Pads and Antipads

UltraScale Architecture PCB Design User Guide (UG583)

Document ID
UG583
Release Date
2023-11-14
Revision
1.27 English

Because PTH vias are conductive over the whole length of the via, a method is needed to selectively make electrical connections to traces, planes, and planelets of the various layers of a PCB. This is the function of pads and antipads.

Pads are small areas of copper in prescribed shapes. Antipads are small areas in prescribed shapes where copper is removed. Pads are used both with vias and as exposed outer-layer copper for mounting of surface-mount components. Antipads are used mainly with vias.

For traces, pads are used to make the electrical connection between the via and the trace or plane shape on a given layer. For a via to make a solid connection to a trace on a PCB layer, a pad must be present for mechanical stability. The size of the pad must meet drill tolerance/registration restrictions.

Antipads are used in planes. Because plane and planelet copper is otherwise uninterrupted, any via traveling through the copper makes an electrical connection to it. Where vias are not intended to make an electrical connection to the planes or planelets passed through, an antipad removes copper in the area of the layer where the via penetrates.