Introduction to Signal Integrity for Interconnects

Catalog description

This course provides a solid foundation in signal integrity for interconnects, the performance of which becomes the key factor in ensuring reliable system operation as the speed of new digital systems is pushed higher into the gigabit range. This course introduces parasitic elements that can impair the signal, such as coupling capacitances, ground capacitances, mutual inductances, self-inductances, and wire resistances. These parasitic elements can produce data losses, crosstalk, jitter, and time delays that can significantly degrade system performance and reliability. Students will also learn how the characteristics of materials and interconnect layout affect system performance and will develop models that can be simulated to verify that performance before production. This course will also cover necessary supporting ideas such as transmission line theory, impedance mismatch and reflection, lossy transmission lines, rise time degradation, material properties, crosstalk, and jitter. Students will be taught to make and interpret measurements in both the time and frequency domains.