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40 The PCB Magazine • July 2014 by Daniel Brandler and Manuel Herrera ohMega technologieS inc. F e a t u r e Summary Industry trends of smaller, faster, more mod- ular "plug'n play" type devices are challenging designers to find alternative interconnection methods and related technologies. Increasing I/O densities in smaller form factor devices re- sult in the need for embedding passives within PCBs. Embedded resistors are one such technol- ogy with a long pedigree of high reliability and proven performance. Introduction The reasons for using embedded resistors are simple: size, performance, and reliability. The electronics industry continues to push the envelope of how much can be packaged into smaller and smaller areas while the speed and I/O densities of integrated circuits continues to increase. The PCB designer is faced with the daunting task of trying to route circuitry in less area while still preserving space to accommo- date both active and passive devices necessary for proper system operation. This has led to a growing use of HDI boards with ultra-fine lines and buried/blind via technologies. Embedded resistors are complementary to HDI technology, with removal of passive devices from the board surface enabling more real estate for active de- vices and allowing shorter interconnects be- tween the I/O and the resistive element. Other benefits of embedded resistors are reduced EMI, lower inductive reactance and greater reliability with the elimination of the surface resistor as- sembly and solder joint. Embedded Resistors in Low ohmic Applications