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Understanding Signal Integrity, the Foundation of High-Speed Digital Design
September 25, 2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Signal integrity has become a critical factor in ensuring reliable performance in high-speed digital systems. As data rates continue to increase, engineers must understand the fundamental principles that govern how signals propagate through transmission lines and how to mitigate common issues that can degrade signal quality.
Several decades ago, signal speeds were very slow (compared to today’s signal speed). Signal integrity (SI) didn’t seem to be a high priority, and balanced PCB structures, impedance requirements, routing techniques such as microstrip and stripline, were not a major requirement or focus to address. We could and were getting by with simply “making the point-to-point connections” without much thought, regarding the performance of a PCB when routing our signal traces. Well, those days are long gone.
This article will address the core concepts of understanding SI and why it’s important, with a focus on transmission lines, impedance discontinuities, reflections, and termination techniques—the foundation of reliable high-speed digital design.
The Basics of Transmission Lines
A transmission line is more than just a simple conductor. It’s a sophisticated structure that carries electromagnetic energy from one point to another. You know how a regular wire just carries electricity? Well, a transmission line is actually a bit more sophisticated than that. It's a special kind of pathway designed to move electromagnetic energy from one point to another.
To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
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