JP2004280535A - Logic circuit input device - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] When a circuit is designed by reusing an already-designed circuit diagram, a peripheral circuit can be reused for a main component regardless of connection, and there are a plurality of different application fields for one main component. In this case, necessary peripheral circuits can be reused.
A circuit extracting section extracts circuit information relating to a main part in a circuit diagram to be created and information of peripheral parts connected to the main part from a predesigned circuit data memory. The constraint condition extraction unit 122 extracts from the pre-designed circuit data memory 16 the design specifications and constraint information of the board pattern relating to the main component and the peripheral components extracted by the circuit extraction unit 121. The recommended circuit database 15 stores, by the registration processing unit 123, a recommended circuit in which circuit information and peripheral component information relating to main components and design specifications and constraint information of a board pattern are associated with each other.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a logic circuit input device for selecting and inputting a circuit to be reused from already designed circuit diagrams to a circuit design device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, the design of a device centered on a logic circuit is automatically designed by a circuit design device such as a circuit design support system (CAD) by a computer. The design can be divided into a circuit part design and a peripheral circuit part design. In most cases, the types of components used in the peripheral circuits and their connection forms are largely determined according to the types of the main circuit portions. Therefore, for the purpose of reducing the burden on the designer and standardizing the device design, a method of designing a circuit diagram by reusing an already designed circuit diagram has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
That is, in Patent Literature 1, in a printed circuit diagram editing editor for designing a printed circuit circuit by a computer, the same component as the input component is searched for from the already designed circuit and directly connected to the same component and the same component. A diversion information table creating means for creating a diversion information table including a diversion component table describing information on peripheral components and a connection node information table describing node information between the same component and the peripheral component; A part list menu display means for displaying input parts on a part list menu, and arranging the input parts on a circuit diagram, and then sequentially inputting and arranging the peripheral parts from the part list menu. A board circuit diagram editing method is disclosed.
[0004]
Specifically, Patent Document 1 includes a means for storing information of a designed circuit diagram in a “diversion information table”, and when information of a component specified from the next time is present in the “diversion information table”, A technique for arranging and automatically wiring peripheral components connected to the component is disclosed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-114007 (0008, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, only the components connected to the component to be placed first are stored in the “reuse information table”, and thus are not necessary for designing the circuit. However, components that are not directly connected to main components cannot be managed and arranged, and the entire circuit function block cannot be automatically input.
[0007]
Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since one main component has a configuration that can hold only one sample circuit and component information, a single industrial field and a single Only circuit information for the product field can be arranged.
[0008]
For example, there are two products that use the same main parts, one is a product that pursues small, thin, and lightweight, such as a portable device, and the other is a stationary type that pursues robustness and reliability. If the product has the same electrical characteristics and circuit information, one of the products (portable device) naturally chooses small components and the other product (stationary device) has a higher reliability. Therefore, the parts having high performance will be selected. That is, since the component names differ between two products using the same main component, it is difficult to use the peripheral circuit of the main component in one product in the other product.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when designing a circuit by reusing an already-designed circuit diagram, it is possible to reuse peripheral circuits for main components regardless of connection or not, and An object of the present invention is to provide a logic circuit input device capable of reusing necessary peripheral circuits even when there are a plurality of different application fields for components.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a logic circuit input device according to the present invention selects and generates a recommended circuit optimal for reuse from a designed circuit diagram, and provides the circuit design device for creating a circuit diagram. A logic circuit input device, a pre-designed circuit data memory for storing circuit design data such as names and specifications of all components in the pre-designed circuit diagram, connection information, board pattern design specifications and constraint information, and a circuit to be created Circuit extraction means for extracting circuit information relating to main parts in the figure and information on peripheral parts connected to the main parts from the pre-designed circuit data memory, and the main parts and peripheral parts extracted by the circuit extraction means Constraint condition extracting means for extracting design specifications and constraint information of the board pattern from the already-designed circuit data memory, and main parts extracted by the circuit extracting means And a recommended circuit database for storing circuit information relating to and peripheral component information connected to the main component and design specifications and constraint information of the board pattern extracted by the constraint condition extracting means so as to be usable as a recommended circuit. It has.
