Questions tagged [routing]

Questions about the routing of printed circuit boards (PCBs) which involves the placement of tracks on the board. It may be performed manually, but many PCB CAD programs provide an autorouter to assist in the process.

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What is the best way to use 0 ohm resistors for a large number of signals?

I'm fairly new to PCB design, so maybe I start with a basic 0 ohm resistor like this: I have both output pins (SLEEP & RESET) on the DAC chip. I want to have two options on my PCB, one with 3-pin ...
johnny_1010's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
69 views

Checking PCB Layout, Routing Tips and Improvements?

I've made some significant revisions to my old PCB design and wanted some advice on routing! This time I've tried to properly space the large current/voltage traces, kept traces short where possible, ...
makotoyuki's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
48 views

PCB design for Renesas' DA7212 audio codec

I'm designing my very first PCB. I managed to route all my components and I'm stuck at the last footprint - DA7212 from Renesas: Those balls are both incredibly tiny and packed dense. I'd need a ...
Paul Jon's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
196 views

PCB layout, any improvements to make on the routing?

I have designed the PCB below and would like some advice on good practice for my PCB routing / board schematic. Are there any design considerations that I should be paying attention to for the design? ...
makotoyuki's user avatar
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0 answers
39 views

Altium PCB Layout Track Issue

My question is about the weird track figure in the Altium Layout. I attached a screenshot of this issue in the following. Can you help me, how to fix or remove this mark from Altium PCB page?
bcdyzi's user avatar
  • 89
4 votes
3 answers
617 views

Importance of copper balance when dealing with small components (0402, 0201)

I usually work with big components (0805, 0603.) Now I'm trying to make a board that would use much smaller packages such as 0402 and 0201. I know that balancing copper is relatively important to ...
BEN's user avatar
  • 193
0 votes
3 answers
119 views

What are the most effective techniques for reducing the negative effects on differential pairs routed on top of two different ground planes?

I have an FMC Card with analog circuitry containing channels. I've separated the ground for these analog channels into two distinct planes: AGND and PGND. PGND serves as the ground for the power ...
kakeh's user avatar
  • 592
3 votes
1 answer
197 views

Can I place vias under components if they're not on the pads?

There are several posts on this site (and elsewhere) discussing why, in general, vias on pads need to be avoided. Understood. Can I place vias under components if they're not under the pad? If so: Is ...
SRobertJames's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
77 views

Routing High Current Trace to 0.5mm Pitch QFN IC

I'm designing a PCB which uses TI's DRV8411ARTER 4 Half Bridge motor driver. However, I've run into a routing issue which I'm not sure what the best plan of action is. The driver will be outputting ...
Swiss Gnome's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
98 views

OctoSPI HyperRAM PCB Routing

I am attempting to route a HyperRAM BGA chip with a HyperBus OctoSPI interface to an STM32 MCU. This is on a 2 layer board. After much consideration, I have determined that the best placement of the ...
CryptoAlgorithm's user avatar
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93 views

Have I designed and routed my USB-C port correctly because when I connect my 3D printer I measure voltage on vcc

I have designed my usb-c connection as in the attached pictures, however whenever I connect my Ender-3 to it I measure between 1-2V on different parts of the circuit including the data pins on the ...
th0r1000's user avatar
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1 answer
84 views

Weird pinout of USB ESD protection

The USB ESD protection component USBLC6-2SC6 seems to be very popular (?). However, its pinout seems not ideal: The USB differential pair should be routed close to each other, but the pinout of ...
root's user avatar
  • 149
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0 answers
23 views

Current Routing to Many Connectors

I have a board that is meant for power distribution. It takes in +24V through a 6x2 Wire-to-Board connector rated for 23A per contact and routes it to 22 other 2x2 SMD Wire-to-Board connectors which ...
InBedded16's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

Why does Backside Power Distribution work for high speed CPUs?

Several upcoming or future CMOS process nodes are said to offer some kind of backside power delivery for Silicon CMOS transistors, so the precious area in the lower metal layers is freed up for signal ...
tobalt's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
58 views

Direct Ethernet link between Raspberry CM4 and Jetson Orin Nano

I need to have high speed communication between Raspberry CM4 and Jetson Orin Nano modules on the same PCB. My question is: can I route them through Ethernet directly without the need for an isolator ...
j420hnny's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
75 views

Routing on stripboard/prototyping PCB

I'm regularly tasked with doing "quick and dirty" prototypes on stripboard and other prototyping PCBs (holes only, patterns like the solder-less breadboards, etc.). Those are usually very ...
Sandro's user avatar
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Net GND's unconnected alert remains off in Altium

I have my Altium Designer project where I have a net called GND. That's the ground. While routing, I can see these little white lines that alert me about which pad I need to connect to each other, and ...
Developing Electronics's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
210 views

Is it a bad practice to route to a pad from its corner?

