Processor system and redesign method
The processor system addresses the challenge of redesigning electronic systems with substitute components by assessing and verifying replacement parts, achieving both speed and quality in the redesign process for stable operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HITACHI LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-12-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing design methods for electronic systems do not account for the use of substitute or recycled components with different part characteristics, leading to difficulties in reducing redesign time and ensuring quality during component shortages.
A processor system that includes a redesign determination program to assess candidate replacement parts, calculating their performance range and determining if they meet design specifications, followed by a redesign program to update the system, and a re-verification program to ensure the redesigned system meets specifications.
Enables faster redesign with quality assurance, ensuring long-term stable operation of electronic systems by identifying suitable replacement parts and adjusting design parameters.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a processor system and a redesign method.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, in the fields of mobility and industrial equipment, it has become important to improve the reliability of electronic systems and achieve stable operation for long-term use and operation of equipment.
[0003] In order to realize high reliability of an electronic system, it is essential to design and verify the operation state sufficiently during device development. On the other hand, regarding electronic components mounted on products, due to the recent semiconductor shortage and the increase in EoL (End Of Life), the number of difficult-to-obtain components has been increasing. In order to avoid production reduction or production interruption of products caused by such component shortages, product manufacturers need to redesign substrates, circuits, etc. using, for example, alternative components or reused components (reuse components). In that case, for product manufacturers, securing designer resources, reducing the man-hours of increasing redesign, and ensuring the quality of products by redesign have become one of the main issues.
[0004] Note that Patent Document 1 discloses a design method that realizes reduction of design man-hours and improvement of the quality of a design object by automatically performing the design in the design of a circuit or the like. Specifically, in this document, "when using a database in which information on a plurality of circuits such as circuits having different parameters such as circuit scale, memory capacity, number of pins, and operating frequency is stored, automatically analyze the parameters of each circuit, and according to the analysis result, automatically perform the design of a semiconductor integrated circuit so as to conform to the required specifications. For a processor circuit, automatically analyze the microcode to improve or integrate the processor circuit. When using a block function IP including arithmetic operations and circuit elements, use a database in which the structure of the IP is hierarchically registered, draw out the connection parts of each function inside the IP to the outside of the IP, and construct a new IP or system." is described.
Prior Art Documents
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-288205 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for automating the design of circuits and the like. However, the design method described in that document does not take into account situations where the parts necessary for product manufacturing become difficult to obtain. In other words, the design method described in that document does not consider automating redesign when using substitute parts or recycled parts with different part characteristics than the parts used initially. Therefore, it is difficult to solve the above problem with the design method described in that document.
[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to achieve both reduced redesign time and quality assurance in the redesign of electronic systems, thereby contributing to the long-term stable operation of more reliable electronic systems. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The present invention includes several means for solving at least part of the above problems, but an example thereof is as follows. A processor system according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a processor system having one or more processors and one or more memory resources, wherein the memory resources store a redesign determination program that determines whether an electronic component candidate for a replacement part can be adopted as a component to be redesigned in place of a component to be changed, and a redesign program that redesigns an electronic system using the electronic component candidate for a replacement part that has been determined to be adoptable as a component to be redesigned, and the processor executes the redesign determination program to: (1) determine the state of the replacement part candidate based on the component characteristics of the replacement part candidate, (2) calculate the performance range that the electronic system can reach when using the replacement part candidate using the component characteristics of the replacement part candidate and the design data of the electronic system before redesign, and (3) determine that the replacement part candidate having the performance range that overlaps with the range of the design specifications in the design data can be adopted as a component to be redesigned. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both shorter processing times and quality assurance in the redesign of electronic systems, thereby contributing to the long-term stable operation of more reliable electronic systems. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1] This diagram shows an example of a general configuration of a processor system. [Figure 2] This diagram shows an example of the data structure in the modified parts database. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of the data structure of a design database. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of the data structure of the verification database. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the specification determination process for candidate parts to be changed. [Figure 6] This is a comparison diagram showing the performance range and specification range of the electronic circuit board when using candidate replacement parts. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specification change process. [Figure 8] This diagram shows an example of a service system to which a processor system is applied. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 shows an example of the schematic configuration of the processor system 100 according to this embodiment. The processor system 100 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "this system" or "redesign system") is a device that performs various processes related to the redesign of an electronic system. Specifically, the processor system 100 identifies candidate components (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "candidate replacement components") that can replace electronic components used in the electronic system in the design before redesign (for example, the initial design), and that have component characteristics that satisfy the desired design specifications.
