Analog Netlist Schematic Generation with Deterministic Logic Grouping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Generating a useful schematic from an analog netlist is challenging due to non-deterministic results and lack of comparability with manually drawn schematics, especially with complex modern electronic designs involving transistors, where prior art tools often produce schematics that are not easily recognizable or organized for designers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying and sorting hardware components in the netlist, partitioning them into component groups that form logic functions, arranging these groups, routing connections, and generating a schematic that corresponds to the arranged components, ensuring determinism and organizational clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If prior art tools generate schematic from netlist, then schematic can be produced automatically, but the schematic is non-deterministic and not comparable with manually drawn designs
Solution Approach 1:
The netlist is partitioned into component groups based on logic functions (e.g., AND, OR, NOT gates). Each group is processed independently with deterministic placement rules, ensuring that the same netlist always produces the same schematic layout regardless of component listing order.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the organizational parameters of schematic generation by implementing specific sorting and placement algorithms that determine component positions based on logic function relationships rather than netlist ordering. This transforms the output from non-deterministic to deterministic while maintaining automation.
2Productivity
If schematic generation tools are used for complex modern designs, then productivity is improved, but the generated schematic becomes difficult to recognize and understand
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the complex netlist into smaller logic function groups, the schematic becomes more organized and easier to understand. Each group represents a recognizable logic unit, making the overall circuit structure more comprehensible to designers while maintaining automated generation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary sorting and grouping of components by logic function before schematic generation. This pre-organization ensures that components are placed in meaningful positions that reflect their functional relationships, improving understandability without sacrificing generation speed.
3Reliability
If components are arranged to match manual schematic organization, then comparability with manual designs is improved, but the generation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements specific deterministic parameters for component placement and routing that mirror manual schematic organization conventions. These parameters include sorting by logic function type and establishing consistent placement rules, which achieve comparability through systematic parameter definition rather than complex procedural steps.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns the generation of schematics from analog netlists. Various implementations of the invention provide that an analog netlist defining a number of hardware components and the connectivity between the hardware components is identified. Subsequently, the netlist is sorted and partitioned into component groups. The component groups are arranged and lines are routed between the component groups. The corresponding hardware components are arranged within the component groups and a schematic corresponding to the arranged hardware components is generated.