JPH0322089A - Pattern generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation and to quickly respond by successively outputting plural preliminarily stored pattern information connecting two points to a display means at the time of detecting that these two points are on one main grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line. CONSTITUTION:When information indicating that it is detected that two points are on one main grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line is applied to a pattern generating means 4 from an input means 1, the pattern generating means 4 generates a connection pattern between two points and stores this connection pattern in a pattern storage means 2. When information indicating this detection is applied from the input means 1, the pattern storage means 2 selects the pattern inputted from the pattern generating means 4 or a preliminarily generated and stored pattern to successively display it on a display means 3. Thus, a wiring pattern is generated in a short time, and the operation is simplified because it is sufficient if two points are inputted.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a pattern generation device that generates a pattern under specific conditions, the present invention aims at a pattern generation device that is easy to operate, requires a short CPU time, and responds at high speed. , input means for detecting that the two points of the information are on the same grid, or one is on an adjacent main grid, with information instructing a connection between two points located from at least one of a component pin or a via. and when the input means detects that the two points are on the same main grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line,
The pattern storage means is configured to sequentially output a plurality of pre-stored pattern information connecting the two points to the display means.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print pattern designing device, and more particularly to a pattern generating device that generates a pattern under specific conditions. [Prior Art] Due to the increasing complexity of circuits and the high integration of RC circuits, it has become difficult to manually design printed circuit board mounting. For this reason, technology for generating printed board patterns using computers has been developed and put into practical use.

In such devices, so-called automatic print pattern generators, a method of inputting data using an interactive pattern editor is generally used.

There are two ways to use this conversational pattern editor.
The first method is to specify all the curve points of the pattern, the so-called all-point hit type, and the second method is to specify two points, the start point and the end point.
There is a method in which the system recognizes the area in which the pattern can be run and automatically generates a connection pattern. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the first pattern input method described above, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the second pattern generation method described above.

In the first method, as is clear from Figure 1O, component pins and vias (hit points PI) on the main grid are specified first, then hint points P2 on the sub-lattice are specified, and hits are made sequentially. Point P 3-. The hit point P4 is designated, and ultimately a connection pattern between the hit points P1 and P4 is generated.

In addition, in the second conventional method, the existing wiring pattern P
For x, Pv, Pz, empty area E within the range connecting hint point Q and hit point Q2 so as to satisfy wiring standards.
A new pattern PM is generated in the empty area.

The first and second methods described above are all done using a graphical interactive pattern editor, and the pattern is created by specifying the points to be connected, as well as the intermediate points, which are curves of straight lines. Wiring can be determined, and compared to traditional hand-designed patterns, it is possible to generate highly reliable patterns that meet all standards.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned first and second methods, automatic wiring (conversational type) is possible using a computer, etc., but the above-mentioned first method
This method had a problem in that the operations for hinting at each point were complicated. Further, due to this complexity, there have been problems such as not being able to input a desired pattern due to, for example, a mistake in specifying a turning point.

In addition, in the second method, since the empty area E is automatically generated, the operation is simple as it only requires specifying the start point and end point. This had the problem of requiring a long response time.

The object of the present invention is to provide a pattern generation device that is easy to operate, requires short CPU time, and responds quickly.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a print pattern design device. The input means 1 adds information instructing a connection between two points consisting of at least one of a component pin or a via, and indicates that the two points of the information are on the same grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line. To detect.

The pattern storage means 2 is arranged so that the input stage 1 is the input stage 2.
When it is detected that points are on the same main grid line or one of them is on an adjacent main grid line, a plurality of corresponding pattern information stored in advance is sequentially outputted to the display means 3.

When the pattern generation means 4 detects that the information instructing the connection between two points inputted from the input means 1 is on the same main grid line or one of them is on an adjacent main grid line, the pattern generation means 4 generates the above two points.
A plurality of patterns are generated from information indicating connections between points and stored in the pattern storage means 2.

