no GND connection on ESP32 PICO D4 chip

[dark99dark]

Hi,

can someone explain me how is the GND (PIN 49) of ESP32 PICO D4 connected to the PCB board. I have checked the Gerber files (all layers), but there is no connection to GND.

[mikemoy]

According to the data sheet you don't have to connect the GND pad to GND. It mainly for thermals than GND.
Though IMHO I would never not connect it to GND.

[dark99dark]

Hi,

but this is strange, because on schematic I can only see one PIN which is connected to GND and its PIN 49.
So the question is, where is GND?

[Sprite]

FWIW, pin 49 indeed is the only GND pad on the PicoD4 and as such must be connected. From what I remember, the remark that the middle pad is only a thermal pad is valid for the non-Pico ESP32s though.

dark99dark: You're looking at the layers, but you probably also should look at the drill files. There's an array of 9 plated vias connecting the bottom pad with the ground layer:

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