Are power planes necessary for high speed signaling?

Suzanne L. Huh, Madhavan Swaminathan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The performance of a system depends heavily on the communication speed between integrated circuits, which is constrained by the power delivery networks (PDNs). The disruption between the power and ground planes based on the low target impedance concept induces return path discontinuities during data transitions, which create displacement current sources between the power and ground planes. These sources induce excessive power supply noise which can only be reduced by increasing the capacitance requirements through new technologies such as thin dielectrics, embedded capacitance, high frequency decoupling capacitors and other methods. The new PDN design proposed here using power transmission lines (PTLs) enables both power and signal transmission lines to be referenced to the same ground plane so that a continuous current path can be formed. Extensive simulations and measurements are shown using the PTL approach to demonstrate the enhanced signal integrity as compared to the currently practiced approaches.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDesignCon 2012
Subtitle of host publicationWhere Chipheads Connect
Pages2173-2216
Number of pages44
StatePublished - 2012
EventDesignCon 2012: Where Chipheads Connect - Santa Clara, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 30 2012Feb 2 2012

Publication series

NameDesignCon 2012: Where Chipheads Connect
Volume3

Other

OtherDesignCon 2012: Where Chipheads Connect
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySanta Clara, CA
Period1/30/122/2/12

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Hardware and Architecture

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