Dynamic Electrical Schematic Symbols for Pin Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD software for electrical circuit schematics faces inefficiencies in managing symbols, particularly with reconfigurable devices like FPGAs, as existing methods either require frequent creation of new symbols or scatter signals with similar functions, leading to increased costs and error-prone designs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic symbols that allow for logical grouping and reconfiguration of pins within a schematic, retaining base symbol information, and updating symbol libraries dynamically, enabling designers to customize pin placements and reduce library management burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a customized symbol is created in the symbol library for each unique pin symbol assignment, then the pin assignment can be accurately represented, but the time-consuming library work increases and symbol management becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a parent-child symbol relationship where a single parent symbol in the library can serve multiple children instances in the schematic. The parent symbol contains the base pin definitions, while child instances can dynamically reference different pin assignments without creating new library symbols. This universal parent symbol approach eliminates the need to create customized symbols for each unique pin assignment, resolving the contradiction between pin assignment accuracy and symbol creation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic pin assignment capability where child symbol instances can dynamically reference different pin assignments from the parent symbol through programmable logic. The pin assignments are not fixed in the library but can be dynamically configured in each schematic instance, allowing the same symbol to adapt to different pin configurations without requiring manual symbol recreation.
2Productivity
If pins are grouped according to pin number in the symbol library, then symbol management is simplified, but signals with similar functions are scattered making the schematic difficult to understand and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pin grouping where the visual arrangement of pins in child symbol instances can be dynamically configured to group signals by function rather than by pin number. The system allows programmable reordering of pin displays in each schematic instance while maintaining the underlying pin number relationships, enabling functional grouping for better readability without losing the structured management benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different visual presentations of the same parent symbol in different child instances. Each child instance can have customized pin arrangements tailored to its specific functional context, while the parent symbol maintains the master pin definitions. This enables local optimization of schematic readability without compromising overall symbol management consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical signal to pin assignment changes frequently, then the design can adapt to different configurations, but a new library symbol must be created each time resulting in increased costs and management difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal parent symbol that can serve multiple child instances with different pin assignments. The parent symbol contains the master pin definitions, and child instances can reference different pin configurations through dynamic assignment mechanisms. This allows the same parent symbol to support multiple pin configurations without requiring separate library symbols for each configuration, maintaining adaptability while reducing library complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic pin assignment where child symbol instances can programmatically reference different pin assignments from the parent symbol based on configuration parameters. This dynamic referencing mechanism allows frequent pin assignment changes without creating new library symbols, as the system dynamically resolves pin assignments at instance level rather than requiring static library symbol creation for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented systems and methods for manipulation of dynamic symbols for devices in an electrical schematic include: receiving a placement of a dynamic symbol in a schematic, wherein the dynamic symbol represents an instance of an electrical device in the schematic and is separate from a symbol library; receiving an assignment of nets to pins of the dynamic symbol instance; performing a manipulation of the pins based on a logical grouping, wherein the dynamic symbol instance supports dynamic reconfiguration of the pins via the manipulation while retaining pin information from a base symbol in the symbol library; and visually presenting the dynamic symbol instance with the manipulated pins according to the logical grouping.