Computer aided printed circuit board wiring

Abstract

Method and apparatus for computer aided completion of the interconnection pattern of a printed circuit board left after an automatic interconnect routing system fails to connect all points needing connection. The invention utilizes operator and/or automatic intervention in combination with system provided indicia representative of regions, about each of a set of points to be interconnected on the board, where conductors can be placed according to predesignated interconnect protocols or constraints. The system provides selectable logical operations on the regions that permit operator display of indicia from which the operator can intervene to complete the interconnection by providing a minimal sacrifice of protocols or through automatic intervention to complete the interconnect pattern between points in each region according to a data base of acceptable protocol modifications. A list of sets of points which failed to be connected by the automatic router is prioritized to permit the system to take up each unconnected set of points for completion in an order that optimizes efficiency or success likelihood. The interconnect completion system can be utilized on part or all of a printed circuit board wiring project in order to improve overall interconnect efficiency or cost minimization without regard to whether or not automatic routing would provide a connection between points.