Routing Technique for Microwave Transmission Lines to Ensure UWB Interference Immunity

Abstract

This article presents a novel routing technique for designing microwave transmission lines (TLs) that provide improved functionality. Unlike traditional practices, we propose locating two independent traces close to each other, resulting in strong electromagnetic coupling and potential unwanted crosstalk between traces. However, we show that the suggested routing schemes can significantly increase the ultra-wideband interference immunity of electrical circuits by using modal distortions and reflections, as demonstrated in our study of four prototypes of TLs in the form of serpentine and spiral designs with strong and weak coupling between pairs. To better predict and analyze the microwave behavior in such TLs, we used new simulation techniques based on the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$</tex-math> </inline-formula> -norms study. Our investigation of these TLs in a transverse electromagnetic cell in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 5.3 GHz showed a low level of radiated emissions. The results indicate that the serpentine scheme with strong coupling between pairs provides the best protection of two independent TLs against ultra-wideband interferences. Moreover, the used electrodynamic approach is in full agreement with the experimental study, further validating the effectiveness of the proposed routing technique.