Impedance Measurement
A specialized technique for evaluating the differential insertion loss of printed circuit board traces uses single-ended time domain reflectometry. Utilizing set2dil allows technicians to extract differential loss data without the need for expensive four-port vector network analyzers. This method relies on measuring the reflection from two independent signal paths.
It is widely used for production quality control in high-speed digital manufacturing.
Accuracy Factor
Calibration of the test equipment is necessary to remove the effects of the probe and the test fixture from the measurement. The set2dil algorithm converts the time-domain data into a frequency-domain insertion loss plot. This provides a clear view of the signal attenuation up to approximately 20 GHz.
It is more cost-effective than traditional methods while maintaining high repeatability.
Quality Assurance
Test coupons at the edge of the production panel are processed through the same etching and lamination cycles as the functional boards. Evaluating these coupons with set2dil confirms that the material and manufacturing processes meet the signal integrity requirements. Results are documented in the lot release paperwork for the customer.
This verification step identifies issues such as excessive copper roughness or improper resin cure. Consistent test results provide confidence in the performance of the final assembly.