Circuit Layout Pairing Guidance for Low-Clutter Component Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit design editors face challenges in effectively displaying and editing complex electronic circuit designs due to excessive visual clutter, making it difficult for users to distinguish pertinent information from non-pertinent data, thereby hindering efficient and productive use of the editor's visual display capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method providing dynamic visual guidance for the placement of components in a circuit design editor, using a graphic layout controller to adaptively pair components based on predetermined proximity criteria, generating visual indicia for valid placement zones to guide users in placing components without overwhelming the layout with unnecessary information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all possible placement zones for multiple second components are displayed simultaneously, then complete placement guidance information is provided, but visual clutter increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the set of displayed second components based on the first component's current position. As the user moves the first component, the system recalculates which second components are relevant and updates the displayed placement zones accordingly, transforming a static overwhelming display into a dynamic adaptive interface that maintains clarity while providing complete guidance information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of displaying all possible placement zones for all second components simultaneously, the system selectively displays only the placement zones for second components that are currently relevant to the first component's position. This partial display approach provides sufficient guidance information without the excessive visual clutter of showing every possible placement option at once.
2Adaptability or versatility
If visual indicia for all second components are displayed, then comprehensive placement options are shown, but the layout becomes overwhelmed with unnecessary information
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different display qualities to different second components based on their relevance to the current first component position. Second components that are spatially or functionally relevant receive full visual indicia display, while irrelevant ones are excluded from display. This local differentiation maintains comprehensive placement options while improving usability by focusing attention on relevant areas.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system provides detailed visual guidance for component placement, then placement precision is improved, but the display becomes cluttered with excessive visual elements
Solution Approach 1:
The visual guidance system dynamically adapts its complexity based on the design context. When the first component is near multiple second components, the system selectively activates visual guidance for only those second components within a relevant threshold distance or relationship, maintaining placement precision while avoiding the visual clutter that would result from displaying guidance for all possible second components simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
In an electronic circuit design system, dynamic visual guidance for relative placement of mutually paired electronic components, such as a bypass capacitance portion and a power pin in a power domain, is provided. A first, selected component is adaptively paired with one of a plurality of second components eligible for pairing with the first component, according to predetermined pairing criteria such as proximity criteria. A mutual placement zone between the paired components is generated to define a locus of valid placement locations of the paired first and second components one with respect to the other according to predetermined placement criteria therefor. Visual indicia to represent the mutual placement zone is generated, thereby providing visual guidance to reposition the first component.