Skin Effect and Dielectric Loss Formulae

Skin effect loss in percent-signal-loss per inch of trace

1 RSKIN(1GHz) f
2 Z0 1GHz

Dielectric loss in percent-signal-loss per inch of trace

π f θ TD

Trace delay per inch

Loss tangent

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 Skin Effect and Dielectric Loss Chart

10

1
Vertical signal loss Stripline configuration
(% per inch)
(microstrip has a little less loss)
0.1

0.01
107 108 109 1010
Frequency (Hz)

100-ohm differential pairs

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 Skin Effect and Dielectric Loss Example
Fiber Channel 1.06 Gb/s over 18” of FR-4

10

For more accurate results use a

1
2-D field solver to compute
Vertical signal loss skin loss and effective dielectric
(% per inch)
loss tangent
0.1

0.01
107 108 109 1010
Frequency (Hz)

Composite loss at max. data alt. rate of 530 MHz = 1% per inch
Loss in 18 inches is 18%

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