Does it matter how I cross a 2 MHz SPI clock signal on a two layer board?

Question

Background

Currently I am working on a breakout board which allows me to connect a number of external boards (analog and mixed signal) to an Arduino Micro, using a variety of connectors. The breakout board is limited to two layers, and has to deal with nine analog sensor signals, as well as seven digital (SPI) signals, viz. clock (SCK), MISO, MOSI, and four chip-select signals (CS). The Arduino is configured for a 2 MHz SPI clock frequency, but I could not find any information about typical rise times.

The problem is that I am not sure what is the best approach to routing the digital signals on my breakout board. Since my question is pretty basic, I boiled it down to the minimal example described below.

Simplified problem

In this simplified example, I have a ground plane, an SPI clock signal (SCK), a chip select signal (CS), and a relatively large "keepout area," as illustrated in the figure below. Please note the example is not to scale: the actual trace length would be over 10 cm.

The pin assignment on the connectors cannot be modified, nor can I move/rotate the connectors or keepout area.

The basic problem is that the CS signal needs to cross over to the other side of SCK (2 MHz).

Assuming it is best to keep the SCK trace on one plane, intact, there are several options for CS, as illustrated in the figure below:

1. use vias to route CS under SCK (orthogonal, with minimal gap in ground plane)
2. use a jumper, or zero-ohm resistor, to jump CS over SCK (keeps ground plane intact, but adds extra components)
3. use a detour around the keepout area (keeps ground plane intact, without extra components, but increases length of the trace considerably)

EDIT: Unfortunately, routing the entire CS signal around the SCK signal on the bottom plane is not an option. The actual board size would be around 10x10cm. Trace lengths will be around 10 cm, with an increase to 15 cm using option 3.

Question

What would be the best choice, assuming the traces will be around 10 cm (with an increase to 15 cm for option 3), in terms of both signal integrity and electromagnetic emissions (EMI)?

I suppose I won't need to be overly concerned with high-speed design topics such as impedance matching and signal termination?

On the actual board, I have two CS signals which both need to cross SCK, MISO, and MOSI. Would that change things?

What I think

Given that the SPI clock frequency is 2 MHz, and based on what I've read so far, e.g. here and here, I suspect it might not make such a big difference, in my particular case. However, I don't have any experience to speak of, and I am unsure about the high frequency content of the clock edges.

I am inclined to keep the ground plane intact as much as possible, so that would imply the use of either option 2 or 3. Using option 3 on the actual board, I can route nearly all signals on the top plane, without actually crossing or breaking the ground plane, but the detours add some 5 cm to the trace lengths. Moreover, the result hurts the eye...

Answer 1

A two-layer board is acceptable for the frequencies you are looking at, but a few notes:

• usually pour both sides with GND copper and stitch both sides with GND vias frequently. That way you still have a "continuous" plane, even though each individual plane is cut with traces. It allows you to use both sides for routing if you don't pack stuff too close and accommodate enough stitching vias.
• even if you find a datasheet providing rise times, those usually cannot be trusted. But the good news is that for your application it does not matter: all traces should get a ~100 Ohm series resistor close to the driver side. That way the rise times will be benign and everything will still be fast enough for 2 MHz. Maybe you can increase the resistor even a bit higher if you can estimate the capacitance of line + receiver. It is always a good practise to limit rise times in this way to the slowest acceptable extent.
• you don't need to worry about transmission line impedance match at these trace lengths with the slowed slope times. But if you decide to up the frequency to ~40 MHz and increase the line lengths, it is still feasible to achieve 50 Ohm impedance on a two layer board if you don't have a lot of connections to route. Just use any calculator available. It can be useful to make the board thinner (e.g. 0.6 mm) so that you are closer to the return plane and can use narrower traces. But even on a conventional 1.6 mm board it is possible, although you will need very wide traces (> 1 mm wide).

On the actual board, I have two CS signals which both need to cross SCK, MISO, and MOSI. Would that change things?

You can cross as many lines as needed by routing them e.g left-right on the top and up-down on bottom and by providing GND areas between each line and GND vias in each of the formed "cells". That way every trace will always have a close-by return path.

Answer 2

Maybe you can reduce the pad ( CS/SCK) and route between SCK and GND to connect CS. But I think using second layer is better , just add via to have a strong GND plane.