[For production]

When information instructing a connection between two points consisting of at least one of a component pin or a via is added to the input stage 1, it is detected whether the two points are on the same main grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line. ．． When it is on a main grid line or on an adjacent main grid line, the result is added to the pattern storage means 2 and pattern generation means 4. Furthermore, information instructing the connection between two points is also added to the pattern generating means 4. Information indicating that one is on the same main lattice or one is on an adjacent main lattice from the input means 1 is sent to the pattern generating means 4.
, the pattern generating means 4 generates a connection pattern between the two points. The conditions for the connection pattern of two points are 2 in advance.
Since the points are on the same main grid line or one is on the adjacent main grid line, the number of patterns that can be generated is small, and can be easily generated. The pattern generation means 4 stores the generated pattern in the pattern storage means 2. When the result of detecting that one is on the same main grid line or one is on an adjacent main grid line is added from the input means 1, the pattern storage means 2 generates a pattern input from the pattern generation means 4 or a pattern generated in advance and stored. The selected patterns are sequentially displayed on the display means 3. In the mounting design of printed circuit boards, most wiring patterns between component pins or vias do not change the grid lines that divide the running tracks, so-called main grids, and enter the pins or vias at a 45-degree angle from the running tracks. Yes, considering the 45 degree rule, if there are two sub-lattices, if there is a gap between two points between the same main lattices, 4
When one point exists on an adjacent main lattice, there are two patterns. Since such a pattern is generated and the pattern is sequentially displayed on the display means 3, the wiring pattern can be generated for the operator in a short time, and since only two input points are required, the operation is simplified.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

The graphical interactive pattern editor 12 is similar to a conventional editor and has a graphic display (GDP).
Figures are displayed in 10 and various types of shapes are edited. In contrast, in the embodiment of the present invention, a pattern input device 13 is newly connected to the graphic interactive pattern editor 12.

The graphic interactive pattern editor 12 is made up of a computer system, and each device is connected via basic input IO, etc., and the pattern table etc. is linked with the graphic interactive pattern editor in the computer system. There is.

The above-mentioned new pattern input device 13 includes a starting point/hiragi point reading device 14 and a possible pattern control device (to calculate all bending points).
15, pattern display device 16, optimal pattern registration device i1
It consists of 1fl 7 and etiquette pattern table 18. These are connected to the base 10 of the graphical interactive pattern editor 12 configured from the computer system as described above. The new pattern input device 13 is independent of the processing of the graphical interactive pattern editor, and starts its processing when the pattern input processing is started from the pattern editor. This process ends when another process is started in the graphical interactive pattern editor. A worker operating the graphic interactive pattern editor 12 inputs the start point and end point using the start point/end point reading device 14 in response to instructions for specifying the start point and end point displayed on the graphic display 10. For example, the start/end point reading device 14 may be a digitizer or a mouse. When coordinate information of the start point and end point is added by the start point/end point reading device 14, possible pattern creation device? II15
reads the design standard file in the graphic interactive pattern editor 12, generates a pattern connecting the two points from the number of main grids that can run between the main grids stored in the file, and stores it in the discipline pattern table 18. .

In the embodiment of the present invention, the new pattern input device 13
generates a pattern when the start point and end point are on the same main grid line, or when there is a gap between two points between adjacent main grids.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the processing range of the end point relative to the start point. In Fig. 3, the target end point SS>S! when the end point is separated from the starting point by three main grids in the horizontal direction. ,S. is the position of the end point that can be generated by the possible pattern creation device 15, and in the case of the end point SRwS, it is a non-target point and no pattern is generated. In Figure 3, the end point S on the vertically adjacent main grid lines
t. End point S on the same main grid line as S3! However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same applies even if the end point exists on a main grid line adjacent to the vertical main grid line where the start point exists in the upper/lower direction with respect to the start point. In addition, the main lattice SX
There is a sublattice SY between them. The main lattice is the starting point/
It is a grid in which component pins, vias, etc., such as end points, etc. exist, or patterns exist, and sub-grids SY are points where wiring patterns exist or where wiring patterns connected to component bins, vias, etc. bend. In the embodiment of the present invention, component pins, vias, etc. exist at each intersection of the main grid lines, and wiring patterns and their bending points exist on the sub-grid lines. All connections VtvA are connected at 45 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram generated by an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 4(a), there are two points on the same main grid line, and in FIG. 4, there are two points on adjacent main grid lines. Two points A and B exist on the same grid line, but when connecting them, they must be 45 degrees above the via etc., or 45 degrees above the via etc.
The wiring pattern extends 5 degrees below and is connected between the lines on the sub-lattice points.

