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    Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

    Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Researchers Demonstrated High Energy Ceramic Capacitors Stable in Wide Temperature Range

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    Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

    Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Researchers Demonstrated High Energy Ceramic Capacitors Stable in Wide Temperature Range

    Stackpole Offers High Voltage Plate Resistors up to 40KV

    How to Manage Supercapacitors Leakage Current and Self Discharge 

    Qualification of Commercial Supercapacitors for Space Applications

    Experimental Evaluation of Wear Failures in SMD Inductors

    Resonant Capacitors in High-Power Resonant Circuits

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Understanding Cable Skew: A Key to High-Speed Signal Integrity

25.7.2025
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

As the demand for faster data transmission intensifies, engineers must confront an often-overlooked challenge—cable skew.

In high-speed digital systems, even the slightest delay mismatch between signals can degrade performance. This article explores what cable skew is, the types and causes, and why mastering it is crucial for next-gen technologies.

RelatedPosts

Benefits of Tantalum Powder Stress–Strain Curve Evaluation vs Conventional Wet Test

Electrolyte Selection and Performance in Supercapacitors

Connector PCB Design Challenges

What Is Cable Skew?

Cable skew refers to the timing difference between signals traveling through a cable assembly, particularly in differential signaling applications. It’s most commonly caused by physical length mismatches or asymmetries in the cable’s geometry.

  • Intrapair skew: Mismatch between the two conductors of a single differential pair
  • Interpair skew: Mismatch between separate differential pairs

Both impact performance, but intrapair skew is especially critical as data rates climb to 224 Gbps and beyond.

Types of Cable Construction and Their Effects

cables are categorized based on their shielding and conductor configuration:

Cable TypeDescriptionUse CaseSkew Behavior
CoaxialOne center conductor within a shieldPrecision RF testingConstant skew, frequency-independent
TwinaxialTwo conductors for differential signalingHigh-speed digital applicationsCoupling-dependent, frequency-sensitive

Twinax cables have a high coupling coefficient, which improves skew at higher frequencies but amplifies the impact of asymmetry and bending.

How Manufacturing Impacts Skew

Several factors contribute to a cable’s skew performance:

  • Geometry symmetry: Imperfections introduce frequency-dependent skew
  • Material selection: Impacts flexibility and signal behavior
  • Construction techniques: Co-extrusion of conductors yields best-in-class results

Why Skew Matters

In differential signaling, data integrity hinges on signals arriving synchronously and symmetrically. Poor skew control can lead to:

  • Data loss or corruption
  • Increased error rates
  • Reduced system efficiency

Understanding and controlling skew at both the cable and assembly level ensures optimal performance in applications from AI to data centers.

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