JP5175623B2 - System circuit diagram design apparatus, system circuit diagram design method, program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plurality of printed circuit boards (in order to avoid redundant description in this specification, “print A system circuit diagram design according to a technique in which physical connectors for connecting between “boards” are appropriately referred to as units “boards”) are arranged in the circuit diagram design, and connections between a plurality of substrates are preset and checked in the circuit diagram design. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium.

In the present specification, the “system circuit diagram” means a “circuit diagram showing a connection state between a plurality of board designs”.

  Further, in this specification, the “physical connector” means a connector provided on each board in order to connect between the boards, that is, between the boards.

  Further, in the present specification, a symbol formed so that the physical connector is displayed on the screen is referred to as a “physical connector board symbol”.

  In recent years, there have been cases in which a plurality of substrates are accommodated in one housing as electronic circuits have higher functions and smaller products.

  At that time, as a connection member for connecting a plurality of substrates, a flexible substrate, a harness cable, or the like is used, and a certain substrate and a certain substrate are connected via the connection member such as the flexible substrate or the harness cable. In other words, connection between the substrates is made.

  Here, the flexible substrate is a thin film of polyimide or polyester formed with copper foil wiring. When connecting between substrates using such a flexible substrate, the film on the thin polyimide or polyester film is used. By joining the copper foil wiring and the silver foil wiring on the substrate, connection between the plurality of substrates is realized through the flexible substrate.

  In addition, the harness cable includes connectors attached to both ends of the wiring line, and when connecting between the boards using such a harness cable, a connector attached to both ends of the harness cable and a connector formed on the board. Are connected to each other through a harness cable.

By the way, CAD (Computer Aided Design) system is generally used in circuit diagram design and board design, but circuit diagram design information is output as a netlist, a parts list, etc. The board is being designed.

  According to a conventional design method using such a CAD system, a circuit diagram design for one substrate design (in this specification, “circuit diagram design for one substrate design” is appropriately referred to as “substrate circuit diagram design”). However, in the present specification, “a connection between a plurality of board designs is referred to as“ a connection between a plurality of board designs ”. The circuit diagram design for creating a system circuit diagram in consideration of the above is referred to as “system circuit diagram design” as appropriate)).

  Moreover, it has been pointed out that due to these problems, problems described below are also invited.

  In other words, the connection information passed from the board circuit diagram design to the board design is checked in the board design, but the connection information between the board designs is not checked. There was a problem that there was a risk of overlooking mistakes in connection information between multiple board designs, and when mistakes were corrected in board design, it was necessary to correct the mistakes in board circuit diagram design as well .

  Also, in the output of the bill of materials in the board circuit diagram design, it is possible to grasp the type and number of parts used for one board design, but for all parts used between multiple board designs Since the type and number cannot be grasped at a time, in order to know the type and number of all the parts used between a plurality of board designs, there is a problem that it is necessary to separately count.

The prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of filing a patent is as described above and is not an invention related to a known literature, so there is no prior art information to be described.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems of the prior art as described above, and the object of the present invention is to perform a circuit diagram design considering the connection between a plurality of board designs. An object of the present invention is to provide a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium that are made possible.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium capable of checking connection information between a plurality of board designs. It is something to try.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, and a program that make it possible to easily grasp the types and numbers of all parts used between a plurality of board designs. And a computer-readable recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the connection relation of a plurality of substrates is set and checked in advance in the circuit diagram design.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, circuit diagram design can be performed in consideration of connection between a plurality of board designs.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to check connection information between a plurality of board designs.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp the types and numbers of all the parts used between a plurality of board designs.

That is, a system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a system circuit diagram design apparatus that generates a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between a plurality of board designs. Substrate outline setting means for setting, physical connector extraction means for extracting a physical connector from a board circuit diagram design corresponding to each of a plurality of boards whose board outlines have been set by the board outline setting means, and extraction by the physical connector extraction means Between the physical connector arranged in the board outline area set by the board outline setting means and the physical connector arranged in the board outline area by the physical connector arrangement means And a physical connector for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between the boards having the board outline set by the board outline setting means. It is obtained so as to have a data connection between means.

