Articles by Heidi Barnes

This paper comprehensively addresses the numerous challenges presented when designing a power distribution network for a scalable 2000 Amp power supply and provides a complete process for designing, simulating, and validating a 2000 Amp core power rail. 

In the final installment of this blog series, Benjamin Dannan, Heidi Barnes, and Steve Sandler continue their discussion of how to calculate the minimum CMRR with a PDN impedance measurement using a 2-port probe, demonstrating how to measure a sub-40 µΩ impedance when using an isolator that has sufficient CMRR using two different VNAs, the Bode 100 and E5061B. Achieving sub-40 µΩ impedance measurements is challenging, but completely realistic with the proper test equipment. 

This paper addresses the challenge of how to simulate the power integrity ecosystem and include the feedback loop and switching noise of a switch mode power supply (SMPS) without waiting days for the simulation results. The solution presented here uses control loop theory state space equations to create a behavioral model of an SMPS that allows for fast simulation.

Understanding a few simple power integrity (PI) fundamentals can go a long way towards increasing design margins when delivering power to high-speed digital loads. In this piece, Heidi Barnes provides some fundamental lessons on impedance.

It takes only one rogue voltage wave to kill a PDN in high-speed digital designs. Flat impedance optimization before layout lowers the risk of rogue waves occurring in your design. Heidi Barnes explains how rogue waves occur and addresses how to get the best performance at the lowest cost.

Wondering about the practical uses of the proposed IEEE P370 standard? This  paper shows some applications of the draft IEEE P370 standard in order to demonstrate its effectiveness for interconnect measurement.

The fixtures used to characterize interconnects in complex systems can have a significant effect on the measured data, read on to get the background and perspective on IEEE P370. Check out this Outstanding Paper Award Winner from EDI CON USA 2018.