
Zynq-7000 PCB Design Guide
11
UG933 (v1.8) November 7, 2014
Chapter 2:
PCB Technology Basics
Return Currents
An often neglected aspect of transmission lines and their signal integrity is return current.
It is incorrect to assume that a signal trace by itself forms a transmission line. Currents
flowing in a signal trace have an equal and opposite complimentary current flowing in the
reference plane beneath them. The relationship of the trace voltage and trace current to
reference plane voltage and reference plane current defines the characteristic impedance of
the transmission line formed by the trace and reference plane. While interruption of
reference plane continuity beneath a trace is not as dramatic in effect as severing the signal
trace, the performance of the transmission line and any devices sharing the reference plane
is affected.
It is important to pay attention to reference plane continuity and return current paths.
Interruptions of reference plane continuity, such as holes, slots, or isolation splits, cause
significant impedance discontinuities in the signal traces. They can also be a significant
source of crosstalk and contributor to Power Distribution System (PDS) noise. The
importance of return current paths cannot be underestimated.