Abstract: A method and apparatus that provides improved loop inductance of decoupling capacitors. Vias are moved close to the pads and close to each other. Instead of placing power and ground vias on opposite sides of the capacitor, these vias are moved around to the same side of the capacitor and are placed as close to each other as manufacturing tolerances will allow. For designs using standard two-terminal surface mount capacitors, two vias per capacitor, and standard manufacturing procedures (no vias inside pads, for example), the lowest possible loop inductance of the capacitor's connections to the printed circuit board planes is provided. This results in the lowest effective capacitor series input inductance.

Abstract: A clock signal distribution system is disclosed for providing synchronous clock signals to a plurality of electronic circuit devices. The system includes a clock signal generator means for providing a single frequency sinusoidal clock signal output and a plurality of electronic circuit devices. A clock signal distribution network including interconnected resonant segments of a transmission line 13 connected to the clock signal of the clock signal generator and to the plurality of electronic circuit devices for providing separate synchronous, phase aligned clock signals to the electronic circuit devices. The transmission line segments have lengths matched to the clock signal frequency wavelengths to eliminate clock signal distribution problems such as skew, jitter and pulse distortions.