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This is my first time trying to use a USB-C component. Luckily, just for a personal project. Anyway, I want to use this particular USB-C component that cuts out the board slightly, in order to reduce total height of the connector.

I've googled how to route USB-C connectors, but I haven't found anything on this particular style of USB-C..

I am in luck because I am merely configuring my USB-C to act as a USB 2.0, but I want the USB-C form-factor and current capabilities (only using 1 amp for now)

So the connector I am using looks like this,

enter image description here

Noting that it cuts out the board.. The cut out area is usually marked as a "no pattern zone" anyway.

Here's another view of such connector on the bottom:

enter image description here

So it's half SMD, half through hole.

Now all is well, it's kind of like having automatic via's for the pins in the back row.. but! I don't know how to escape the 2 pins in the middle, furthest row back (or forward?)

Here:

2020-05-01 10_12_51-Window.png

There's plenty of room for a via.. but that doesn't help because that pin is surrounded by through holes.
The board house I'm using can go down to 0.2mm (7.874mil) between the outline and the trace. I'd prefer not to adjust my DRC, but I can if the only way to route this is towards the edge of the board.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

The connector I am using is:

Amphenol UC-31PFFH-QF7001

Chris Davidoff
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  • How many layers on your PCB? – Andy aka May 02 '20 at 16:13
  • Possible duplicate of https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/299196/properly-route-through-hole-usb-c – Spehro Pefhany May 02 '20 at 16:20
  • @SpehroPefhany I read that thread, it's different because he/she routes into the area that is cut out on my board. – Chris Davidoff May 02 '20 at 18:01
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    That second connector doesn't look like it requires a cut-out. Is there a good reason you need to use the cut-out one? Height restriction? There should be 0.55mm between the pad and the board edge to route on, which should be enough to stick 2 5mil/5mil traces on. What is your board house clearance to cut-out for traces? – Ron Beyer May 02 '20 at 21:53
  • @RonBeyer I think that is the solution, my board house can go to 0.2mm. I have a board stack that prevents me from going above 3mm, and USB-C goes up to 3.24mm. I could change some things and make room, but I thought this was a cool connector to use :P – Chris Davidoff May 03 '20 at 05:26
  • You could also do something that requires (a lot, depending on the tool) more effort. If you redo the foot print you can change the size of the annular rings on the top layer so that you could squeeze the trace between some of the other holes. – Ron Beyer May 03 '20 at 17:22

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