Wednesday, July 24, 2024

QFN Package Stencil Design for Thermal Pad

 To effectively remove heat from the package and maximize electrical performance, it is crucial to solder the die paddle to the PCB thermal pad with minimal voids. Despite potential challenges due to thermal vias and the large size of the thermal pad for larger packages, striving for minimal voids is essential. Furthermore, careful consideration must be given to the reflow process, as out-gassing can lead to defects if the solder paste coverage is too extensive. Therefore, using smaller multiple openings in the stencil for solder paste printing is recommended, as this can result in 50% to 80% coverage, as illustrated in the figure below. While improved coverage generally enhances thermal contact, it's important to be mindful of potential voiding and floating issues in QFN packages.

Thermal Pad Stencil Design for 7mm x 7mm (Left side) and 10 x 10 QFN Packages with 4.9mm and 7.4sq Pads



Designing Thermal Vias

Enhancing thermal transfer for FR-4 PCBs can be achieved cost-effectively by incorporating thermal vias and plated through-holes (PTH) betwe...