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The first time I read about impulse response functions, it was in the context of stochastic calculus while working on a portfolio management paper. This was before I started working in the electronics industry. I didn’t go so deep as to extract impulse response functions to examine how sudden changes in asset prices are interrelated, but the underlying concept is extremely valuable for understanding physical systems. Once I started working on...

PCI-SIG has been busy pushing the limits on standardized data rates between processors and computer peripherals. While the standards group doesn’t have a direct hand in component development, the release of the PCIe 5.0 specification in 2019 and the upcoming release of the PCIe 6.0 specification in 2021 shows a clear intent to standardize peripherals for data-hungry applications. Some applications will inevitably include AI in the data center, 5G...

Differential pairs have helped solve some basic signal integrity problems, and modern CAD tools make them easy to design and route. However, differential pairs are not the cure-all for every signal integrity problem, despite their usefulness in suppressing common-mode noise at a low-level receiver. There is one question that always gets asked when discussing differential pair routing: do these traces need a ground plane? Sometimes, the answer to...

Some PCBs are simple enough that you don’t need multiple designers working on a large team. Design files basically come in two forms: the initial project files, and the final project files once the design is complete. The way my team works, we often receive some design files from a client to help us get started, and we have to manage everything ourselves after that. Any project can get very complex, and the PCB design team needs to track...

Ultra-high speeds on flex and rigid-flex boards are inevitable as these boards are finding greater use in advanced electronics. These systems also need ground layers for isolation, and for separating RF and digital references for wireless protocols. With high speeds and high frequencies comes the potential for signal integrity problems, many of which relate to the placement and geometry of the ground plane in a PCB. A common method for providing...

Whether you’re an individual designer or part of a team, there are always others in the value chain that you rely on to turn your design from intent to reality. Making this happen means you have to collaborate and share. One of the major challenges is that the way this is done today can be cumbersome, error-prone, and inefficient. In many instances, we haven’t progressed much beyond traditional phone calls, emails, and ad-hoc meetings... Until...

When it comes to real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. When it comes to ensuring a PCB will be built as designed, the emphasis is on documentation, documentation, documentation. This article describes the documents that need to be provided by the board design group to the fabricator, assembler, and test organization. Included is the description of the different drawings needed along with files and notes. All of these documents...

In various blog articles, we have described the aspects of board design and fabrication that can add increased complexity and cost to high-performance PCBs. One of those aspects is in regards to how thick PCBs need to be, especially as it relates to the amount of copper needed on a board and the laminate thickness. Up until the current generation of boards, which are typified as being high speed PCBs with high current, we were fine with having ½...

In a variety of articles posted on Altium’s resource center as well as in several other technical articles, papers, and conference proceedings, the advantages of differential signaling and its ability to deliver very high data rates have been touted. But, as with many things in life, those things that are beneficial can also have a downside. Such is the case with today’s products that deliver 32 Gbps and above data rates and the vias that are...