EMI Bites: Stop Designing Power Networks That Keep Failing EMC Tests
EMI Bites: Stop Designing Power Networks That Keep Failing EMC Tests
Designing poor delivery networks can lead to complete embarrassment when your board fails EMC tests.
The primary cause?
Your PDN struggled to deliver energy properly — and in doing so, it also created EMI issues.
Why do these errors lead to such significant problems?
- Voltage instability: Large current loops in power paths cause fluctuations, reducing circuit performance.
- Electromagnetic emissions: High-inductance paths produce interference, violating EMC standards.
- Unreliable signals: Voltage instability disrupts signal accuracy, affecting functionality.
Here’s the key insight:
Effective power delivery requires short, low-inductance paths.
Without them, your PCB will fail EMC requirements.
My essential solutions for dependable, EMC-compliant designs:
- Place a continuous return reference plane beneath power and signal traces.
- Place decoupling capacitors as close as possible to the IC power pins to reduce inductance.
- Design power paths to minimize current loop size and inductance.
Address power delivery issues during the layout phase — don’t wait to patch problems after failing EMC tests.
—Dario
P.S. Want more EMI control strategies to pass EMC?
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