“Grounding in Mixed Signal Printed Circuit Boards”

“Ground” planes in printed circuit boards are often expected to serve two purposes. First, they are intended to provide a zero potential reference for the components and signals on the board. Second, they provide a path for signal currents to return to their source. Unfortunately, these two functions can be at odds with one another and a plane optimized for one purpose may not be well suited for the other purpose. This can be a particularly difficult problem for mixed-signal boards where a “ground” plane carries signal currents that differ by an order of magnitude or more. This presentation reviews grounding concepts that are particularly important when designing a mixed-signal circuit board. It also discusses methods for meeting all signal path requirements while ensuring that the ground structure provides a stable and quiet, zero-potential reference.

BIO

Prof. Todd Hubing
Michelin Professor for Vehicle Electronic Systems Integration, Clemson University

Todd Hubing is the Michelin Professor for Vehicle Electronic Systems Integration at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville, SC, USA. There his research focuses on the reliable integration of low-cost, safety-critical electronics in an electromagnetically harsh environment. He is an IEEE Fellow and a Fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society.

Dr. Hubing holds a BSEE degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MSEE degree from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University. Before coming to Clemson in 2006, he worked for IBM in Research Triangle Park, NC (7 years) and the University of Missouri-Rolla (17 years). He is a past president of the IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Society and currently serves the society as the Vice President for Communication Services.