Methods and apparatus for configuring schematic diagrams

• US 6,230,305 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1997
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intusoft, Co.
• Original Assignee: Intusoft, Co.
• Inventors: Meares, Lawrence G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARBOWSKI, LEIGH M
• Application Number:
  US08/925,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500.12, 395/500.02, 395/500.19, 395/500.34, 716/1, 716/11, 716/18
• US Class Current: 716/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A computerized drawing system enables a set of schematic diagrams to be created and modified. Display information associated with a circuit is entered into a computer. The display information may include symbols, interconnections, and other information. A plurality of schematic layers are created from the display information and stored. A plurality of schematic configurations are then defined by a layer or by combining two or more layers together. Any given layer may be included in more than one configuration. The configurations are then stored for utilization during the design process. A user may modify one of the created layers. The system then automatically modifies each of the configurations which contain the modified layer. While a configuration is being displayed, a user may highlight information of the layers which is included in the displayed configuration.

Claims

1. A computerized schematic drawing system for creating a set of schematic configurations each containing a unique set of overlaid schematic layers, each overlaid schematic layer containing display information including schematic symbols, interconnections between schematic symbols, and other optional information, said computerized schematic drawing system comprising:

a. an input mechanism for receiving;

(1) the display information and modifications thereto;

(2) layer assignment information specifying the overlaid schematic layer to which the display information belongs and modifications thereto;

(3) configuration assignment information specifying each of the configurations to which each overlaid schematic layer belongs and modifications thereto; and

(4) control information specifying other functions of the drawing system;

b. a display for selectively displaying one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers; and

c. processing hardware connected to said input mechanism and said display for receiving the display information, the layer assignment information, the configuration assignment information, and the control information, for storing the display information, the layer assignment information, and the configuration assignment information, for automatically propagating modifications in each of the configurations to which the overlaid schematic layer that has been modified belongs, and for causing said display to selectively display one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers.

2. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a printer connected to said processing hardware;

said processing hardware for causing said printer to selectively print the configurations and modifications thereto in conformance with the control information.

3. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information received for modifying one of the overlaid schematic layers includes moving display information from one layer and to another layer.

4. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input device receives information for causing said processor to highlight a selected layer of a displayed configuration.

5. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said processor highlights the display information of the selected overlaid schematic layer by superimposing color around the display information specifying the selected overlaid schematic layer.

6. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing circuitry maintains a list of created overlaid schematic layers and defined configurations.

7. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input device receives display information indicative of stimuli and simulated responses.

8. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the overlaid schematic layers is assigned to at least two of the configurations.

9. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the overlaid schematic layers is unassigned to any of the configurations.

10. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input mechanism includes a hardware device.

11. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of computer-readable instructions for causing a computer containing an input mechanism, a display, and a storage device to create a set of schematic configurations each containing a unique set of overlaid schematic layers, each overlaid schematic layer containing display information, including schematic symbols, interconnections between schematic symbols, and other optional information, in accordance with the following steps:

a. receiving via the input mechanism;

(1) the display information and modifications thereto;

(2) layer assignment information specifying the overlaid schematic layer to which the display information belongs and modifications thereto;

(3) configuration assignment information specifing each configuration to which each overlaid schematic layer belongs and modifications thereto; and

(4) control information specifying other functions of the drawing system;

b. storing in a storage device the display information, layer assignment information and the configuration assignment information; and

c. automatically modify each of the configurations to which the overlaid schematic layer that has been modified belongs; and

d. selectively displaying on a display one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers.

12. A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 11 wherein said set of computer-readable instructions further causes the computer to:

receive via the input mechanism information for displaying a configuration with a selected layer thereof highlighted; and

display the configuration with the selected layer highlighted.

13. A computerized schematic drawing method for creating a set of schematic configurations each containing a unique set of overlaid schematic layers, each overlaid schematic layer containing display information, including schematic symbols, interconnections between schematic symbols, and other optional information, said method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving via an input mechanism;

(1) the display information and modifications thereto;

(2) layer assignment information specifying the overlaid schematic layer to which the display information belongs and modifications thereto;

(3) configuration assignment information specifying each configuration to which each overlaid schematic layer belongs and modifications thereto, at least one of the overlaid schematic layers being assigned to at least two of the drawings; and

(4) control information specifying other functions of the drawing system;

b. storing in a storage device the display information, layer assignment information and the configuration assignment information;

c. receiving via the input mechanism information for modifing one of the overlaid schematic layers;

d. automatically modifing each of the configurations to which the overlaid schematic layer that has been modified belongs; and

e. selectively displaying on a display one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers.

14. A computerized schematic drawing method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

receiving via the input mechanism information for displaying a configuration with a selected layer thereof highlighted; and

displaying the configuration with the selected layer highlighted.

15. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said processor maintains a list of created overlaid schematic layers and defined configurations.

16. A computerized schematic drawing system for creating a set of schematic configurations each containing a unique set of overlaid schematic layers, each overlaid schematic layer containing display information including schematic symbols, interconnections between schematic symbols, and other optional information, said computerized schematic drawing system comprising:

a. input means for receiving;

(1) the display information and modifications thereto;

(2) layer assignment information specifying the overlaid schematic layer to which the display information belongs and modifications thereto;

(3) configuration assignment information specifying each of the configurations to which each overlaid schematic layer belongs and modifications thereto; and

(4) control information specifying other functions of the drawing system;

b. display means for selectively displaying one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers;

c. an automatic modification means for automatically modifying each of the configurations to which the overlaid schematic layer that has been modified belongs; and

d. processing means connected to said input mechanism and said display for receiving the display information, the layer assignment information, the configuration assignment information, and the control information, for storing the display information, the layer assignment information, and the configuration assignment information, for causing said display to selectively display one of the configurations including the corresponding set of overlaid schematic layers.

17. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said input means includes a hardware device.

18. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising printing means connected to said processing means for selectively printing the configurations.

19. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processing means includes a central processing unit.

20. A computerized schematic drawing system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said input means includes a hardware device.