cost-effective mapping of terrain. [18] Sierra Circuits delivered PCBs that met the requirements for vibration resistance and thermal efficiency. [19] Sierra Circuits continues to aid customers in innovating and commercializing LiDAR technology with its quickturn PCBs.
- In the realm of LiDAR sensor PCBs, Sierra Circuits leverages advanced strategies, such as the use of pedestal PCB technology, high-performance material selection, and rigid-flex PCB structures, to ensure thermal efficiency and vibration resistance.
- Harnessing the power of LiDAR technology, industries including large-scale agriculture, city planning, mining, and power line maintenance can reap benefits from its ability to deliver precise data on objects and terrain, revolutionizing various sectors to unlock endless possibilities.
