1|Page
IPC CID+ Certification Exam ||Just Out!!!
What can you do to create a nearly ideal setting for
containment of fields associated with power currents? -
ANSWER-Placing power plane between two ground planes OR
metal filled with ground or power on all signal layers OR placing
assembly inside a solid metal enclosure with gaskets
What happens when you route around split planes? - ANSWER-
Detrimental to signal integrity as they will create parasitic signal
noise and energy loss
What can you do to create a localized return path? - ANSWER-
Add a return path ground via adjacent to the signal via
Signals radiate at the edge of the board - ANSWER-Fringing
Concerned with the susceptibility of a circuit from external
emissions - ANSWER-Electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC)
Ability to reject unwanted EMI - ANSWER-Susceptibility
What characteristic of conductors can pick up wanted EMI
signals, creating an antenna? - ANSWER-Longer and narrower
,2|Page
traces (fatter traces have more capacitance to a nearby ground,
lower impedance)
What is one way to protect PCBs from stray electromagnetic
radiation? - ANSWER-Proper shielding
For optimum EMI performance, signals with the highest
frequency and fastest rise times should be placed on? -
ANSWER-Internal layers between two reference planes
What is a smart PCB stackup? - ANSWER-Using multiple ground
planes
Property which resists propagation of the energy field through
the circuit - ANSWER-Impedance
Impedance consists of 3 elements: - ANSWER-Resistance,
capacitance, and inductance
What termination schemes can improve signal quality from an
impedance standpoint, thus improving EMI - ANSWER-Series
and parallel termination
, 3|Page
What is a series termination? - ANSWER-Termination with one
load, resistor at the front end of a line closest to the source
directly in series with the output of the driver
What is a parallel termination? - ANSWER-Termination with
multiple loads resistor at or beyond the last load in the circuit
What is a Thevenin termination? - ANSWER-Parallel strategy
where pair or resistors, whose parallel combination is Zo, is
used
What is a characteristic of series termination resistors? -
ANSWER-100% positive reflection at the far end of the trace bc
reflection is absorbed by the series termination at the front of
the trace and no termination at the far end of the trace
Time that a signal takes to travel the length of a conductor -
ANSWER-Propagation Delay
What is the difference between a surface microstrip and an
embedded microstrip - ANSWER-Embedded: conductor is
referenced to single plan, with outer dielectric material
whether it is core material, soldermask, conformal coating
IPC CID+ Certification Exam ||Just Out!!!
What can you do to create a nearly ideal setting for
containment of fields associated with power currents? -
ANSWER-Placing power plane between two ground planes OR
metal filled with ground or power on all signal layers OR placing
assembly inside a solid metal enclosure with gaskets
What happens when you route around split planes? - ANSWER-
Detrimental to signal integrity as they will create parasitic signal
noise and energy loss
What can you do to create a localized return path? - ANSWER-
Add a return path ground via adjacent to the signal via
Signals radiate at the edge of the board - ANSWER-Fringing
Concerned with the susceptibility of a circuit from external
emissions - ANSWER-Electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC)
Ability to reject unwanted EMI - ANSWER-Susceptibility
What characteristic of conductors can pick up wanted EMI
signals, creating an antenna? - ANSWER-Longer and narrower
,2|Page
traces (fatter traces have more capacitance to a nearby ground,
lower impedance)
What is one way to protect PCBs from stray electromagnetic
radiation? - ANSWER-Proper shielding
For optimum EMI performance, signals with the highest
frequency and fastest rise times should be placed on? -
ANSWER-Internal layers between two reference planes
What is a smart PCB stackup? - ANSWER-Using multiple ground
planes
Property which resists propagation of the energy field through
the circuit - ANSWER-Impedance
Impedance consists of 3 elements: - ANSWER-Resistance,
capacitance, and inductance
What termination schemes can improve signal quality from an
impedance standpoint, thus improving EMI - ANSWER-Series
and parallel termination
, 3|Page
What is a series termination? - ANSWER-Termination with one
load, resistor at the front end of a line closest to the source
directly in series with the output of the driver
What is a parallel termination? - ANSWER-Termination with
multiple loads resistor at or beyond the last load in the circuit
What is a Thevenin termination? - ANSWER-Parallel strategy
where pair or resistors, whose parallel combination is Zo, is
used
What is a characteristic of series termination resistors? -
ANSWER-100% positive reflection at the far end of the trace bc
reflection is absorbed by the series termination at the front of
the trace and no termination at the far end of the trace
Time that a signal takes to travel the length of a conductor -
ANSWER-Propagation Delay
What is the difference between a surface microstrip and an
embedded microstrip - ANSWER-Embedded: conductor is
referenced to single plan, with outer dielectric material
whether it is core material, soldermask, conformal coating