JP4411743B2 - Design data conversion apparatus, pattern design support apparatus, design data conversion method, and circuit board pattern design method. - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, for example, a design data conversion device and a design data conversion method for converting data from a design data obtained by pattern design of a printed wiring board using CAD to a CAD having a different system, and data conversion of the design data. The present invention relates to a pattern design support apparatus and a circuit board pattern design method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a printed wiring board (PWB) having a high density has been designed and manufactured by using a computer system such as CAD (Computer Aided Design). In particular, due to intensifying competition for device development in recent years, improvement of CAD function and improvement of its use environment have become important issues in order to shorten the design lead time.
[0003]
When designing a PWB pattern using CAD, the wiring work accounts for the majority, and this efficiency improvement is important. However, in high-density mounting boards typified by current PC boards, automatic wiring is used. PWB pattern design is performed by partially performing automatic wiring while reflecting the opinions of the designer in the direction of improving the efficiency of interactive design as a result of software performance not catching up.
[0004]
There are various CAD tools used for the above-mentioned PWB pattern design, and various CAD tools are sold by various companies, but since they have various features due to the difference in development philosophy, It is effective to create a total system.
Therefore, in recent years, instead of designing a single PWB pattern with a single CAD as in the past, the PCB is divided into functional blocks, designed using a CAD suitable for each functional block, and edited. It has become necessary to improve the design efficiency by combining the data, and it is desired that the data conversion between the CADs be performed efficiently and accurately.
For this reason, since the data format is different for each CAD unit, there are various conversion tools to meet these needs.
[0005]
FIG. 8A shows the display on the display in a state where the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3 are formed on the substrate using CAD and connected.
The land 2 is a portion that is connected to a lead or the like of a mounted component. The land shape may be a circle or a square, and the square may be a polygon with a corner dropped. For example, the land shape is selected depending on the positional relationship between adjacent conductor patterns (not shown), the positional relationship between the conductor pattern 3 and the land 2 to be connected, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 8A, when the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3 are connected, there are many CADs having an editing function that automatically gives a taper 4 or the like. These can be given sequentially at the time of drawing, or can be given at once after drawing.
[0006]
As described above, the taper 4 and the like are formed because the optical proximity effect (Optical Proximity) that makes it difficult to faithfully transfer the design pattern to the substrate with the miniaturization of the design pattern accompanying high-density mounting on the substrate. This is because Effect: OPE) is taken into consideration.
As a phenomenon specifically observed as OPE, when a design pattern is transferred to a substrate, the right-angle pattern in the design pattern is rounded after the substrate is transferred (corner rounding), or the conductor pattern in the design pattern is transferred to the substrate. It may become shorter (line shorting) later.
The above OPE is caused by lithography, development process, etching and the like. Therefore, in consideration of the above-mentioned OPE, many CAD systems are provided with an editing function for correcting the design pattern automatically according to a predetermined correction rule in advance in the design data.
In FIG. 8A, for example, a triangular taper 4 is provided at the right angle portion L at the connection portion between the land 2 and the wiring pattern 3, such as disconnection due to the progress of etching and thinning of the conductor pattern. I will try to prevent it.
[0007]
Since the correction rule is different for each CAD, the shape of the taper 4 and the like is different for each CAD, and may be a triangle as shown in FIG.
Also, the data holding method of the taper portion 4 differs depending on each CAD, and there are data held as wiring part data approximate to wiring parts data such as lands, and there are land or conductor pattern attribute data (tapered). Some are held as attributes.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the design data shown in FIG. 8A is created by a specific CAD and then converted into a CAD having a different system by using an existing conversion tool, the pattern design is performed again. As shown in (b), the taper attribute is canceled, and the taper portion 4 may be erased without data conversion, and may be converted as if connected without a taper.
[0009]
Although the above-described conversion method with the taper attribute canceled, design data can be converted at high speed without analyzing a complicated taper attribute that is different for each CAD, there is a problem that the original design data cannot be converted completely.
The above problem is that after conversion of design data, it is possible to collectively add a taper by using the CAD editing function after conversion, but since the correction rule is different, if it is applied all at once, the arrangement of parts will be shifted. Because there is a possibility, it is necessary to manually create a tapered portion one by one on the design data after conversion, usually without assigning them all at once.
