A Time Domain Approach to Power Integrity for Printed Circuit Boards

TL;DR

This paper presents a time domain simulation approach to analyze power integrity issues in PCBs, focusing on electromagnetic disturbances caused by current spikes and their impact on system operation.

Contribution

It introduces a finite difference time domain method with PML boundary conditions to visualize and analyze electromagnetic interference patterns on PCB ground planes.

Findings

Resonant interference patterns can persist and affect device operation.

Electromagnetic disturbances can be characterized as resonant cavity modes.

Simulation results match expected resonant frequencies.

Abstract

Power integrity is becoming increasingly relevant due to increases in device functionality and switching speeds along with reduced operating voltage. Large current spikes at the device terminals result in electromagnetic disturbances which can establish resonant patterns affecting the operation of the whole system. These effects have been examined using a finite difference time domain approach to solve Maxwell's equations for the PCB power and ground plane configuration. The simulation domain is terminated with a uniaxial perfectly matched layer to prevent unwanted reflections. This approach calculates the field values as a function of position and time and allows the evolution of the field to be visualized. The propagation of a pulse over the ground plane was observed demonstrating the establishment of a complex interference pattern between source and reflected wave fronts and then between multiply reflected wave fronts. This interference which affects the whole ground plane area could adversely affect the operation of any device on the board. These resonant waves persist for a significant time after the initial pulse. Examining the FFT of the ground plane electric field response showed numerous resonant peaks at frequencies consistent with the expected values assuming the PCB can be modelled as a resonant cavity with two electric and four magnetic field boundaries.