JP2022164950A - Substrate design data generation support apparatus, substrate design data generation support method, substrate design data generation support program, recording medium, and substrate design system - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve a problem in which a large number of pieces of dummy registration information need to be registered in registration database means in advance, it takes time to register the large number of pieces of dummy registration information, and a work of selecting one piece of dummy registration information from the large number of pieces of dummy registration information is complicated and takes time.SOLUTION: A substrate design data generation support apparatus (30) includes a rule storage unit (31) that stores a setting rule including at least a setting region for an electronic component according to a terminal number of the electronic component and a distance between the terminals, a model generation unit (32a) that reads the setting rule of the electronic component according to the terminal number of a mounting electronic component mounted on a substrate from the rule storage unit (31) and generates virtual component model information indicating the setting region and arrangement positions of the terminals based on the setting rule of the read electronic component, and a change model generation unit (32b) that generates change virtual component model information in which the setting region and the arrangement positions of the terminals of the virtual component model information generated by the model generation unit (32a) are changed based on change information indicating the change of the setting region of the virtual component model information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a board design data creation support device, a board design data creation support method, a board design data creation support program, a recording medium, and a board design system, which are used to perform circuit design on a circuit board used in electronic equipment. .

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2002-300000 discloses a circuit design device that designs a circuit board for use in an electronic device.
Patent Literature 1 discloses the following points.
First, regarding the symbols of various components to be placed on the circuit diagram, the official registration information in which the component numbers identifying the components and the footprints used in the board layout are associated with each other, and the dummy component numbers and the dummy symbols of the various components. registration database means having dummy registration information with associated footprints;

Secondly, the circuit diagram is designed using the symbols registered in the registration database means and the dummy symbols to generate provisionally completed circuit diagram data.
Thirdly, for the portion using the dummy symbol, regular registration information is generated in which the symbol, the part number and the footprint are associated with each other, and is registered in the registration database means.
Fourthly, the part using the dummy symbol in the provisional completed circuit diagram data is replaced with the symbol as regular registration information registered in the registration database means to generate the completed circuit diagram data, which is used as board layout data. .

JP-A-2002-7501

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, dummy symbols are used to generate provisionally completed circuit diagram data for components for which formal registration information is not registered, and in parallel with the generation of provisionally completed circuit diagram data, The work of registering regular registration information for dummy symbols is advanced, and the time required for the registration work is effectively used.

However, it is necessary to register a large number of dummy registration information in advance in the registration database means, it takes time to register a large number of dummy registration information, and one dummy registration information is selected from a large number of dummy registration information. There is a problem that the selection work is complicated and takes time.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points. It is an object of the present invention to provide a board design data creation support device capable of easily generating virtual part model information or changed virtual part model information for a part.

A board design data creation support device according to the present disclosure includes: a rule storage unit that stores setting rules including at least a setting area for an electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between the terminals; read from the rule storage section the setting rule of the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component for use, and generate the virtual component model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminal based on the read setting rule of the electronic component Based on the model generation unit and the change information indicating the change of the setting region of the virtual component model information, change virtual component model information in which the setting region of the virtual component model information generated by the model generation unit and the layout positions of the terminals are changed. A modified model generator is provided.

According to the present disclosure, in order to generate the virtual component model information based on the setting rule including at least the setting area for the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component and the distance between the terminals, an unregistered It is possible to easily generate virtual component model information for mounting electronic components.

1 is a block diagram showing a board design system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a hardware configuration of a board design system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing circuit connection information in the board design system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a calculation unit in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to Embodiment 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model with one row of terminals in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; 6 is a diagram showing design values of the virtual part model shown in FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model with two rows of terminals in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model in which terminals are arranged on four sides in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual component model in the case where terminals are located in two rows in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model in the case of a location where terminals are arranged in a grid pattern in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model with two rows of terminals having an odd number of terminals in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model with two rows of terminals having an odd number of terminals in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual part model in which terminals having an odd number of terminals are arranged on four sides in the board design data creation support device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a board design external view displayed based on board design data generated by the board design device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a temporary board design external view displayed based on temporary board design data generated by the board design device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a temporary board design external view displayed based on temporary board design data changed by the board design device of the board design system according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flow chart for creating board design data in the board design system according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flow chart for generating virtual part model information by the board design data creation support device in the board design system according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flow chart for generating changed virtual part model information by the board design data creation support device in the board design system according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flow chart for generating registration information by the library design device in the board design system according to Embodiment 1;

Embodiment 1.
A board design system according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 20. FIG.
The board design system according to the first embodiment includes DIP (Dual Inline Package), SOP (Small Outline Package), SIP (Single Inline Package), QFP (Quad Flat Package), SOJ (Small Outline J-leaded), PLCC ( Plastic lead chip carrier), BGA (ball grid array) type semiconductor elements and other surface mount type semiconductor elements, resistors, connectors, spacers, heat dissipation fins and other electronic components to be mounted on the printed circuit board by CAD ( It is a system that uses computer-aided design.

The board design system includes a library design device 10 and a board design device 20, as shown in FIG.
The library design device 10 generates registration information including a specific number, which is a part type name that identifies an electronic component, and the component external shape and the terminal position of the electrode terminal (hereinafter abbreviated as terminal) linked to the specific number. and stores the generated registration information using CAD.
The specific number is hereinafter referred to as a part type name.

The library designing device 10 is a generally known device and will be briefly outlined here.
The library design device 10 includes a storage device 11 , a library creation work area 12 and a comparison/determination section 13 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the library design device 10 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an input interface section, and an output interface section of a computer used as CAD. be done.
A ROM is a type of recording medium, and may be a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a CD (Compact Disc), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a USB memory. described as.

