A Review of the Impact of Reflection of Transient Signals on TEM Transmission Lines

This paper investigates the impact of reflection of transient signals on TEM transmission lines. Firstly, an overview is done to look at transient signal reflections and distortions as well as signal integrity problems and its effect on TEM transmission lines. Considerations are also given to transient signal structure and its characterization, signal integrity and problems associated with it were reviewed. Transmission line effects, cross talk, and impedance mismatch effects on the integrity of signals that move on the transmission lines are analyzed. With high speed digital signal transmission, even the shortest passive printed circuit board tracks suffer from transmission lines effects. It is a widespread belief that all electronic products have the same configuration; there are drivers that output signals to receivers through interconnect. As a transient signal travels down the transmission line two fields are associated with it, the first being magnetic field associated with the current and second being an electric field associated with the voltage. When such signal encounters discontinuity in the characteristic impedance of the TEM line, it reflects backward. The reflection back and forth within the transmission line will translate to standing waves or sustained resonance thereby introducing ISI, inter-symbol interference.