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Comments on What is a good PCB-layout?

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What is a good PCB-layout?

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I am an electrical engineering student and I just finished designing an ECG-amplifier circuit. Here is the schematic: -

Image alt text

It is fairly simple. Initially, there is a 1st order highpass filter. Then, a differential amplification stage with AD620N in-amp followed by a Sallen-Key 2nd order lowpass filter. Finally, a gain and offset stage. The two female pin-header connectors (J4 and J5) are for plugging in an esp8266 module to sample the processed signal with its ADC. There are also some test points and some screw terminals.

I have also designed and ordered a PCB for this circuit here:

Image alt text

The PCB is 100x100mm, has 2 layers, and it only uses THT-components. The +9V and -9V are connected through traces to the amplifiers, and I use 1 GND plane.

Questions: I'm new to PCB-design and I don't have a feeling for what a "good" design is. Have I made some big "no-nos"? Is there a standard for placing components that's a good idea to follow? Where is it a good place to start with the PCB-design? Should I go from left to right following my schematic and wire components accordingly (that's what I have done)? Is this a poor design?

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2 comment threads

A good layout is one that meets or exceeds your expectations (or design specs). These specs form wha... (3 comments)
Quite a few questions about the circuit design. Where are the power supply decoupling capacitors for... (5 comments)
Quite a few questions about the circuit design. Where are the power supply decoupling capacitors for...
Nick Alexeev‭ wrote over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago

Carl, I have several questions about the circuit design. Where are the power supply decoupling capacitors for the ICs? What's your analysis for patient isolation? This looks like a 3-lead ECG; why are you AC-coupling the Right Arm and the Left arm?

Carl‭ wrote over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago

@NickAlexeev I have not used any decoupling capacitors in this design? Is that a mistake? If so, what would they do to my circuit? I don't quite understand what you mean with: What's your analysis for patient isolation. The patient and amplifier are isolated. The amplifier is powered through two 9 V batteries and nothing is connected to building ground or the power lines. The right arm and left arm are AC-coupled to remove the half-cell DC battery associated with the lead electrodes. The highpass filter does also to some degree remove baseline drift caused by movement artifacts - but not that well.

Nick Alexeev‭ wrote over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago

(1) Not having decoupling capacitors is an error. (2) The battery powered circuit with wireless communication is an analysis of patient isolation. It sounds reasonable. (3) Only 2-lead ECG is AC-coupled. 3-lead id DC coupled. DC offset is removed from electrolytic effect will be present on both electrodes, so it will be canceled (subtracted) by the InAmp. The residual DC offset is removed downstream of the InAmp DC offset correction loop around the InAmp, or an analog high- or band-pass filter, or a DSP high- or band-pass filter.

Carl‭ wrote over 1 year ago

@NickAlexeev Please post an answer to this question. You have peaked my interest, but writing this in the comment section is not the proper way I feel. Please explain what the addition of decoupling capacitors would do to the circuit.

Lundin‭ wrote over 1 year ago

Carl‭ It's standard practice to always put a 100nF cap close to the supply pin on every IC on the board (unless the IC datasheet comes with specific recommendations). Particularly so on 2 layer boards since you'll have much worse EMC characteristics without a ground plane.