Steadfast GPS PCB Manufacturer in China

Positive Results from PCBMAY GPS PCB

PCBMay provides all types of PCB solutions for the range of GPS trackers available in the market.

• Suitable for use in Fleet Management and Logistics
• ICs fitted to support any kind of fleet tracking software
• Enable precise tracking and navigation of vehicles, cargo containers, and people
• Can be used to facilitate geofencing – limit movement from off-limits areas
• Integrate with other information (e.g. vehicle speed data), WiFi compatible

We have built our name on high standards. We will see to it that you are fully satisfied with our GPS PCBs. Whether you order for personal use or for commercial purposes, PCBMay will serve you well.

Here are the main reasons why you can trust us. First of all, we are customer-friendly and open to your inputs. If you call us or message us now, we will immediately respond. There is no such thing as an unimportant question. Any GPS PCB matter you want to know, we will give an answer to!

Secondly, you can trust PCBMay because we have a wider range of expertise in PCB manufacture than any other company from China. After more than 12 years of delivering the best PCBs domestically and internationally, customers rely on us for GPS PCBs, Battery PCBs, Amplifier PCBs, and other types of consumer electronic PCBs.

Finally, you can rely on our company to give you full technical support, if needed. There are customers who want Backdrill PCB, Coverlay PCB, or up to 40 Layers of Multilayer PCB constructed. We can make arrangements for these.

So, have you got any more concerns? Then contact PCBMay now! Get your GPS PCB order started!

GPS PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

GPS PCB is required to track anything. A GPS PCB is a piece of technology that is quite useful in today’s environment. Modern gadgets, such as smartphones, are equipped with GPS, soldered directly onto the PCB.

Are you looking for the best GPS PCB for your device? Choosing PCBMay might be an easy option. They have been manufacturing GPS printed circuit boards since 2008 and have consistently been the top in the industry. In this FAQ guide, we will go through the details of the GPS PCB in great depth.

What Is A GPS PCB?

‘GPS’ is an abbreviation for the Global Positioning System. GPS is an effective navigation system that is operated through satellite. It is used in recording your real-time position and velocity.

You can find GPS almost everywhere. Your car, smartphone, and watch all have GPS systems built into them. Anywhere in the world, GPS can help you get to your destination. GPS PCB operates via a mechanism known as trilateration.

GPS is used to compute position, velocity, and altitude. Trilateration is a method that utilizes satellite signals to determine a user’s location. Triangulation, which analyzes angles instead of distances, is commonly mistaken for this method.

GPS receivers and decoders on or near the surface of the planet collect and process signals sent by orbiting satellites. To get a precise location, a GPS receiver has to gather data from at least four different satellites.

GPS PCB

How Many Layers Can GPS PCB Have?

GPS PCB operates on a multilayer PCB. It has the capability of having up to 30 layers for varied tasks. A multilayer PCB is ideal for soldering intricate components.

By their inherent electrical qualities, Multilayer boards enable high capacity and fast speed in a compact size in a greater assembly density. The number of connectors necessary for numerous PCBs is decreased or eliminated, simplifying manufacturing and significantly lowering the board’s overall weight.

GPS modules function well on the multilayer board, with no problems. Consequently, if you want to solder GPS modules to PCBs, be sure your PCB is multilayered.

Multilayer PCB

What Is The Copper Thickness Of A GPS PCB?

Copper layers are among the most critical components of a GPS printed circuit board. Thermal and electrical conductivity are two of the essential characteristics of copper, which is why PCB manufacturers utilize it.

As the electricity goes along with the GPS PCB, the copper prevents the heat from harming and straining the remainder of the PCB structure. In the case of other alloys, such as aluminum or tin, the PCB might heat unevenly and fail to perform correctly. By their inherent electrical qualities.

The average copper thickness ranges from 35um to 105um and weighs around 2 oz or 3 oz. You can customize the thickness to meet your specific needs. Keep in mind that additional copper equals higher prices as well as more difficult processing.

GPS PCB requires a copper thickness of 1.8 mm to function properly. An issue might arise if this value is increased or decreased too much or too little. However, you can always experiment with something new.

Copper Layer Used In GPS PCB

What Are The Types Of GPS PCB?

There are several different kinds of GPS PCB available on the market. Most GPS PCBs are divided into two categories: active and passive.

