Target Condition: Distribution of Power—Denounce the Ounce
Fresh PCB Concepts: Resilience and Renewal in Domestic PCB Manufacturing
Designers Notebook: Power and Ground Distribution Basics
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.
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Designers Notebook: Power and Ground Distribution Basics
10/29/2025 | Vern Solberg -- Column: Designer's NotebookThe principal objectives to be established during the planning stage are to define the interrelationship between all component elements and confirm that there is sufficient surface area for placement, the space needed to ensure efficient circuit interconnect, and to accommodate adequate power and ground distribution.
Beyond Design: The Fundamental Structure of Spectral Integrity
10/21/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond DesignImpedance can be characterized in both the time and frequency domains. In the time domain, it influences how electromagnetic energy propagates through interconnects, affecting signal integrity and waveform fidelity. In the frequency domain, AC impedance determines how well the network can suppress noise and deliver clean power at a range of frequencies. AC impedance shapes how power rails respond to transient loads.
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