Therefore, even if a total system design utilizing the advantages of each CAD tool is constructed, it is necessary to supplement the design data every time the design data is converted to a CAD having a different system, thereby improving the design efficiency in pattern design. Is difficult.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Therefore, when the pattern design of a printed wiring board is performed using a CAD having a plurality of different systems, between the CADs having different systems, Design data conversion device, pattern design support device, design data conversion method, and wiring board pattern design method capable of completely and efficiently converting original design data before conversion and improving design efficiency in pattern design The purpose is to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the design data conversion apparatus of the present invention provides the wiring data so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained as the first data indicating the wiring pattern and the attribute data of the first data. A design data conversion device for converting design data including second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting a pattern, the extracting means for extracting the second data from the design data, the second data being the attribute data Data conversion means for converting the data into data approximate to the first data, and replacement means for replacing the data-converted second data with the second data before data conversion in the design data.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, the pattern design support apparatus of the present invention is configured so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained as the first data indicating the wiring pattern and the attribute data of the first data. A pattern design support apparatus for forming design data including second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern, the extraction means for extracting the second data from the design data, and the second data, Data conversion means for converting attribute data into data approximate to the first data, and replacement means for replacing the data-converted second data with second data before data conversion in the design data.
[0013]
Preferably, the correction is optical proximity effect correction, and the shape of the correction pattern is, for example, a substantially triangular shape.
[0014]
In the above-described design data conversion apparatus and pattern design support apparatus of the present invention, first, the second data is extracted from the design data by the extracting means.
This second data is an editing function of the pattern design support device in consideration of the optical proximity effect that makes it difficult to faithfully transfer the design pattern to the substrate as the design pattern becomes finer due to high-density mounting on the substrate. Thus, a design pattern is formed with a certain correction rule.
For example, adverse effects such as disconnection due to a thin conductor pattern are prevented by providing, for example, a triangular taper (correction pattern) at a right angle portion in the connection portion between the land and the conductor pattern as the first data.
[0015]
Next, the second data is converted from the attribute data to data approximate to the first data by the data conversion means.
If the first data is, for example, data obtained by converting the wiring pattern into ridge lines and the coordinates of vertices forming the ridge lines, the ridge lines forming the correction pattern portion and the ridge lines are similarly formed. Data is generated by coordinates of vertices.
By the above specification, the second data of the correction pattern can be converted into data approximate to the first data of the shape, for example, the second data can be converted as land data approximate data.
Next, the replacement unit replaces the second data after the data conversion with the second data before the data conversion in the design data.
Thereafter, by converting the design data of the wiring board to a different pattern design support device (CAD), the original design data can be completely converted, and the subsequent design of the wiring board can be performed efficiently.
[0016]
In order to achieve the above object, the design data conversion method of the present invention is configured so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained as the first data indicating the wiring pattern and the attribute data of the first data. A method of converting design data including second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern, wherein the second data is extracted from the design data, and the second data is approximated to the first data. And the second data after the data conversion is replaced with the second data before the data conversion in the design data.
[0017]
In order to achieve the above object, the wiring board pattern design method of the present invention can obtain a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern as the first data indicating the wiring pattern and the attribute data of the first data. And a method of designing a final wiring board pattern by exchanging data between at least two pattern design support systems including design data including second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern, During data exchange, the second data is extracted from the design data, the second data is converted into data approximate to the first data, and the converted second data is converted into data in the design data. Replace with previous second data.
[0018]
Preferably, the correction is optical proximity effect correction, and the shape of the correction pattern is, for example, a substantially triangular shape.
[0019]
According to the above-described design data conversion method and wiring board pattern design method of the present invention, first, the second data is extracted from the design data.
Next, the second data is converted from the attribute data to data approximate to the first data.
If the first data is, for example, data obtained by converting the wiring pattern into ridge lines and the coordinates of vertices forming the ridge lines, the ridge lines forming the correction pattern portion and the ridge lines are similarly formed. Data is generated by coordinates of vertices.
By specifying these shapes, the second data can be converted into data approximate to the first data.
Next, new design data is generated by replacing the converted second data with the second data before the data conversion in the design data.
After that, by converting the design data of the wiring board to a pattern design support apparatus (CAD) having a different system, the original design data can be completely converted, and the subsequent design of the wiring board can be performed efficiently.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
A pattern design support apparatus according to the present invention, which is used for a pattern design / development process of a wiring board, will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the pattern design support apparatus 1.
The pattern design support apparatus 1 includes a processing unit 10, a display unit 20, an input unit 30, a mouse 40, a storage unit 50, and the like.
[0022]
The processing unit 10 controls each unit of the pattern design support apparatus 1 and performs input / output control with the outside.
