Part 1: Understanding High-Speed Digital Design Problems
In today's world of rapidly advancing technology, engineers face mounting pressure to design faster, more reliable, and
increasingly compact devices. Imagine you're handed a project—a high-frequency circuit with components that push the
limits of design, like DDR memory modules and HDMI interfaces running at multi-gigahertz speeds. It's a scenario that
demands more than traditional PCB design practices; it requires a structured approach to manage the risks that come with
high-speed signals.
FPGA + DDR2 + DDR3 High-Speed PCB layout
The High-Speed Design Challenge
In the above design, signals are operating at frequencies of billions of oscillations per second. This means even the slightest
error in layout can result in significant problems in signal transmission (see images below).
Signal on a trace that experiences too much crosstalk
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OrCAD X High-Speed Digital Design Guide