  A system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention. The connection relationship between the physical connectors arranged in the area of the board outline is checked.

  A system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention is the system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the physical connector is further provided. At least a parts table output unit that outputs component information related to the system circuit diagram generated by the inter-connection unit, and a connection information output unit that outputs connection information related to the system circuit diagram generated by the inter-physical connector connection unit Either one is provided.

A system circuit diagram design method according to claim 4 of the present invention is a system circuit diagram design method for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between a plurality of board designs by a system circuit diagram design apparatus . A board outer shape setting step for setting a plurality of board outer shapes, a physical connector extracting step for extracting a physical connector from a board circuit diagram design corresponding to each of the plurality of boards whose board outer shapes are set by the board outer shape setting step, and The physical connector extracted in the physical connector extraction process is arranged in the area of the board outline set in the board outline setting process, and the physical connector arrangement process is arranged in the area of the board outline in the physical connector arrangement process. A physical connection between physical connectors using signal lines, and a system that shows the connection status between boards that have been set in the board outline setting process. A physical connector between connecting step of generating a beam circuit diagram is obtained as the system schematic design device executes.

  Further, the system circuit diagram design method according to claim 5 of the present invention is the system circuit diagram design method according to claim 4 of the present invention, wherein the inter-physical connector connection step is performed by the physical connector arrangement step. The connection relationship between the physical connectors arranged in the area of the board outline is checked.

A system circuit diagram design method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the system circuit diagram design method according to any one of the fourth or fifth aspects of the present invention, further comprising the physical connector. At least a parts table output step for outputting component information related to the system circuit diagram generated by the inter-connection step, and a connection information output step for outputting connection information related to the system circuit diagram generated by the inter-physical connector connection step Either one is executed by the system circuit design apparatus .

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the system circuit diagram design apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3 of the present invention.

  An invention according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the system circuit diagram designing method according to any one of the fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 or 8 is recorded.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer that can perform circuit diagram design considering connection between a plurality of board designs There is an excellent effect that a readable recording medium can be provided.

  In addition, since the present invention is configured as described above, a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer reading that can check connection information between a plurality of board designs There is an excellent effect that a possible recording medium can be provided.

  Furthermore, since the present invention is configured as described above, a system circuit diagram design apparatus and system that can easily grasp the types and number of all parts used between a plurality of board designs. The circuit diagram designing method, program, and computer-readable recording medium can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a system circuit diagram design apparatus, a system circuit diagram design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of an embodiment of a system circuit diagram design apparatus according to the present invention.

  That is, the system circuit diagram design apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “system circuit diagram design apparatus”) 100 according to the present invention is realized by a known personal computer system, general-purpose computer system, or the like. The operation is controlled by using a central processing unit (CPU) 10.

  The CPU 10 is provided with a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a program for controlling the CPU 10 to be described later and various data via the bus 12, a storage area used as a working area for the CPU 10, and the like. A storage device 14 composed of a random access memory (RAM) or the like, a display device 16 having a screen such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel for performing various displays based on the control of the CPU 10, and various types generated by the control of the CPU 10 An output device 18 such as a printer that outputs data, a pointing device 20 such as a mouse that specifies an arbitrary position on the screen of the display device 16, a keyboard that is an input device for inputting arbitrary characters, and the like Input / output of the character input device 22 and various devices connected to the outside And centers face circuit (I / O) 24 is connected.

  In the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100, an external storage device 26 such as a hard disk is connected via the I / O 24 and is readable by a computer such as a compact disk (CD) or a flexible disk (FD). Various types of data generated based on the control of the CPU 10 are written and stored in a recording medium (hereinafter simply referred to simply as “recording medium”) 30, and various types of data stored in the recording medium 30 are read into the storage device 14. The read / write device 28 is connected via the I / O 24.

  Here, a program for executing processing by the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 described later and various data used for the processing may be stored in advance in a read-only memory or a random access memory of the storage device 14. However, the random access memory of the storage device 14 may be read from the external storage device 26 or the recording medium 30.

