002 5956

PCB Layout for EMC Compliance
Bruce Archambeault, Ph.D.

IBM Distinguished Engineer, IEEE Fellow
MST Adjunct Professor
Bruce.arch@ieee.org
WS1
IEEE
Not All EMC Rules are Equal

Return current #1 issue
So-called Ground
Inductance
Unnecessary harmonics
Other rules
August 2012
Dr. Bruce Archambeault
Inductance
Current flow through metal =>
inductance!
Fundamental element in EVERYTHING
Loop area first order concern
Inductive impedance increases with
frequency and is MAJOR concern at
high frequencies
X L = 2fL
August 2012
Current Loop => Inductance
Courtesy of Elya Joffe
August 2012
Inductance Definition
Faradays Law
B
E dl = t dS
For a simple rectangular loop

Area = A
August 2012
B
V = A
t
The minus sign means that the induced
voltage will work against the current that
originally created the magnetic field!
Given the Definition of Inductance

Do these have inductance?
Ground Strap
SMT Capacitor
PCB Via
Not until return path for current is identified!

August 2012
Self (Loop) Inductance

Isolated circular loop
8a
L 0 a ln 2
r0
Isolated rectangular loop

2
p
+
1
+
p
20 a
1
1
2
L=
ln
+ 1 + 2
1+ p
1+ 2
p
p
Note that inductance is directly influenced

by loop AREA and less influenced by
conductor size!
August 2012
p=
length of side
wire radius
7
Mutual Inductance
2 = M 21 I1
How much magnetic flux is

induced in loop #2 from a
current in loop #1?
2
M 21 =
I1
Loop #1
Loop #2
2 =
S2
August 2012
r
B1 (r ) n dS2
Flux from Current in Loop #1
Loop #1
August 2012
Flux from Current in Loop #1
August 2012
10
Change in mutual inductance with spacing

2
Mutual Inductance (nH)
X: 24
Y: 1.835
1.5
The magnetic field drops

off rapidly, so then does
the mutual inductance
1
X: 100
Y: 0.7312
0.5
X: 500
Y: 0.02507
0
0
August 2012
200
400
600
800
Spacing between the coils(mils)
X: 1000
Y: 0.01955
1000
11
Partial Inductance
We now know that a loop of current has
inductance
We now know that there must be a
complete loop to have inductance
But where do we place this inductance in a
circuit?
August 2012
12
Zero-to-One Transition
Wheres the Inductance Go??
Power
Supply
And how could you possibly calculate it?

Courtesy of Dr. Clayton Paul
August 2012
13
Total Loop Inductance from Partial Inductance

L total=Lp1+ Lp2 + Lp3 + Lp4 2Mp1-3 2Mp2-4
Lp2
Mp2-4
Mp1-3
Lp3
Lp1
Lp4
August 2012
Courtesy of Dr. Clayton Paul
14
Partial Inductance
Simply a way to break the overall loop
into pieces in order to find total
inductance
L2
L1
L3
L4
August 2012
L total=Lp11+ Lp22 + Lp33 + Lp44 - 2Lp13 - 2Lp24
15
Important Points About

Inductance
Inductance is everywhere
Loop area most important
August 2012
16
Decoupling Capacitor Mounting

Keep as to planes as close to capacitor
pads as possible
Via Separation
Inductance Depends
on Loop AREA
Height above Planes
August 2012
17
Via Configuration Can Change

Inductance
SMT Capacitor
Via
Best
The Good
Capacitor Pads
The Bad
Better
The Ugly
Really Ugly
August 2012
18
High Frequency Capacitors

Myth or Fact?
August 2012
19
Comparison of Decoupling Capacitor Impedance

100 mil Between Vias & 10 mil to Planes
1000
1000pF
100
0.01uF
Impedance (ohms)
0.1uF
1.0uF
10
0.1
0.01
1.0E+06
1.0E+07
1.0E+08
1.0E+09
1.0E+10
Frequency (Hz)
August 2012
20
0603 Size Cap Typical Mounting

9 mils
9 mils
10 mils*
20 mils
10 mils*
Via Barrel 10 mils
60 mils
108 mils minimum

128 mils typical
August 2012
*Note: Minimum
distance is 10 mils but
more typical distance is
20 mils
21
0402 Size Cap Typical Mounting

8 mils
8 mils
10 mils*
20 mils
10 mils*
Via Barrel 10 mils
40 mils
86 mils minimum
106 mils typical
August 2012
*Note: Minimum
distance is 10 mils but
more typical distance is
20 mils
22
Connection Inductance for Typical Capacitor Configurations

