Proper planning can protect a board's victims from noisy aggressors.

Good fences make good neighbors, or so they say. That said, some folks can get along just fine without a fence or wall to provide peace of mind. The signals that run around on a printed circuit board are similar in that regard. Aside from the presumably inert ground domain, all the energized copper contributes to the overall noise factor.

Just as there is an audible difference between a major city and a wide-open prairie, location matters. A high-density layout is more likely to run into locations where a so-called victim finds itself in proximity to an aggressor. So, what is an aggressor and why does it bother the victim? Defining the aggressors is easy. They're everywhere.

Read more: Isolating Noise on a Printed Circuit Board

Tips for better communication and preparation.

The PCB designer is often the recipient of a file or series of files that provide the working parameters of the board. These documents will come from a physical designer who does the mechanical engineering for the project. In some cases, the PCB designer wears that hat themselves.

When the PCB outline is straightforward, do it yourself. One-off test jigs come to mind. We’re probably working with a rectangle that provides ample real estate for the intended circuit. There will be room to grow and iterate, but also space for plenty of text to ease setup and debugging. Put a hole in each corner so standoffs can be installed to raise the board above the test bench.

Read more: PCB Outline Transfer