[0011]
The circuit extracting means has a function of extracting connection information of all terminals of the passive component among all the extracted peripheral components and information of a secondary peripheral component of a connection destination from the designed circuit data memory. The recommended circuit database includes a component information table storing names and specifications of main components and peripheral components extracted by the circuit extracting unit, and information for connecting terminals of the main components and peripheral components extracted by the circuit extracting unit. And a connection information table for storing information for connecting between peripheral components and peripheral components, specifications and constraint information relating to the arrangement of main components and peripheral components extracted by the constraint condition extracting means, and specifications and constraint information relating to connection of main components and peripheral components. And a constraint information table to be stored.
[0012]
According to the present invention, the circuit information relating to the main component in the circuit diagram to be created, the peripheral component information connected to the main component, the connection information of all the terminals of the passive component in all the peripheral components, and the connection destination. Information on the next peripheral component, design specifications and constraint information of the board pattern regarding the main component and the peripheral component are stored so as to be usable as a recommended circuit in association with a recommended circuit database. In other words, design specifications and constraint information, which are important in board design, are retained, so not only circuit information and connection information already designed, but also pattern wiring information on the board can be reused. Since the entire circuit block can be registered and managed as a recommended circuit, further design efficiency can be realized.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of a logic circuit input device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a logic circuit input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The logic circuit input device shown in FIG. 1 includes a circuit design device 11, a recommended circuit processing device 12, an output processing device 13, a parts library 14, a recommended circuit database 15 according to this embodiment, and a pre-designed circuit data memory according to this embodiment. 16 are connected via a bus 17.
[0015]
The circuit design device 11 has a component placement function, a wiring function based on connection information, a circuit information output function, and the like. Although the circuit design device 11 is a device used in a conventional logic circuit input device, in this embodiment, some functions are added.
[0016]
The output processing device 13 has a function of displaying or printing out a logical symbol, connection information, and component information of the circuit information input from the circuit design device 11 and the recommended circuit processing device 12. In this embodiment, the output processing device 13 includes a display device.
[0017]
The component library 14 stores component information, terminal information, and the like of general components. The predesigned circuit data memory 16 stores circuit design data such as model names and specifications of all components in various predesigned circuit diagrams, connection information, board pattern design specifications and constraint information.
[0018]
The recommended circuit processing device 12 includes a circuit extraction unit 121, a constraint condition extraction unit 122, a registration processing unit 123, a data management unit 124, and a search processing unit 125. “Recommended circuit” is selected and stored in the recommended circuit database 15. Hereinafter, the function of each component of the recommended circuit processing device 12 will be described.
[0019]
The circuit extracting unit 121 has a function of extracting circuit information relating to main components in a circuit diagram to be created and information of peripheral components connected to the main components from the predesigned circuit data memory 16.
[0020]
The constraint condition extracting unit 122 has a function of extracting design specifications and constraint information of a board pattern relating to a main component and peripheral components connected to the main component from the pre-designed circuit data memory 16.
[0021]
The registration processing unit 123 includes the circuit information on the main component extracted by the circuit extraction unit 121 and the peripheral component information connected to the main component, the design specification and the constraint information of the board pattern extracted by the constraint condition extraction unit 122, Is registered in the recommended circuit database 15.
[0022]
The data management unit 124 manages a recommended circuit composed of data of circuit information, connection information, design specifications, and constraint information registered in the recommended circuit database 15, and manages a plurality of recommended circuits of the same main component circuit information. It has a function to do.
[0023]
The search processing unit 125 extracts, from the recommended circuits registered in the recommended circuit database 15, an optimal recommended circuit as a reusable circuit from a plurality of recommended circuits different in both or one of component configuration and connection information of the same main component. It has a function to do.
[0024]
Next, the configuration of the recommended circuit database 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the recommended circuit database shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the component information table shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the connection information table shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the constraint information table shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the constraint information described in the SPEC-NAME column shown in FIG.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the recommended circuit database 15 includes a component information table 151 for storing information on main components and peripheral components constituting the recommended circuit, and connection information between the main components and peripheral components and between peripheral components. And a constraint information table 153 for storing design information and constraint information for connecting parts and components and performing physical design (board pattern design), and accesses them in association with each other. I can do it.
