PCB design experts...am I crazy?

[Skylar]

I'm having a discussion with a colleague concerning a component footprint drawing...a 3.5mm jack.

He says the areas marked "Forbidden Area" are intended to be PCB pads.

uhhhhhh, I don't think so!
Someone back me up. Or am I missing something?

 

[JohnRoberts]

Perhaps  keep-out areas where you can't run top PCB traces. I have run into unintended connections when traces run underneath jacks made inadvertent connections with moving metal jack parts, or even with the plugs being inserted.

Look at the jack for what is going on in that vicinity.

JR

 

[Skylar]

The jack has exposed conductors in that area. So it has to be a keep out zone. When you plug into the jack, those conductors deflect and would short against any bare traces/pads if you were to put them there.