Don't Let Plane Changes Slow You Down

摘要

Reference plane changes in a PCB design exist in many forms: signals transitioning from the IC to the PCB; signals transitioning layers through vias; signals crossing plane splits; and signals going through connectors, just to name a few. They are mainly problematic in that they can radiate unwanted emissions, or EMI, if not properly handled. But reference plane changes can also cause problems with signal degradation and crosstalk. Managing them is a matter of providing continuous return current paths.