SLLSEC6E September 2012 – June 2019 DP83848-EP
PRODUCTION DATA.
Although RMII and MII are synchronous bus architectures, there are a number of factors limiting signal trace lengths. With a longer trace, the signal becomes more attenuated at the destination and thus more susceptible to noise interference. Longer traces also act as antennas, and if run on the surface layer, can increase EMI radiation. If a long trace is running near and adjacent to a noisy signal, the unwanted signals could be coupled in as crosstalk. TI recommends keeping the signal trace lengths as short as possible. Ideally, keep the traces under 6 inches. Trace length matching, to within 2 inches on the MII or RMII bus is also recommended. Significant differences in the trace lengths can cause data timing issues. As with any high-speed data signal, good design practices dictate that impedance should be maintained and stubs should be avoided throughout the entire data path.