  Further, the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 is provided with a communication function so that a program for executing processing by the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 and various data used for the process are communicated from outside by the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100. You may make it read in the random access memory of the memory | storage device 14.

  In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the system circuit diagram design device 100, a program for executing processing by the system circuit diagram design device 100 described later in the storage device 14 and various data used for the processing. Is stored in advance.

Here, FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram in which functional features of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 are made into blocks, and FIG. 3 shows a processing routine of a board outer shape setting process (described later). FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a processing routine of a physical connector extraction process (described later), and FIG. 5 shows a physical connector arrangement process (described later). ) Is shown, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the physical connector connection process (described later), which is described with reference to FIGS. Processing contents executed by the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 will be described.

  In this system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, connection between a plurality of board designs can be set and checked in advance in circuit diagram design by various processes described later.

That is, in the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, first, the board outer shape setting process 102 for setting the board outer shape, which is the outer shape of the substrate, is performed under the control of the CPU 10.

  More specifically, when a user of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 designates a frame shape having a desired size and shape as a substrate outer shape on a screen of the display device 16 by operating the pointing device 20 in a predetermined region. Then, the designated frame shape is set as the board outline (step S302), and the set board outline is displayed on the predetermined area on the screen of the display device 16 (step S304).

  In this board outline setting process 102, the process of setting the board outline is performed for all the boards that are the target of the system circuit diagram design by the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100. As a result, at least two or more are set. The substrate outlines of the plurality of substrates are set.

  In the operation example of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 to be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13, an area for setting the board outer shape can be set as “sheet”, and the sheet name of the sheet can be set. By specifying, the above-mentioned predetermined area is defined.

Next, in the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100, a physical connector symbol (in this specification, a physical connector is selected from information indicating various symbols as data stored in the storage device 14 under the control of the CPU 10. This symbol is referred to as “physical connector board symbol” as appropriate.

  More specifically, information indicating various symbols arranged on the board circuit diagram design corresponding to each of the plurality of boards set by the board outline setting processing 102 (hereinafter, “symbol information” is referred to as “symbol information”). (Step S402), only the symbol information of the physical connector board symbol is extracted from the searched symbol information of the various symbols (step S404), and the symbol information of the physical connector board symbol is extracted. Based on this, the physical connector board symbol indicated by the symbol information is displayed on the screen of the display device 16 (step S406).

  When the physical connector board symbol is displayed on the screen of the display device 16 in the process of step S406, it is displayed in the same area as the area where the board outline is displayed in the process of step S304 of the board outline setting process 102. Alternatively, it may be displayed in an area different from the area where the board outline is displayed.

Next, in the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, the physical connector board symbol extracted by the physical connector extraction process 104 under the control of the CPU 10 is displayed on the board outline area displayed in the process of step S 304 of the board outline setting process 102. A physical connector placement process 106 to be placed inside is performed.

  More specifically, the user of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 operates any of the physical connector board symbols displayed on the screen of the display device 16 in the process of step S304 of the board outline setting process 102 by operating the pointing device 20. When the physical connector board symbol is designated, the designated physical connector board symbol is set as a processing target by the physical connector placement processing 106 (step S502).

  For example, when the pointing device 20 is a mouse, the clicked physical connector board symbol is changed to the physical connector placement processing 106 by an operation of positioning the mouse pointer of the mouse on an arbitrary physical connector board symbol and clicking. It can be configured to be set as a processing target.

  Thereafter, the user operates the pointing device 20 to move the physical connector board symbol set as the processing target within the board outline area displayed in the process of step S304 of the board outline setting process 102. When placed at a desired position in the area, the desired position is set as an arrangement position in the area of the board outline of the physical connector board symbol set as the processing target (step S504), and the set arrangement position is set. Based on the positional information, the physical connector board symbol set as the processing target is displayed on the screen of the display device 16 so as to be positioned at the arrangement position in the area of the board outline (step S506). .

  For example, when the pointing device 20 is a mouse, the physical connector board symbol set as the processing target is arranged at the desired position in the area of the board outline by a drag-and-drop operation with the mouse. It can be constituted as follows.

