IPC-2221 / IPC-2152 Compliant
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Industry Application

Automotive PCB Calculator

ADAS | Electric Vehicles | Infotainment | Powertrain

Calculate trace width and impedance for automotive electronics. From 77 GHz radar to CAN bus networks, get the right PCB design parameters for reliable vehicle applications meeting ISO 26262 and AEC-Q requirements.

Common Automotive Applications

ApplicationMaterialImpedanceStandard
ADAS Radar (77 GHz)Rogers RO300350Ω SE / 100Ω DiffISO 26262
CAN BusHigh-Tg FR4120Ω DiffISO 11898
Ethernet (100BASE-T1)FR4 / High-Tg100Ω DiffIEEE 802.3bw
EV BMSHigh-Tg FR4VariousISO 26262

Automotive PCB Requirements

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Temperature Range

Automotive PCBs must operate from -40°C to +125°C (or +150°C for under-hood). Use High-Tg FR4 (Tg >170°C) and automotive-grade components (AEC-Q100/Q200).

EMC Compliance

Strict EMC requirements (CISPR 25). Proper impedance control, good grounding, and shielding are critical. Calculate trace impedances accurately to minimize EMI.

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Functional Safety

ISO 26262 compliance for safety-critical systems. Proper current-carrying capacity, redundancy, and reliable trace design are essential for ASIL ratings.

Key Automotive Design Areas

ADAS & Radar (77 GHz)

  • Rogers RO3003 or similar low-loss material
  • Extremely tight impedance control (±5%)
  • Microstrip antenna design
  • Thermal management critical
  • Consider hybrid stackups

EV Power Electronics

  • Heavy copper (2-4 oz) for high currents
  • Thermal via arrays for heat dissipation
  • Wide traces for power paths
  • Proper creepage/clearance for HV
  • High-Tg materials for thermal stability

In-Vehicle Networking

  • CAN: 120Ω differential impedance
  • Automotive Ethernet: 100Ω differential
  • FlexRay: 80-110Ω range
  • Proper termination essential
  • EMC filtering at connectors

Infotainment

  • HDMI: 100Ω differential
  • USB: 90Ω differential
  • High-speed DDR memory
  • Audio design considerations
  • Display interface routing

Complete Automotive Electronics Integration

Beyond PCB design, automotive electronics require professional cable harness and wiring solutions to ensure reliable connectivity across the entire vehicle system.

Calculate Automotive Trace Dimensions

Use our free calculators for automotive PCB design. Determine trace widths for high current, impedances for CAN/Ethernet, and via arrays for thermal management.

Automotive PCB FAQ

What material for automotive PCBs?

High-Tg FR4 (Tg≥170°C) for most applications. Rogers or similar for 77 GHz radar. Consider halogen-free for environmental compliance.

What's AEC-Q qualification?

AEC-Q100 (ICs), AEC-Q200 (passives) are automotive reliability standards. Use qualified components for production automotive designs.

CAN bus impedance requirements?

CAN uses 120Ω differential impedance. Terminate with 120Ω resistors at both ends of the bus. Match traces to this impedance.

How to handle EV high voltage?

Maintain proper creepage/clearance per IEC 60664. Use reinforced insulation, consider conformal coating, and calculate trace widths for high currents.

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