Circuit Schematic Generation Using Template-Based Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic schematic generators fail to reproduce the interpretability and quality of hand-drawn analog circuit schematics, as they are optimized for digital design conventions and lack the intuitive placement and alignment information crucial for understanding analog circuit behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating circuit schematics that identifies device groups matching circuit templates, defines placement and constraint data, and creates a grid-based schematic by placing instances according to this data, incorporating relative position, orientation, and augmentation information to replicate the visual clarity of hand-drawn schematics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional automatic schematic generators are used, then automation is achieved, but the interpretability and quality of the schematic deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically extracting connectivity data from netlists and pre-defining placement constraints based on circuit templates before generating the schematic. This preliminary processing enables automation while preserving interpretability through template-based placement that mirrors hand-drawn conventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies the visual characteristics and placement conventions of hand-drawn analog schematics into the automatic generation process. By using predefined circuit templates that replicate the visual style and layout conventions of hand-drawn schematics, the system produces automated schematics that maintain human-readable quality.
2Productivity
If digital design conventions are used for placement, then wire length and area are optimized, but the ease of interpretation for analog circuits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using different placement optimization strategies for different parts of the schematic. Analog circuit elements are placed according to their specific functional requirements and visual conventions rather than applying a uniform digital optimization approach, thereby maintaining interpretability while still achieving reasonable wire length and area optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the placement parameters from digital design conventions to analog design conventions. By modifying the optimization criteria to include visual clarity, element spacing, and alignment suitable for analog circuits, the system achieves both productivity and ease of interpretation.
3Loss of information
If hand-drawn schematics are generated, then interpretability is maximized, but automation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation by automatically extracting connectivity information from netlists and generating schematics without requiring manual intervention. The automated template matching and placement algorithms perform the work that would otherwise require hand-drawing, achieving both automation and high interpretability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of hand-drawing with an automated computational system. By substituting manual sketching with algorithmic generation based on extracted connectivity data and predefined templates, the system achieves automation while maintaining the visual quality and interpretability of hand-drawn schematics.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a system and method for generating circuit schematic that includes extracting connectivity data of a plurality of devices from a netlist, categorizing the plurality of devices into groups, placing Schematic Analog Placement Constraints on all the instances by identifying instances among the groups that match with a circuit template (in-built as well as user-specified), creating a BFS instance tree of tree instances, creating a two terminal device clusters and creating instance attachments. Using the constraints during grid based placement and eventually generated schematic which look like analog schematic.