Schematic Layout Strategy for Circuit Object Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic design automation tools face usability issues due to graphical saturation, over-cluttering, and the inability to effectively create, manipulate, and review circuit objects collectively, leading to inefficiencies in design processes and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatically enforcing a schematic layout strategy on groups of circuit objects, using a circuit editing tool with a graphic database and layout object management unit to adaptively reconfigure layout objects based on user input and predefined placement and interconnection schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple circuit objects are displayed and manipulated individually in traditional EDA tools, then each object can be precisely edited, but graphical saturation and over-cluttering occur reducing usability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple circuit objects into a single layout object that can be manipulated as one unit. The layout object contains constituent circuit objects and maintains their relative positions and interconnections, allowing collective manipulation without individual clutter while preserving precise editing capabilities through adaptive reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display and manipulation process by introducing layout objects as containers that group circuit objects. This segmentation allows the interface to display fewer, organized layout objects rather than numerous individual circuit objects, reducing visual clutter while maintaining access to all underlying circuit objects through the layout object structure.
2Productivity
If circuit objects are manipulated individually, then precise control over each object is achieved, but collective manipulation and review become inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables collective manipulation of multiple circuit objects by merging them into a layout object. Operations such as moving, sizing, or rotating the layout object automatically update all constituent circuit objects together, dramatically reducing the number of manipulation operations required compared to individual handling while maintaining precise control through adaptive reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The layout object serves multiple functions: it acts as a container for circuit objects, a manipulatable unit for collective operations, and a template for adaptive reconfiguration. This multi-functionality allows a single object to replace multiple individual circuit objects in terms of manipulation operations, improving productivity without sacrificing control.
3Reliability
If layout objects are created with predefined placement schemes, then design rules compliance is ensured, but adaptability to editing operations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability where the layout object's configuration is not fixed but can automatically reconfigure in response to editing operations. When constituent circuit objects are modified, the layout object adapts its placement and interconnection routing schemes while maintaining compliance with predefined design rules, thus achieving both reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where editing operations on constituent circuit objects trigger automatic reconfiguration of the layout object. The layout object management unit detects changes and applies adaptive reconfiguration that maintains design rules compliance while accommodating the edited changes, creating a closed-loop system that balances predefined constraints with operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for automatically enforcing a schematic layout strategy applied to a group of schematically represented circuit objects of an electronic circuit design. A circuit editing tool electronically renders schematic representations of circuit objects responsive to user input. A layout object acquisition unit coupled to the circuit editing tool actuates responsive to user input to selectively apply a predetermined layout strategy to at least one group of circuit objects for generating a corresponding layout object. The predetermined layout strategy includes a defining set of placement and interconnection routing schemes for the grouped circuit objects, one relative to the other. A layout object management unit coupled to the layout object acquisition unit and circuit editing tool adaptively reconfigures the layout object in accordance with the layout strategy thereof responsive to an editing operation being imposed on at least one circuit object within the layout object.