[0013] Furthermore, the processor system 100 redesigns the electronic system when the component to be changed (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "component to be changed") is changed to one of the identified candidate components.
[0014] Furthermore, the processor system 100 verifies whether the redesigned design data meets the desired design specifications.
[0015] Such a processor system 100 enables both shorter redesign times and quality assurance in electronic systems, resulting in more reliable and stable long-term operation of electronic systems.
[0016] While the scope of electronic systems is broad and not particularly limited, in this embodiment, we will use an electronic circuit board such as a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) as an example for the following explanation.
[0017] <Configuration of Processor System 100> As shown in FIG. 1, this system 100 is communicably connected to an external device 10 via, for example, a communication cable or a predetermined communication network (such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network)) N.
[0018] <<External Device 10>> The external device 10 is a device that transmits information used in the processing executed by the processor system 一百 to the processor system 100. Further, the external device 10 is also a device that acquires information output from the processor system 100 from the processor system 100.
[0019] Specifically, the external device 10 transmits design data and verification data of an electronic substrate including design specifications to the processor system 100. Such an external device 10 corresponds to, for example, a computer of a business operator who designs and manufactures an electronic substrate. Note that the business operator receives the provision of redesigned data and re-verification data from the processor system 100 and manufactures a product after redesign based on the redesigned design data and the like.
[0020] Further, the external device 10 transmits the component characteristics of the change part candidates to the processor system 100. Such an external device 10 corresponds to, for example, a computer of a salesperson of a change part.
[0021] <<Details of Processor System 100>> The processor system 100 executes a specification determination process, a redesign process, and a re-verification process for change part candidates by the processor 20 reading various programs and information stored in the memory resource 30. Details of each process will be described later.
[0022] The processor system 100 is a computer such as a personal computer, tablet terminal, smartphone, server computer, or cloud server, and is a system that includes at least one of these computers.
[0023] Specifically, the processor system 100 includes a processor 20, memory resources 30, a Network Interface Device (NI) 40, and a User Interface Device (UI) 50.
[0024] The processor 20 is an arithmetic unit that reads various programs stored in the memory resource 30 and executes the processing corresponding to each program. Examples of the processor 20 include a microprocessor, CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or other arithmetic semiconductor devices.
[0025] The memory resource 30 is a storage device that stores various types of information. Specifically, the memory resource 30 is a non-volatile or volatile storage medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory resource 30 may also be a rewritable storage medium such as flash memory, a hard disk, or an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, memory card, or hard disk.
[0026] NI40 is a communication device that communicates information with the external device 10. NI40 communicates information with the external device 10 via a predetermined communication network N, such as a LAN or the Internet. Unless otherwise specified below, it is assumed that information communication between the processor system 100 and the external device 10 is performed via NI.
[0027] The UI consists of an input device that inputs user (operator) instructions to the processor system 100, and an output device that outputs information generated by the processor system 100. Input devices include, for example, pointing devices such as keyboards, touch panels, and mice, and voice input devices such as microphones.
[0028] Output devices include, for example, displays, printers, and speech synthesizers. Unless otherwise specified below, user operations on the processor system 100 (e.g., inputting information, outputting information, and issuing instructions to execute processing) are performed via the UI 50.
[0029] Furthermore, some or all of the configurations, functions, and processing means of this system 100 may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Also, some or all of the functions of this system 100 may be implemented in software, or through the collaboration of software and hardware. Furthermore, this system 100 may use hardware with fixed circuits, or it may use hardware in which at least some of the circuits can be modified.
[0030] Furthermore, this system 100 can also be implemented by having a user (operator) perform some or all of the functions and processes realized by each program.
[0031] Furthermore, the database and various information within the memory resource 30 described below may be files or other data structures besides databases, as long as they are areas capable of storing data.
[0032] <<Changed part DB110>> The Parts Change Database 110 is a database that stores information about potential parts to be changed. Specifically, the Parts Change Database 110 stores information such as the characteristics of the potential parts to be changed.
[0033] Figure 2 shows an example of the data structure of the modified parts database 110. As shown in the figure, the modified parts database 110 registers modified parts 110a, status information 110b, manufacturer specifications 110c, size 110d, and operation / status history 110e, each associated with the modified parts. Modified parts 110a represent electronic components that may be candidates for modified parts. Status information 110b and operation / status history 110e represent the component characteristics, which are the quality of the modified parts. Manufacturer specifications 110c represent the manufacturer's specifications corresponding to each characteristic item in status information 110b. Size 110d represents the size (dimensions) of the modified parts. Operation / status history 110e represents the usage history of the modified parts.