[0023]
The processing unit 10 can also be connected to an external system via the interface unit. As a result, the pattern design support apparatus 1 can sequentially realize each process of wiring board design and development in cooperation with an external system. Examples of external systems include a host computer and a CAD-dedicated terminal for circuit design.
Therefore, for example, the circuit design is performed by the CAD dedicated terminal, and the host computer is used to perform a predetermined process using the result, and the pattern design is verified by the host computer while the pattern design support apparatus 1 performs the pattern design process. The configuration is such that the processing to be performed can be efficiently performed via the network.
[0024]
The display unit 20 can display circuit diagram data 51, design data 52, and the like, and further displays a message from the processing unit 10.
[0025]
The input unit 30 is an input device such as a keyboard, for example, for an operator to instruct the processing unit 10 to process or process target data.
[0026]
The mouse 40 is a pointing device used in conjunction with a pointer displayed on the display unit 20. For example, in the image data such as the circuit diagram data 51 and the design data 52 displayed on the display unit 20, the mouse 40 is desired. This is used to select a certain object or to perform a predetermined process on the object.
[0027]
The storage unit 50 is a storage device that stores circuit diagram data 51 and design data 52 to be processed.
The configuration up to the above is the same as that of a conventional CAD device.
[0028]
In FIG. 2A, the above-described pattern design support apparatus 1 forms the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3 in the substrate data (first data), and the correction data (second data) is obtained by the processing unit 10 as, for example, a taper ( 4a and 4b) show the display on the display unit 20 of the design data automatically given.
The land 2 is a portion that is connected to a lead of each mounting component on the substrate, and the mounting components mounted on the land 2 are electrically connected by the conductor pattern 3.
The taper (4a, 4b) is a conductor in which the right-angle pattern is rounded (corner rounding) due to the optical proximity effect (OPE) that makes it difficult to faithfully transfer the design pattern as the design pattern becomes finer. The design pattern is corrected because there is an adverse effect such as shortening the pattern (lishorting).
[0029]
Since the above OPE is caused by lithography, development process, etching, and the like, the processing unit 10 can automatically correct the design data from a certain correction rule in anticipation of the OPE.
Note that the above-described correction rule differs depending on each CAD, and therefore, the shape of the correction rule may be triangular as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2A, in the right-angled portion L at the connection portion between the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3, for example, a problem such as a disconnection due to a thinning of the conductor pattern due to etching progresses, for example, a triangular taper (4a, This is prevented by providing 4b).
[0030]
The formation of the correction data will be described. In the present embodiment, a taper portion is taken as an example of correction data, and a case where the taper portion is substantially triangular is described.
2 and 3 are views for explaining a mechanism for forming the tapered portions (4a, 4b).
FIG. 2A shows the shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) when the conductor pattern 3 is connected to the rectangular land 2 at the center thereof.
In this case, the shape of the upper tapered portion 4a and the lower tapered portion 4b with respect to the conductor pattern 3 is substantially equal.
FIG. 2B shows the shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) formed when the connecting portion of the conductor pattern 3 with respect to the rectangular land 2 is moved upward from the central portion.
In this case, the shape of the lower tapered portion 4b is larger than that of the upper tapered portion 4a, and the shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) is different, but the tapered portions (4a, 4b) are different. Both are triangular.
[0031]
FIG. 3A shows the shape of the tapered portion 4b formed when the connecting portion of the conductor pattern 3 to the rectangular land 2 is further moved upward.
In this case, the upper tapered portion 4a is not formed, and only the lower tapered portion 4b is formed. This is considered to be because there is no right-angled portion L at the upper portion of the connection portion between the conductor pattern 3 and the land 2 and therefore correction is not necessary.
FIG. 3B shows the shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) formed when the connecting portion of the conductor pattern 3 to the rectangular land 2 is moved downward.
In this case, the shape of the upper tapered portion 4a is larger than that of the lower tapered portion 4b, and the shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) is different, but the tapered portions (4a, 4b) are different. Both are triangular.
[0032]
As described above, the shape of the tapered portion (4a, 4b) in the connection state between the various lands 2 and the conductor pattern 3 is shown, but one or two shapes may be formed depending on the connection state. The shape of the tapered portions (4a, 4b) is triangular in any case.
This is because the correction data such as the tapered portions (4a, 4b) is generally formed as attribute data in accordance with a certain correction rule in association with the shape element of the land 2 or the conductive pattern 3. It is believed that there is. The present invention focuses on this part.
