GB1317510A - Computers - Google Patents

Abstract

1317510 Programmed computer STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES Ltd 23 Sept 1971 44391/71 Heading G4A A computer is conditioned to produce information for the assembly of electrical circuit units on a circuit board by storing in a memory of the computer information relating to the units, e.g., arrangement and function of terminals, storing data relating to physical characteristics of the units, storing a coded indication of a logic diagram of the circuit, comparing the indication with the information relating to the units to determine the number and type of units required, locating the units according to preselected criteria such as the number of connections between units, allocating weights to the locations according to similar criteria, interchanging or rearranging the units to improve the weights, determining the best result and producing a drawing of the required wiring. The board description (Fig. 3) stimulates a programme E1 which generates a model of the artwork used and stores it in the system's disc files. Details of the circuits and the connectors are checked by a programme E2 and stored in a Unit Type Catalogue. A coded description of the logic diagram is supplied, e.g., from punched cards, checked by programme M1 and fed to function packaging programme which notes important connection features i.e., those formed by non-crossing straight lines (Fig. 1, not shown) and minimizes the number of circuits receiving a signal. Programme M3 positions the circuits on the board and takes note of manually assigned data. The circuits are placed and awarded points for placing and simplicity of interconnections and sets of placings are built up. When all units are placed, adjacent units are interchanged to see if an improved score can be obtained. Programme M4 arranges the best connections for signals applied to a circuit containing a plurality of functional units, e.g., several AND gates or OR gates, and supplies data to a printer. Programme M5 ranks the possible patterns in order in a pattern hierarchy and feeds programme M6 which deals with less important wiring patterns, e.g., to reduce the number of plated through holes.