A ladder network delay model for coupled interconnects

In this paper we prove that the generic half-T ladder network (LN), formed by a cascade of RC or RLC elementary cells, is a satisfactory model for transmission lines and interconnections. The determination of LN electrical characteristics (in particular the closed-form expressions of the step response) in terms of internal electrical parameters and number of cells has allowed to estimate, in an approximated but very accurate way, the time delay for RC and RLC terminated interconnections through new simple formulas. Numerical examples and comparisons with other metrics confirm the validity of the proposed method