[0026]
The component information table 151 includes, for example, a component definition table 201 and a terminal definition table 202, as shown in FIG. 3, and stores component names, specifications, terminal information, and the like.
[0027]
The component definition table 201 includes a column for the number NO of the main component and the peripheral component, a column for the name of the component, a column for the pointer C-PNT to the main component and the peripheral component, and a plurality of recommendations for one main component. In order to hold and select a circuit, for example, columns of SPEC1, SPEC2 to SPECn in which specification parameter information such as a component mounting mode, a component size, and a circuit constant are defined, and priority information PRIO in a plurality of recommended circuits. Column.
[0028]
Further, the terminal definition table 202 includes a column of a terminal number NO, a column of a pointer C-Pnt to the component number NO of the component definition table 201, a column of a terminal name NAME, a column of a connection node NODE, and a terminal number. And a column for a pointer PPIN-PTR to NO.
[0029]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the connection information table 152 includes a column of a connection node number NO, a column of a pointer N-PNT to a connection node, a pointer PIN-PTR to a symbol terminal in the circuit, And a next pointer NEXT-PNT column when there are a plurality of pointers to the connection node.
[0030]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the constraint information table 153 includes a column for the constraint number NO, a column for the pointer C-PNT in the component definition table 201 in the component information table 151, and a column for the pointer N- in the connection information table 152. It has a PNT column, a constraint information type SPEC-NAME column, and a SPEC-VALUE column that defines a value related to the constraint type shown in the SPEC-NAME column.
[0031]
In the constraint information table 153, the SPEC-NAME column and the SPEC-VALUE column are used to carry out board design for individual recommended components or peripheral components, for component-related constraint information, or for recommended circuits or connections between peripheral components. It is possible to define the constraint information on the operation. The C-PNT column and the N-PNT column clarify which component or connection the constraint information is information about.
[0032]
There are various types of constraint information that can be defined in the constraint information table 153. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the constraint information can be divided into a wiring related item 301 and a component related item 302, for example.
[0033]
The wiring-related items 301 include, for example, “designation of wiring pattern width (maximum value / minimum value)”, “designation of wiring length”, “wiring form (single-stroke / star)”, “limitation of parallel line length”, “limitation of equal length line length”, and the like. Can be shown.
[0034]
As the component-related item 302, for example, constraint information on components and arrangement such as “component arrangement position”, “component arrangement surface”, “component arrangement angle”, “main / peripheral component interval”, and “part periphery (arrangement / wiring) prohibited area”. Can be shown.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the logic circuit input device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for registering a recommended circuit performed by the logic circuit input device illustrated in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for using the recommended circuit implemented in the logic circuit input device shown in FIG.
[0036]
First, a registration process of a recommended circuit performed by the recommended circuit processing device 12 will be described. In FIG. 7, when a main part is selected and input by a general input device such as a keyboard or a mouse at the time of creating a circuit diagram (step ST1), the circuit extracting unit 121 outputs circuit information and information related to the input main part. The component information connected to the main component is extracted from the designed circuit data memory 16 and registered in the component information table 151 of the recommended circuit database 15 using the registration processing unit 123 (step ST2).
[0037]
In addition, the circuit extracting unit 121 refers to the component type information registered in the component library 14 and determines whether the peripheral component connected to the input main component is an active component such as an integrated circuit (IC) or a diode. It is checked whether the component is a passive component such as a resistor or a capacitor (step ST3).
[0038]
As a result, if the component is a passive component (Step ST4: Yes), the process proceeds to Step ST5. If the component is not a passive component (Step ST4: No), the process returns to Step ST3, and the component type of the next peripheral component is checked. If it is a passive component (step ST4: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST5.
[0039]
In step ST5, the circuit extracting unit 121 extracts from the pre-designed circuit data memory 16 the information of the components connected to all the terminals held by the confirmed passive components, and uses the registration processing unit 123 to store the information of the recommended circuit database 15 It is additionally registered in the parts information table 151.
[0040]
The circuit extracting unit 121 repeats the processing of steps ST3 to ST5 until the passive components in all the peripheral components can be confirmed (step ST6: No). In step ST5 in the repetitive execution process, the circuit extracting unit 121 stores the input connection information on all the terminals of the input main component and the connection information on all the terminals of the passive components in the connected peripheral components in the already-designed circuit data memory 16. From the connection information table 152 of the recommended circuit database 15 using the registration processing unit 123.
