Power Integrity (PI) involves evaluating the performance of the power distribution network to ensure that components receive voltage within acceptable tolerances without causing interference. A key concern in PI is the IR drop, which refers to the voltage reduction across the PCB power plane due to losses. Power electronics can introduce switching noise—high-frequency voltage variations that can lead to interference and Signal Integrity (SI) problems. Proper placement of decoupling capacitors (decaps) can help reduce this noise and prevent its spread.

3D full-wave simulation captures the complete behavior of a device and its electronics without relying on analytical approximations. This includes cables, circuit boards with differential pairs or lossy lines, and chip packages. It uncovers potential issues that might be overlooked in 2D or circuit simulations, allowing problems to be identified well before manufacturing a physical prototype. By using 3D visualization, PI problems can be detected early, and their root causes can be traced and addressed.