Distance into board
to planes (mils)
0805
typical/minimum
(148 mils between
via barrels)
0603
typical/minimum
(128 mils
between via
barrels)
0402
typical/minimum
(106 mils between
via barrels)
10
1.2 nH
1.1 nH
0.9 nH
20
1.8 nH
1.6 nH
1.3 nH
30
2.2 nH
1.9 nH
1.6 nH
40
2.5 nH
2.2 nH
1.9 nH
50
2.8 nH
2.5 nH
2.1 nH
60
3.1 nH
2.7 nH
2.3 nH
70
3.4 nH
3.0 nH
2.6 nH
80
3.6 nH
3.2 nH
2.8 nH
90
3.9 nH
3.5 nH
3.0 nH
100
4.2 nH
3.7 nH
3.2 nH
August 2012
23
Connection Inductance for Typical Capacitor

Configurations with 50 mils from Capacitor Pad to Via Pad
Distance into board

to planes (mils)
0805
(208 mils between
via barrels)
0603
(188 mils
between via
barrels)
0402
(166 mils between
via barrels)
10
1.7 nH
1.6 nH
1.4 nH
20
2.5 nH
2.3 nH
2.0 nH
30
3.0 nH
2.8 nH
2.5 nH
40
3.5 nH
3.2 nH
2.8 nH
50
3.9 nH
3.5 nH
3.1 nH
60
4.2 nH
3.9 nH
3.5 nH
70
4.5 nH
4.2 nH
3.7 nH
80
4.9 nH
4.5 nH
4.0 nH
90
5.2 nH
4.7 nH
4.3 nH
100
5.5 nH
5.0 nH
4.6 nH
August 2012
24
Ground
Ground is a place where
potatoes and carrots thrive!
Earth or reference is more descriptive
Original use of GROUND
X L = 2fL
Do *you* know where your return current flows?
August 2012
25
What we Really Mean when we

say Ground
August 2012
Signal Reference
Power Reference
Safety Earth
Chassis Shield Reference
26
Where did the Term GROUND

Originate?
Original Teletype connections
Lightning Protection
August 2012
27
Ground/Earth
Teletype
Receiver
Teletype
Transmitter
August 2012
28
Ground/Earth
Teletype
Receiver
Teletype
Transmitter
August 2012
29
Lightning striking house

Lightning
August 2012
30
Lightning effect without rod
August 2012
31
Lightning effect with rod

Lightning
Lightning rod
August 2012
32
What we Really Mean when we

say Ground
Signal Reference
Power Reference
Safety Earth
Chassis Shield Reference
D
Circuit
Ground
August 2012
Chassis
Ground
Digital
Ground
Analog
Ground
33
August 2012
34
Schematic with return current

shown
IC1
Signal trace currents

IC2
IC3
Return currents on ground
August 2012
35
Actual Current Return is 3-Dimensional

Signal Trace
IC
Ground Vias
BOARD STACK UP:

Signal Trace
Ground Via IC
CURRENT LOCATION:
Signal Trace
Ground Layer
Ground Layer
August 2012
Ground Layer
36
Low Frequency Return Currents

Take Path of Least Resistance
Driver
Receiver
Ground Plane
August 2012
37
High Frequency Return Currents Take

Path of Least Inductance
Driver
Receiver
Ground Plane
August 2012
38
PCB Example for Return Current

Impedance
Trace
GND Plane
22 trace
10 mils wide, 1 mil thick, 10 mils above GND plane
August 2012
39
PCB Example for Return Current

Impedance
Trace
GND Plane
Shortest DC path
For longest DC path, current returns under trace
August 2012
40
MoM Results for Current Density

Frequency = 1 KHz
August 2012
41
MoM Results for Current Density

Frequency = 1 MHz
August 2012
42
U-shaped Trace Inductance

PowerPEEC Results
0.6
0.55
0.5
inductance (uH)
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
1.0E+03
1.0E+04
1.0E+05
1.0E+06
1.0E+07
1.0E+08
Frequency (Hz)
August 2012
43
Microstrip/Stripline Across Split

in Reference Plane
Dont Cross Splits with Critical Signals!!!
Bad practice
Stitching capacitor required across split to
allow return current flow
must be close to crossing
must have low inductance
limited frequency effect --- due to inductance
Major source of Common Mode current!