[0034] Furthermore, the component characteristics of the candidate replacement parts include information such as electrical characteristics (e.g., voltage range), mechanical characteristics, and thermal characteristics (e.g., heat resistance range).
[0035] <<Design DB120>> Design DB (Database) 120 is a database in which design data for electronic circuit boards (including initial designs before redesign) is registered. Specifically, in Design DB 120, design data including design models is registered and associated with each circuit board type and circuit area.
[0036] Figure 3 shows an example of the data structure of the design DB 120. As shown in the figure, the design DB 120 registers each component 120a, which is a component of an electronic circuit board, in association with the PCB board type 120b, the circuit area 120c, and the design data 120d.
[0037] Design data 120d contains various information related to the design of the electronic circuit board. Specifically, design data 120d includes various information necessary for the design of the electronic circuit board, such as the design model, parts list and design specifications, as well as schematics, netlists, design parameters and expected service life.
[0038] A design model is a model that combines essential design elements necessary to reproduce the operation of an electronic circuit board in a manner equivalent to that of an actual electronic circuit board. The design model can output the operation and performance of each component according to the component characteristics of the electronic components used in the electronic circuit board. In other words, the design model includes information on the type of circuit board, the detailed design configuration, structure, and parameters in the circuit area corresponding to the electronic circuit board being designed.
[0039] The parts list is a list of components used in an electronic circuit board, specified by the board type and circuit area. The design specifications are information indicating the design specifications, such as voltage range and frequency range, for each electronic circuit board, circuit, or electronic component included in the parts list. The design specifications may also include the design specifications of the product on which the electronic circuit board is mounted (e.g., voltage range, etc., and also the processing accuracy of measurements, etc., which are the target performance of the product). Furthermore, the design DB120 may include, for example, analysis data from the design stage.
[0040] <<Verification DB130>> The Verification Database 130 is a database in which verification data for electronic circuit boards is registered. Specifically, in the Design Database 120, verification values, which are the verification results for verification items, are registered and associated with each board type and circuit area.
[0041] Figure 4 shows an example of the data structure of the verification DB 130. As shown in the figure, the verification DB 130 registers each component 130a of an electronic circuit board in association with the PCB board type 130b, the circuit area 130c, and the verification data 130d. The verification DB 130 may also include, for example, evaluation data and data from certification tests.
[0042] <<Redesign Judgment Program 210>> The redesign determination program 210 is a program that determines whether a candidate for a replacement part is a part that can be used in the redesign. Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 calculates the performance range that the electronic board can achieve when using the candidate for a replacement part, and determines whether the candidate for a replacement part can be used in the redesign based on a comparison of the range of that performance range with the design specification range at the time of design (for example, the design before redesign, including the initial design). Details of this determination process (the specification determination process for candidate replacement parts) will be described later.
[0043] <<Redesign Program 220>> The redesign program 220 is a program that redesigns an electronic circuit board. Specifically, the redesign program 220 redesigns an electronic circuit board when candidate change parts that have been determined to be usable as components in the redesign are adopted. More specifically, the redesign program 220 redesigns the electronic circuit board using the component characteristics and design parameters of the components of the electronic circuit board, including candidate change parts that have been determined to meet the design specifications, and outputs design data (hereinafter sometimes referred to as redesign data) that includes the design specifications of the redesign (which may be the same as the design specifications before the redesign).
[0044] <<Re-evaluation Program 230>> The re-verification program 230 is a program that verifies whether the redesigned electronic circuit board meets the design specifications. Specifically, the re-verification program 230 performs this verification by running a simulation using information such as the design model and design specifications included in the redesign data.
[0045] <<Specification determination process for candidate parts to be changed>> The processes described below are primarily executed by the processor that has loaded each program in the memory resource 30, such as the redesign judgment program 210. However, in order to clarify the differences in the processing content of each program, each program will be described in detail. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the specification determination process for candidate parts to be changed. This process begins when the processor system 100 receives an execution instruction from the user (operator), and the processor 20 executes the redesign determination program 210.
[0046] When issuing an instruction to execute the process, the user inputs identification information of the electronic circuit board to be redesigned (e.g., board ID), information identifying the component to be changed (e.g., component ID), and the characteristics of that component into the processor system 100.
