Schematic Capture Tool Automates PCB Interface Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual generation and verification of connections between parts in schematic designs for printed circuit boards are time-consuming and error-prone, especially when implementing industrial standards like PCI Express or USB.
Innovation Solution
A computing system with a schematic capture tool that selects a communication interface, identifies an interface definition, and automatically connects parts based on a mapping, setting constraints and adding terminations as needed, to streamline the design process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual connection generation is used between parts in schematic design, then the designer has full control over connection details, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the schematic capture tool automatically generates connections between parts based on selected interface definitions and stored mappings, eliminating the need for manual connection generation while maintaining accuracy through predefined interface specifications
Solution Approach 2:
Interface definitions and connectivity mappings are prepared in advance and stored in the system. When a designer selects an interface type, the pre-defined connection rules and mappings are automatically applied, eliminating the need for manual connection generation during the design process
2Reliability
If manual verification of connections is performed, then the designer can ensure connection correctness, but the overall design process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automated feedback mechanisms that verify connections against interface definitions and constraints immediately after automatic connection generation, eliminating the need for separate manual verification steps while maintaining connection correctness
Solution Approach 2:
The schematic capture tool performs self-verification of generated connections by checking against stored interface definitions and constraints, automatically detecting and correcting errors without requiring manual verification by the designer
3Productivity
If automated connection generation is implemented, then design time is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Interface definitions serve as intermediaries between the automated connection generation system and the actual connections. These definitions encapsulate complex interface specifications and connectivity rules, allowing the system to generate connections automatically without requiring complex embedded logic for each interface type
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses universal interface definitions and standardized mapping structures that can accommodate multiple interface types and connection scenarios. This universality allows automated connection generation to work across different interface standards without requiring separate complex procedures for each case
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a computing system implementing a schematic capture tool to place and connect parts in a schematic design of a printed circuit board assembly. The computing system implementing the schematic capture tool can select a type of communication interface to connect the parts in the schematic design and identify an interface definition that corresponds to the selected type of communication interface. The schematic capture tool can locate a mapping that describes connectivity between the parts and the interface definition, and automatically modify the schematic design to include an instance of the interface definition in the schematic design and connect the parts in the schematic design to the instance of the interface definition based on the mapping. The schematic capture tool also can utilize the interface definition to set constraints for or add terminations to the connection between the parts in the schematic design.