🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug7.230219.21197@uwm.edu> pegasus@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (David R Hucke) writes:
>Thanks to all who helped me with my wire wrapping question...
>
>What exactly is a ground plane?  Can I make one myself and stick it
>on a prototype board?  Or do I need to buy a board specifically with
>a ground plane?
>
>
>Thanks again..

Physically, it basically one layer on a multilayer PCB that is dedicated
as a ground.  A good ground plane covers the entire layer except for 
via's and thru hole areas.

Benefits include decreased inductance on circuit ground and less cross-talk
between traces.

If you have a single sided board, you can use the other side as a ground 
plane.  Otherwise you will have to go >2 layers which is too expensive
for most people.

A ground plane becomes important for frequencies >10 - 20 MHz.  Depends
on the application, chip technology used and design.


-- 
Larrie Carr                 
Engineering Science               (604) 291-4451  
Simon Fraser University           (604) 298-1050
British Columbia, Canada          larrie@sfu.ca