[0033]
Next, a pattern design support apparatus according to the present invention realized by incorporating the design data conversion apparatus according to the present invention into the processing unit 10 of the pattern design support apparatus 1, a design data conversion method implemented by the apparatus, and A circuit board pattern design method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the design data conversion apparatus incorporated in the processing unit 10.
First, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the present invention, the processing unit 10 includes an extraction unit 11, a conversion unit 12, and a replacement unit 13.
[0034]
The extraction unit 11 receives the design data 52 stored in the storage unit 50, extracts correction data from the design data, and outputs the correction data to the conversion unit 12. Further, the original design data is output to the replacement unit 13.
The conversion unit 12 specifies the shape indicated by the correction data from the input correction data (taper), generates land data approximation data corresponding to the shape information of the correction data, and sends the correction data to the replacement unit. Output.
The replacement unit 13 replaces the input correction data in the original design data with the correction data converted into land data, creates new design data, and outputs the design data to the storage unit 50.
Actually, the processing unit 10 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a microprocessor for controlling processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which processing procedures (programs) in the arithmetic processing device are recorded, and processing. It is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which various variable values are recorded, an interface unit with an external device or an external network, etc., and achieves the functions of the extraction unit 11, the conversion unit 12 and the replacement unit 13. .
[0035]
A design data conversion method according to the present invention performed by the conversion unit 12 of the processing unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the design data conversion method according to the present invention performed by the data converter 12, and FIG. 6 shows the design data shown on the display unit 20 in the process of data conversion. is there.
FIG. 6A shows original design data formed by CAD.
In the present invention, the taper portions (4a, 4b) are converted from the correction data of the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3 to the data of land data approximation.
[0036]
The land data is converted into numerical data as data in the computer.
Here, with reference to FIG. 7A, an example of a method of causing the computer to convert the land 2 displayed on the display unit 20, for example, into numerical data will be described.
[0037]
First, a coordinate axis composed of x and y axes is assumed in the computer.
Next, in order to indicate the geometric position of the land 2, the coordinates of all the vertices (a, b, c, d) are given to the coordinate axis as a vertex list.
Next, in order to show the feature of the shape, it is shown as a ridge line list which points and which points are connected to form ridge lines (21, 22, 23, 24).
Thereby, the shape of the land 2 can be converted into numerical data.
[0038]
By the above method, when the shape of the land 2 is converted into numerical data in the pattern design support apparatus (CAD), the taper portion can be converted into data by an approximate method.
7B, for example, the taper 4a of the taper (4a, 4b) displayed on the display unit 20, for example, the taper 4a is stored in the storage unit 50 as data of land data approximation by the processing unit 10. An example will be described.
First, the extraction unit 11 extracts data of the taper 4a from the design data.
[0039]
Next, the conversion unit 12 converts the data as land data approximation data according to the following procedure.
That is, as described above, a coordinate axis composed of x and y axes is assumed in the computer (procedure S2), and the coordinates of all the vertices (A, B, C) of the taper 4a are given as a vertex list (procedure S3). Next, it is shown as a ridge line list which points and which points are connected to form ridge lines (41, 42, 43) (step S4).
Thereby, the shape of the taper 4a can be converted into data as data approximate to the land data (step S6).
In addition, since it is thought that the conductor pattern 3 is data-formed as a line having a certain width, it is suitable that the tapered portions (4a, 4b) are data approximate to land data that handles various shapes. ing.
[0040]
FIG. 6B shows a state where the taper (4 a, 4 b) is separated from the land 2 and the conductor pattern 3.
That is, the correction data such as the tapered portions (4a, 4b) is generally attribute data associated with a shape element such as a tread of the land 2 or a line of the conductive pattern 3, so that the land 2 or Although it cannot be separated from the conductor pattern 3 with the correction data as it is, the data can be separated because the land data approximated data as described above.
[0041]
FIG. 6C shows design data displayed on the display unit after data conversion to a different CAD system.
As shown in FIG. 6C, according to the present invention, the converted design data also has a tapered portion (4a, 4b), and the original data can be completely converted.
This data conversion can be performed via a network, or can be performed once via a floppy disk after recording on a recording medium.
[0042]
According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, all the CAD data is converted by converting the formed taper portion into the land data approximation data regardless of the complicated taper attribute that is different for each CAD of the original design data. And conversion efficiency of design data is not hindered.