The storage device 11 stores registration information of electronic components. The storage device 11 is part of the ROM shown in FIG.
The electronic component registration information includes the component type name that identifies the electronic component, the component external shape and the terminal position of the terminal that are linked to the component type name.

The library creation work area 12 is a library creation work unit composed of the CPU, ROM, and RAM shown in FIG.
In the library creation work area 12, when the data including the external shape of the electronic component and the terminal position of the terminal shown in the data sheet 4 of the electronic component and the library creation criteria 5 of the electronic component are input by the input unit 1A, the electronic The registration information of the component is generated, and the generated registration information of the electronic component is stored in the storage device 11 .

The input unit 1A is a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI).

The comparison/determining unit 13 compares the component type name of the mounting electronic component in the circuit connection information (NET) 2 output from the board designing apparatus 20 with the component type name in the registration information stored in the storage device 11 .
When the comparison/determination unit 13 determines that the registration information for the mounting electronic component output from the board design apparatus 20 is stored in the storage device 11, it is stored in the storage device 11 as a registered electronic component. The registered information is output to the circuit board design device 20 .
The comparison/determination unit 13 is configured by the CPU, ROM, and RAM shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the comparison/determination unit 13 determines that the registration information is not stored in the storage device 11 for the electronic component for mounting output from the board designing apparatus 20, the electronic component for mounting is identified as an unregistered electronic component. The part model name and the information that it is unregistered are linked and output to the board design device 20 .
In addition, the comparison/determination unit 13 outputs the number of registered mounting electronic components and the number of unregistered mounting electronic components.

Further, if the unregistered electronic component list 3 from the circuit board designing device 20 includes the component type name of the unregistered mounting electronic component, the library designing device 10 does not include it in the unregistered electronic component list 3. Data including the component external shape and terminal position of the electronic component shown in the electronic component data sheet 4 corresponding to the component type name that identifies the unregistered mounting electronic component, and the electronic component library creation criteria 5 Input by the input unit 1</b>A, the electronic component registration information is generated for the mounting electronic component that is not registered in the library creation work area 12 , and the generated electronic component registration information is stored in the storage device 11 .

The board designing apparatus 20 provides the library designing apparatus 10 with component type names of the mounting electronic components in the circuit connection information 2 including the component type names and the number of terminals for each of the plurality of mounting electronic components to be mounted on the board. When the stored registration information is fetched and the registration information is fetched for all mounting electronic components indicated in the circuit connection information 2, board design data is generated based on the fetched registration information, and the registration information is stored in the library design device. 10 exists in the circuit connection information 2, the virtual component model information or This apparatus uses CAD to generate changed virtual part model information and to generate temporary board design data based on the received registration information and the generated virtual part model information or changed virtual part model information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit board designing apparatus 20 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input interface section, and an output interface section of a computer used as CAD.
The board design device 20 is connected to the library design device 10 by a bus, as shown in FIG.

The board is a printed board on which a wiring layer, a power supply layer, and a ground layer are formed based on board design data generated by the board design device 20 . A wiring layer, a power supply layer, and a ground layer may be formed on the back surface of the printed circuit board.
A plurality of mounting electronic components are mounted on the surface of the printed board based on the board design data generated by the board designing apparatus 20, and the mounted plurality of mounting electronic components are connected to the wiring formed on the surface of the board. The layers are electrically connected.

The circuit connection information 2 is generated from the circuit diagram data 6 by a generally known technique.
As shown in FIG. 3, the circuit connection information 2 has connection information and mounting electronic component information.
The connection information includes the signal name, the specification number of the mounting electronic component, the terminal number of the terminal, and the specification number of the mounting electronic component and the terminal number of the terminal to be connected.

The number of mounting electronic components to be connected is not limited to one, and there may be a plurality of components. In FIG. 3, two connection destinations are shown as an example.
The specification number of the mounting electronic component and the terminal number of the terminal are expressed as IC1-1. In FIG. 3, the specification number and the terminal number are shown separately for easy understanding.

Mounting electronic component information includes a specific number, which is a component type name, and a specification number.
The connection information and mounting electronic component information are linked by specification numbers.
Mounting electronic component information and registration information are linked by a specific number.
Therefore, the mounting electronic component is associated with the connection information in the circuit connection information 2, the mounting electronic component information, and the registered information read from the storage device 11 and taken in. FIG.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the circuit connection information 2 includes the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component.
As for the number of terminals, the terminal number at the end of the mounting electronic component may be substituted for the number of terminals.
Also, when the terminal number of a terminal is represented by a location, that is, by a composite number of alphabets and numbers, the number of terminals is defined as a location.

The board design apparatus 20 includes an input interface section 21 , a component type name detection section 22 for mounting electronic components, a determination section 23 , a board design work area 24 , and a board design data creation support device 30 .
The input interface unit 21 is an interface that takes in the circuit connection information 2, and the circuit connection information 2 is input via the input unit 1B that is the UI. The input interface section 21 is the input interface section shown in FIG.

The detection unit 22 detects and extracts the component model name from the circuit connection information 2 fetched by the input interface unit 21 , and outputs the extracted component model name to the comparison determination unit 13 of the library design device 10 .
The function of detecting/extracting the component type name in the detection section 22 may be provided to the comparison/determination section 13, and the circuit board design apparatus may not have the detection section 22. FIG.

The determination unit 23 receives the circuit connection information 2 fetched by the input interface unit 21, the number of registered mounting electronic components and the number of unregistered mounting electronic components from the comparison determination unit 13, the registered information, and the unregistered Receive the part type name of the electronic part for mounting.
If the number of unregistered electronic components for mounting is 0, the determining unit 23 receives the registration information for all the electronic components for mounting indicated in the circuit connection information 2. Registered information for all mounted electronic components is given to the board design work area 24 .

