What is the ring around the power section on the Skeptical Buffer PCB?

[Many__Of__Horror]

I saw someone post an image of the Skeptical Buffer PCB on the forum & I was curious on what the surrounding area around the power section on the front and back of the PCB was called and it's benefits. I assume isolation? The back area goes to the power input but the front is just around the power section.

 

[Cybercow]

Those lines are the copper traces that route power and signals around the PCB. They are important because they distribute the power and signal around the board to the various components.

 

[Nostradoomus]

It looks like an unrouted trace for isolating the power supply section from the rest of the board.

 

[Many__Of__Horror]

It looks like an unrouted trace for isolating the power supply section from the rest of the board.

Thank you! I'll have a look into this. I need to keep expanding on my mediocre KiCAD skills.

 

[Nostradoomus]

But it also could be a circle of voodoo because it's a magic buffer. Who knows.

 

[Big Monk]

But it also could be a circle of voodoo because it's a magic buffer. Who knows.

Nope I think you are 100% correct. Called a "Keepout".

 

[Nostradoomus]

That's the word I was thinkin of!

 

[xefned]

Might be isolating the charge pump ground from the audio ground. (Just a wild guess.)

 

[Cybercow]

After closer examination, it appears that it is a separate ground plane for the power supply/chargepump section.

 

[Vicious C]

You’re correct, it’s a separate ground plane to isolate the power section

 

[aquataur]

We do not know what it is connected to, but it looks like a ground plane used for screening purposes. This is somewhat similar to boxing the affected PCB section into a metal cage. If used correctly, this "catches" some noise.

The charge pump radiates noise for sure, but the frequency is out of the audio band. I do not know in this case, but many designers use this routinely, and many of those wrong. In the worst case, it does nothing.

The ground potentials will have to be connected, but they may be connected at a certain point that is electrically quiet.