Circuit Editor Off-Screen Violation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electronic circuit designs are complex, and existing circuit design editors struggle to detect and correct layout violations, especially when these violations occur in undisplayed portions of the design, making it difficult for designers to identify and address inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a circuit editor with a violation detection and correction portion, which generates visual indications of layout violations and rearrangement schemes on a display unit, even for elements outside the visible canvas, guiding users to correct aberrant arrangements and restore consistency with predetermined circuit layout criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the circuit editor displays only the visible canvas portion, then the display area is optimized for detailed viewing and editing, but layout violations in off-screen portions cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new visual dimension by projecting violation indicators from off-screen locations onto the visible canvas. This allows detection of violations in the off-screen portion while maintaining focus on the visible area, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The violation indicator acts as an intermediary element that bridges the off-screen violation location and the visible canvas. This mediator conveys information about off-screen violations without requiring the user to view the entire off-screen portion, enabling detection while optimizing display area.
2Ease of operation
If the circuit editor provides detailed violation indicators for off-screen violations, then designers can identify and correct layout issues, but the visual canvas becomes cluttered with indicators
Solution Approach 1:
The violation indicator is segmented into distinct visual components: a projection line indicating the off-screen location, a visible indicator mark on the canvas, and optional detailed information. This segmentation allows detailed violation information to be conveyed while keeping the main canvas clean and uncluttered.
Solution Approach 2:
Detailed violation information is placed in a separate visual dimension (projection lines extending from the canvas) rather than occupying space on the main canvas. This allows comprehensive violation feedback without increasing visual canvas complexity.
3Productivity
If the circuit editor automatically corrects layout violations, then productivity increases, but designers lose control over correction choices
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by displaying violation indicators and rearrangement schemes, then waits for designer confirmation before executing corrections. This feedback loop maintains designer control while enabling automatic correction capability, resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and displaying multiple possible correction schemes before execution. This allows the designer to review and select from predefined options, maintaining control while enabling efficient automatic correction.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit editor generates a graphic rendering of an electronic circuit design for partial display in a visual canvas on a display unit. The circuit editor detects aberrant arrangements of circuit elements which violate predetermined circuit layout criteria, such as minimum spacing between the edges or corners of circuit elements, and forms a correction scheme to rearrange the circuit elements such that consistency with the circuit layout criteria is restored. When the aberrant arrangements are not themselves displayed in the visual canvas, the circuit editor generates visual indications of the layout violation and of the correction scheme, the latter being used to guide user correction of the violation.