Mentor Graphics Corporation

Other

Edwin Franklin Smith

Charles L Pfeil

Vladimir V Petunin

Venkat Natarajan

Henry Potts

Alexander N Starkov

Daniel J Smith

Gerald Suiter

This application discloses a computing system implementing tools and mechanisms to synchronize multiple layouts for a circuit design during the layout process. The tools and mechanisms can implement multiple communicating kernels, each to manage at least one of the layouts. In response to an alteration of one of the layouts, the kernels can communicate with each other, so that the kernel corresponding to the unaltered layout can automatically augment corresponding layouts for the circuit design to synchronize with the altered layout. At least one of the layouts can include a 3-dimensional layout representation of the circuit design, the tools and mechanisms can perform 3-dimensional design rule checking based on mechanical constraints and 3-dimensional solid component models in response to alterations to a 2-dimensional layout representation of the circuit design.

Circuit design layout in multiple synchronous representations

A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design.

Parallel electronic design automation: shared simultaneous editing

A server computer maintains a master database for a PCB design, and a copy of the PCB design is provided to multiple client computers. The server assigns each client a different pair of pins for which a connection must be routed. When a client completes an assigned routing task, it requests that the server update the PCB master design with the route found by the client for its assigned pin pair. After forwarding the request, the client does not update its copy of the PCB design to reflect the found route. Instead, the client returns its copy to the state occupied prior to assignment of the pin pair by the server. Upon receiving notification that the server incorporated the found route, the client updates its copy of the design to include that route.

Distributed autorouting of conductive paths

Distributed autorouting of conductive paths in printed circuit boards

Methods and apparatuses generate a split power plane for a multiplayer printed circuit board (PCB). An aspect of the invention supports the generation of a split power plane by constructing wireframes corresponding to each of the power voltages. If a crossover between different voltage wireframes exists, at least one of the voltage wireframes may be modified in order to eliminate the crossover. With another aspect of the invention, a trace layout, corresponding to the wireframe, is constructed in accordance with electrical current requirements, e.g. average electrical current and peak electrical current, of the associated components. With another aspect of the invention, a plane that contain the traces that associated with a power voltage may be enhanced by increasing the associated area of the layout in accordance with the available area of the split power plane. The enhancement of a plane may be prioritized in accordance with peak electrical current that is associated with the plane.

Generating a split power plane of a multi-layer printed circuit board

A method and apparatus are described for allowing multiple users to simultaneously edit a design while being able to view edits to the entire design. A design (such as for a printed circuit board) having a plurality of exclusive areas is displayed to a plurality of users. A first user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design. A second user checks out a corresponding section of the design, and edits the design simultaneously with the first user editing the design.

Parallel electronic design automation: distributed simultaneous editing

A method to simultaneously allow multiple users to edit in shared areas of a master design includes displaying the master design, allowing a first user to edit in a shared area of the design, while simultaneously allowing a second user to edit in a shared area of the design while preserving the integrity of the design

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Edwin Franklin Smith