The Case for Split Ground Planes

Some experts say you should never use a split ground plane. Others say you should use a split ground plane to control noise. When is the right time to split a ground plane? We will explore the... [more]

Differential Pair Routing for SI and EMI Control

Differential pairs have been used in PC boards for years to carry high-speed serial and high-speed parallel data, in a variety of bus formats. Many board designers and engineers believe the rules... [more]

PC Board Grounding to Control Noise, EMI and Signal Integrity

When time-varying (AC) signals travel in the transmission lines of a board, state-changing electric and magnetic fields are present. These fields, when not controlled, are the source of noise and... [more]

Does a Differential Pair Need a Return Plane?

A differential pair is any two transmission lines. When each transmission line has a return plane, its pretty clear how the differential impedance is related to the geometry. But what if there is no... [more]