RF and Microwave Basics Impact...

RF and Microwave Basics Impact PCB DesignRF and Microwave Basics Impact PCB Design It is a given that printed circuit board designs are utilizing higher frequencies to meet performance demands. As data rates increase, the resulting bandwidth requirements are driving the upper limit of signal frequency to 1 GHz and beyond. And while this is a far shot from millimeter wave technology (30 GHz), it is indeed RF and low-end microwave. RF requires a design engineering approach that addresses the associated stronger electromagnetic field effects which naturally occur at these higher frequencies. These fields can induce signals in adjacent signal lines, or PCB traces, creating undesirable crosstalk (interference and overall noise), undermining system performance. Return loss (signal reflected back into the incident oncoming signal) is pr