[SI-LIST] Re: Buried Capacitance thread comments (The whole thing)

  • From: MikonCons@xxxxxxx
  • To: ldsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 16:17:01 EST

Sorry about the mud, guys. Now "bygones."

Re: Larry's comments on high frequency energy making it to the board and 
causing EMI problems, this is and has been a major issue with all higher 
frequency processors. The 200 MHz limit that (to quote Larry) "some one" 
specified is constantly violated by processors. The original (pre-production) 
AMD K6 processor packages (prototyped by IBM, certainly a competent 
manufacturer) exhibited a package resonance at 750 MHz that (per the mode 
conversion phenomenon aptly noted by Scott McMorrow) leaked (or actually ran 
rampant) onto the PCB and was very nicely characterized by EMI radiated 
emission tests. 

This problem was measured, characterized, modeled, and correctly simulated 
for an indepth understanding. Multiple in-package filter alterations were 
modeled and evaluated that offered attenuation exceeding 60 dB. But power 
carrying ability of the resulting structure posed lower practical limits to 
lower levels (as noted by Larry). And, as most of us know, on-die decoupling 
capacitance goes a long way to reducing the resonant frequency and containing 
the higher frequency currents on the chip.

My (years ago) analyses of this problem clearly demonstrated the need (and 
the potential) for innovative package design that is still an ongoing issue 
for all processor manufacturers. Grounded heatsinks on these chips have 
provided a field interseptor and shielding improvement for some of the 
energy, but thin dielectric planar decoupling is a critical element on the 
PCB to resolving EMI problems beyond the control of the processor package 
designer.

Mike

Michael L. Conn
Owner/Principal Consultant

Mikon Consulting
Cell: (408)821-9843

                   *** Serving Your Needs with Technical Excellence ***


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