On the other hand, if the number of unregistered electronic components for mounting is one or more, the determining unit 23 lists the component model names of the unregistered electronic components for mounting in the unregistered electronic component list 3, and The number of terminals of the electronic component for use is provided to the board design data creation support device 30 .
Upon receiving the virtual component model information from the board design data creation support device 30 for all unregistered mounting electronic components, the determination unit 23 stores the circuit connection information 2, the registration information, and the virtual component model information in the board design work area 24. give to

Upon receiving the changed virtual part model information from the board design data creation support device 30, the determination unit 23 generates temporary board design data based on the circuit connection information 2, the registration information, and the virtual part model information generated by the board design work area 24. In order to change the virtual part model information in , to the changed virtual part model information, the changed virtual part model information is given to the board design work area 24 .

When board design data creation support device 30 receives the number of terminals of an unregistered mounting electronic component from determination unit 23, setting including at least a setting area for the electronic component and a distance between terminals according to the number of terminals of the electronic component is performed. Based on the rules, virtual part model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminals is generated, and based on the change information indicating the change of the setting area of the virtual part model, the setting area of the virtual part model and the arrangement position of the terminal Generates modified virtual part model information that has been modified.
The setting area is an area indicating the outer shape of the electronic component.

The board design data creation support device 30, which constitutes a part of the board design device 20, is also composed of the CPU, ROM, and RAM of a computer used as CAD shown in FIG.
The board design data creation support device 30 has a rule storage unit 31 and a calculation unit 32 .
The rule storage unit 31 stores a setting rule including at least a setting area for the electronic component corresponding to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between adjacent terminals.

The computing unit 32, as shown in FIG. 4, has a model generating unit 32a and a modified model generating unit 32b.
The model generation unit 32a acquires the number of terminals of the unregistered electronic component for mounting from the determination unit 23, and sets a setting rule for the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the acquired unregistered electronic component for mounting from the rule storage unit 31. It reads out and generates virtual part model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminal based on the read out setting rule of the electronic part.

When change information indicating a change in the setting region of the virtual part model is input via the input unit 1C, which is a UI, the changed model generation unit 32b generates a model based on the input change information indicating a change in the setting region. Modified virtual part model information is generated in which the setting area and the arrangement positions of the terminals of the virtual part model generated by the generation unit 32a are changed.
The virtual part model information generated by the model generation unit 32 a and the modified virtual part model information generated by the modified model generation unit 32 b are taken into the determination unit 23 .

Next, setting rules stored in the rule storage section 31 and virtual part model information and modified virtual part model information generated by the calculation section 32 will be described by taking an IC, which is a surface-mounted semiconductor element, as an example.
For electronic components other than ICs, such as connectors, spacers, and radiating fins, setting rules are determined in the same manner as for ICs, and the outlines of two-dimensional virtual component models and changed virtual component models are determined based on the setting rules. .

5 to 13 are external views showing virtual part models based on virtual part model information generated by the computing unit 32 based on the setting rules stored in the rule storage unit 31. FIG.
The setting rule includes at least a setting area for an electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between adjacent terminals, and also includes a positional relationship between the setting area and the terminals, a terminal diameter, and an arrangement of the terminals. including.
The arrangement of terminals is ruled according to the number of IC terminals and the like.
In addition, in FIGS. 5 to 13, the number of terminals and terminal numbers are shown as an example in order to simplify the explanation.

The virtual component model shown in FIG. 5 has 16 terminals, and the terminals are arranged in one line in the package.
As shown in FIG. 5, terminal numbers are numbered from left to right.
In FIG. 5, in the setting area R, the outer shape of the virtual part model is represented by a rectangle such as a rectangle, the terminal position is represented by a circle, the center of the circle represents the position of the terminal in the longitudinal direction, and the number inside the circle represents the terminal number. show.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the setting rule is determined based on the registration information of the package, that is, general ICs arranged in a row in the setting area R, for example SIP registration information.
The setting rule for the setting area is data indicating a rectangular area such as a rectangle whose length and width are determined based on the number of terminals and the arrangement of the terminals.

As shown in FIG. 6, the setting rule for the positional relationship between the setting area and the terminal is the distance b between the long side of the setting area R and the center of the terminal, the distance b between the short side of the setting area R and the terminal located at the outermost end. This is data indicating the distance c from the center.
The setting rule for the distance between adjacent terminals and the diameter of the terminals is data indicating the distance d and the diameter Φa shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a default virtual component model generated by the computing unit 32 based on the setting rules stored in the rule storage unit 31 when the number of terminals of the electronic component is 16. As shown in FIG.
When the number of terminals of the electronic component is equal to or less than n1, which is a natural number, the virtual component model in which the terminals are arranged in one row as in the virtual component model shown in FIG. Virtual part model information is generated by the unit 32 a and is taken into the determination unit 23 .

n1 is 16 in this first embodiment.
When the number of terminals of the electronic component is less than or equal to n1, which is a natural number, the setting rule is that the length of the data indicating the setting region R is changed according to the number of terminals, but the data of b, c, d, and Φa are The same is true for the number of

The virtual component model shown in FIG. 7 shows a case where the number of terminals is 48 and the terminals are arranged in two rows in the package, that is, in the set area R. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the lower side is numbered from left to right, and the upper side is numbered from right to left. When the number of terminals is even, the same number of terminals are arranged in each column.

