WHAT IS CONTROLLED IMPEDANCE?

Controlled impedance is a way of predetermining an electric circuit’s resistance to alternating current. That resistance arises as a function of both resistance and reactance within the circuit. Impedance is critical to a circuit’s operations because it affects the schedule on which a circuit completes its functions. It impacts the timing – and integrity – of essential processes. Controlling impedance by altering the physical structure of board components to give the impedance a particular value helps the board act as it was designed to. Controlled impedance is often a PCB design consideration for high-frequency analog circuits or high-speed digital circuits.

Impedance, generally measured in Ohms, is a characteristic of the circuit that has to be taken care of during the design of the PCB. Resistance and reactance of an electrical circuit have a major impact on functionality, as certain processes must be completed before others to ensure proper operation. This chain of command disrupts a system and leads to a complete failure when these actions aren’t performed as planned. Printed circuit boards with impedance requirements will nullify the changes in voltage occurring and lead to an appliance or gadget that operates as expected.