What is Crosstalk?

Engineers can no longer ignore electromagnetic crosstalk. They must understand what
it is, how to find it and how to correct it.

Electromagnetic (EM) crosstalk is the interference caused by electromagnetic signals

affecting another electronic signal. Engineers may also refer to this phenomenon as
coupling or noise.
Engineers can no longer ignore electromagnetic crosstalk. They must understand what
it is, how to find it and how to correct it.
 

The EM signals causing the interference are known as the aggressors while the EM
signal affected by crosstalk is known as the victim.

Crosstalk occurs via two mechanisms:

1. Capacitive crosstalk caused by the electrical field

2. Inductive crosstalk caused by the magnetic field

Engineers developing system-on-chip (SoC) architectures that ignore crosstalk are

taking a big risk. Crosstalk can produce electronic design errors that could lead to
delays in reaching the market and cost overruns.