Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Panasonic Commercializes Low Transmission Loss Flexible Multi-layer Circuit Board Materials
January 17, 2017 | Panasonic CorporationEstimated reading time: 4 minutes
Panasonic Corporation announced today that it has commercialized its Low Transmission Loss[1] Flexible Multi-layer Circuit Board Materials, suitable for high-speed large-volume data transmission and thinner designs of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablet computers. The company will launch its mass production in January 2017. The combination of a liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) core material[2] and a bonding sheet material that can be laminated at a low temperature and stored at room temperature will considerably ease the manufacture of high-frequency flexible multi-layer circuit boards.
Existing coaxial cables used for large-volume transmission are thick, so they present an obstacle to making mobile devices thinner. Low transmission loss flexible multi-layer circuit boards are of increasing potential as a solution that achieves both large-volume data transmission and a thin design, but they face many restrictions in how they should be handled, due to the characteristics of the materials they incorporate, so they require special facilities for manufacturing. Using its unique resin design technologies, Panasonic has developed a bonding sheet that can be laminated at a low temperature of less than 200 °C and stored at room temperature. This eliminates the need for special facilities for high-temperature lamination and refrigerated storage for bonding sheets. The company has also achieved high adhesiveness of LCP and low profile copper foil for the LCP core material by using its unique laminating techniques. Although existing flexible core materials using polyimide and so on are usable for only low-speed transmission, the new material, due to its low transmission loss property can also be used for high-speed transmission of large-volume data.
Panasonic's new flexible multi-layer circuit board materials have the following features:
- Low transmission loss and compatibility with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) enable the transmission of large-volume data at higher speeds
- Transmission loss: -2 dB/100 mm @ 6 GHz*1.
- Core material: Dielectric constant: 2.9 @ 10 GHz, dissipation factor: 0.002 @ 10 GHz
- Bonding sheet: Dielectric constant: 2.2 @ 10 GHz, dissipation factor: 0.001 @ 10 GHz
- Flexible multi-layer circuit board adopts a 3-layer structure with multiple of signal lines at a thickness of 0.2 mm, allowing further thinning of mobile devices.
- Total board thickness: 0.2 mm or less(1)
- Circuit board material that can be laminated at a low temperature and stored at room temperature makes manufacturing of flexible multi-layer circuit boards easier.
- Lamination temperature: 180 - 200°C, existing bonding sheet(2): 300°C
- Room-temperature storage: 23 (±5) °C, existing bonding sheet(3): refrigerated storage: 5°C or below
(2) Panasonic's conventional LCP bonding sheet
(3) Ordinary low-dielectric constant bonding sheet
Suitable applications：
Circuit boards for high-frequency antenna modules, high-speed cables, etc.
Panasonic Technology
1. Low transmission loss and compatibility with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) contribute to transmission of large-volume data at higher speeds
There is a growing need for faster transmission of signals due to the increasing volume of data demanded by the ever-higher resolutions of mobile device cameras and display screens. As a result, low transmission loss flexible multi-layer circuit boards that enable large-volume, high-speed transmission are of increasing interest as a replacement for currently-used coaxial cables; and low transmission loss, meaning that only a small amount of the signal is lost during transmission, is desired for the circuit board material. Panasonic has commercialized a low transmission loss core material and bonding sheet by applying its unique resin design technologies. It supports standards including USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and will enable increased speed of large-volume data transmission in mobile devices.
2. Flexible multi-layer circuit board comprising a 3-layer, 0.2 mm-thick structure with multiple signal lines contributes to thinner mobile device designs
A coaxial cable is composed of one signal line in a cable and is capable of large-volume data transmission, but its downside is its thickness. A low transmission loss flexible multi-layer circuit board has several signal lines within it, so large-volume data transmission and a thinner design can be achieved simultaneously. Adopting this material allows flexible multi-layer circuit boards, in a 0.2 mm-thick, 3-layer structure that can carry several signal lines, to replace coaxial cables.
3. Circuit board material that can be laminated at a low temperature and stored at room temperature facilitates the manufacture of flexible multi-layer circuit boards
Previous bonding sheet, which forms the low transmission loss flexible multi-layer circuit boards with core material, had to be laminated at a high temperature or stored refrigerated. It was also difficult to handle, due to its material characteristics, and required special facilities that placed a burden on manufacturers. Using its unique resin design technologies, Panasonic has developed a bonding sheet that can be laminated at a low temperature of 200 °C or less, and stored at room temperature, making it far easier to handle the material during production. By providing this sheet and the low-transmission loss core material, the company will considerably facilitate the production of flexible multi-layer circuit boards.
Basic specifications
About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, enterprise solutions and device industries. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates 474 subsidiaries and 94 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.553 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2016. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Closing the Loop on PCB Etching Waste
09/09/2025 | Shawn Stone, IECAs the PCB industry continues its push toward greener, more cost-efficient operations, Sigma Engineering’s Mecer System offers a comprehensive solution to two of the industry’s most persistent pain points: etchant consumption and rinse water waste. Designed as a modular, fully automated platform, the Mecer System regenerates spent copper etchants—both alkaline and acidic—and simultaneously recycles rinse water, transforming a traditionally linear chemical process into a closed-loop system.
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
09/08/2025 | Kurt Palmer -- Column: Driving InnovationIn PCB manufacturing, the demand for increasingly complex and miniaturized designs continually pushes the boundaries of traditional fabrication methods, including depth routing. Success in these applications demands not only on robust machinery but also sophisticated control functions. PCB manufacturers rely on advanced machine features and process methodologies to meet their precise depth routing goals. Here, I’ll explore some crucial functions that empower manufacturers to master complex depth routing challenges.
Trouble in Your Tank: Minimizing Small-via Defects for High-reliability PCBs
08/27/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankTo quote the comedian Stephen Wright, “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.” That can be the battle cry when you find that only small-diameter vias are exhibiting voids. Why are small holes more prone to voids than larger vias when processed through electroless copper? There are several reasons.
The Government Circuit: Navigating New Trade Headwinds and New Partnerships
08/25/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAs global trade winds continue to howl, the electronics manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. After months of warnings, the U.S. Government has implemented a broad array of tariff increases, with fresh duties hitting copper-based products, semiconductors, and imports from many nations. On the positive side, tentative trade agreements with Europe, China, Japan, and other nations are providing at least some clarity and counterbalance.
How Good Design Enables Sustainable PCBs
08/21/2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectSustainability has become a key focus for PCB companies seeking to reduce waste, conserve energy, and optimize resources. While many discussions on sustainability center around materials or energy-efficient processes, PCB design is an often overlooked factor that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Good design practices, especially those based on established IPC standards, play a central role in enabling sustainable PCB production. By ensuring designs are manufacturable and reliable, engineers can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products.