Analysis of cross‐talk on high‐speed digital circuits using the finite difference time‐domain method

Cross‐talk and pulse distortion in high‐speed digital circuits have long been major design considerations. With the present trend towards increased speed and packing density the commonly used TEM approximation is no longer capable of producing sufficiently accurate results. In this contribution, the finite‐difference time‐ domain technique incorporating a novel means of launching the pulses is used to provide a rigorous three‐ dimensional simulation of cross‐talk on high‐speed digital circuits. This includes the often‐neglected effects of higher‐order modes and surface waves. Results are presented for pulses propagating along a single track and for coupling between two and three tracks using square, gaussian and raised cosine pulse excitation functions. The results are shown to be in good agreement with other rigorous analyses.