Signal Integrity Prototyping
Validating twist rates and impedance on the board.
Beyond DC Continuity
Standard Smart Nodes validate DC resistance (Ohms). However, modern automotive (CAN FD, Automotive Ethernet) and aerospace (MIL-STD-1553) harnesses require strict impedance matching.
Traditional nail boards offer zero feedback on twist rates. Operators twist wires with a drill and tape them, only to find out during high-frequency testing that the twists-per-inch (TPI) were too loose, causing data reflection.
RF Impedance Nodes
By swapping standard nodes for RF nodes at the trunk ends, the SmartWireBoard injects a 1MHz to 100MHz sweep through the twisted pair while the operator is still routing. It calculates the capacitance and alerts the operator immediately if the twist rate falls out of the target impedance band (e.g., 120 ohms for CAN).
Calculate your required terminations with the CAN Bus Resistor Calc.