[0041]
When the extraction operation of the circuit extraction unit 121 ends (step ST6: Yes), the constraint condition extraction unit 122 is started next. The constraint condition extracting unit 122 checks the main components and the peripheral components registered in the component information table 151 and the connection information table 152 of the recommended circuit database 15 by the circuit extracting unit 121 (step ST7), and determines the connection information of the component. The defined design specifications and constraint information are extracted from the design circuit data memory 16 and registered in the constraint information table 153 of the recommended circuit database 15 using the registration processing unit 123 (step ST8).
[0042]
The constraint condition extraction unit 122 repeatedly performs the processing of steps ST7 and ST8 until the confirmation of all parts is completed (step ST9: No). When the confirmation is completed (step ST9: Yes), the registration processing of the recommended circuit according to the present embodiment ends.
[0043]
As described above, in the process of registering the recommended circuit, in addition to the circuit information related to the main component and the component information connected to the main component, the connection of all the terminals of the passive component and the information of the secondary peripheral component to which the passive component is connected are included. Since the information is acquired and registered in the recommended circuit database 15, it is possible to register one circuit functional block as a recommended circuit, thereby realizing an efficient circuit design work.
[0044]
Next, an operation in the case where the circuit design device 11 uses (reuses) the recommended circuit registered as described above will be described. 8, in the circuit design device 11, when selecting a component to be arranged on the display device of the output processing device 13 from the component library 14 (step ST11), the selected component is a main component already registered in the recommended circuit database 15. Is checked using the search processing unit 125 (step ST12).
[0045]
As a result, if the main part is not a registered main part (step ST12: No), an instruction to arrange the main part by the conventional method is issued (step ST13). On the other hand, if the main part is a registered main part (step ST12: Yes), the peripheral part registered in the recommended circuit database 15 is extracted by using the search processing unit 125, and can be arranged in the same manner as in the related art. (Step ST14).
[0046]
At this time, if a plurality of peripheral circuits are registered for the selected main part (step ST15: Yes), a peripheral circuit selection screen is displayed on the display device of the output processing device 13 (step ST16). On the peripheral circuit selection screen, a column of specification parameters SPEC1 to SPECn and a column of priority order PRIO are displayed.
[0047]
Here, it is assumed that a display prompting selection of the priority order PRIO is performed first. On the peripheral circuit selection screen, when the user selects the use of the peripheral component having the higher priority according to the column of the priority order PRIO (step ST17: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST19.
[0048]
On the peripheral circuit selection screen for prompting the selection of the priority order PRIO, if the user does not select the use of the peripheral component having the higher priority order (step ST17: No), the user is prompted to select the specification parameters SPEC1 to SPECn. Display the circuit selection screen. When the user selects and inputs parameters (step ST18), the process proceeds to step ST19.
[0049]
The circuit design device 11 uses the search processing unit 125 to search the recommended circuit database 15 and, based on the component information and the specification parameters specified by the user, in the same main component, the component configuration and / or the connection information that are different from each other. A recommended circuit that is optimal as a reused circuit is extracted from the recommended circuits, and the data management unit 124 generates a parts list. Then, the circuit design device 11 displays the component list on the display device of the output processing device 13 (step ST19), and prompts the user to input an instruction of the arrangement position (step ST20).
[0050]
At this time, a part to be added is extracted from the recommended circuit database 15 using the search processing unit 125 and arranged (step ST21). Thereafter, an automatic connection process is performed (step ST22). Until the placement and wiring of all the peripheral circuits for the main component are completed (step ST23: No), the processing of steps ST20 to ST22 is repeatedly executed.
[0051]
In this way, in the circuit design device 11, when the arrangement and the wiring of all the peripheral circuits with respect to the main components are completed (step ST23: Yes), finally, the design registered in the constraint information table 153 using the search processing unit 125. The specification and the constraint information are extracted, and a constraint information automatic adding process for adding the specification and the constraint information to the circuit information is performed (step ST24), and the design of the predetermined circuit is completed.
