10.1 Layout Guidelines

Attention to good layout practices is always recommended. For best operational performance of the device, use good PCB layout practices, including:

• Care must be taken to assure that both input paths are well-matched for source impedance and capacitance to avoid converting common-mode signals into differential signals. In addition, parasitic capacitance at the gain-setting pins can also affect CMRR over frequency. For example, in applications that implement gain switching using switches or PhotoMOS® relays to change the value of R_G, select the component so that the switch capacitance is as small as possible.
• Noise can propagate into analog circuitry through the power pins of the circuit as a whole and of the device itself. Bypass capacitors are used to reduce the coupled noise by providing low-impedance power sources local to the analog circuitry.
  • Connect low-ESR, 0.1-µF ceramic bypass capacitors between each supply pin and ground, placed as close to the device as possible. A single bypass capacitor from V+ to ground is applicable for single-supply applications.
• To reduce parasitic coupling, run the input traces as far away from the supply or output traces as possible. If these traces cannot be kept separate, crossing the sensitive trace perpendicular is much better than in parallel with the noisy trace.
• Place the external components as close to the device as possible. As illustrated in Figure 74, keeping R_G close to the pins minimizes parasitic capacitance.
• Keep the traces as short as possible.