Webinar: Optimizing PCB Transmission Lines to Reduce Signal Losses

Amit Bahl

CRO
Sierra Circuits

Designing PCB transmission lines for efficient data transfer

PCB transmission lines should offer uniform impedance between the source and load to maximize power transfer efficiency and reduce signal loss. Moreover, these traces are responsible for controlling signal speed and propagation delay to achieve synchronized data transfer.

In this webinar, we’ll cover important design aspects concerning transmission lines.

Microstrip, stripline, and coplanar waveguides are distinct line configurations characterized by different positions of conductors and ground planes.

Impedance discontinuities in traces can arise due to abrupt changes in the line properties. These disruptions cause signal reflections and ringing. To mitigate these signal integrity issues, it’s important to minimize stub lengths and employ resistor termination.

Our experts will demonstrate signal ringing with visualization at the source and the load using the Transmission Line Reflection Calculator.

At higher frequencies, the propagation delay should be shorter than the fastest pulse rise/fall time. Employ serpentine routing and meandering to ensure trace length matching and reduce signal delay.

You don’t have to worry about controlled impedance if the line length is less than l_c/1.5, where l_c represents the critical length. This kind of line is referred to as a shortline.

It’s crucial to optimize the 3 dB bandwidth, as it indicates the frequency range within which the transmission line can efficiently carry signals without distortion.

Our design experts will guide you through a dynamic demonstration of the Bandwidth, Rise Time, and Critical Length Calculator. This web application quickly calculates 3 dB BW, the maximum signal rise time, critical length, data transfer rate, and maximum frequency content.

You will learn how to design transmission lines with minimum signal loss in this masterclass.

Date and time:

Coming soon

Fill out the form and we will email you when we set a date.

What you’ll learn:

• Microstrip, stripline, and coplanar waveguide configurations
• Calculating signal speed and propagation delay in transmission lines
• Characteristic impedance, rise time, and DTR
• Significance of critical length and shortline
• Transmission line losses and ways to reduce them
• Signal integrity analysis in transmission lines
• Sierra Circuits PCB design tools:
  • Transmission Line Reflection Calculator
  • Bandwidth, Rise Time, and Critical Length Calculator

Presented by Amit Bahl

Amit has been in the PCB industry for 20+ years. He is the Chief Revenue Officer at Sierra Circuits. His passion is to empower tech companies to achieve their visions and change the world. Rockets going into space, self-driving cars taking up the streets, cancer-fighting medical devices, protecting the country, he’s ready to build any circuit board!