ground plane

An Arduino-based board with no solid ground return plane makes the perfect "what not to do" test case. Near-field probe measurements, spectrum analyzer captures, and real emissions data reveal why two-layer designs can be EMC trouble — and what it takes to fix them.

Discover how different standards require various approaches to bonding equipment under test to ground planes. Learn the critical differences between MIL-STD-461, CISPR 25, and ANSI C63.4 that could impact your compliance testing results and save you costly retesting.

When two circuits share a return path with non-zero impedance, the result is common-impedance coupling — and real EMC problems. This foundations piece breaks down the theory with circuit models, then backs it up with lab measurements showing how ground impedance affects audio, video, and high-current circuits sharing a common return path.