Design Considerations
AN64846 - Getting Started with CapSense
®
Doc. No. 001-64846 Rev. *X
80
3.8.6.2 4-Layer PCB:
Place the sensors on the top layer of the PCB.
Route the sensor traces in the layer-2.
Place a hatch fill of 7-mil trace and 70-mil spacing and connect it to ground in layer-3.
Place components in the bottom layer, as
shows. The unoccupied areas can be filled with a hatch
copper fill of 7-mil trace and 70-mil spacing and should be connected to ground.
Figure 3-62. CapSense Design on 4-Layer PCB
In addition to these guidelines, follow the best practices to ensure a robust and reliable CapSense design.
Minimize the trace length from the CapSense controller pins to the sensor pad to optimize signal strength.
Mount series resistors within 10 mm of the controller pins to reduce RF interference and provide ESD protection.
Mount the controller and all other components on the bottom layer of the PCB.
Isolate switching signals, such as PWM, I
2
C communication lines, and LEDs, from the sensor and the sensor PCB
traces. Do this by placing them at least 4 mm apart and fill a hatched ground between CapSense traces and non-
CapSense traces to avoid crosstalk.
Avoid connectors between the sensor and the controller pins because connectors increase C
P
and decrease noise
immunity.
3.8.7 Trace Length and Width
Minimize the parasitic capacitance of the traces and sensor pad. Trace capacitance is minimized when they are short
and narrow.
The maximum recommended
trace length
is 12 inches (300 mm) for a standard PCB and 2 inches (50 mm) for
flex circuits.
Trace width
should not be greater than 7 mil (0.18 mm). CapSense traces should be surrounded by hatched
ground with trace-to-ground air gap of 10 mil to 20 mil (0.25 mm to 0.51 mm).
3.8.8 Trace Routing
Route sensor traces on the bottom layer of the PCB, so that the only user interaction with the CapSense sensors is
with the active sensing area. Do not route traces directly under any sensor pad unless the trace is connected to that
sensor.
Do not run capacitive sensing traces in close proximity to communication lines, such as I
2
C or SPI masters. If it is
necessary to cross communication lines with sensor pins, make sure the intersection is at right angles, as illustrated in