FIG. 7 is an outline drawing schematically showing the virtual part model. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 7 to avoid complication, the virtual part model has , the set area R is represented by a rectangle such as a rectangle, the terminal position is represented by a circle, the center of the circle represents the position of the terminal in the longitudinal direction, and the number inside the circle represents the terminal number.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the setting rule is determined based on the registration information of general ICs arranged in two rows of the package, such as DIPs and SOPs.
The setting rule for the positional relationship between the setting area and the terminal is the distance b between the long side of the setting area R and the center of the terminal, and This data indicates the distance c from the center of the located terminal.

The setting rule for the distance between adjacent terminals and the diameter of the terminals is data indicating the distance d and the diameter Φa, as in the outline drawing shown in FIG.
Furthermore, data indicating the distance e between the terminals in the first and second rows is set rails.

FIG. 7 shows a default virtual component model generated by the computing unit 32 based on the setting rules stored in the rule storage unit 31 when the number of terminals of the electronic component is 48. As shown in FIG.
When the number of terminals of the electronic component exceeds n1 and is equal to or less than n2, which is a natural number greater than n1, the terminals are arranged in two rows in the same manner as in the virtual component model shown in FIG. Virtual part model information is generated by the model generation unit 32 a of the calculation unit 32 with the virtual part model as a default, and is taken into the determination unit 23 .

n2 is 48 in this first embodiment.
When the number of terminals of the electronic component exceeds n1 and is equal to or less than n2, the setting rule is that the length of the data indicating the setting area R is changed according to the number of terminals, but b, c, d, e, and Φa The data are the same depending on the number of terminals.

The virtual component model shown in FIG. 8 has 64 terminals, and the terminals are arranged on the four sides of the package, that is, the setting area R. In FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, numbers are assigned in order from the lower left to the lower right, upper right, upper left, and lower left counterclockwise. When the number of terminals is a multiple of 4, the same number of terminals are arranged on each side.

FIG. 8 is an outline drawing schematically showing the virtual part model. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 8 to avoid complication, the virtual part model has the , the set area R is represented by a rectangle such as a square, the terminal position is represented by a circle, the center of the circle represents the position of the terminal in the longitudinal direction, and the number inside the circle represents the terminal number.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the setting rule is based on registration information of general ICs, such as QFP, SOJ, and PLCC, arranged along the four sides of the package, that is, along the four sides of the setting area R. It is determined.
The setting rule for the positional relationship between the setting area and the terminal is data indicating the distance b between each side of the setting area R and the center of the terminal, as in the outline drawing shown in FIG.

The setting rule for the distance between adjacent terminals and the diameter of the terminals is data indicating the distance d and the diameter Φa, as in the outline drawing shown in FIG.
Furthermore, the distance f between adjacent terminals at each corner is a setting rule.
FIG. 8 shows the case of 64 terminals.

FIG. 8 shows a default virtual component model generated by the computing unit 32 based on the setting rules stored in the rule storage unit 31 when the number of terminals of the electronic component is 64. As shown in FIG.
When the number of terminals of the electronic component exceeds n2, a virtual component model corresponding to the number of terminals, in which the terminals are arranged along the four sides of the set area in the same manner as the virtual component model shown in FIG. Virtual part model information is generated by the model generation unit 32 a of the calculation unit 32 as a default, and is taken into the determination unit 23 .
When the number of terminals of the electronic component exceeds n2, the setting rule is that the length and width of the data indicating the setting area R are changed according to the number of terminals, but the data of b, d, f, and Φa are changed according to the number of terminals. is the same.

When the terminals are arranged in a lattice, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each column is numbered from left to right. Generally, the same number of terminals are arranged in each column.
9 and 10 are outline diagrams schematically showing outlines, and similarly to the outline diagram shown in FIG. The position of the terminal in the direction is indicated, and the number in the circle indicates the terminal number.

The virtual component models shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 show the case where the number of terminals is used as the location when the terminal numbers of the terminals of the electronic component are represented by composite numbers of alphabets and numbers.
The virtual part model shown in FIG. 9 has n2 or less terminals, like the virtual part model shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the lower side is the A row, the upper side is the B row, and numbers are assigned from the left to the right.

The virtual component model shown in FIG. 10 shows a case where the number of terminals exceeds n2 and the terminals are arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix on the bottom surface of the package, that is, in the setting area R.
As shown in FIG. 10, the lower side is the A row, the upper side is the Z row, and the top row is the Z row.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the setting rule is determined based on registration information of general ICs arranged in a grid pattern, such as BGAs.
The setting rule for the positional relationship between the setting area and the terminal is data indicating the distance b between each side of the setting area R and the center of the terminal located on the outermost periphery, as in the outline drawing shown in FIG.

The setting rule for the distance between adjacent terminals in the column direction and the row direction and the diameter of the terminals is data indicating the distance d and the diameter Φa, as in the outline drawing shown in FIG.
When the number of terminals is set as a location, the virtual part model information is generated by the model generation unit 32a of the calculation unit 32 as a default virtual part model in which the terminals are arranged in two rows or in a lattice of vertical and horizontal matrices according to the number of terminals. It is generated and taken into the determination unit 23 .
The setting rule is determined by the number of terminals, and the data indicating the setting area changes depending on the number of terminals, but the data of b, d, and Φa are the same regardless of the number of terminals.

The virtual component model shown in FIG. 11 shows the case where the number of terminals of the electronic component is an odd number exceeding n1 and equal to or smaller than n2, and arranged in two rows in the setting area R. FIG. 11, similar to the virtual part model shown in FIG. 7, a virtual part model corresponding to the number of terminals is virtualized by the calculation unit 32 based on the setting rule stored in the rule storage unit 31 as a default. A part model is generated.
At this time, the number of terminals arranged in the other row is one less than the number of terminals arranged in the one row.

