PCB Trace Guarding for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic devices, the close proximity of conductive traces on printed circuit boards (PCBs) leads to crosstalk issues, particularly in high signal speed applications, which affects signal quality and reception.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an integrated circuit and method for transmitting data between chips using a printed circuit board, where conductive traces are arranged with separate first and second driving units, with the control circuitry managing data transmission and providing constant voltage to specific traces, and unused signal traces are used as guard traces to reduce crosstalk without occupying additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conductive traces are arranged closely on PCB to increase I/O connections, then the number of connections increases, but crosstalk between adjacent traces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductive traces into signal traces and guard traces with distinct functions. Guard traces are inserted between adjacent signal traces to segment the electromagnetic field distribution, reducing coupling between signal traces while maintaining high connection density.
Solution Approach 2:
Guard traces serve as intermediary elements between signal traces. These intermediary conductive structures act as electromagnetic shields, intercepting and redirecting electromagnetic fields to prevent direct coupling between adjacent signal traces, thereby reducing crosstalk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If guard traces are added to reduce crosstalk, then crosstalk is minimized, but PCB space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive traces are designed to serve dual functions: as signal transmission paths and as guard traces for electromagnetic shielding. By configuring certain signal traces to also function as guard traces for adjacent signal pairs, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated guard traces, thereby conserving PCB space while maintaining crosstalk reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Signal traces serve themselves by acting as guard traces for their adjacent neighbors. The patent configures the electrical characteristics of signal traces to provide shielding for adjacent signal pairs, allowing the same conductive structure to perform both signal transmission and electromagnetic shielding functions without requiring additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit is provided. The integrated circuit includes a control circuitry, a plurality of pins coupled to a plurality of conductive traces of a printed circuit board (PCB), and a plurality of driving units coupled to the pins. The control circuitry provides a plurality of control signals according to data to be transmitted. The driving units are divided into a plurality of first driving units and second driving units. According to the control signals, the first driving units provide the data to a memory device of the PCB via the corresponding pins and the corresponding conductive traces of PCB, and the second driving units provide a constant voltage to the corresponding conductive traces of PCB via the corresponding pins. The conductive traces corresponding to the second driving units are separated by the conductive traces corresponding to the first driving units on the PCB.