Active PCB GPS antennas are those that feature a low-noise amplifier incorporated into the module, whereas passive antennas are those that do not have an LNA. Active antennas are mounted on a board and connected to your PCB through a coax wire provided.

Some receivers are supplied with a directional antenna. They can include a passive matching network, which matches the output to a 50 Ohms impedance array antenna. As a consequence of the LNA’s ability to sustain the noise in the output, an active antenna offers a performance benefit that increases sensitivity.

Active Antenna And Passive Antenna

What Types Of Silk Screen Goes Into GPS PCB?

All components, test points, portions of the GPS PCB, warning signals, logos, and markings are identified by ink traces on the silkscreen layer. In reality, this is not a brand-new alphabet made up of shapes, digits, and letters.

They may also provide information about the pins’ functions. In some instances, silkscreen is used on the solder side, which adds to the price.

For both the manufacturers and the designer, comprehensive GPS PCB silkscreens will help them discover and recognize all the parts on the board. The last stage in creating a PCB is to apply the silkscreen layer.

If you dissect a lot of electronics, you will likely come across PCBs with black, red, or even blue silkscreens. GPS PCB silk screens are white, yellow, or black.

PCB Silkscreen

What Are The Basic Components Of GPS PCB?

You cannot use a GPS PCB until the following components have been installed or acquired.

The LNA, the initial stage of the GPS receiver, requires a low-noise power source. Giving the RF its low-dropout controller is the most straightforward approach to ensuring minimal noise.

The noise rejection for the most frequently available LDOs is 50-70 dB, and they cost less than 30 cents per volume. If your reference model does not have noise isolation between both the LNA as well as the RF source, you will have to incorporate it. This shields the LNA against VCO-induced RF noise.

In most situations, SAW filters are required. Follow the standard design’s corresponding component standards, or consult the SAW filter vendor for specifics. Be careful not to damage any ground connections within the SAW filter’s body.

A TCXO is required for TTFF and will have a starting sensitivity of 2.5 ppm. These oscillators must be stable inside the 1-Hz time-domain—less than one ppb per second!

It should be safeguarded because heat transients might damage the TCXO’s short-term stability. You will need a certified GPS TCXO supplier to satisfy these requirements.

To circumvent this, establish a shield “ring” which it attaches to the shielding can and then links to RF ground via an inductor. The inductor filters EMI-induced electricity flow, whereas the single-point connection prohibits current discharge over the shield can.

What Is The Base Material Of GPS PCB?

A coating is applied to the parent material known as a base material. It helps distinguish between the overall portion, the many layers, and the initial foundation material by referring to it as “base.” The substrate is another term for base material.

A GPS PCB has two main components. The GPS itself and the PCB. A GPS System uses the five following materials as the base material.

• Aluminum
• Glass
• Ceramic
• Polyvinyl chloride

A PCB has these as the base material;

• Prepreg
• Laminate
• Foil of copper
• Soldermask
• Nomenclature
• Surface Finishing

PCB Base Material

What Is The Average Board Thickness Of GPS PCB?

According to several contract manufacturers, the typical PCB board thickness is 1.57 mm. The more layers used in PCB, the more thickness it gains.

Today, boards are thicker and thinner than this standard, although they remain the most popular design thickness.

Today, there is a spectrum of typical or conventional PCB thicknesses. 0.031in (0.78mm), 0.062in (1.57mm), 0.093in (2.36mm). Manufacturers prefer to make GPS PCB boards of size about 0.2mm~6.0mm.

PCB Board Thickness

How To Design A GPS Tracker PCB Board?

Mixed-signal PCBs may be created by including a GPS antenna in the design process. EMI and crosstalk may weaken or even completely block the radio signal if they are introduced near the antenna input. If the antenna output is not sufficiently segregated from other elements, it is also vulnerable to ground plane noise.

Signal deterioration may be caused by several variables, including attenuation and impedance mismatching in high-frequency design. A more considerable attenuation and reduced overall sensitivity for signals with greater carrier frequencies.

Consider using a shorter cable between your exterior LNA and a passive antenna/receiver if you can. This will assist in maintaining a high level of acuity.