In the virtual component model shown in FIG. 12, the number of terminals of the electronic component exceeds n2, the number of terminals is a multiple of 4 plus 1, and is arranged on the four sides of the setting area R. This shows the case where the terminals are arranged in the center of R of the setting area. 12, similar to the virtual part model shown in FIG. 8, a virtual part model corresponding to the number of terminals is virtualized by the calculation unit 32 based on the setting rule stored in the rule storage unit 31 as a default. Part model information is generated.

In the virtual part model shown in FIG. 13, the numbers of terminals of the electronic parts are used as locations, the number of terminals in the final row is smaller than the number of terminals in the other rows, and the virtual parts model is arranged in a grid pattern of vertical and horizontal matrices in the setting region R. indicates the case. The virtual part model shown in FIG. 13 is virtualized by the computing unit 32 based on the setting rule stored in the rule storage unit 31 as a default, similar to the virtual part model shown in FIG. Part model information is generated.

On the other hand, in the temporary board design data generated by the board design work area 24 from the circuit connection information 2, the electronic component registration information from the library design device 10, and the virtual component model information 7 from the board design data creation support device 30, When the change information 8 indicating the change of the setting area for the virtual part model based on the virtual part model information in the temporary board design data is input to the board design device 20 via the input unit 1C which is the UI, board design data creation support is provided. Device 30 operates as follows.

That is, the modified model generation unit 32b of the calculation unit 32 in the board design data creation support device 30 generates the set regions and terminals of the virtual part model generated based on the virtual part model information in the temporary board design data corresponding to the change information 8. Generates modified virtual part model information for generating a modified virtual part model in which the arrangement position of is changed.

If the virtual part model represented by the virtual part model information is a virtual part model in which the terminals are arranged in a row in the setting region R shown in FIG. According to the setting rule stored in the storage unit 31, a virtual part model in which the terminals shown in FIG. Changed virtual part model information representing a model or a changed virtual part model corresponding to the virtual part models arranged in a grid pattern in the setting area R shown in FIG. 10 is generated.
The modified virtual part model information generated by the modified model generation unit 32 b is taken into the determination unit 23 .

8, 9, 11, and 12, the virtual part model information is stored in the rule storage section based on the change information 8. In the same way that the virtual part model information representing the virtual part model shown in FIG. do.

The board design work area 24 constitutes a part of the board design apparatus 20 and is a board design work unit composed of a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM of a computer used as CAD.
The board design work area 24 arranges the component outline shape of the electronic component on the board area using the component outline shape of the electronic component and the circuit connection information 2 in the electronic component registration information stored in the library design device 10, It is a part of a computer used as a CAD used for the work of creating board design data using a CAD system, drawing wiring layers on a board that connect the external shapes of electronic parts.

The technology in the board design work area 24 in the work of creating board design data using a CAD system is a generally known technology, and here, a brief overview of the features will be given.

When the determination unit 23 determines that the number of unregistered mounting electronic components is 0, the board design work area 24 displays all the mounting electronic components indicated in the circuit connection information 2 stored in the library design device 10 . Registered information for electronic components and circuit connection information 2 are taken in, and component outline shapes in the registered information for all mounted electronic components are displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D, which is a UI.

When the user designates the placement position of the part outline shape in the registration information for the electronic component for mounting displayed on the screen on the screen of the input/output unit 1D in the board area displayed on the screen, the board design work area is displayed. 24 moves the external shape of the component to the specified board area, and displays the wiring layer between the external shapes of the electronic component for mounting on the board based on the circuit connection information 2 .

Generally known techniques are used to move the component contours on the screen and to display the wiring layers between the component contours in the board design work area 24, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The board design work area 24 generates board design data by completing the placement of the component outline shapes of all electronic components to be mounted on the board area and the wiring layers between the component outline shapes.

The external view shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D according to the board design data generated by the board design work area 24. FIG.
FIG. 14 is an external view for board design displayed by board design data, but it shows an image in order to avoid complication.
FIG. 14 shows semiconductor elements IC1 to IC4, resistors R1 to R4, capacitors C1 to C5, controller CON1, and only one wiring layer L1.

On the other hand, when the determining unit 23 determines that the number of unregistered mounting electronic components is one or more, the board design work area 24 stores the virtual component model information for the unregistered mounting electronic components in the board design data creation support device. Wait until 30 is generated.
The virtual component model information generated by the board design data creation support device 30 is based on the number of terminals of the unregistered electronic components for mounting from the determination unit 23, and according to the setting rules stored in the rule storage unit 31, as a de facto virtual model. Since the information represents the component model, the generation of the virtual component model information by the circuit board design data creation support device 30 is completed in a very short time.

The determination unit 23 takes in the virtual component model information generated by the circuit board design data creation support device 30, and the determination unit 23 obtains registration information or virtual component model information for all electronic components for mounting indicated in the circuit connection information 2. , the board design work area 24 captures the registration information, the virtual part model information, and the circuit connection information 2, and displays them on the screen of the input/output unit 1D, which is the UI, stored in the library design device 10. The virtual component model in the virtual component model information for the electronic component not registered in the library design device 10 is displayed.

On the screen of the input/output unit 1D, the user selects the placement position of the virtual component model in the virtual component model information for the component external shape in the registration information for the mounting electronic component displayed on the screen and the unregistered mounting electronic component. , the board area displayed on the screen is specified, the board design work area 24 moves the part outline shape and the virtual part model to the specified board area, and based on the circuit connection information 2, the electronic component for mounting is selected. Wiring layers between the component outline shape and between the component outline shape and the virtual component model are displayed on the board.

Even if there are unregistered mounting electronic components among the mounting electronic components indicated in the circuit connection information 2, by using the virtual component model information as in the case where all of the mounting electronic components are registered, , and board design data creation work in the board design work area 24 can be performed in the same manner.

