Reducing EMI and Improving Signal Integrity Using Spread Spectrum Clocking

Electromagnetic interference (EMI), once the exclusive concern of equipment designers working with high-speed signals, is no longer limited to a narrow class of high-end applications. Continued innovation in semiconductor technology has resulted in the ready availability of cost-effective, high-performance system-on-chip (SoC) devices, microcontrollers (MCUs), processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and analog/digital converters (ADCs). The high-speed clocking signals required to drive these ICs, however, generate more EMI and, as a consequence, more challenges for designers of consumer, enterprise, communications and embedded equipment.