Modeling and analysis of differential signaling for minimizing inductive crosstalk

Many physical synthesis tools interdigitate signal and power lines to reduce crosstalk, and thus, improve signal integrity and timing predictability. Such approaches are extremely effective at reducing crosstalk at circuit speeds where inductive effects are inconsequential. In this paper, we use a detailed distributed RLC model to show that inductive crosstalk effects are substantial in long buses associated with 0.18 micron technology. Simulation experiments are then used to demonstrate that crosstalk in such high speed technologies is much better controlled by re-deploying interdigitated power lines to perform differential signaling.