Since the board design data generated by the board design work area 24 includes virtual part model information, it is treated as temporary board design data, and the external view shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D.
FIG. 15 is an external view for temporary board design displayed by temporary board design data corresponding to the external view for board design shown in FIG. is.

If the outline drawing for provisional board design is satisfactory, next, registration generated by the library creation work area 12 of the library design device 10 and stored in the storage device 11 for the unregistered electronic components for mounting. Using the information, the board design device 20 performs board design data creation work.

The work of creating board design data by the board design device 20 is to replace the virtual part model in the external view for temporary board design displayed by the temporary board design data with the external shape of the part in the newly registered registration information to create the board design data. is completed in a short period of time, and board design data displaying the external view shown in FIG. 14 can be obtained.

The library design apparatus 10 can create registration information for unregistered mounting electronic components in parallel with the substrate design apparatus 20 creating temporary board design data. Even if there is a registered electronic component for mounting, the work of creating the registration information does not make the work of creating the board design data have to wait for a long time.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, since the virtual part model in the outline drawing for designing the temporary board is de facto created according to the number of terminals of the electronic parts for mounting, it is not always possible to create a virtual part model that satisfies the board area. Not necessarily placed.
In this case, the change information indicating the change of the setting area of the virtual part model is input via the input unit 1C.

When the input/output unit 1D is also used as the input unit 1C, the corner of the setting area R of the virtual part model in the external view for temporary board design displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D is dragged to move the setting area R. Change information can be entered by moving the corners.

When the calculation unit 32 takes in the change information, the change model generation unit 32b in the calculation unit generates changed virtual part model information according to the change information taken in, and displays the changed virtual part model on the input/output unit 1D.
At the same time, the wiring layer between the changed virtual part model and the part outer shape is displayed on the board.

The virtual part model shown in FIG. 15 is a virtual part model in which 16 terminals are arranged in one row in the setting area R. 7 to set the 16 terminals according to the setting rule stored in the rule storage unit 31. Virtual part models arranged in two rows in the region R, virtual part models arranged on the four sides of the set region R shown in FIG. 8, or grids arranged in the set region R shown in FIG. Modified virtual part model information representing a modified virtual part model corresponding to the virtual part model is generated.

On the screen of the input/output unit 1D, a virtual part model in which 16 terminals are arranged in a row in the setting area R is moved to the setting area R with the number of terminals remaining 16 as the corner of the setting area R is moved. The virtual parts models arranged in two rows, the virtual parts models arranged on the four sides of the setting area R, and the virtual parts models arranged in a grid pattern in the setting area R are sequentially displayed as modified virtual parts models.

The user selects a modified virtual component model appearing on the screen of the input/output unit 1D to obtain a modified outline drawing for designing a temporary board, and the modified temporary board design data is obtained in the board design work area 24. generated.
FIG. 16 shows a changed external view for designing a temporary board when virtual part models arranged in two rows in the setting region R are selected as changed virtual part models.

The changed temporary board design data can be generated using the virtual part model displayed on the screen, and can be easily generated in a short time.
After creating the changed temporary board design data in this way, the registration information generated by the library creation work area 12 of the library design device 10 and stored in the storage device 11 for the unregistered mounting electronic component , the board design device 20 creates board design data.

The work of creating the board design data by the board design device 20 based on the changed temporary board design data is the same as the work of creating the board design data by the board design device 20 based on the temporary board design data, and has the same effect.

For convenience of explanation, the input unit 1B, the input unit 1C, and the input/output unit 1D are described as separate configurations. A user interface is used.

Next, a method of creating board design data by the board design system according to the first embodiment will be described.
A ROM of a computer used as a CAD in a board design system stores a board design data program and a registration information creation program to be executed by a CPU.
The board design data program includes a board design data creation support program.

A board design data creation support program reads electronic component setting rules corresponding to the number of terminals of mounting electronic components to be mounted on a board, and arranges setting areas and terminals based on the read electronic component setting rules. Arrangement of setting areas and terminals of the virtual part model information generated by the model generating procedure based on the model generating procedure for generating the virtual part model information indicating the position and change information indicating the change of the setting area for the virtual part model information and a modified model generation procedure for generating modified virtual part model information whose position has been changed.

Next, a method of creating board design data will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.
Circuit connection information 2 is generated from the circuit diagram data 6 by a generally known technique, and is taken in by the input interface section 21 at step ST1 shown in FIG.

In step ST2, the detection section 22 detects and extracts the component type name of the mounting electronic component from the circuit connection information 2 fetched by the input interface section 21. FIG.
In step ST<b>3 , the comparison determination section 13 compares the part type name extracted by the detection section with the part type name in the registration information stored in the storage device 11 . The comparison/determination unit 13 compares the registration information of the matching component type name, the component type name whose registration information is not stored in the storage device 11, the number of registered mounting electronic components, and the unregistered mounting electronic component. is given to the determination unit 23 .

In step ST4, if the number of unregistered electronic components for mounting is determined by the determination unit 23 to be 0, the process proceeds to step ST5.
In step ST5, the board design work area 24 takes in the registration information for all electronic components for mounting indicated in the circuit connection information 2 from the determination unit 23 and the circuit connection information 2, and receives the input information from the input/output unit 1D. In response, the external shape of the component in the registration information is arranged in the substrate area displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D, and the wiring layer connecting the external shapes of the arranged components is displayed on the substrate.

14 is displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D, and the board design work area 24 generates board design data for displaying the board design outline view.
By generating the board design data, the board design data creation work is completed, and the board design data is used for manufacturing the board.

