Types of PCB Pads

This Gold Phoenix PCB Knowledge Center article explains the various types of PCB pads, including common pad designs and special pad structures used in printed circuit board manufacturing and assembly.

1. Common Pads

1.1 Square Pads

Square pads are often used when components on the printed board are large and few, and the printed wires are simple. They are also easy to implement during manual PCB production.

1.2 Circular Pads

Circular pads are widely used in single-sided and double-sided printed boards with regularly arranged components. When board density allows, a larger pad size can improve soldering reliability.

1.3 Island-Shaped Pads

Island-shaped pads integrate the connection between pads and are commonly used for vertically arranged or irregular installation designs.

1.4 Polygonal Pads

Polygonal pads are used to distinguish pads with similar outer diameters but different apertures, helping with processing and assembly.

1.5 Oval Pads

Oval pads provide sufficient area to improve resistance to pad stripping and are often used with dual in-line devices.

1.6 Open-Shaped Pads

Open-shaped pads are designed to help ensure that pad holes used for manual repair welding are not blocked by solder after wave soldering.

2. Special Pads

2.1 Plum Blossom Pads

Plum blossom pads are commonly used where large vias are connected to ground. This design can help maintain grounding performance and reduce solder blockage risks during reflow soldering.

2.2 Cross-Shaped Pads

Cross-shaped pads are also called thermal pads or hot air pads. Their function is to reduce heat dissipation from pads during soldering and help prevent soldering issues caused by excessive heat transfer.

When connected to ground, the cross-shaped structure can reduce the copper connection area and slow heat dissipation, making soldering easier.

For reflow soldering processes, this pad design can help reduce issues caused by uneven thermal behavior.

2.3 Teardrop Pads

Teardrop pads are often used when traces connected to pads are thin. They help reduce the risk of pad peeling and trace disconnection, and are commonly used in high-frequency circuit designs.