Grounding Technique Quells EMI from Fast Processors

With microprocessor clock speeds rising above 1 GHz, theCPU’s heatsink comes under increasing scrutiny as a source ofelectromagnetic interference (EMI). Often, this problem isn’ taddressed until after the microprocessor has been designed inand the product is undergoing EMI tests. If EMI problems arediscovered at that point, they’re addressed with Band—Aid solutions,such as adding shielding hardware. Naturally, such fixesslow product development and add cost. Moreover, theymay be ineffective in future product spins with newer processors.