[0047] When processing begins, the redesign determination program 210 extracts candidate parts for modification (step S010). Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 refers to the modification parts database 110 and extracts candidate parts from the modification parts database 110 that are of the same type and size as the part to be modified. For example, if the part to be modified is semiconductor X, the redesign determination program 220 extracts semiconductors of the same type and size as semiconductor X from the modification parts database 110. Furthermore, if there are multiple candidate parts for modification that meet these type and size conditions, the redesign determination program 210 extracts all of these candidate parts from the modification parts database 110. The acceptable range for equivalent size can be set as appropriate.
[0048] Next, the redesign determination program 210 performs a state (quality) determination (step S011). Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 determines whether the extracted candidate parts for modification can maintain the quality of the part to be modified.
[0049] More specifically, the redesign determination program 210 refers to the state information 110b, which is the component characteristics of the candidate part to be changed, and the component characteristics of the part to be changed, and compares the corresponding characteristic items (e.g., voltage range, current range, etc.) between them. Furthermore, if the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, the redesign determination program 210 determines that the candidate part to be changed can maintain the quality of the part to be changed. In addition, the redesign determination program 210 also determines that the candidate part to be changed can maintain the quality of the part to be changed if the component characteristics of the candidate part to be changed are better than the component characteristics of the part to be changed (e.g., electrical characteristics, etc.).
[0050] Furthermore, the redesign judgment program 210 may consider the difference between the characteristic items indicated by the status information and the manufacturer's specification values when determining the status (quality). For example, if the redesign judgment program 210 finds that the value of each characteristic item differs from the manufacturer's specification values by a predetermined amount or more, it may consider the quality of the proposed replacement part to have deteriorated and exclude it from the list of proposed replacement parts.
[0051] Furthermore, the redesign judgment program 210 may also consider the specification history of the candidate parts to be changed when determining their condition (quality). For example, the redesign judgment program 210 identifies the expected number of years of use for the electronic circuit board from the design data and calculates the difference between this and the operation / condition history 110e of the part to be changed. If the difference falls below a predetermined level, the redesign judgment program 210 may exclude the candidate part to be changed on the grounds that it is not suitable for long-term operation.
[0052] Next, the redesign determination program 210 determines whether there are any candidate parts for modification that can maintain quality compared with the parts to be changed (step S012). That is, it determines whether there are any candidate parts for modification that were determined to maintain quality in the determination in step S011. If it is determined that there are candidate parts for modification that can maintain quality (Yes in step S012), the redesign determination program 210 proceeds to step S014. On the other hand, if it is determined that there are no candidate parts for modification that can maintain quality (No in step S012), the redesign determination program 210 proceeds to step S013.
[0053] In step S013, the redesign determination program 210 identifies the design parameters. Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 identifies candidate parts for modification that are closer in characteristics to the part to be modified from among the candidate parts for modification. More specifically, the redesign determination program 210 compares the characteristic items of the part characteristics indicated by the status information 110b of the candidate parts for modification with the corresponding specific items of the part to be modified, and identifies candidate parts for modification whose differences are within a predetermined range.
[0054] Furthermore, the redesign determination program 210 identifies the design parameters of the electronic circuit board when the identified candidate for the replacement part is used in place of the part to be replaced. Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 identifies areas where parameter adjustments are necessary when the candidate for the replacement part is used (for example, circuits and microcontrollers included in the electronic circuit board) using the design model and design specifications included in the design data. The method for identifying areas where parameter adjustments are necessary using the design model and design specifications can be any well-known general method in the relevant art.
[0055] Furthermore, the redesign determination program 210 adjusts the parameters of the identified locations so that they are closer to the range of the electronic circuit board's design specifications (so that they are included within the range of the design specifications). The redesign determination program 210 also identifies the parameters that are closer to the range of the electronic circuit board's design specifications as the design parameters of the electronic circuit board when the candidate replacement parts are used.
[0056] Furthermore, if there are multiple candidates for the modified part, the redesign determination program 210 will identify the design parameters for all of the candidate parts.
[0057] Next, the redesign decision program 210 calculates the achievable performance range (step S014). Specifically, the redesign decision program 210 calculates the performance range of the electronic circuit board when using the candidate component by simulating the component characteristics of the candidate component and the corresponding board type, electronic component design model, and design specifications of the electronic circuit board. If design parameters are specified, the redesign decision program 210 calculates the performance range of the electronic circuit board when using the candidate component by simulating the component characteristics of the candidate component, the electronic circuit board design model, and design specifications, plus the specified design parameters.