Figures 4(a) and (b) show the wiring A in the 45 degree direction, respectively.
is connected to the via A and bent on the sub-lattice so that the wiring AB becomes parallel to the grid line. The sub-lattice points are connected to the vias B at an angle of 45 degrees with a pattern Bt.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that there is no bending of the pattern on the sub-grid lines, and the situation shown in FIG. 5 does not occur. According to the above conditions, there are basically six types of connections between the start point and the end point shown in Figures 6 and 7 (when there are two sub-grid lines between the main grids). When start point A and end point B exist on the same grid line, a pattern (FAI) in which the connecting line passes on one sub-grid line above the grid line where start point A and end point B exist, or on two sub-grid lines above. The connecting line passes through the pattern (PA!), and conversely, the connecting line passes through the sub-grid line below.
There are four patterns: a pattern (PA3) in which the t-line passes, and a pattern (PA4) in which the tangential Vt line passes on the sub-lattice line two lines below (Fig. 6, mountains) to (e)).

In addition, if starting point A and starting point B are on adjacent main grid lines, a pattern (pB,) in which a horizontal connecting line exists on the side closer to starting point A, and a connecting line on the sub-lattice line closer to starting point B. There are two patterns (PBz) that pass through.

It should be noted that all of the above-mentioned wiring patterns describe patterns in the lateral direction, and all connections with vias and component pins are made using 45-degree wiring patterns.

Based on the above conditions, the possible pattern generation device 10 generates various patterns and stores the generated patterns in the discipline pattern table l8. Then, the pattern display device 16 sequentially displays the generated patterns in the pattern table. The operator selects a desired pattern, that is, a pattern that can be wired, from the patterns displayed on the pattern display device 216, and the optimal pattern registration device 17 registers it in the graphic interactive pattern editor 12 as an additional pattern.

If a displayed pattern is selected when displayed on the pattern display device [16], that pattern is registered in the graphical interactive pattern editor 12, so that wiring can be performed using that pattern. The graphic interactive pattern editor 12 has a process for reading out a registered pattern as a wiring pattern, for example, and by registering it with the optimum pattern registration device 17, even a conventional interactive pattern editor can create a new pattern. Pattern generation can be performed by adding an input device l3. FIG. 8 is a processing flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. When the pattern input process starts, that is, when the pattern input process starts, the new pattern input device operates and requests input of start point/end point coordinates (S1).

In the above, it is assumed that the start and end points are indicated using a digitizer, etc., but this can be done using, for example, a graphic display (
It is also possible to specify the start and end points of the vias that are wired to the GDP using a mouse, etc. The start point/end point coordinates are input by the operation of the start point/end point coordinate reading device 13 (S
, ) Then, it is determined whether the end point is within the processing range. This discrimination is also performed by the start point/end point reading device 13. As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the starting point and the ending point exist on the main lattice line or on adjacent main lattice lines, and the determination S2 determines whether they fall within this condition. If the end point is not within the processing range (NG), registration is not possible, so the process is re-executed from process S to instruct input of start and end point coordinates for the next wiring.

On the other hand, when the end point is within the processing range (OK), all possible patterns are created and stored in the table by referring to the number of runs between main grids. This process S3 is performed by the possible pattern creation device 1.
Intimidated by 5. Figure 9 is a table diagram of patterns and their coordinates. 9th tffl(a). (b) is the case where vias etc. exist on the same line, and FIG. 9(C). (d) is a case where vias etc. exist on adjacent main grid lines. Figure 9 tal. (In bl, starting point A has coordinates <5.
5>, the end point B exists on (8.5). In this case, as mentioned above, there are four types of patterns (AlO, A2
0, A30. A40) exists.

Pattern AIO has a starting point (5.5), two bending points (5 a, 5 a), (7b, 5a), and an ending point (
8.5). In other words, there is a wiring pattern parallel to the main grid line on one sub-grid line between the main grid lines (one of the two sub-grid lines between the main grid lines), and its connection Wired by wire. In addition, in pattern 20A, the two bending points are (5b, 5b) and (7 a. 5
b), and pattern 30A has two bending points (5
a, 4 b), (7b, 4b), and furthermore, pattern A4Q has two bending points (5 b, 4 a),
(7 a, 4 a). Note that the starting point and ending point are the same. A and b at the above-mentioned bending points respectively represent the coordinates of the sub-lattice lines between the main lattices. Also, starting point A. If the end points B are different, that is, if they are on adjacent main grid lines, then the end points B in FIG. 9(C). Pattern BI as in (d)
O is the starting point (5.5), the bending point is (5 a, 5 a
), (7a.5a), the end point is (8, 6). Furthermore, the starting point of pattern B20 is (5.5), the bending points are (5b, 5b), (7b, 5b), and the ending point is (8.
6). The pattern shown in FIG. 9 is a case where there are two sub-grid lines between each main grid, and the patterns are different in the case of one sub-lattice line. In other words, the number of wiring patterns connecting adjacent main grids is one type, and the pattern 2 on the same main grid line is one type. Note that there are many mi connections between different grid lines, such as in the vertical direction and even in the downward direction, but connections in each direction can be made by referring to the pattern shown in FIG. 9. In addition, the wiring patterns parallel to the main grid lines change depending on the distance between the start and end points, and it is possible to generate these patterns together (diagonal lines as well). It is 15. When the process S3 of creating all possible patterns and storing them in the table is completed, the patterns shown in FIG. 9, for example, are stored in the discipline pattern table.