August 2012
44
Split Reference Plane Example
PWR
GND
August 2012
45
Split Reference Plane Example

With Stitching Capacitors
Stitching Capacitors
Allow Return
current to Cross
Splits ???
PWR
GND
August 2012
46
Capacitor Impedance
Measured Impedance of .01 uf Capacitor
100.0
Impednace (ohms)
10.0
1.0
0.1
1.E+06
1.E+07
1.E+08
1.E+09
Frequency (Hz)
August 2012
47
Frequency Domain Amplitude of Intentional Current Harmonic Amplitude

From Clock Net
160
140
level (dBuA)
120
100
80
60
40
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
freq (MHz)
August 2012
48
Emissions From Board

Far field emissions not important unless it
is an unshielded product
Near field emissions above board ARE
important
Example of emissions from board with
critical net crossing split reference plane
August 2012
49
Near Field Radiation from Microstrip on Board

with Split in Reference Plane
Comparison of Maximum Radiated E-Field for Microstrip
With and without Split Ground Reference Plane
120
110
Maximum Radiated E-Field (dBuv/m)
100
90
80
70
No-Split
60
Split
50
40
30
20
10
100
1000
Frequency (MHz)
August 2012
50
With Perfectly Connected Stitching Capacitors

Across Split
With and without Split Ground Reference Plane and Stiching Capacitors
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
No-Split
50
Split
Split w/ one Cap
40
Split w/ Two Caps
30
20
10
100
1000
Frequency (MHz)
August 2012
51
Stitching Caps with Via Inductance

With and without Split Ground Reference Plane and Stiching Capacitors
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
No-Split
Split
Split w/ one Cap
Split w/ Two Caps
Split w/One Real Cap
Split w/Two Real Caps
50
40
30
20
10
100
1000
Frequency (MHz)
August 2012
52
Are Stitching Capacitors

Effective ???
YES, at low frequencies
No, at high frequencies
Need to limit the high frequency current
spectrum
Need to avoid split crossings with ALL critical
signals
SAME for So-called differential signals!!
August 2012
53
Typical Driver/Receiver Currents

VCC
switch
IC
driver
IC load
VDC
Z0, vp
logic 0-to-1
CL
GND
logic 1-to-0
VCC
VCC
IC load
IC
driver
IC
driver
charge
Z0, vp
IC load
Z0, vp
VCC
GND
August 2012
discharge
0V
GND
54
Suppose The Trace is Routed Next

to Power (not Gnd)
Vcc1
TEM Transmission
Line Area
Vcc1
Fuzzy Return
Path Area
Return Path Options:
Fuzzy Return
Path Area
-- Decoupling Capacitors
-- Distributed Displacement Current
August 2012
55
Suppose The Trace is Routed Next

to a DIFFERENT Power (not Gnd)
Vcc1
TEM Transmission
Line Area
Vcc2
Fuzzy Return
Path Area
Return Path Options:
Fuzzy Return
Path Area
-- Decoupling Capacitors ??? May not be any nearby!!

-- Distributed Displacement Current Increased current spread!!!
August 2012
56
Mother/Daughter Board
Connector Crossing
Critical Signals must be referenced to
same plane on both sides of the connector
August 2012
57
Mother/Daughter Board
Connector Crossing
Connector
Signal Path
GND
PWR
Signal Layers
August 2012
58
Return Current from Improper

Referencing Across Connector
Decoupling
Capacitors
Displacement
Current
Connector
Signal Path
Return current
GND
PWR
Signal Layers
August 2012
59
Return Current from Proper

Referencing Across Connector
Connector
Signal Path
GND
PWR
Return current
August 2012
Signal Layers
60
How Many Ground Pins Across

Connector ???
Nothing MAGICAL about ground
Return current flow!
Choose the number of power and ground
pins based on the number of signal lines
referenced to power or ground planes
Insure signals are referenced against
same planes on either side of connector
August 2012
61
Summary
Follow the current!
Return current spread accounts for most
PCB EMC issues
Automated EMC rule checkers can quickly
test for all these issues (and more)
No such thing as GROUND
THINK!
August 2012
62

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002 5956

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PCB Layout for EMC Compliance

Bruce Archambeault, Ph.D.

Not All EMC Rules are Equal

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Current Loop => Inductance

Courtesy of Elya Joffe

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

For a simple rectangular loop

Given the Definition of Inductance

Not until return path for current is identified!

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Self (Loop) Inductance

Isolated rectangular loop

Note that inductance is directly influenced

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

How much magnetic flux is

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Flux from Current in Loop #1

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Flux from Current in Loop #1

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Change in mutual inductance with spacing

Mutual Inductance (nH)

The magnetic field drops

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

And how could you possibly calculate it?

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Total Loop Inductance from Partial Inductance

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Courtesy of Dr. Clayton Paul

L total=Lp11+ Lp22 + Lp33 + Lp44 - 2Lp13 - 2Lp24

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Important Points About

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Decoupling Capacitor Mounting

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Via Configuration Can Change

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

High Frequency Capacitors

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Comparison of Decoupling Capacitor Impedance

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

0603 Size Cap Typical Mounting

Via Barrel 10 mils

108 mils minimum

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

0402 Size Cap Typical Mounting

Via Barrel 10 mils

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Connection Inductance for Typical Capacitor Configurations

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Connection Inductance for Typical Capacitor

Distance into board

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

What we Really Mean when we

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Where did the Term GROUND

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Dr. Bruce Archambeault

Lightning striking house