System and method for providing efficient schematic review

• US 8,676,559 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sethuraman, Saravanan, Mullen, John Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacob, Mary C
• Application Number:
  US12/566,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 703/14
• US Class Current: 703/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/31 Design entry, e.g. editors specifically adapted for circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/33 Design verification, e.g. functional simulation or model checking

Abstract

A system and method for providing schematic reviews is provided. The method includes providing a schematic design, selecting a signal, where the signal is a graphical representation, previewing the signal, obtaining relevant information on components constituting the signal, and controlling the signal to obtain relevant information on the components. Controlling the signal comprises activating a link to a data compilation related to the signal component, and activating the data compilation comprises creating a link to a datasheet. The graphic representation of the signal comprises providing a block diagram overview of connectivity of the signal components and the graphical representation comprises a graphical three dimensional model, and providing a log database that includes review information provided by multiple reviewers and is accessible by the reviewers. A notation medium is provided for the reviewers for communication between the reviewers.

Claims

1. A method for providing schematic reviews for high speed board designs, the method comprising:

providing a schematic design;

creating a complete net-list for the schematic design;

enabling a schematic review platform that generates electronic circuitry component symbols required for a schematic review using a display window;

extracting all power and ground nets by the review platform;

extracting all symbol pin information and a datasheet for a corresponding symbol;

selecting a symbol pin or signal in the display window for the schematic review, where the signal and the symbol pin are provided as pictorial representations in the display window;

based on the selected symbol pin or signal, generating a window showing a block diagram showing actual connectivity of the selected symbol pin or signal selected from the created net-list; and

selecting a symbol from the window showing the block diagram for displaying a link to a location where a corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol is stored, or opening the corresponding datasheet for viewing,

wherein the schematic review is enabled based on selecting an icon, wherein the review platform provides for displaying the block diagram showing how the selected signal is actually connected to different components in an overall view comprising a plurality of shapes corresponding to each of the electronic circuitry component symbols.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the link to the datasheet related to the selected component symbol wherein a first mouse action on the selected component symbol provides for showing the link to the location where the corresponding datasheet is stored, and a second mouse action on the component symbol provides for opening the corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol component and for obtaining relevant information comprising footprint information, pin information, pin description and electrical parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

querying a user for information if a new symbol with a distinct reference designator is to be used in a design being reviewed, and opening a new window with a list of general names of components.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a graphical three dimensional model is attached to an electronic circuitry component symbol for checking component height and orientation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprises using an interface for entering information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin;

and providing a log database associated with the selected signal or the selected symbol pin, the log database accessible by multiple reviewers via the interface, wherein the log database includes review information provided by the multiple reviewers for the selected signal or the selected symbol pin.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising availing a notation medium via the interface for the multiple reviewers for communication between the multiple reviewers for information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin.

7. A system comprising

a memory that accepts a complete net-list created by a processor based on an entered schematic design;

the processor enables a schematic review platform that generates electronic circuitry component symbols required for a schematic review using a display window, wherein the schematic review platform extracts all power nets and ground nets, and thereafter extracts all symbol pin information and a datasheet for a corresponding symbol; and

an interface coupled to the memory, the interface is configured for selecting a signal or a symbol pin in the schematic design, where the signal and the symbol pin are provided as pictorial representations, based on the selected signal or the selected symbol pin, the processor generates a window showing a block diagram showing actual connectivity of the selected signal or symbol pin from the created net-list, wherein the interface is configured for selecting a symbol from the window showing the block diagram for displaying a link to a location where a corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol is stored, or opening the corresponding datasheet for viewing, and wherein the interface is configured for selecting an icon for enabling the schematic review platform that provides for displaying the block diagram showing how the selected signal is actually connected to different circuitry components in an overall view comprising a plurality of shapes corresponding to each of the electronic circuitry component symbols.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising activating the link to the datasheet related to the selected component symbol, wherein a first mouse action on the selected component symbol provides for showing the link to the location where the corresponding datasheet is stored, and a second mouse action on the selected component symbol provides for opening the corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol component and for obtaining relevant information comprising footprint information, pin information, pin description and electrical parameters.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a graphical three dimensional model is attached to an electronic circuitry component symbol for checking component height and orientation.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprises using the interface or entering information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin;

and providing a log database associated with the selected signal or the selected symbol pin, the log database accessible by multiple reviewers via the interface, wherein the log database includes review information provided by the multiple reviewers for the selected signal or the selected symbol pin.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising availing a notation medium for the multiple reviewers for communication between the multiple reviewers for information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory tangible computer readable recordable storage medium including computer useable program code for:

providing a schematic design;

creating a complete net-list for the schematic design;

enabling a schematic review platform that generates electronic circuitry component symbols required for a schematic review using a display window;

extracting all power and ground nets by the schematic review platform;

extracting all symbol pin information and a datasheet for a corresponding symbol;

selecting a symbol pin or signal in the display window for the schematic review, wherein the signal and the symbol pin are provided as pictorial representations in the display window;

based on the selected signal or the selected symbol pin, generating a window showing a block diagram showing actual connectivity of the selected signal or symbol pin selected from the created net-list; and

selecting a symbol from the window showing the block diagram for displaying a link to a location where a corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol is stored, or opening the corresponding datasheet for viewing,

wherein the schematic review is enabled based on selecting an icon, wherein the review platform provides for displaying the block diagram showing how the selected signal is actually connected to different components in an overall view comprising a plurality of shapes corresponding to each of the electronic circuitry component symbols.

13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first mouse action on the selected symbol provides for showing the link to the location where the data sheet is stored, and a second mouse action on the selected symbol provides for opening the corresponding datasheet for the selected symbol and for obtaining relevant information comprising footprint information, pin information, pin description and electrical parameters.

14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12, wherein a graphical three dimensional model is attached to the selected symbol for checking component height and orientation.

15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 12, further comprises using an interface for entering information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin;

and providing a log database associated with the selected signal or the selected symbol pin, the log database accessible via the interface by multiple reviewers wherein the log database includes review information provided by the multiple reviewers for the selected signal or the selected symbol pin; and

availing a notation medium via the interface for the multiple reviewers for communication between the multiple reviewers for information related to the selected signal or the selected symbol pin.