The impact of a nonideal return path on differential signal integrity

Printed circuit board transmission lines propagating high-speed digital signals are susceptible to nonideal return paths which may affect signal integrity. In an attempt to clarify this complex issue, this paper presents a study of differential signal integrity issues for the familiar situation in which two coupled microstrip traces are in close proximity to a common reference plane. Differential signaling on coupled microstrip lines and stripline configurations are investigated. Finite-difference time domain simulations are used to demonstrate the impact a nonideal return path can have on differential signal integrity.