Circuit Board Layout to Reduce EMI

by Dr. Tom Van Doren

5 video sessions5h of instructionDownloadable workbookCertificate of completionTeam rates available

Program Overview

This educational program on Circuit Board Layout to Reduce Electromagnetic Emission and Susceptibility helps you base EMC design decisions on logical engineering principles rather than expensive trial-and-error experimentation.

The course spans DC to several GHz frequencies, emphasizing mixed analog/digital designs and multilayer boards. Demonstrations illustrate key concepts, and you'll learn techniques for diagnosing electromagnetic interference at the board level.

Circuit Board Layout to Reduce EMI
Dr. Tom Van Doren

What You Will Gain

  • Reduce EMI issues at the board level
  • Optimize signal routing for better EMC
  • Design effective power distribution systems
  • Select optimal layer stackup configurations
  • Apply practical techniques for mixed-signal boards

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, you will be able to:

  • Explain why wiring inductance exceeds resistance importance
  • Describe current loop area's relation to self inductance
  • Explain how resonances worsen board emission and immunity
  • Determine which nets require transmission line termination
  • Describe the four noise-coupling mechanisms
  • Explain two ways to reduce each coupling mechanism
  • Explain grounding's two purposes
  • Differentiate grounding conductors from signal return conductors
  • Understand series blocking versus shunt diverting filter techniques
  • Recognize trace layouts with excessive inductance
  • Design effective DC power-distribution busses
  • Understand alternative layer stackup configurations

Your Instructor

Dr. Tom Van Doren

Dr. Tom Van Doren

Professor Emeritus, Missouri S&T

Dr. Tom Van Doren is Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Missouri S&T (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla) and a member of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory. With over 35 years of teaching and industrial experience in electromagnetic compatibility, he brings unparalleled expertise to these courses. He is an inductee of the IEEE EMC Society Hall of Fame.

More than 19,000 engineers and technicians have attended his short courses on grounding, shielding, and PCB layout. His practical approach combines theoretical foundations with real-world demonstrations and examples.

What Engineers Say

I think the course is terrific and extremely valuable.
Engineer
NASA
It was excellent — you did a tremendous job of explaining things clearly.
Manager, Systems Test
Ball Aerospace
We hosted Dr. Van Doren 15 years ago. Our new hires need this course.
RF Group Lead
Brookhaven National Lab

Trusted by teams at

NASANASA
BoeingBoeing
Ball AerospaceBall Aerospace
HondaHonda
Brookhaven National LabBrookhaven National Lab
U.S. Air ForceU.S. Air Force
MatterportMatterport
PlexusPlexus
Schneider ElectricSchneider Electric

Course Outline

5 sessions · 5h of video lectures and demonstrations

1Introduction, Signal Routing, Path of Least Impedance, Transmission Line Effects60 min
2Transmission Line Effects (continued), Noise Coupling Mechanisms50 min
3Circuit Board Grounding Issues, Filtering Conducted Noise60 min
4DC Power Distribution and Decoupling50 min
5Component Placement, Layer Stackup, Chassis/Cable/System Issues, EMC Guidelines Summary60 min

Who Should Take This Course

This training is ideal for:

  • Engineers who design or manufacture electronic equipment
  • PCB designers and layout engineers
  • Engineers who design metal enclosures for circuit boards
  • Engineers who select connectors and cables
  • IC and package designers
  • Engineers who design filters to reduce conducted emissions
  • Engineers who select heat sinks for IC packages
  • Engineers who test products for electromagnetic compatibility

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