I am new to PCB design, I wonder if there are any bad effects by routing it through the corner of a pad. (Top right) Any input is appreciated.
Terry's user avatar
  • 35
4 votes
1 answer
383 views

10/100 Ethernet Routing Review

I know it is a big favor to ask, but this is my first ethernet design, so could you provide input on the routing from connector to mag and from mag to PHY? Is it fine or how can I improve it? Really ...
HV16's user avatar
  • 185
1 vote
1 answer
68 views

Electrical service discharge path through body

If someone were to accidentally make contact with live service conductors, while touching another person, would I get shocked or would the current travel through me and into the other party without my ...
Dvisionone's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
111 views

What means the jumper field in a footprint pad properties in Altium?

I have copied a footprint to a new .PcbLib file. After doing that the field called "jumper" in the properties window for each pad has been set to 0 (for two pads) and to 1 (in six pads). I ...
Developing Electronics's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
160 views

Having a keep-out area around a crystal - benefits?

I was reading the hardware design manual of the WF200 WiFi processor. On one page they say: If possible, use an isolating ground metal between the crystal and VDD traces to avoid any detuning effects ...
euraad's user avatar
  • 1,055
2 votes
2 answers
146 views

Is it right to route AC L/N on different layers on a PCB?

I'm working on a PCB for a trailing-edge dimmer. Is it OK to route the AC live and neutral in opposite layers? In the image, you can't see the AC neutral (blue), behind the AC_L, but it is there. This ...
0x3333's user avatar
  • 229
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0 answers
85 views

How does a phone detect charge on its USB port if there is already 5 V on it?

I am trying to design a device that charges a battery through a USB port and can communicate through it and give power through the same port. I didn't find any solution on how to detect when it is ...
giliroller's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
73 views

Split plane under FTDI pads USB 2.0

I want to ask you if its a critical issue Differential signals from usb 2.0 (DP,DN _ 90ohm) routed to FTDI device FT4232HL the pads of FTDI IC(1.58mm) goes under a split plane (the marker signals are ...
Knowledge's user avatar
  • 391
1 vote
1 answer
40 views

Power Supply and Routing Query

I'm using this USB2514B USB Hub device. I have a couple of questions regarding the power supply decoupling and routing. Regarding the decoupling capacitors close to the power supply pins: I have ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

Suggestions for breadboard routing of hard switch full-bridge circuit

I need to do some test on a hard switch full-bridge PWM circuit, but I don't have any experience on how to route it. I'm worried that the terrible routing may influence the normal signal, such as the ...
T L's user avatar
  • 487
0 votes
0 answers
54 views

Isolation distance between tracks with focus on ESD

I am working on a product which has to meet: 8kV IEC 61000-4-2 contact discharge 4kV IEC 61000-4-4 transients 1.2kV/500Ohm IEC 61000-4-5 Surges The schematic: simulate this circuit – ...
ElectronicsStudent's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
65 views

Move FPGA SOM to opposite side of 4-layer PCB

Recently I have started working on a project where want to use a (Zynq Ulteascale+ FPGA) SoM. The device is equipped with fine-pitch mezzanine connectors, over which I want to use the USB3, Ethernet ...
Wevie's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
1 answer
152 views

Buck converter feedback pin routing

I have a question regarding the connection/ routing of the feedback (FB) pin in the buck converters. Consider the following placement example from the AP64501 DS: In case of a 2 layer board this is ...
Łukasz Przeniosło's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is the best way to route a two-layer MCU based PCB?

Considering we're designing a two-layer PCB with a 100-pin MCU, what's the best way to routing? As you can see in the image, many pins of this MCU are used (almost all.) When designing a two-layer ...
harmonica's user avatar
  • 643
0 votes
3 answers
329 views

KiCad unconnected while connected by footprint?