[0058] Figure 6 is a comparison diagram showing the performance range and specification range of the electronic circuit board when using candidate replacement parts. As shown in the figure, the calculated performance ranges of candidate replacement parts 1 and 3 partially overlap with the specification range of the electronic circuit board based on specifications A and B, but the performance ranges of candidate replacement parts 2 and 4 do not overlap with the specification range. This indicates that the design specifications of the electronic circuit board can be met when redesigned using candidate replacement parts 1 and 3, but the design specifications of the electronic circuit board cannot be met when redesigned using candidate replacement parts 2 and 4.
[0059] Let's return to Figure 5 for explanation. Next, the redesign determination program 210 determines whether it has calculated the achievable performance range for each candidate part for all parts subject to change (step S015). If it determines that it has not calculated the performance range for all candidate parts for change (No in step S015), the redesign determination program 210 returns to step S011. On the other hand, if it determines that it has calculated the performance range for all candidate parts for change (Yes in step S015), the redesign determination program 210 moves to step S016.
[0060] In step S016, the redesign determination program 210 performs a specification determination. Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 determines whether the candidate for the modified part can be used as a part in the redesign, depending on whether it meets the specification range of the electronic board. More specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the redesign determination program 210 identifies candidate for the modified part that has a performance range that overlaps with the specification range, and determines that the identified candidate for the modified part can be used as a part in the redesign.
[0061] Furthermore, if the redesign determination program 210 is given a specification range for products or units equipped with electronic circuit boards, it may perform the specification determination based on a comparison of the performance ranges for those specification ranges. The specification ranges for products and units can be calculated, for example, by simulation using the design model and design specifications for each of those units.
[0062] Next, the redesign determination program 210 outputs information such as part characteristics for the candidate parts that it has determined can be used as parts for redesign because they meet the specification range (step S017). Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 outputs various information necessary for redesign, such as the part characteristics of the candidate parts, the achievable performance range, the identified design parameters, and the design data (design data before redesign, including the initial design).
[0063] The redesign decision program 210 may also output a graph (a comparison graph exemplified in Figure 6) showing the specification range of the electronic circuit board and the performance range when using the candidate replacement parts. When this graph is output, the user can compare the specification range with the performance range of the candidate replacement parts and select a candidate replacement part to use for redesign. In this case, the user instructs the processor system 100 to input information (part characteristics, etc.) about the selected candidate replacement part into the redesign program 220.
[0064] Furthermore, once the redesign determination program 210 outputs various types of information, it terminates the specification determination process for the candidate parts to be changed.
[0065] Furthermore, after the specification determination process for the candidate parts to be changed, the redesign program 220 uses the information output by the said process to redesign the electronic circuit board. Specifically, the redesign program 220 uses various information necessary for redesign, such as the component characteristics and achievable performance range of the candidate parts to be changed, to redesign the electronic circuit board when the part to be changed is replaced with the candidate part. The method of redesign processing executed by the redesign program 220 is not particularly limited, and any known technology in the relevant field may be used.
[0066] Upon execution of the redesign process, the redesign program 220 outputs redesign data, including the design model and design specifications of the electronic circuit board when using the candidate parts to be changed.
[0067] Furthermore, after the redesign process, the re-verification program 230 verifies the redesigned electronic circuit board using the information output by the redesign process. Specifically, the re-verification program 230 performs re-verification by simulating whether the electronic circuit board meets the design specifications using the design model and design specifications of the redesign data. The method of the re-verification process executed by the re-verification program 230 is not particularly limited, and any known technology in the relevant field may be used.
[0068] The above describes the specification determination process for candidate parts by the redesign determination program 210, the redesign process by the redesign program 220, and the reverification process by the reverification program 230.
[0069] Such a processor system (redesign system) enables both faster redesign and quality assurance in electronic system redesign, contributing to the long-term stable operation of more reliable electronic systems. In particular, the redesign system can identify candidate replacement parts that meet the design specifications of the electronic system, based on their component characteristics. Furthermore, the redesign system can adjust the design parameters of other electronic components that would be affected if the target component were changed to a candidate replacement part. As a result, the redesign system can gather the information necessary for redesigning an electronic system incorporating electronic components, including the candidate replacement parts, thereby achieving both faster redesign and quality assurance.
[0070] <Second Embodiment> Next, a processor system (redesign system) according to the second embodiment will be described. In the embodiment described above, the redesign system identifies candidate parts that satisfy the design specifications in the design data before redesign, such as the initial design, and performs redesign when the parts to be changed are replaced with the electronic components of the candidate parts. In contrast, the redesign system according to the second embodiment changes (updates) the design specifications based on the product's operational information. Furthermore, the redesign system identifies candidate parts that satisfy the changed design specifications and performs redesign and re-verification using the component characteristics of the candidate parts.
