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14 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2025 B E YO N D D ES I G N High-speed PCB design is a balancing act, where subtle oversights can develop into major signal integrity nightmares. Some culprits lie dormant during early validation, only to reveal themselves later through workflow disruptions and elusive per- formance bottlenecks. Take crosstalk, for example. What begins as a stray signal coupling between traces can ripple through the design, ultimately destabilizing the power distribution network. Each of these troublemakers operates with signature tactics, but they also have well-known vulner- abilities. While it's often possible to track down the source after the fact, a proactive approach offers the greatest defense. In this month's column, I'll profile a lineup of common signal integrity offend- ers and explore proven techniques to eliminate them at the root. by B arr y O lney, In-C ircuit D esign PT Y LTD / Australia Slaying Signal Integrity Villains The Terminator He lurks in the shadows between layers or hides beneath the solder mask, disguised as a compliant transmission line. To the untrained eye, he appears well-behaved—clean geometry, acceptable tolerances —but underneath the surface, he's changing character from one edge to the next. This guy uses dielectric inconsistency, trace width and spacing variation, and via transitions to deviate impedance unpredictably. His signature tactic is reflection. He tosses mismatches back up the line, destabilizing receivers. However, the Terminator isn't invincible. With vigilant stackup planning, disciplined fabrication, precise impedance modeling by field solvers, and well-placed terminations, he's cornered before he can strike. Because in high-speed design, certainty is a matter of survival, and this villain thrives on uncertainty.