Time-domain model of transmission lines with arbitrary initial potential and current distributions for transient analysis

In this paper an equivalent time-domain linear network model is obtained for nonuniform transmission lines with arbitrary initial potential and current distributions. The initial potential and current distributions are included as independent current sources in the model. This model can be embedded in a circuit simulator such as SPICE. The modeling efficiency is improved by solving the encountered differential equations of initial value problem with a method which converges more rapidly than the traditional one-step method. Two examples of transient analysis are given, showing that initial potential and current distributions have significant influence on the transient performance of transmission lines used as interconnections in VLSI circuits.