General > General Technical Chat
Return Path Routing — Why No One Does It, But You Really Should
kmulier:
I've written this article about Return Path Routing yesterday.
I'd like to share it here:
https://embeetle.com/#blog/return-currents
tooki:
:-+ :-+ Kudos! That’s a really nicely explained, nicely illustrated summary of the problem, and a great solution.
When I was doing my electronics technician apprenticeship, I had to do a number of high-frequency (4GHz) boards, and my boss introduced me to that aspect. (I had previously already figured out the loop area issue for low-frequency boards, and I came up with exactly the same solution you did! In addition to helping keep loop area small, it’s also a great way to ensure that high-current loads actually have a nice fat high-current return path, not just some sliver of a ground plane somewhere that is enough to satisfy continuity in the rules check, but not carry meaningful current.)
SiliconWizard:
Yes, the "trick" to explicitely route traces for what you would have just put a via in a gnd/power plane and called it a day is a good approach.
People tend to be lazy with this especially with gnd pins.
Benta:
And perhaps abstain from using the thinnest, most anaemic track width available.
That also helps.
kmulier:
So you're also a Return Current Guy @Tooki? Great! Welcome to the club.
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