Estimating high speed circuit interconnect performance

A technique requiring a minimum of computational effort is presented for providing engineering estimates of the effect of package mismatch, line loss, and crosstalk. The technique entails modifying the Fourier series of a symmetrical trapezoid (which serves as a reasonable approximation to an actual digital signal) by transfer functions representing mismatch, loss, or crosstalk. Transfer functions are introduced which utilize frequently-domain data (measured or calculated) and provide the necessary transition to the time-domain performance. Sample calculations are given along with an interpretation of the results