In addition, when the number of shape parameters is small, such as a tapered portion, the correction data conversion process can be speeded up.
Furthermore, since design data can be completely converted to all CAD, it is not necessary to newly add correction data, so that the design efficiency can be improved by adopting a total system.
[0043]
The present invention is not limited to the above description. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to the tapered portion but also to other correction data formed.
In addition, if the shape is not limited to a triangular shape and the shape is relatively simple, the number of parameters required for identification is small. Similarly, according to the present invention, correction data can be efficiently converted to land data approximation data. Can do.
In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to convert design data to all pattern design support devices (CAD) by converting the second data into data approximate to the first data.
In addition, the conversion efficiency of design data is improved by extracting the second data once formed with the correction pattern and converting it into the data of the first data approximation regardless of the complicated correction rule that is different for each CAD. be able to.
Furthermore, since it is not necessary to create correction data manually on the design data using CAD after design data conversion, the total system design that takes advantage of the advantages of each CAD can be utilized, and design efficiency in layout design Can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pattern design support apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 (a) shows the shape of the tapered portion when the conductor pattern is connected to the rectangular land at the center, and FIG. 2 (b) shows the rectangular land. On the other hand, the shape of the taper part formed when a conductor pattern moves upward from the center part is shown.
FIG. 3 (a) shows the shape of the tapered portion when the conductor pattern is connected to the rectangular land at the upper part thereof, and FIG. 3 (b) shows the shape of the rectangular land. The shape of the tapered portion formed when the conductor pattern moves downward from the central portion is shown.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a processing unit of a pattern design support apparatus incorporating the design data conversion apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a design data conversion method according to the present invention.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show design data displayed on the display unit according to the design data conversion method of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A shows design data before conversion, and FIG. 6B shows taper from original data. (C) shows the design data after conversion until partial data extraction.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining an example of a method for causing the pattern design support apparatus to convert the design data displayed on the display unit into data. FIG. 7A is a land, and FIG. 7B is a tapered portion. Will be described.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show data before and after conversion of design data in a conventional example. FIG. 8A shows design data before conversion, and FIG. 8B shows design data after conversion.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pattern design support apparatus, 2 ... Land, 3 ... Conductor pattern, 4, 4a, 4b ... Taper, 10 ... Processing part, 11 ... Extraction part, 12 ... Conversion part, 13 ... Replacement part, 20 ... Display part, 30 ... input unit, 40 ... mouse, 50 ... storage unit, 51 ... circuit diagram data, 52 ... design data.

Claims (12)

Design data including first data indicating a wiring pattern and second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern is converted as attribute data of the first data so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained. A design data conversion device,
Extracting means for extracting the second data from the design data;
Data conversion means for converting the second data from the attribute data into data approximate to the first data;
A design data conversion device comprising replacement means for replacing the second data after the data conversion with the second data before the data conversion in the design data. The design data conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction is an optical proximity effect correction. The design data conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction pattern has a substantially triangular shape. Design data including first data indicating a wiring pattern and second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern is formed as attribute data of the first data so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained. A pattern design support device,
Extracting means for extracting the second data from the design data;
Data conversion means for converting the second data from the attribute data into data approximate to the first data;
A pattern design support apparatus comprising replacement means for replacing the second data after the data conversion with the second data before the data conversion in the design data. The pattern design support apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction is optical proximity correction. The pattern design support apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction pattern has a substantially triangular shape. Design data including first data indicating a wiring pattern and second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern is converted as attribute data of the first data so that a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern is obtained. A way to
The second data is extracted from the design data, the second data is converted into data approximate to the first data, and the data-converted second data is converted into second data before data conversion in the design data and The design data conversion method to be replaced. The design data conversion method according to claim 7, wherein the correction is optical proximity effect correction. The design data conversion method according to claim 7, wherein the correction pattern has a substantially triangular shape. At least design data including first data indicating a wiring pattern and second data indicating a correction pattern for correcting the wiring pattern so as to obtain a wiring shape close to the wiring pattern as attribute data of the first data. A method for designing a final wiring board pattern by exchanging data between two pattern design support systems.
The second data is extracted from the design data, the second data is converted into data approximate to the first data, and the data-converted second data is converted into second data before data conversion in the design data and Pattern design method for the wiring board to be replaced. The wiring board pattern design method according to claim 10, wherein the correction is optical proximity correction. The pattern design method for a wiring board according to claim 10, wherein the correction pattern has a substantially triangular shape.

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