I have a footprint which provides VDD in two places on the board. Specifically, it's a CR2032 battery retainer: I then bring that VDD to the top with vias and I have a big pouring of that VDD. ...
Francois's user avatar
  • 577
1 vote
0 answers
47 views

Minimum trace distance when using a via fence in a waveguide

I am trying to route several high speed JESD204B signals (up to 12GHz) to a connector and there is very small area for them. The manufacturer design note (p.113) recommends to route those signals on ...
AslanT's user avatar
  • 61
3 votes
2 answers
301 views

Altium Error: "Multiple Path found from location: (XXmm, YYmm) when defining board shape"

I have a small PCB created in Altium. It has flex and rigid parts. My problem is when I try to change the board shape ("Design-> Board Shape-> Define board shape from selected objects")...
terbus5's user avatar
  • 61
2 votes
3 answers
394 views

Altium: routing at 30, 120, 210 and 300 degrees

On my board, I need to route a certain area with standard 45° and 90° angles and another area with 30° and 120° angles. How can I achieve this? (Any angle mode is not satisfying.)
Julien's user avatar
  • 479
0 votes
1 answer
108 views

Backfeeding boost converter

I'm designing a circuit that can be powered by either USB or a single NiMH cell. The NiMH will be boosted to 3.3V, and then an LDO will reduce both that and the USB 5V to 3.1V. I've attached a quick ...
Andrew Mowry's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

Connecting pads with the same functionality belonging to one chip

I have a question about routing style of pads with the same functionality belonging to one chip. I draw a picture in Paint (fictional IC; let it be the SOIC8 footprint). GND is only as example (it can ...
Karlsson's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
1 answer
41 views

Pad power does not correlate with each other in altium

I'm working on a project in Altium. When I want to route the PCB, I have a problem that the ground pad are not showing the lines in order to connect it. Also pad +3V have the same problem.
RACHID BEN ABDELMALEK's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
430 views

eMMC data lines swapping

I'm routing an eMMC 5.1 device to a iMX6 microprocessor. When routing the DDR RAM, I've swapped several data lines to ease routing, following widely available documentation on the subject. There isn't ...
Nicolas's user avatar
  • 200
5 votes
3 answers
562 views

Splitting and rejoining a trace to reduce resistance

I'm teaching an embedded systems class and a question came up I've never considered. We were discussing the idea of "necking down" a trace to get through a tight spot and someone asked if ...
Mark Brehob's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
517 views

When and why is it important to route with polygons vs. traces?

I'm (still) a relative beginner in PCB layout. I'm trying to understand in what scenarios it's important to route with polygon areas instead of traces, and in those scenarios, just how important it ...
TypeIA's user avatar
  • 2,301
1 vote
0 answers
68 views

Assistance routing a footprint

I'm attempting to learn PCB design. Mostly super basic stuff to replace the rats nest of wires between my Arduino modules. Anyway I'm using the following component in a project and can't quite figure ...
ste2425's user avatar
  • 113
4 votes
2 answers
285 views

Is it perilous to route symmetrical circuits on different layers or with different trace lengths?

Given a common PCB size of 100mm x 100mm, sub-RF frequencies (<20 kHz) and non-sensitive signals (as opposed to as measurement H-bridge) is there a real problem in routing traces of a symmetrical ...
NoobPointerException's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
869 views

Is there a maximum differential skew in Ethernet communication?

I am working on a device that runs 100 Base-T. When routing the differential pairs I was wondering if there is a maximum differential skew specified somewhere and if so, what is it? Is there a formula,...
VicTic's user avatar
  • 59
0 votes
1 answer
121 views

Reference plane in small PCB

I have a small PCB, 6mm by 16mm with 6 layers. There are LVDS SPI signals (4 pairs) on this PCB, but due to the density and size of this board, it was difficult to have a reference plane under the SPI ...
Shannon's user avatar
  • 349
2 votes
1 answer
234 views

Ground planing H-bridge and drivers

I'm currently routing a DC/DC converter using a controller that need an external H-Bridge. As I wanted to reduce the noise at the controller level (to preserve the measures it makes clean), I started ...
BEN's user avatar
  • 193
0 votes
0 answers
247 views

Power Plane arrangement on multi-voltage PCB

I am designing a PCB with 4 different voltages other than GND: PV+, 5V0, 12V0, VSYS I am trying to get out with a 4-layers PCB design. I have no particular high-frequency signals on the board (a ...
Gianfranco Di Domenico's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
460 views

Routing USB signal on RP2040

I'm designing a makeshift mouse clicker using an RP2040 microcontroller. To keep this small and concise, I'm using a USB Type-A Male connector on the PCB to connect to the PC directly. From what I ...
Max's user avatar
  • 547
-2 votes
1 answer
133 views

Signal return has a complex path, is there a remedy?

In picture: I have three different PCB that has connected as in picture above: Power supply: +12V Power amifier Signal generator. Note OpAmps negative rails are grounded. The power amp internal ...
mohammadsdtmnd's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
92 views

Altium designer routing blocked by old board shape

I am trying to re-route my board, so I changed the board size using the "board planning mode". Now, I'm routing, and some tracks are "blocked" by something looking very much like ...
zepeu's user avatar
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