The impedance of a trace carrying RF signals should be minimized by avoiding vias when running antenna traces. An inductive gap is created by each via, which adds around 10 Ohms of resistance at GPS frequencies to your trace.

An increase in impedance can be achieved by bigger diameter tubes. Vias in the trace would need to be compensated for if your receiver had previously dynamically impedance balanced to 50 Ohms.

Using PCB layout software, you can easily include GPS antennas into your PCB design. Your designs can be as perfect as you need them to be for a seamless transition to prototype and production, thanks to technologies like integrating intelligent rule verification, auto-interactive routing, including analysis and simulation.

GPS PCB Design

This video explains how to design a GPS tracker circuit diagram.

What Is The Maximum Board Size Of A GPS PCB?

GPS PCB boards are typically 20″ x 24″ in size. Traditionally, breadboards for PCBs were made of plywood. The plywood is a robust, insulating layer that serves as a workstation. A further benefit of plywood is its ability to replace the top layer with a substance called Bakelite.

Standard board sizes should be taken into consideration when designing a board’s thickness. 18″ x 24″, 18″ x 12″, 9″ x 24″, and 9″ x 12″ are the most frequent basic board sizes.

Handling boards need a 12″ space around the panel border, while some manufacturers may allow a 1″ clearance for multilayer boards. A panel must also have enough space across boards for manual withdrawal or automatic routing.

PCB Size

What Are The Common Causes Of GPS PCB Failure?

Nearly all electronic gadgets we use today, such as cellphones, display screens, and computers, are powered by PCBs. A GPS PCB failure that occurs unexpectedly might be a concern for both consumers and manufacturers.

There are various reasons for GPS PCB failures, and they are frequently tied to a small number of significant variables. Environmental factors, such as age and even production faults, are among the characteristics to consider.

Although product failures are very unusual, they can occur during the initial usage of the device or even years afterward. Here are a few of the most critical variables contributing to GPS PCB failure.

Environmental Factors

A GPS PCB can fail due to a variety of environmental variables. It can fail when a GPS PCB is subjected to hostile materials and circumstances.

Many more elements might cause PCB failures, including unintentional impacts, power failures, and lightning strikes. Water submergence is also a factor.

But even the most painstakingly constructed PCBs cannot withstand all of these variables, even in the greatest hands. Your board will deteriorate and rust if exposed to elements, including dirt and trash. Your GPS PCB may fail if the temperature is too high or low.

Rusted GPS PCB

Acute Thermal Shock

PCB failures are often caused by environmental stress, such as high temperatures or high humidity.  Because different materials expand at different rates when heated.

A continually heated PCB might weaken solder junctions, causing component damage. GPS PCBs for high-performance systems must disperse heat effectively to avoid heat damage.

This third factor determines whether the GPS circuit board has the proper copper weight or whether plating issues exist. Incorrect usage of these factors may lead to an increase in thermal stress. On the other hand, burned elements are reasonably easy to recognize and identify.

Age

Old circuit boards are more prone to PCB failure. Certain parts will start to fail as the vehicle ages. For instance, a faulty capacitor might cause intermittent power problems.

You cannot eliminate PCB failures, but you can reduce the expenses by replacing outdated components with fresh ones. While fresh PCBs are more expensive, it is possible to repair many of the problems created by their age. It may be more cost-effective to replace older components with newer ones in some instances.

Error in the Production Process

PCB failures may occur at any point in the manufacturing method, although they are more common after that. Several criteria and conditions need to be satisfied to minimize mistakes. Among these factors include the room’s acoustics and cleanliness, as well as human error.

It is essential to keep in mind that the room’s humidity, temperature, and other factors might alter how parts and solders behave when they are built. Keeping a manufacturing facility as fresh as possible is essential to prevent dust, hair, or bugs from interfering with the PCBs. Thus every care should be made.

Human mistakes in the production and assembly stages may also lead to the failure of a GPS PCB. Human error can produce a wide range of problems, including improper component installation, lousy soldering, traces that are too close together, and other issues if they are not adequately controlled.

How To Implement GPS Antenna In Your PCB Design?

Your PCB enters the mixed-signal domain when you incorporate a GPS chip antenna. EMI and crosstalk may weaken or prevent the antenna signal if they are introduced near the antenna input. If the antenna signal is not sufficiently segregated from other components, it is also vulnerable to ground plane noise.

