High speed electrical transmission line design and characterization

Bates, R., Buttar, C. , Buytaert, J., Eklund, L. , de Acedo, L., Longstaff, I., Naik, S., Sullivan, S. and Wraight, K. (2017) High speed electrical transmission line design and characterization. Journal of Instrumentation, 12(2), C02002. (doi: 10.1088/1748-0221/12/02/C02002)

Abstract

High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments have unique requirements for data communication. High data speeds, combined with extreme restrictions on materials allowed, leads to custom transmission lines. This paper will present transmission line design theory, simulation and testing methods. Transmission line designs options like flexes and rigid PCBs as well as cables will be studied. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software packages simulate energy dissipation and quality of transmitted signals. The characterisation techniques of time-domain reflectometry and frequency-domain measurements are discussed and compared. Bit-error-rate testing is presented and its limitations for design discussed. Methods to improve quality, like three different types of equalization are described.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Naik, Mrs Sneha and Bates, Dr Richard and Eklund, Prof Lars and Longstaff, Iain Richard and Buttar, Professor Craig and Wraight, Dr Kenneth
• Authors: Bates, R., Buttar, C., Buytaert, J., Eklund, L., de Acedo, L., Longstaff, I., Naik, S., Sullivan, S., and Wraight, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Journal of Instrumentation
• Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 1748-0221
• ISSN (Online): 1748-0221
• Published Online: 02 February 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 CERN
• First Published: First published in Journal of Instrumentation 12(2): C02002
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license