striplines

Striplines are a type of microwave transmission line used in printed circuit board applications. They consist of a central conductor strip that is wider than the ground plane, separated by a dielectric material. This geometry allows for a controlled characteristic impedance, typically 50 ohms, which is crucial for efficient signal transfer in high-frequency circuits. The conductor strip is usually etched onto one layer of a multi-layer PCB, with a continuous ground plane on an adjacent layer. The dielectric material is the insulating layer between these two layers.

The design of a stripline involves careful consideration of the conductor width, dielectric thickness, and dielectric constant. These parameters directly influence the impedance and the propagation speed of the electromagnetic waves. Striplines offer good electromagnetic shielding due to the surrounding ground planes, which helps to minimize crosstalk and radiation. They are commonly used in RF and microwave systems for signal routing, filter construction, and impedance matching. Compared to microstrip lines, which have only one ground plane beneath the conductor, striplines generally exhibit lower dispersion and a more stable characteristic impedance over a wider frequency range.