Find out how Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) plays a vital role in driver and passenger safety by contributing to the precision and durability of advanced driver assistance systems.

A person soldering a chip onto a printed circuit board (Blaz Erzetic | Pexels)

Automobile techxnology is ever-advancing. However, these advancements don’t only focus on creating more eco-friendly engines or releasing new exterior color options. Some of the most important innovations are related to safety, and a major innovative aspect of vehicle safety involves Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Automobiles outfitted with ADAS can offer many features for a safer drive. These incredible interfaces can provide automatic emergency braking to apply stopping power before you react. You can also thank ADAS for blind spot warnings and lane-keeping assists.

ADAS relies on a complex system of parts and materials, including ENIG. But what is ENIG? Why is it such a vital component of modern vehicle safety systems?

What Is ENIG?

ENIG is a form of metal plating used during the manufacturing process for printed circuit boards. It contains two layers. The first layer of ENIG is made of nickel. This electroless layer creates a smooth surface while preventing diffusion. ENIG’s second layer covers the first nickel layer with gold to protect it from oxidation while providing an ideal surface for soldering purposes.

How ENIG Impacts ADAS

You’ve learned the basics of ENIG and ADAS. It’s now time to learn how this durable metal plating combines with in-vehicle assistance systems for unmatched driver and passenger safety.

Durable in Extreme Environments

No matter where you live, it’s hard to avoid driving in unpleasant conditions. This could be a muggy summer drive or hitting the road as ice-cold sleet pelts the road. 

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) containing ENIG provide resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion. These characteristics help ensure that a vehicle’s PCBs remain fully functional. Such protection can prevent thermal stress to a PCB in the summer or cracking due to extreme cold during the winter months.

Minimal Signal Loss

Modern driver assistance technology requires precise and fast communication between sensors, radar systems, cameras, and other components. Even slight signal loss can lead to dangerous real-world driving situations.

The smooth surface finish provided by ENIG plating prevents impedance mismatches. Instead, ENIG’s uniform surface reduces data loss and distortion while keeping signals flowing without interruption.

Electroless nickel immersion gold can also help prevent the signal-related problem known as crosstalk. Crosstalk occurs when signal coupling occurs between signal traces routed close to each other. Even in densely packed ADAS circuits, ENIG keeps signals transmitting strongly. 

Precise Timing

Many drivers have experienced those heart-pounding moments where quickly swerving or hitting your brakes ensures you avoid getting into a wreck . ADAS helps to prevent these moments. These systems require the ability to process real-time data from multiple sensors with as little latency as possible, which ENIG provides.

Additionally, the smooth finish of ENIG provides an ideal foundation for perfectly placed solder joints. ENIG’s nickel layer provides a stable conductor with excellent conductivity compared to the gold layer. As a result, connected ADAS can depend on precisely transmitted data.

Long Lasting

Modern automobiles are built to last. Because of that, the same should apply to a vehicle’s ADAS system. With ENIG, it does.

Elements including moisture and air can degrade the parts and pathways of a PCB. ENIG safeguards sensitive PCB components against corrosion. The copper parts of PCBs are also susceptible to oxidation. Thankfully, the gold layer of ENIG prevents oxidation to keep connections strong.

Additionally, the dual-layer protection of ENIG acts as a barrier to block dust, chemical splashes, or airborne particles from damaging a PCB.

Because ENIG’s properties are so resistant to any potential threats, drivers can rely on their vehicle's built-in assistance systems for many years to come.

Extremely Flexible

Many automobiles rely on high-density circuit boards. A high-density PCB can feature complex layer pairs and blind vias. These high-density boards must also typically fit within a small amount of available space.

ENIG’s surface finish also eases the soldering process of fine pitch components. This surface plating also allows PCB components to be extremely near one another without sacrificing connection reliability.

ENIG also comes in handy concerning PCBs with multiple layers, which modern vehicle safety systems often require. When automotive manufacturers must use multi-layer PCBs, ENIG provides superior circuit density and protection for even the most complex board layouts.

The Future of ENIG and ADAS

While it’s hard to imagine vehicles being more futuristic than they are now, experts predict that ENIG will play a vital role in continued automobile safety innovations, including vehicle-to-vehicle technology that could allow automobiles to silently communicate with each other. As a result, these systems could help automate certain aspects of driving while leading to overall safer roads.

Additionally, manufacturers continue working to improve ENIG’s already superior alloy compositions. Another potential innovation in ENIG’s future is thicker layering. The future may also see more eco-friendly processes used to manufacture ENIGs.

Automobile manufacturers typically make changes to their newly released vehicles each year. However, this industry and many others will continue to rely on ENIG for long-lasting and resistant PCBs. As time goes on, ENIG and ADAS are likely to remain synonymous with keeping motorists safe.