4 ms·

Those are called "vias", they connect traces on the top copper layer to traces on the bottom.

• gorgoiler 7y ago
  Thanks! It looks like a lot of them have an associated circuit track and they are placed where they are needed and not according to any kind of greater pattern, which makes sense. However, lots of others are placed regularly around the edges of curved surfaces. Are they “via fences”, to block electromagnetic interference? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_fence https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_fence
  • frabert 7y ago
    Could be! Sorry, I'm not an expert and I have not looked at the schematics... EDIT: On further inspection, they look like they are "stitching" two copper pours together, presumably ground or power, in order to decrease impedance maybe.
    • gorgoiler 7y ago
      It could be this, mentioned in the schematic: “Spark Gaps - Case: Since the case has gaps in it we expect [electrostatic discharge] to worm it’s way in via creepage and perhaps other ways. To protect the board from this eventuality, we place spark gaps along the edges.” https://github.com/ploopyco/mouse/blob/master/hardware/Electronics/Schematics/Base-R1_003.pdf https://github.com/ploopyco/mouse/blob/master/hardware/Elect... So technically a via fence, but not quite as sophisticated.
• yitchelle 7y ago
  Sometimes, the vias are used as thermal bridges, it is used to draw the thermal energy away from its heat source towards a heat sink. However, I don't it is used as thermal bridges in this situation.