PCB Design for Real-World EMI Control (The Springer International Series in Engineering and Computer Science, 696)
Proper design of printed circuit boards can make the difference between a product passing emissions requirements during the first cycle or not. Traditional EMC design practices have been simply rule-based, that is, a list of rules-of-thumb are presented to the board designers to implement. When a particular rule-of-thumb is difficult to implement, it is often ignored. After the product is built, it will often fail emission requirements and various time consuming and costly add-ons are then required. Proper EMC design does not require advanced degrees from universities, nor does it require strenuous mathematics. It does require a basic understanding of the underlying principles of the potential causes of EMC emissions. With this basic understanding, circuit board designers can make trade-off decisions during the design phase to ensure optimum EMC design. Consideration of these potential sources will allow the design to pass the emissions requirements the first time in the test laboratory. A number of other books have been published on EMC. Most are general books on EMC and do not focus on printed circuit board is intended to help EMC engineers and design design. This book engineers understand the potential sources of emissions and how to reduce, control, or eliminate these sources. This book is intended to be a 'hands-on' book, that is, designers should be able to apply the concepts in this book directly to their designs in the real-world.
Why Read This Book
You will learn practical, board-level techniques to prevent EMI problems early in the design cycle so your product is far more likely to pass emissions testing the first time. The book translates EMC principles into actionable layout, grounding, and filtering practices and trade-offs that embedded engineers can apply without advanced mathematics.
Who Will Benefit
Hardware and firmware engineers (especially PCB designers and embedded systems engineers) who need to design products that meet emissions and immunity requirements and want hands-on, layout-focused EMC guidance.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic circuit theory, familiarity with PCB schematics and layout concepts, and a working knowledge of digital and power electronics; practical experience with PCB tools and embedded hardware helps but is not required.
Key Takeaways
- Design PCB stack-ups and routing practices to reduce radiated and conducted emissions
- Establish effective return paths and grounding strategies to control common-mode and differential noise
- Apply decoupling, power-distribution, and filtering techniques that limit high-frequency current loops
- Implement component placement, cable/connector treatment, and shielding methods to contain EMI
- Diagnose emission sources using measurement techniques and prioritize fixes that minimize redesign
- Balance manufacturability and cost with EMC performance through practical layout trade-offs
Topics Covered
- Introduction to EMI and EMC: Definitions, standards, and the cost of failure
- Fundamental noise mechanisms: radiation, conduction, and coupling paths
- PCB stack-up, reference planes, and transmission-line basics
- Return currents, ground design, and controlling current loops
- Power distribution, decoupling, and bypass strategies for high-speed systems
- Component placement and routing rules to minimize emissions
- Cable interfaces, connectors, and feedthroughs: treating I/O for EMC
- Shielding, enclosures, and seams: practical implementation and trade-offs
- Filtering, ferrites, and common-mode choke applications
- Measurement techniques, near-field probing, and troubleshooting methodologies
- Design examples, case studies, and common pitfalls
- EMC during product development: test planning and fixes without major redesign
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
More hands-on and layout-focused than Henry Ott's broad EMC engineering references, and more EMC-centric than Johnson/Bogatin signal-integrity books which emphasize high-speed signal behavior.
