The Shaughnessy Report: Breaking Down the Language Barrier
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Routing, Final Fab, and QC
Target Condition: ‘Boomer to Zoomer: Do You Copy?’
ICD Adds Termination Planner to Stackup Software
November 2, 2016 | ICDEstimated reading time: 1 minute
In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd (ICD), Australia, developer of the iCD Stackup and PDN Planner software, has released a new Termination Planner feature for its Stackup software.
The key pillars of high-speed design stability are stackup impedance, PDN impedance, and matched impedance. ICD currently has the first two issues covered with the Stackup and PDN Planner software. And now, the Termination Planner feature has also been introduced to complement the existing software.
“For perfect transfer of energy and to benefit from the highest possible bandwidth, the impedance of the driver must match the impedance of the transmission line and be constant along its entire length,” said CEO Barry Olney. “Unfortunately, using mainstream PCB layout software, one really has no idea what the driver impedance is, let alone the capability to match the driver to the unknown impedance of the transmission line.”
The ICD Termination Planner addresses this issue. Firstly, the attributes required to determine the source impedance of the driver, are extracted from an IBIS model IV curves. Then the required series termination resistance is calculated, based on a distributed system, to match the transmission line for the selected layer in the iCD Stackup Planner. If the IBIS model is not available (or produces an error) the user may use Generic models to calculate an approximate series termination. Generic models include: typical DDRx, Display Port, ECL, HDMI, LVCMOS and LVTTL gates, Mini-LVDS, NAND Flash, PCI, SDRAM, HSTL and SSTL models.
The number of loads on the transmission line also has an affect on the required value of series termination; as the IC input inductance and capacitance tend to roll-off the signal rise time. This can be adjusted from 1 – 6 loads and automatically compensated for in the calculation.
This new feature will be delivered to current ICD support customers as part of an interim upgrade and will be also made available as part of a new Stackup Planner acquisition.
A quick demonstration of the new ICD Termination Planner can be viewed here.
About In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd
In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd, based in Australia, developer of the ICD Stackup and PDN Planner software, is a PCB design service bureau and specialist in board level simulation. For further information or to download a free evaluation of the software, please visit www.icd.com.au
Share on:
Suggested Items
The Shaughnessy Report: Breaking Down the Language Barrier
03/11/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportAccording to Ethnologue’s 2024 update, there are currently 7,164 living languages being spoken today. It makes you wonder: Do they count PCB design as a language? PCB fabrication? Assembly?
Sikorsky Successfully Flies Rotor Blown Wing UAS in Helicopter and Airplane Modes
03/10/2025 | Lockheed MartinSikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company has successfully validated the advanced control laws to successfully fly a ‘rotor blown wing’ uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in both helicopter and airplane modes.
Quest Global Acquires Alpha-Numero Technology Solutions
03/10/2025 | PRNewswireQuest Global is pleased to announce the acquisition of Alpha-Numero Technology Solutions. Alpha-Numero is a US-based VLSI design company with expertise in FPGA. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Alpha-Numero employs over 150+ talented engineers globally from their centers where research and development are conducted in India at Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and in New York at Endicott.
KYOCERA AVX Joins the STMicroelectronics Partner Program
03/10/2025 | PRNewswireKYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, is proud to join the STMicroelectronics Partner Program and make its antenna products and services accessible to ST customers.
Exhibitor Registration and Speaker Applications Now Open for NEDME 2025
03/10/2025 | NEDMEThe Northwest Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo (NEDME) is gearing up for its 2025 event, and exhibitor registration is now open! Taking place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center at Westside Commons in Hillsboro, Oregon. This year’s keynote speaker is Quantum Computing hardware expert Jim Clarke.