In step ST4, when the determination unit 23 determines that there is an unregistered electronic component for mounting, the determination unit 23 lists the component type name of the unregistered electronic component for mounting in the unregistered electronic component list 3, and In step ST11 shown in 18, the CPU generates virtual part model information based on the model generation procedure of the board design data creation support program stored in the ROM shown in FIG.

In step ST11, the model generation unit 32a of the calculation unit 32 in the board design data creation support device 30 acquires the number of terminals of the unregistered mounting electronic component from the determination unit 23, and proceeds to step ST12.
Step ST11 is the first input step for retrieving the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component to be mounted on the substrate.

In step ST12, the model generation unit 32a reads out from the rule storage unit 31 of the board design data creation support device 30 a setting rule including at least a setting area for the electronic component corresponding to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between the terminals; Go to step ST13.
In step ST13, the model generating unit 32a generates virtual part model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminals according to the read setting rule, and proceeds to step ST14.

Steps ST12 and ST13 are model generation steps for generating virtual part model information.
The virtual part model information is information for displaying any one of the virtual part models shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 to 13 on the input/output unit 1D according to the setting rule.

In step ST14, the virtual part model information generated by the model generating section 31a is taken into the determination section 23, and the process proceeds to step ST5.
Step ST14 is the first output step for outputting virtual part model information.

In step ST5, the board design work area 24 takes in the registered information, the virtual part model information, and the circuit connection information 2 from the determination unit 23, and the board area displayed on the screen of the part outline shape and the virtual part model in the registered information. When information designating the layout position in the input/output unit 1D is received from the input/output unit 1D, temporary board design data is generated.

In step ST5, if the virtual part model displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D needs to be changed according to the temporary board design data, the input/output unit 1D, which also serves as the input unit 1C, indicates a change in the setting area of the virtual part model. The change information is input to the board design device 20 .
When the change information is input to the board design device 20 from the input/output unit 1D, the process proceeds to step ST21 shown in FIG. Generates virtual part model information.

In step ST21, the modified model generation unit 32b of the calculation unit 32 in the circuit board design data creation support device 30 takes in the modification information, and proceeds to step ST22.
Step ST21 is a second input step for inputting change information.

In step ST22, the modified model generation unit 32b reads the setting rule from the rule storage unit 31 of the circuit board design data creation support device 30 based on the modification information, and proceeds to step ST23.
In step ST23, the modified model generation unit 32b generates modified virtual part model information in which the setting area of the virtual part model and the arrangement positions of the terminals are changed according to the read setting rule, and the process proceeds to step ST23.

Steps ST22 and ST23 are modified model generation steps for generating modified virtual part model information.
The changed virtual part model information is information for displaying one of the virtual part models shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 on the input/output unit 1D according to the setting rule.

In step ST24, the modified virtual part model information generated by the modified model generation unit 32b is taken into the determination unit 23, and the process proceeds to step ST5.
Step ST24 is the second output step of outputting the modified virtual part model information.

At step ST5, the board design work area 24 takes in the changed virtual part model information from the determination unit 23, and generates temporary board design data in which the virtual part model displayed by the virtual part model information is changed to the changed virtual part model.

On the other hand, if the unregistered electronic component list 3 includes the part type name of the unregistered electronic component for mounting, the library designing apparatus 10 creates registration information for the unregistered electronic component for mounting.
The work of creating the registration information includes data including the external shape of the electronic component and the terminal position of the terminal shown in the data sheet 4 of the electronic component corresponding to the component model name that identifies the unregistered electronic component for mounting, and the electronic component is input to the library designing device 10 by the input section 1A.

When the electronic component data and the library creation criteria 5 are input to the library designing apparatus 10, the process proceeds to step ST31 shown in FIG.
In step ST31, when the library creation work area 12 of the library design device 10 takes in the electronic component data and the library creation standard 5, the process proceeds to step ST32.

In step ST 32 , the library creating work area 12 generates electronic component registration information for the unregistered mounting electronic component, and stores the generated electronic component registration information in the storage device 11 of the library designing apparatus 10 .

When the electronic component registration information for the unregistered mounting electronic component is stored in the storage device 11, the board design apparatus 20 determines that the board design work area 24 is unregistered from the determination unit 23 in step ST5 shown in FIG. The registration information of the electronic parts corresponding to the electronic parts for mounting is taken in from the storage device 11 via the comparison/determining section 13 of the library designing device 10 .

In step ST5, the board design work area 24 takes in the registration information from the determination unit 23, and converts the virtual part model displayed by the virtual part model information or the changed virtual part model displayed by the changed virtual part model information into the registered information. Generate board design data that has been changed to the external shape of the part.

Based on the board design data, the external view for board design shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the screen of the input/output unit 1D.
By generating the board design data, the board design data creation work is completed, and the board design data is used for manufacturing the board.

As described above, in the board design apparatus 20 in the board design system according to the first embodiment, when the electronic component registration information for the mounting electronic component to be mounted on the board is not registered in the library design apparatus 10, A circuit board design data creation support device that creates a virtual component model that replaces the component outline shape in the registration information of an unregistered electronic component and a changed virtual component model is provided with a set area and terminals for the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component. Since the virtual part model information is generated based on the setting rule including at least the distance between them, the virtual part model information can be easily generated.

Further, since the virtual part model information is information representing a de facto virtual part model according to the setting rule based on the number of terminals, the generation of the virtual part model information can be completed in a short time.
Furthermore, the changed virtual part model information is information representing a changed virtual part model created by change information indicating a change in the setting area of the virtual part model based on the virtual part model information. Generation can be completed in a short time.

Furthermore, in order to generate board design data by replacing a virtual part model or a changed virtual part model with a part outline shape in newly registered registration information for an unregistered electronic part, an electronic part not registered in the library design apparatus 10 Even if there are parts, generation of board design data can be completed in a short time.

