Connecting Signal GND, Digital GND, and Absolute GND

Community PCB Design
1

I saw a chip in the SparkFun EAGLE library that’s supposed to connect DGND, AGND, and the star ground point. I’ve designed an A/D PCB without this chip. It just connects both DGND & AGND directly to this star ground point through a trace, which grounds to the battery.

My board is functioning just fine, but I want to know if this is considered “bad design” without this IC or if there’s some problem this can cause over time. Thanks in advance for your help!

EDIT: Also, if you have a manufacturer & part number for such a chip on hand, please share it! I couldn’t find it on SF, Digikey, or Jameco.

2

That may just be a symbol that allows the three ground to be connected without generating DRC errors. Not an actual part. If you look at the footprint associated with the symbol, I bet it is just a single point ground routing.

3

Actually, the footprint appears to be an SOT-23-3, though what you mention is an excellent idea for me to add to my personal EAGLE library.

Glad to know I’m not foregoing something in my designs. Thanks!