In other words, the starting point, two bending points, and the ending point are
Expressed in coordinates, (xs . ys ) r (x+
,y+). (xz+ yi. (xa+ y
It can be expressed as *). When this process (S3) is finished,
Next, the pattern display device 216 displays the pattern table 1.
The patterns stored in 8 are sequentially displayed. There are different types, and after the process (S4), the patterns are read in order from the discipline pattern table and displayed on, for example, the graphic display 10.

By displaying the pattern on the pattern display device 16 (S4), the pattern is sequentially displayed on the graphic display (GDP) 10 each time it is selected. That is,
First, the first pattern is displayed, and if there is no conversion hit (NG
) sometimes displays the next pattern again.

If it is a conversion hint (OK), the optimal pattern is registered as an additional pattern in the pattern file, that is, the pattern file provided in the graphical interactive pattern editor 12 in FIG. 2, to use the pattern (S6). . Then, determine whether it is finished (S7) L,
If it is the end, it ends, and if it is not the end (No), the same operation is repeated again from the process (S1).

From the above motion pass, hit each point and bending point (
With the interactive pattern editing editor, you can register the wiring pattern that connects the desired vias, etc., and generate it with a simple generation process, so you can quickly create the desired pattern. You can get information.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. In the embodiments of the present invention, the number of sub-lattice lines existing between the main lattices is two, but the number is not limited to this. For example, there may be three, four, etc. It is possible. In addition, although the explanation has been made with respect to patterns on the same surface (for example, component side, solder side, etc.), this is not limited to this, and the application can also be applied to cases where, for example, a wiring pattern enters the middle part of a multilayer board at a bending point. It is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when predetermined connection terminal conditions are met, a plurality of target patterns can be generated in a short time by simple pattern generation, and one of the target patterns can be generated in a short time. Since it is only necessary to select from the following, a pattern can be generated by just hitting the starting point and the ending point, which saves a short time and prevents hit errors.

In the past, most patterns exited or entered via vias at an angle of 45 degrees, and furthermore, there were almost no changes to the traveling track (on the comparison grid divided between the main grids). Therefore, most wiring patterns can be obtained by the embodiments of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the processing range of the end point to the starting point, and Fig. 4 (al,
(b) is a pattern diagram in which the embodiment of the present invention occurs; FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram in which the embodiment of the present invention does not occur; Figures 7 (a) to (C) are relationship diagrams between starting points/end points and patterns, Figure 8 is a processing flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 9 (al to (d) are table diagrams of patterns and their coordinates. , Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional pattern input method, and Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional pattern generation method. 1... Input means, 2... Pattern storage means, 3... Display means. , 4... Pattern generation means. Mechanism block diagram of the present invention 1. Figure 1. System Lecture A for the implementation of the present invention (A), Figure (a) Turn diagram for the execution of the present invention, Figure 4, Figure 5, Pattern and its positioning diagram, Figure 9, Figure 8, Fig.7

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a printed pattern design device, information instructing a connection between two points consisting of at least one of a component pin or a via is added, and the two points of the information are on the same grid, or one is adjacent to the other. an input means (1) for detecting that the two points are on the same main grid line; A pattern generating device comprising a pattern storage means (2) for sequentially outputting a plurality of pre-stored pattern information connecting two points to a display means (3). 2) Consisting of at least one of component pins or vias 2
an input means (1) to which information instructing a connection between points is added; a pattern generation means (4) to generate a connectable pattern between the two points; and a pattern generation means (4) to generate a connectable pattern between the two points; A pattern generating device comprising pattern storage means (2) for storing connectable patterns and sequentially outputting them to a display means (3). 3) In the printed board mounting design method, specifying a start point and an end point between two points consisting of component pins or vias, creating all possible patterns connecting the starting point and the end point, and displaying the possible patterns on a display device, A pattern input method in a graphical interactive pattern editor that selects the optimal pattern from among all possible patterns.