BeTheSignal
Sometimes social networks (in vias) are not a good thing
Eric Bogatin
1/3/2011 5:59 PM EST
Time domain reflectivity
Jeff and his team found the first hint of what might be going on in these lines from the TDR (time domain reflectivity) response of each line in the two pairs. Figure 2 shows the TDR response, converted to a first order impedance profile.
This shows the microstrip (red) as a uniform line, with an impedance slightly under 50 Ohms, of about 47 Ohms. The stripline trace (in blue) has a very large, high impedance discontinuity at the beginning and end of the line. What structure could be creating this impedance and could it be related to the far end cross talk, Jeff wondered?
The second clue came from a close inspection of the artwork for the launches to the microstrip and stripline.
Next: Anti-social vias
Jeff and his team found the first hint of what might be going on in these lines from the TDR (time domain reflectivity) response of each line in the two pairs. Figure 2 shows the TDR response, converted to a first order impedance profile.
Figure 2. TDR response of the microstrip line (red) and the stripline (in blue) converted to impedance.
This shows the microstrip (red) as a uniform line, with an impedance slightly under 50 Ohms, of about 47 Ohms. The stripline trace (in blue) has a very large, high impedance discontinuity at the beginning and end of the line. What structure could be creating this impedance and could it be related to the far end cross talk, Jeff wondered?
The second clue came from a close inspection of the artwork for the launches to the microstrip and stripline.
Figure 3. Close up of the launches to the microstrip and stripline traces.
Next: Anti-social vias
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iniewski
1/4/2011 11:18 AM EST
Very nice article on cross talk through vias Eric, signal return paths are frequently overlooked when analyzing PCB problems. However, I have mixed feelings about use of "social vias" in a purely engineering text. On one hand purist in me objects to term used. On the other hand the term made me read the article in the first place! ;-) Kris
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ReneCardenas
1/11/2011 6:50 PM EST
Eric,
Great analogy and use of great headline to catch our imagination. Well done.
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