Estimating crosstalk in multiconductor transmission lines

Modern inter-chip interconnects frequently require that many signal lines be routed in parallel over electrically significant distances. In order to predict that electrical performance goals will be met, accurate and numerically efficient estimates of signal crosstalk voltages must be made. Conventional crosstalk coefficient formulas, that are based on two-line models, are not applicable to cases in which there are more than two lines, or in which the dielectric medium is not homogeneous. This paper describes an analytic means through which both near-end and far-end crosstalk voltages can be estimated for the general case of multiconductor coupled transmission lines. The effects of velocity dispersion on crosstalk voltages are included in the analysis, and are shown to be functions of signal risetimes.