Ball grid array, or BGA, is one of the main package types for surface mount integrated circuits. First introduced in the 1990s, BGA was developed to overcome the issues posed by conventional pin grid array (PGA). In PGA integrated circuits, a high number of pins were positioned very close together. Unsurprisingly, this made soldering particularly challenging and increased the risk of the soldering joins and bridges collapsing.
Although derived from PGA, B[SP1] GA technology uses solder balls rather than pins to connect the components. As the name suggests, the solder balls are arranged in a grid pattern on the underside of the package (as opposed to the edges). The balls are positioned evenly apart, thereby reducing the chance of them accidentally bridging together. What’s more, because the leads in BGA packages are shorter than normal PCBs, they tend to deliver a better performance and higher speeds.
Ball grid assembly is typically used to permanently mount components in devices such as microprocessors.
Like any type of PCB assembly technique, a ball grid array package has its pros and cons. Rest assured, however, that our in-house experts are always on hand to talk you through the options and find the best PCB assembly solution for your needs.
If you’d like to find out more about the different PCB assembly methods, get in touch with our friendly team today.
It’s important not to place integrated circuits too close together. The exact distance depends on various factors, but it’s good practice to allow several millimetres between each component. You should also avoid placing components too close to the edge of the PCB.
When planning the layout of a PCB, it’s a good idea to design the placement of components in a way that makes them easy to inspect, fix and maintain. Of course, this isn’t always possible but it’s certainly worth bearing in mind – you’ll thank yourself later!
The footprint plays an essential role in the assembly process as it allows PCB manufacturers to determine exactly where the components need to sit on the board. To help ensure the manufacturing process runs as smoothly as possible, it’s good practice to check the footprint matches the datasheet.
If you’re keen to keep manufacturing costs down, consider opting for a single-sided printed circuit board. Not only does its simpler design make it highly affordable, but it also minimises the risk of potential problems and speeds up production times. You can read more about the different types of PCBs here.