[0052]
In step ST18, when there is a change in the specification or name of a main part or the specification or name of a peripheral circuit, the user can input the changed part information or specification parameter. In this case, the circuit design device 11 searches the recommended circuit database 15 using the search processing unit 125, and deletes unnecessary components, changes connection information and constraint information, and uses the data management unit 124 to make necessary changes. The arrangement and connection information of components and the reconfiguration of constraint information are performed, and circuit information matching the changed content is generated and used.
[0053]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the entire closed circuit block can be registered and managed by the recommended circuit processing device as a recommended circuit, and can be used (diverted) by the circuit design device. Thus, an efficient circuit design can be realized.
[0054]
Further, since it is possible to cope with a plurality of industrial fields having different component names depending on the mounting form and application, a more general-purpose logic circuit input device can be realized.
[0055]
Furthermore, it is possible to manage and divert design specifications and constraint information, which are very important in the board pattern design work, which is the next work step of circuit design, so that work efficiency can be further improved and high quality Design and development work can be made possible.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when designing a circuit by reusing an already-designed circuit diagram, it is possible to reuse a peripheral circuit for a main component regardless of connection or not, and However, even when there are a plurality of different application fields, necessary peripheral circuits can be reused.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a logic circuit input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recommended circuit database illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a component information table shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a connection information table shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a constraint information table shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of constraint information described in a SPEC-NAME column shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a registration circuit registration procedure performed by the logic circuit input device illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for using a recommended circuit implemented in the logic circuit input device illustrated in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 11 circuit design device, 12 recommended circuit processing device, 13 output processing device, 14 parts library, 15 recommended circuit database, 16 already-designed circuit data memory, 17 bus, 121 circuit extraction unit, 122 constraint condition extraction unit, 123 registration processing unit , 124 data management unit, 125 search processing unit, 151 component information table, 152 connection information table 153 constraint information table, 201 component definition table, 202 terminal definition table.

Claims (5)

A logic circuit input device that selects and generates a recommended circuit that is optimal for reuse from already designed circuit diagrams and that is used for the use of a circuit design device that creates a circuit diagram,
An already-designed circuit data memory for storing circuit design data such as names and specifications of all components in the already-designed circuit diagram, connection information, board pattern design specifications and constraint information,
Circuit extracting means for extracting circuit information relating to main components in the circuit diagram to be created and peripheral component information connected to the main components from the pre-designed circuit data memory,
Constraint condition extracting means for extracting design specifications and constraint information of the board pattern relating to the main component and peripheral components extracted by the circuit extracting means from the designed circuit data memory;
The recommended circuit is obtained by associating the circuit information relating to the main component extracted by the circuit extracting unit and the peripheral component information connected to the main component with the design specification and the constraint information of the board pattern extracted by the constraint extracting unit. Recommended circuit database to be stored available
A logic circuit input device comprising: The circuit extracting means,
Having a function of extracting connection information of all terminals of passive components in all extracted peripheral components and information of secondary peripheral components to be connected from the pre-designed circuit data memory,
2. The logic circuit input device according to claim 1, wherein: The recommended circuit database is
A component information table for storing names and specifications of main components and peripheral components extracted by the circuit extracting means,
A connection information table storing information for connecting the terminals of the main component and the peripheral components extracted by the circuit extraction means and information for connecting the peripheral components,
A constraint information table for storing specifications and constraint information relating to the arrangement of main components and peripheral components extracted by the constraint condition extracting means, and specifications and constraint information relating to connection of the main components and peripheral components;
The logic circuit input device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The recommended circuit database is searched based on the component information and specification parameters specified by the circuit design device at the time of creating the circuit diagram, and a plurality of recommended circuits of the same main component having different component configurations and / or connection information. A recommended circuit selection means for extracting an optimum recommended circuit as a reused circuit from the
The logic circuit input device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The recommended circuit selecting means includes:
When the specification or name of a main part is changed or the specification or name of a peripheral circuit is changed, the recommended circuit database is searched based on the changed part information or specification parameters, unnecessary parts are deleted, connection information and restrictions are changed. It has the function of changing information, relocating necessary components and reconstructing connection information and constraint information, and generating circuit information matching the changed contents.
The logic circuit input device according to claim 3, wherein:

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