Team-Based PCB PDN Design Methodology Enabled by IC Target Impedance Constraints

摘要

A quiet evolution is accelerating: target impedance is quickly becoming the preferred method by IC vendors to specify board-level AC PDN requirements. This enables OEMs to choose unique stackup and decoupling solutions to differentiate with increased performance or reduced cost. This paper first presents a practical method for how target impedance may be determined by IC vendors, including IC PDN transient current waveforms and impedance profiles. Team-based AC PDN design methodologies are then discussed in detail from the perspective of both PCB designers and PI engineers, focusing on the previously disjoint tasks of schematic, layout and performance verification.