Device, system, server, client, and method for supporting component layout design on circuit board, and program for implementing the device

• US 20020157067A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yaguchi, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/367 Design verification, e.g. using simulation, simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis [SPICE], direct methods or relaxation methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/39 Circuit design at the physical level physical level design for reconfigurable circuits G06F30/347

Abstract

There is provided a circuit design supporting device, a circuit board design supporting system, a circuit board design supporting server, a circuit board design supporting client, a circuit design supporting method, and a program for realizing the device for designing a layout of main components such as LSI, etc. on a circuit board such as a printed circuit board wherein unnecessary electromagnetic radiation is suppressed. The circuit design supporting device comprises a noise generating level adding means and a component locating means. The noise generating level adding means adds noise generating level information to a component to be located on a printed circuit board. The component locating means includes a component position detecting section, a voltage distribution detecting section, a noise generating level comparing section, and an error informing section. The component position detecting section detects a position of the component moved on the printed circuit board. The voltage distribution detecting section detects a voltage level on the printed circuit board in the detected position of the component. The noise generating level comparing section compares the detected voltage level with the noise generating level added to the component. The error informing section informs a user of an error when the voltage level on the printed circuit board is equal to or larger than the noise generating level as a result of the comparison.

Claims

1. A circuit design support device for designing the layout of electronic components on a circuit board based on voltage and/or heat distribution information on the circuit board in a manner preventing the components from becoming a noise source and/or exceeding predetermined temperature, comprising:

a noise generation level information adding means for adding noise generation level information to a library of the component; and

a first component locating means which includes a component position detecting section for detecting a position of the component on the circuit board, a component position voltage distribution detecting section for detecting a voltage level at the position where the component is located, a noise generation level comparing section for comparing the voltage level detected by the component position voltage distribution detecting section with the, noise generation level in the library, and an error informing section; and

/or the device comprising;

a heat generation level information adding means for adding heat generation level information to the library of the component; and

a second component locating means which includes a component position detecting section for detecting a position of the component on the circuit board, a component position heat distribution detecting section for detecting a heat level at the position where the component is located, and a component locating section for locating the component on the circuit board based on the heat level.

3. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and the noise generation level information of the components.

5. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and the heat generation level information of the components.

7. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and the heat generation level information of the components.

8. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

10. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

11. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 5, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

12. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, further comprising a displaying section for displaying at least one component and the voltage distribution or heat distribution on a display screen for reference in order to locate at least a component on the circuit board.

14. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, further comprising a displaying section for displaying at least one component and the voltage distribution or heat distribution on a display screen for reference in order to locate at least a component on the circuit board.

15. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 5, further comprising a displaying section for displaying at least one component and the voltage distribution or heat distribution on a display screen for reference in order to locate at least a component on the circuit board.

16. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 8, further comprising a displaying section for displaying at least one component and the voltage distribution or heat distribution on a display screen for reference in order to locate at least a component on the circuit board.

17. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

19. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

20. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 5, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

21. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 8, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

22. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 12, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

23. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

25. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

26. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 5, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

27. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 8, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

28. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 12, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

29. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 17, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

30. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 1, further comprising a database having the library.

32. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 3, further comprising a database having the library.

33. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 5, further comprising a database having the library.

34. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 8, further comprising a database having the library.

35. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 12, further comprising a database having the library.

36. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 17, further comprising a database having the library.

37. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 23, further comprising a database having the library.

38. A circuit design support system for designing the layout of electronic components on a circuit board, comprising the device claimed in one of claims 1 to 29 and a database having the library.

39. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 38, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and either or both of the noise generation level information and the heat generation level information.

40. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 38, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

41. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 39, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

42. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 38, which is constructed as a stand-alone system.

43. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 39, which is constructed as a stand-alone system.

44. The circuit design support system claimed in claim 40, which is constructed as a stand-alone system.

2. A circuit design support device for. designing the layout of electronic components on a circuit board based on voltage and/or heat distribution information on the circuit board in a manner preventing the components from becoming a noise source and/or from exceeding predetermined temperature, comprising:

a noise generation level information adding means for adding noise generation level information to a library of the component; and

a third component locating means which includes a component position detecting section for detecting a position of the component on the circuit board, a pin position detecting section for detecting a position of a pin of the component on the circuit board, a pin position voltage distribution detecting section for detecting a voltage level at the position where the pin is located, a noise generation level comparing section for comparing the voltage level detected by the pin position voltage distribution detecting section with the noise generation level of the pin in the library, and an error informing section; and

/or the device comprising;

a heat generation level information adding means for adding heat generation level information to the library of the component; and

a second component locating means which includes a component position detecting section for detecting a position of the component on the circuit board, a component position heat distribution detecting section for detecting a heat level at the position where the component is located, and a component locating section for locating the component on the circuit board based on the heat level.

4. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and the noise generation level information of the components.

6. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, wherein the library includes at least component IDs for identifying the components and the heat generation level information of the components.

9. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, wherein the library is fed with the voltage level information and/or heat level information on the circuit board from the component position voltage distribution detecting section and/or the component position heat distribution detecting section and updated, the information being used for supporting the layout design of the components.

13. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, further comprising a displaying section for displaying at least one component and the voltage distribution or heat distribution on a display screen for reference in order to locate at least a component on the circuit board.

18. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to external devices or networks.

24. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, which is constructed as a stand-alone device.

31. The circuit design support device claimed in claim 2, further comprising a database having the library.