Note that the library design apparatus 10 can create registration information for unregistered electronic components for mounting in parallel with the creation of temporary board design data by the board design apparatus 20 . Even if there is an unregistered electronic component for mounting on the board, the creation work of the registration information does not make the creation work of the board design data have to wait for a long time.

Further, it is not the case that a number of virtual part models are stored in the storage device 11 of the library designing device 10 and one virtual part model is not selected from among a number of virtual part models for an unregistered electronic component for mounting. , the time required to register a large number of virtual part models can be reduced, the complexity of selecting one virtual part model can be avoided, the time required for selection work can be reduced, and the board design data includes the virtual part model. Avoid being stuck.

It should be noted that in the constituent elements included in the embodiments, arbitrary constituent elements can be modified or arbitrary constituent elements can be omitted.

The board design data creation support device used in the board design device in the board design system according to the first embodiment is suitable for a board design data creation support device used to design a circuit board for use in electronic equipment. be.

10 library design device, 11 storage device, 12 library creation work area, 13 comparison determination unit, 20 board design device, 21 input interface unit, 22 detection unit, 23 determination unit, 24 board design work area, 30 board design data creation support Apparatus 31 rule storage unit 32 calculation unit 32a model generation unit 32b modified model generation unit.

Claims (7)

a rule storage unit that stores a setting rule including at least a setting area for the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between the terminals;
Setting rules for electronic components according to the number of terminals of electronic components to be mounted on a substrate are read from the rule storage unit, and setting areas and arrangement positions of terminals are indicated based on the read setting rules for electronic components. a model generator that generates virtual part model information;
Modification for generating changed virtual part model information in which the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminals of the virtual part model information generated by the model generation unit are changed based on the change information indicating the change of the setting area of the virtual part model information. a model generator;
board design data creation support device. When the number of terminals of the electronic component for mounting is n1 or less, the model generation unit sets the arrangement of the terminals in the virtual component model information to one row, and the number of terminals of the electronic component for mounting exceeds n1, When the number of terminals of the virtual part model information is greater than n1 and is equal to or less than n2, the terminal arrangement of the virtual part model information is set to two columns, and when the number of terminals of the electronic component for mounting exceeds n2, the terminal arrangement of the virtual part model information is set. When the arrangement is set along the four sides of the area, and the terminal number of the terminal of the electronic component for mounting is represented by a composite number of alphabets and numbers, the number of terminals is used as the location, and the terminal of the virtual component model information. 2. The circuit board design data creation support device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of is set in two rows or in a vertical and horizontal matrix.
n1 and n2 are natural numbers. 3. The substrate design data creation support device according to claim 2, wherein said n1 is 16 and said n2 is 48. a first input step in which the model generating unit takes in the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component to be mounted on the substrate;
The model generation unit reads from the rule storage unit the setting rule of the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component for mounting that is taken in by the first input step, and based on the read setting rule of the electronic component , a model generation step of generating virtual part model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminal;
a first output step in which the model generation unit outputs the virtual part model information generated in the model generation step;
a second input step in which a modified model generation unit captures modified information indicating a modification of the set area for the virtual part model information;
The modified virtual part model in which the modified model generating unit modifies the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminals of the virtual part model information generated by the model generating step based on the modification information input by the second input step. a change model generation step that generates information;
a second output step in which the modified model generating unit outputs modified virtual part model information generated by the modified model generating step;
A substrate design data creation support method comprising: Reading the setting rule of the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component to be mounted on the substrate, and generating the virtual component model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminal based on the setting rule of the read electronic component. a model generation procedure to generate;
Modification for generating modified virtual part model information in which the setting area and terminal arrangement position of the virtual part model information generated by the model generating procedure are modified based on the modification information indicating the modification of the setting area for the virtual part model information. a model generation procedure;
A board design data creation support program executed by a computer. Reading the setting rule of the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component to be mounted on the substrate, and generating the virtual component model information indicating the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminal based on the setting rule of the read electronic component. a model generation procedure to generate;
Modification for generating modified virtual part model information in which the setting area and terminal arrangement position of the virtual part model information generated by the model generating procedure are modified based on the modification information indicating the modification of the setting area for the virtual part model information. a model generation procedure;
A recording medium that stores a program to be executed by a computer. a library design device that generates registration information including a specific number that identifies an electronic component and the external shape and terminal position of the component linked to the specific number, and that stores the generated registration information;
The registration information stored in the library design device is taken in based on the identification numbers of the electronic components for mounting in the circuit connection information including the identification number and the number of terminals for each of the plurality of electronic components for mounting to be mounted on the board, and the circuit connection is performed. When the registration information is captured for all electronic components for mounting shown in the information, board design data is generated based on the captured registration information, and electronic components for mounting whose registration information is not stored in the library design device are identified. If it exists in the circuit connection information, virtual part model information or modified virtual part model information is generated for the mounting electronic part that is not stored in the library design device, and the incorporated registration information and the generated virtual part model information or a board design device that generates temporary board design data based on the changed virtual part model information;
The board design device comprises a board design data creation support device,
The substrate design data creation support device includes:
a rule storage unit that stores a setting rule including at least a setting area for the electronic component according to the number of terminals of the electronic component and a distance between the terminals;
Reads setting rules for electronic components according to the number of terminals of the mounting electronic component from the rule storage unit, and virtual component model information indicating setting areas and arrangement positions of terminals based on the read setting rules for the electronic components. a model generator that generates
Modification for generating modified virtual part model information in which the setting area and the arrangement position of the terminals of the virtual part model information generated by the model generation unit are modified based on the modification information indicating the modification of the setting area of the virtual part model information. A board design system having a model generator.

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