Other parts on your GPS PCB could be negatively impacted if your GPS antenna and receivers are not correctly separated or protected. There are rare circumstances in which a receiver’s internal antenna is the primary noise source. Crosstalk between the receiver as well as other parts highlights the need for shielding.

To get the GPS signal out of the LNA, you will need some kind of filtering. A surface acoustic wave filter is presently used to filter out the LNA as well as the receiver input. High-frequency SAW filters, like those used in GPS, may filter out frequencies beyond 1GHz. Without a SAW filter, separating the GPS frequencies from other noise inside the signal would be difficult.

GPS Antenna PCB

How To Test A GPS PCB?

You should test your GPS PCB to ensure that it is in perfect working order. Your PCB may fail, and so can your device if it is not adequately tested.

There are various ways to test your GPS PCB.

In-Circuit Testing

ICT or In-circuit testing is by far the most reliable PCB testing method.  It powers up and activates the specific circuits on the board. Most tests are meant for 100% coverage. However, you will obtain closer to 85-90 percent.

Flying Probe Testing

The test uses needles and a probe onto an x-y grid from fundamental CAD. Your ECM software runs after coordinating with the circuit board.

Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)

AOI takes images of the PCB with a single 2D or two 3D cameras. The software then matches your photographs to a precise schematic. A PCB that does not resemble the design is tagged for technician examination to a particular extent.

Automated Optical Inspection Testing

This video shows how to test PCB in industries.

What Is Shielding, Routing, and Grounding In GPS PCB?

A GPS antenna/output receiver’s signal is already 20 dB below the noise level. Minor noise signals can readily obstruct your GPS receiver’s signal. Therefore routing, shielding, and proper grounding is essential.

When dividing your primary GPS PCB into functional units, give each one its ground plane. Mobile devices, in particular, need a broad ground plane in order to accommodate the GPS receiver, therefore this could be an issue. The ground planes would be routed directly to the central ground line in a star topology to eliminate ground loops.

Accurately shield all of your RF as well as the ground-plane components to provide a strong connection between the two planes. Connect the GPS receivers and matching system to an RF ground plane. Clock and data wires should be grounded on the RF ground plane.

GPS PCB Shielding

It is essential to keep antenna traces distinct from digital traces as well as parts since they are analog signals. If possible, protect your antenna traces. If you do this, be sure to include circuit ground planes on both sides of the antenna traces. Place the integrated antenna just outside the shielding. It should be insulated from the battery and other electronics.

How Long Does A GPS PCB Last?

With proper care, you can expect your GPS PCB to operate for between 50 and 70 years. If you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, you should get this lifetime in a dry atmosphere under the right circumstances.  The type, structure, and circumstances under which a PCB is working are the most critical determinants of its lifespan.

How To Identify An Active And Passive GPS PCB?

Active antennas need electricity from the GPS module, but passive antennas do not.

An active GPS antenna PCB includes an LNA or Low Noise Amplifier. The LNA compensates for signal loss.

Active antennas need GPS receiver power to run the LNA. The receiver’s external antenna connector provides this power.

Passive antennas PCB do not have an LNA and do not need electricity. Antennas without electricity are limited to one meter in length.

What Is EMI Shielding In A GPS PCB?

Here are some tips for reducing EMI in GPS PCBs:

• Use multi-layer plywood.
• Caution on divided ground planes.
• Avoid right-angled curves.
• Separate your signals.
• Shorten return pathways.
• Bring differential traces near together.
• Wisely use vias
• In differential traces, avoid vias.
• Separate analog and digital circuitry.
• Isolate high-speed parts.

PCB EMI Shielding

How To Select A GPS PCB Manufacturer In China?

Consider your electrical device’s needs before selecting a PCB manufacturer. You must also consider a manufacturer’s criteria. There are more sophisticated PCB concerns to consider.

Here are the things to keep in mind while looking for a PCB manufacturer.

• Your product’s requirements
• Your product’s market
• Material selection
• Plan your budget
• Production period

GPS PCB Manufacturer

Conclusion

In this FAQ, all features of GPS PCB were covered. Our clients often ask us these questions.

There is no better company in China to have your GPS PCBs made than PCBMay. We are developing the best GPS PCB available to assist you with your project. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need our help with your projects.