Preventing PCB interference

  1. just lay out the pcb with the normal microcontroller cktry on one side and the h-bridge
    cktry on the other side, and only connect them together at a single ground point. Some
    people will use an inductor [choke] or ferrite to make the connection.

  2. once this is in place, simply run the h-bridge control signals from the microcontroller
    across to the h-bridge. Always good to put series-Rs in these lines to help protect the
    uC from motor noise feeding back from the h-bridge.

  3. locate the main terminals for motor power on the h-bridge side of the board, so the
    motor currents never cross to the other side, and never flow through the single point
    ground connection of item #1. Add bypass [0.1 uF] and reservoir [100 uf or more]
    caps right at the same terminals.

  4. it's best to use 2 separate external power supplies, one for the logic part and another for
    the motors. If you can't do this, then the next best thing to do is connect a single supply
    to the motor side, and jumper "1" wire over externally to supply logic power. This way,
    the motor currents are always confined to the h-bridge side, and not flowing between
    the 2 sides. Don't make an external ground connection between the 2 sides, as then you
    will have a ground loop.

  5. if you have analog cktry on the pcb, confine it to a separate area from the digital logic
    cktry, and also on the opposite side of the pcb from the h-bridge cktry.