[0071] In the following, we will focus on describing configurations and processes that differ from the first embodiment, and will omit detailed descriptions of identical configurations and processes, using the same reference numerals.
[0072] Product operational information includes various details such as the output voltage and thermal temperature of the product and its installed electronic circuit boards during operation. When verifying such operational information, it may be necessary to change electronic components to those with specifications that result in more appropriate voltage or temperature ranges during operation. For example, if the temperature of the electronic circuit board during operation is higher than expected, a resistor with a lower resistance value may be used to suppress heat generation. Also, if the product's performance (for example, the measurement accuracy if the product is a measuring device) does not meet the target performance specified in the specifications, an electronic component that affects accuracy may be changed.
[0073] Thus, the redesign system according to this embodiment modifies the design specifications of the design data used for specification determination (the process in step S016 described above) based on operational information.
[0074] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a specification change process. This process starts, for example, when operational information is acquired from an external device 10 (for example, a computer used by a user of the electronic system) or when the redesign judgment program 210 receives an execution instruction from the user. The operational information of the product acquired by the redesign system only needs to be stored in a predetermined database (not shown) within the memory resource 30.
[0075] When the process is initiated, the redesign determination program 210 obtains product operational information from the memory resource 30 (step S020). The redesign determination program 210 also calculates the difference between the design specifications and the actual operating status based on the operational information (step S021). Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 calculates the difference between the design specifications and the actual operating status for each product, electronic board, circuit, and electronic component unit.
[0076] More specifically, the redesign determination program 210 calculates the difference between the temperature of the operating electronic circuit board and the design specification value, as described above. Alternatively, the redesign determination program 210 calculates the difference between the actual accuracy of the operating product and the design specification value, as described above. Note that the design specifications regarding the temperature of the electronic circuit board and the accuracy of the product may be included, for example, in the design specifications of the design data associated with the electronic circuit board.
[0077] Next, the redesign determination program 210 determines whether or not there is a change in the target performance (step S022). For example, the redesign determination program 210 determines that there is a change if it receives a change instruction for the target performance from a user who has confirmed the difference. A user's change instruction is made, for example, when modifying the target performance defined in the specifications to match the actual operating conditions.
[0078] Then, if the redesign determination program 210 determines that there is a change in the target performance (Yes in step S022), it proceeds to step S023. On the other hand, if the redesign determination program 210 determines that there is no change (No in step S022), it proceeds to step S025.
[0079] In step S023, the redesign judgment program 210 updates the target performance. Specifically, the redesign judgment program 210 updates the product's target performance to bridge the gap based on the magnitude of the difference. For example, if a product using an electronic circuit board is a measuring device, and the measurement accuracy required in actual operation is lower than the design specification value for the product, or if the design specification is judged to be over-designed (over-specified) in light of actual operation, the redesign judgment program 210 updates the product's target performance to be within the range of the design specification value. Note that the target performance may also be updated, for example, by the user inputting a specific target performance value.
[0080] Next, the redesign decision program 210 calculates the design specification values of electronic components, etc., using the design data (step S024). Specifically, the redesign decision program 210 uses the design model and design specifications to identify electronic boards, circuits, and electronic components that affect the improvement of the target performance. The redesign decision program 210 also calculates the design specification values necessary to achieve the defined product-level target performance for the identified electronic components, etc. Specifically, the redesign decision program 210 calculates the design specification values of electronic components, circuits, and electronic boards that can achieve the product-level target performance by repeatedly performing simulations while changing the design specification values of the identified circuits and electronic components.
[0081] Furthermore, once the redesign determination program 210 calculates the design specification values, it proceeds to step S027.
[0082] Furthermore, in step S025, which is accessed if it is determined in step S022 that there is no change in the target performance (No in step S022), the redesign determination program 210 determines whether or not there is a change in the actual usable performance range. Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 determines that there is a change in the actual usable performance range if there is an electronic component whose difference from the design specifications is greater than a threshold. The redesign determination program 210 may also determine that there is a change if it receives a change instruction from a user who has confirmed the difference.
[0083] Next, the redesign decision program 210 defines the actual performance range (step S026). Specifically, if there is a large difference between the design specification value and the value indicated by the operational information, the redesign decision program 210 defines the actual performance range to bridge the gap.
