We illustrate how thin (0.05mm to 0.2mm), Laird™-brand EMI suppression ferrite sheets resolved a customer’s conducted emission and crowded space issues. Then learn how our team on the same GPU project applied its experience to quickly identify a correct remedy when customer teams faced a last-minute ferrite sheet attachment problem.
SPACE-SAVING EMI SUPPRESSION IN HIGH-DENSITY GPUS
Project: EMI suppression strategies for enhancing GPU performance
When a prominent U.S. tech giant encountered EMI issues, it needed unique expertise to stay on track. This case study demonstrates how Laird, a DuPont business, stepped in with tailored EMI suppression solutions to support our
long term customer.
Over the last few years, computing power required by artificial intelligence has grown 1,000,000%.* The immense computational load forces more powerful components onto GPUs. The tight squeeze on the architecture means more opportunities for electromagnetic interference, pushing specialists in AI-related processing equipment to explore thinner, smaller solutions that boost electromagnetic compatibility.
Find out how the capabilities of Laird enabled this globally recognized tech company to address EMI challenges and optimize performance in their GPU systems.
Top supplier of EMI suppression and advanced components
As a trusted leader of inductive components and thermal interface materials, Laird keeps electronics running smoothly for many of the leading global AI players. Why Laird? Its breadth of expertise, technical problem solving, and near unlimited imagination tackle the challenges of tight form factors of GPUs, servers, optical networking components, and other AI-related processing equipment
Powerful EMI suppression, without the bulk. Ferrite sheets are lighter, smaller inductive components that excel in absorbing and dissipating unwanted electromagnetic signals. Protect sensitive AI components across a broad frequency range, maintaining signal integrity in high-density GPU designs.
*(Princeton Engineering, “Built for AI, this chip moves beyond transistors”: https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/2024/03/06/built-ai-chip-moves-beyond-transistors-huge-computational-gains)
EMI TROUBLE STRUCK LATE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS
While debugging a conducted emission issue on its GPU card, Laird’s customer identified neighboring power inductors were causing product failures at 1.5MHz and 3MHz. Ferrite tiles helped absorb the radiated emissions but they weren’t thin
enough for the GPU’s tight space constraints.
Laird™ ferrite sheets, which are lighter, thinner EMI suppression materials than other common alternatives, were better suited for the compact footprint. Subsequently, a second question arose: What would be the best way to firmly adhere the Laird ferrite sheets to troublesome sources of EMI?
How Laird solved the last-minute issues, fast
After it helped the company switch to thin, high-performance ferrite sheets, Laird’s fast
decision-making quickly turned to the choices for attachments. The Laird team eliminated conventional go-to choices for pressure-sensitive adhesives and PET protection films. Those solutions were too thick. Laird’s engineering team got to work on several prototypes in various sizes and configurations to test how they blocked coupling noise from the inductors to the heat sink.
Iterative versions were quickly considered and Laird addressed further adjustments swiftly — a helpful boost for keeping the project on track despite the late-stage challenges. Laird’s close supply-chain partnerships and ability to coordinate efficiently with its customer’s cross-functional teams in various product groups and regions prevented a last-minute problem from delaying production.
FERRITE SHEETS HIGHLIGHTS
UL94 V0 flame resistance.
Flexible, easy to install, and easy to configure into required shapes and sizes.
EMI shielded to block unwanted signals from interrupting performance.
WHY LAIRD’S PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS LASTS:
Laird deploys an expansive team of field application engineers around the world to support an on-site, region-by-region strategy full of experts who understand the challenges of various countries and product groups. Their team has the technical knowledge to answer the most challenging questions in the local language to reach the quickest resolution possible.
Always thinking towards the future: Laird doesn’t only build solutions for today’s problems, but simultaneously works with your team to lay the foundation for tomorrow’s EMI and cooling challenges. Much of Laird’s work on custom projects is just phase one of an innovation you’ll need five or more years down the line. Laird fosters a problem-solving/consulting relationship to help you overcome future obstacles before they become a problem.
A broader perspective: Laird goes above and beyond technical specifications by working with a diverse group of global manufacturers to support on-time deliveries and production programs undisrupted by regional challenges. Through their commitment to end-to-end product success, Laird also explores new automated application techniques to ensure fast and accurate installations.
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