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February 2023 Issue of Design007 Magazine Available Now
February 8, 2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: Less than a minute

Shrinking Silicon: A Warp Speed Facilitator
As we all learned by watching Star Trek, a lot of crazy things can happen at warp speed. There’s just no room for error at warp speed. Now, many PCB designers are dealing with increasing signal speeds and rise times, and a parliament of other effects—some positive, some negative—thanks to shrinking silicon. Not quite warp speed, but a lot of unpredictable things can happen when the die gets tiny.
So, in this issue, our expert contributors discuss the causes and effects of silicon shrinkage, including how to better manage EM strategies and signal integrity, as signal speeds and rise times continue their trek toward warp speed.
Suggested Items
High-frequency EMC Noise in DC Circuits
05/29/2025 | Karen Burnham, EMC UnitedEMC isn’t black magic, but it’s easy to understand why it seems that way. When looking at a schematic like that in Figure 1, it looks like you’re only dealing with DC signals all across the board. There’s a 28 VDC input that goes through an EMI filter, then gets converted to 12 VDC power. Except in extremely rare circumstances involving equipment sensitive to magnetostatic fields, DC electricity will never be part of an EMC problem.
Connect the Dots: Proactive Controlled Impedance
05/29/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsFrom data centers to smartphones, designers know that the ohms have it. Getting impedance right ensures all-important signal integrity and delivers high-performing boards. Our designers understand the importance of controlled impedance, but not everyone addresses it in their designs. The most common and important controlled impedance types we see include microstrip, stripline, embedded microstrip, and differential pairs.
Beyond Design: Radiation and Interference Coupling
05/21/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond DesignRadiation and interference coupling pose significant challenges to the performance and reliability of high-speed digital designs. Whether it's the unintended emission of electromagnetic waves or the interaction of signals between adjacent circuits, these phenomena can lead to unwanted noise, signal distortion, and even system malfunctions. Understanding the mechanisms behind radiation and interference coupling is crucial for electronics designers seeking to design robust and efficient systems.
Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
05/20/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsIn the past decade, flex and rigid-flex PCB technology has become the fastest-growing market segment. As an increasing number of PCB companies develop the capabilities to fabricate this technology, PCB designers are becoming comfortable incorporating these designs into their products.
Tips to Master the ‘Black Magic’ of RF Design
05/01/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007For this issue on RF design, I reached out to Zach Peterson, founder of Northwest Engineering Solutions, an engineering design services company in Portland, Oregon. You can find some of Zach’s RF design presentations on YouTube; he does a great job breaking down these complex ideas for PCB designers who are new to the RF side of things. I asked Zach to discuss the challenges facing RF designers, the relevant material considerations, and the layout tips and techniques that can help RF designers master this “black magic” technology.