[0084] For example, if operational information indicates that a narrower voltage range is sufficient than the design specification value for a certain electronic component's voltage range, the redesign decision program 210 redefines the actual operating performance range of that electronic component. Specifically, the redesign decision program 210 redefines the design specification value to a narrower range than the original design specification value. The actual operating performance range may also be defined by the user inputting a specific performance range value.
[0085] Next, the redesign determination program 210 changes (updates) the design specification values used for specification determination (step S016) (step S027). Specifically, the redesign determination program 210 changes the design specification values of the corresponding electronic components in the design data to the actual operating performance range defined in step S026. Also, if a target performance is defined (after going through the process in step S024), the redesign determination program 210 changes the design specification values of the corresponding electronic board, circuit, and electronic components in the design data to the values calculated in step S024.
[0086] Furthermore, the redesign determination program 210 terminates the specification change process after completing the process in step S027.
[0087] The redesign determination program 210 then uses the design data, including the modified design specifications, to perform a specification determination (processing in step S016), and outputs appropriate candidate parts for modification that take the modified design specifications into account, along with their characteristics.
[0088] According to this second embodiment of the processor system (redesign system), the range of design specifications modified in consideration of the product's operating conditions is compared with the performance range of candidate replacement parts, and an appropriate candidate replacement part that satisfies the design usage is selected. Therefore, the redesign system improves the risk of product defects due to over-design or insufficient performance margins, and enables redesign using candidate replacement parts that are more suitable for long-term operation.
[0089] In the above embodiment, the redesign program 220 and the reverification program 230 are stored in the memory resources 30 of the redesign system, and redesign and reverification are performed using the information output by the redesign determination program 210. However, the redesign program 220 and the reverification program 230 may also be stored in the memory resources of another computer that is connected to this system in a communicative manner. In this configuration as well, the redesign program 220 and the reverification program 230 can each perform redesign and reverification of the electronic system using the information output based on the processing by the redesign determination program 210.
[0090] <Service system to which processor system 100 is applied> Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a service system to which the processor system 100 according to the above embodiment is applied. Examples of service systems to which this system 100 is applied include automotive services.
[0091] Electronic system design and manufacturing companies design and manufacture electronic systems and maintenance parts, and provide them to users of electronic systems.
[0092] Reused parts collection companies collect reusable parts from users of electronic systems and provide them to replacement parts suppliers. Parts manufacturers produce electronic components (replacement parts) used in electronic systems and provide them to replacement parts suppliers.
[0093] Replacement parts suppliers collect replacement parts (reused parts, substitute parts) and provide them to electronic system design manufacturers.
[0094] An electronic system design and manufacturing company provides the redesign system operator with the initial design data and verification data (design model, design specifications, verification data, etc.) and requests that the manufactured electronic system be redesigned using modified parts.
[0095] The redesign system operator inputs data obtained from electronic system design manufacturers and component characteristic data of candidate replacement parts obtained from replacement part suppliers into the system, obtains redesign data and verification data, and provides it to the electronic system design manufacturers.
[0096] This service system configuration allows electronic system design and manufacturing companies to quickly obtain redesign specifications. This saves redesign resources, enabling them to reduce production of products and spare parts, and avoid discontinuation. Furthermore, electronic system design and manufacturing companies can ensure product quality, thereby improving their credibility.
[0097] As a result, users of electronic systems can utilize products with guaranteed quality. Furthermore, the reduction in production or discontinuation of maintenance parts will be avoided, enabling long-term operation of the products.
[0098] The above describes an example of a service system to which the processor system 100 is applied.
[0099] Furthermore, the computer related to the processor system 100 may function as a program distribution server that distributes at least the redesign determination program 210 in the memory resource 30 to other computers so that they can be executed by those computers. In addition, the computer related to the processor system 100 may also distribute the redesign program 220 and the reverification program 230 in the memory resource 30 to other computers, in addition to the redesign determination program 210.
[0100] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, but includes various modifications within the scope of the same technical idea. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Also, it is possible to replace parts of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add configurations from other embodiments to the configuration of one embodiment. In addition, it is possible to add, delete, or replace parts of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.
