Automated PCB Design Analysis for Manufacturability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity of PCB design, with high density, small components, and fine pitch, poses challenges in quality inspection and manufacturability, necessitating advanced analysis and optimization systems.

Innovation Solution

A computerized system with automated engines for BOM, schematic, layout, manufacturability, and physics interaction analysis, coupled with AI for error detection and design modification, to optimize PCB design and enhance manufacturability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If PCB design complexity increases (high density, small components, fine pitch), then product miniaturization is achieved, but quality inspection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePCB sizeVSAvoidquality inspection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated analysis of PCB designs before manufacturing occurs, identifying potential quality issues in advance through multiple specialized engines that examine BOM, schematic, layout, manufacturability, and physics interactions. This preliminary detection prevents defects from reaching production stages where they would be difficult to inspect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical measurement methods with automated computer-based analysis engines. The system uses software algorithms to automatically review design files, detect conflicts, and identify quality issues, eliminating the need for manual inspection of complex high-density PCBs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If PCB design complexity increases, then functional capability is improved, but manufacturability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides continuous feedback to designers through automated analysis that identifies manufacturability issues. The manufacturability analysis engine examines design files and returns specific feedback about potential manufacturing problems, allowing designers to adjust their high-density layouts to be more manufacturable without sacrificing functional capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary manufacturability analysis before production begins, identifying potential manufacturing issues in advance. This allows complex high-density designs to be optimized for manufacturability during the design phase rather than discovering problems during production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If manual design review is used, then design flexibility is maintained, but error detection capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoiderror detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces automated analysis engines as intermediaries between the designer and the final design. These engines automatically review designs for errors, conflicts, and quality issues, enhancing error detection capability while allowing designers to maintain their creative flexibility through an automated checking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs multiple specialized analysis engines that can simultaneously examine various aspects of PCB design including BOM accuracy, schematic correctness, layout validity, manufacturability, and physics interactions. This multi-functional automated review provides comprehensive error detection without restricting design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250307516A1Automated PCB design and analysis system

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 THINK CIRCUITS LLC

AI summary

A computerized system for circuit design review and analysis can include an automated machine analysis engine running in a processor and operable to execute a BOM evaluation of a PCB design, a schematic analysis engine running in the processor and operable to analyze a schematic diagram associated with the PCB design, a PCB layout analysis engine running in the processor and operable to analyze a PCB layout associated with the PCB design, a PCB manufacturability analysis engine running in the processor and operable to analyze the PCB layout of the PCB design in combination with the BOM to validate manufacturability of the PCB design, and a design modification engine running in the processor and configured to generate a screen display object on a human-machine interface illustrating the data and/or a change to the BOM, the schematic diagram, and/or the PCB layout.