Dynamic PCB Design Reuse via Modular Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As printed circuit board designs become increasingly complex and miniaturized, managing design reuse and simultaneous modifications among multiple designers becomes challenging, especially when teams work on the same design simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic printed circuit board design reuse method and tool that allows for a master design comprising multiple flexible designs to be modified, with corresponding target designs updated in real-time, utilizing a library for versioning and enabling simultaneous editing and modification across a network of computing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple designers work on the same printed circuit board design simultaneously, then design productivity is improved, but design consistency and reliability deteriorate due to conflicts and errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the PCB design into modular components including flexible circuits, rigid circuits, and carrier circuits that can be independently designed and managed. Each module can be worked on separately by different designers, reducing conflicts while maintaining overall design consistency through the modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that manages design versions, tracks modifications, and coordinates changes across multiple designers. This intermediary mechanism ensures that simultaneous edits are properly managed, preventing consistency errors while maintaining high productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If printed circuit board designs are made more complex to accommodate increasing functionality, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases making design management difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments complex PCB designs into manageable modules (flexible circuits, rigid circuits, carrier circuits) that can be independently developed and reused. This modular approach maintains adaptability for complex functionality while reducing the perceived complexity through organized, reusable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal design modules that can serve multiple functions across different projects. The flexible circuits, rigid circuits, and carrier circuits are designed as reusable components that can be adapted to various applications, reducing overall design complexity through standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If design modifications are made frequently to meet changing requirements, then adaptability is improved, but design stability deteriorates causing version control issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic design system where modules can be independently modified, added, or removed without affecting the entire design. The system dynamically tracks versions and dependencies, allowing frequent adaptations while maintaining stability through controlled change management and versioning.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the design into independent modules, the patent allows specific sections to be modified without triggering changes throughout the entire design. This localized modification capability maintains design stability while enabling the adaptability needed to meet changing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for enabling the dynamic reuse of printed circuit board designs are provided. A master printed circuit board design comprising a plurality of modular flexible designs is received. Additionally, a target design that includes ones of the plurality of flexible designs is identified. Subsequently, as the master design, or ones of the plurality of flexible designs within the master design, are modified, the target design is correspondingly modified. With some implementations, the master design is housed within a library. The library may be used to implement versioning capability for the flexible designs. With further implementations, the master design may itself be a target design.