[0101] Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown above are those deemed necessary for the explanation, and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines present in the actual product. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0102] 100...Processor system, 20...Processors, 30...Memory resources, 40...NI (Network Interface Devices), 50...UI (User Interface Devices), 110...Change parts DB, 120...Design DB, 130...Verification DB, 210...Redesign decision program, 220...Redesign program, 230...Reverification program, 10...External devices, N...Network
Claims
1. A processor system having one or more processors and one or more memory resources, The aforementioned memory resources are A redesign determination program that determines whether a candidate electronic component can be used as a replacement part in the redesign, A redesign program is stored which redesigns the electronic system using the electronic components of the candidate modified parts that have been determined to be usable as parts for the redesign. The processor executes the redesign determination program: (1) Based on the component characteristics of the candidate for the replacement part, the state of the candidate for the replacement part is determined, (2) Using the component characteristics of the candidate for the modified part and the design data of the electronic system before redesign, calculate the performance range that the electronic system can achieve when using the candidate for the modified part. (3) Based on the operational information of the product equipped with the electronic system, the design specifications in the design data are changed, (4) Determine that the candidate for the modified part, which has a performance range that overlaps with the range of the modified design specifications, can be used as a part in the redesign. A processor system characterized by the following features.
2. A processor system according to claim 1, The processor executes the redesign determination program: Output the component characteristics of the candidate modified parts that have been determined to be usable as components in the redesign. The processor executes the redesign program: The electronic system is redesigned using the component characteristics of the outputted candidate parts. A processor system characterized by the following features.
3. A processor system according to claim 2, The processor executes the redesign determination program: When the design parameters of the electronic system are adjusted according to the state of the candidate for the modified part, the achievable performance range of the electronic system when using the candidate for the modified part is calculated, taking the design parameters into account. A processor system characterized by the following features.
4. A processor system according to claim 3, The processor executes the redesign determination program: When the aforementioned design parameters are adjusted, the design parameters are output along with the part characteristics of the candidate modified part that is determined to be usable as a part in the redesign. The processor executes the redesign program: The electronic system is redesigned using the outputted component characteristics and design parameters of the candidate parts to be changed. A processor system characterized by the following features.
5. A processor system according to claim 2 or 4, The aforementioned memory resource stores the reverification program, The processor executes the reverification program: Using the design data of the redesign, verify whether the redesigned electronic system satisfies the design specifications in the design data of the redesign. A processor system characterized by the following features.
6. A processor system according to claim 1, The aforementioned memory resources are A design database storing the design data before the redesign, A verification database storing verification data based on the design data before the redesign, A modified part database storing the part characteristics of the candidate modified part, and The design data includes the design specifications and design model of the electronic system. A processor system characterized by the following features.
7. A processor system according to claim 6, The aforementioned design model is a model that combines design elements indispensable for reproducing the operation of the electronic system in an equivalent manner to the actual electronic system, This is a model that can output the operation and performance of components according to the component characteristics of the electronic components used in the electronic system. A processor system characterized by the following features.
8. A processor system according to claim 1, The candidate for the replacement part is a reused or substitute part that corresponds to the electronic component used in the component in the design prior to the redesign. A processor system characterized by the following features.
9. A processor system according to claim 1, The part characteristics of the candidate for the modified part include the electrical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, thermal characteristics, and service history of the candidate for the modified part. A processor system characterized by the following features.
10. A processor system according to claim 1, The processor executes the redesign determination program: Based on the aforementioned operational information, define the actual operating performance range of the electronic component or update the target performance of the product equipped with the electronic system. A processor system characterized by the following features.
11. A processor system according to claim 10, The processor executes the redesign determination program: If the aforementioned performance range is defined, the design specifications shall be changed to reflect that performance range. A processor system characterized by the following features.
12. A processor system according to claim 10, The processor executes the redesign determination program: If the target performance is updated, the design data is used to identify the electronic systems and electronic components that affect the product's target performance, and the design specifications for those electronic systems and electronic components to achieve the target performance are calculated. The design specifications prior to the redesign are changed to the calculated design specifications for the electronic system and the electronic components. A processor system characterized by the following features.
13. A redesign method performed by a processor system, The aforementioned processor system A processor system having one or more processors and one or more memory resources, The aforementioned memory resources are A redesign determination program that determines whether a candidate electronic component can be used as a replacement part in the redesign, A redesign program is stored which redesigns the electronic system using the electronic components of the candidate modified parts that have been determined to be usable as parts for the redesign. The processor executes the redesign determination program: (1) A step of determining the state of the candidate for the replacement part based on the part characteristics of the candidate for the replacement part, (2) A step of calculating the achievable performance range of the electronic system when the candidate for the modified part is used, using the part characteristics of the candidate for the modified part and the design data of the electronic system before redesign. (3) A step of changing the design specifications in the design data based on the operational information of the product equipped with the electronic system, (4) The step of determining whether the candidate for the modified part, which has a performance range that overlaps with the range of the modified design specifications, can be used as a part in the redesign. A redesign method characterized by the following features.