Next, in the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, physical connector board symbols that are in a connection relationship with respect to the physical connector board symbols placed at desired positions in the board outline area by the physical connector placement processing 106 under the control of the CPU 10. A physical connector connection process 108 for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between the boards which are connected to each other by signal lines and whose board outline is set by the board outline setting process 102 is performed.

  More specifically, the user of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 operates the pointing device 20 or the character input device 22 to select a signal from the physical connector board symbols placed in the board outline area by the physical connector placement processing 106. When a pair of physical connector board symbols, that is, two physical connector board symbols are designated as targets to be connected by lines, the designated pair of physical connector board symbols are set as processing targets by the inter-physical connector connection processing 108. (Step S602).

  When a pair of physical connector board symbols is designated as a processing target of the inter-physical connector connection process 108 by the process in step S602 described above, the pair of physical connector board symbols are connected to each other according to a predetermined rule. The signal line to be set is automatically set (step S604), whereby a system circuit diagram is obtained.

  Further, based on the set signal line information, a signal line for connecting the pair of physical connector board symbols to be processed is displayed on the screen of the display device 16 (step S606). The user can view the system circuit diagram.

  Here, the system circuit diagram obtained as described above may be stored in the storage device 14 and may be output by the output device 18.

  An example of an arbitrary rule for setting the above signal line will be described in detail later with reference to an operation example of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 shown in FIGS.

  Further, in the process of automatically connecting a pair of physical connector board symbols by the process of step S604, as will be described in detail later with reference to the operation example of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. You may make it perform the connection check process between physical connectors which performs the connection check between the physical connector board | substrate symbols connected by the signal wire | line.

When the physical connector connection processing 108 for connecting the physical connector board symbols arranged at desired positions in the board outer area with signal lines as described above is performed, the system circuit diagram design apparatus is controlled by the CPU 10. A parts table output process 110 that outputs part information of all symbols including physical connector board symbols related to a plurality of boards to be processed in 100 as a parts table can be executed. Note that the bill of material information, which is the bill of material information, is also stored in the storage device 14.

  More specifically, when the user of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 instructs the output of the parts table by operating the pointing device 20 or the character input device 22, the output unit 18 outputs the parts table.

  Similarly, when the physical connector connection processing 108 for connecting the physical connector board symbols arranged at desired positions in the board outline area with signal lines as described above is performed, the system circuit is controlled under the control of the CPU 10. A connection information output process 112 for outputting connection information relating to a plurality of substrates to be processed in the diagram design apparatus 100 can be executed. This connection information is also stored in the storage device 14.

  More specifically, when the user of the system circuit diagram design device 100 instructs the output of connection information by operating the pointing device 20 or the character input device 22, the output device 18 outputs a net list as connection information.

Various information other than the parts table information and connection information generated in each process described above is also stored in the storage device 14 as appropriate.

Next, details of processing executed by the system circuit diagram design device 100 will be described with reference to an operation example of the system circuit diagram design device 100 shown in FIGS.

Here, FIGS. 7A, 7 </ b> B, 7 </ b> C, and 7 </ b> D are explanatory diagrams schematically showing main display examples displayed on the display device 16 of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100. .

  More specifically, FIG. 7A shows an example of the display screen 7-1 of the file manager, and a sheet (in the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100) for setting the board outline to be processed in the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100. A plurality of sheets can be set.) A sheet name display area 7-2 for displaying a sheet name for specifying a board circuit name display area for displaying a board circuit name composed of physical connector board symbols 7-3 is displayed in a tree structure.

  Here, the board circuit name display area 7-3 on the display screen of the file manager displays the same number of board circuit names as the board circuits configured with the physical connector board symbols arranged on the system circuit diagram design. When the physical connector board symbol is not arranged on the board outline, the board circuit name is not displayed in the board circuit name display area 7-3.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7A, “001.sht” meaning the sheet 001 is the sheet name as the sheet name used in the operation example of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. As a board circuit name of the board circuit displayed in the display area 7-2 and used in the operation example of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. Is displayed in the board circuit name display area 7-3.

Next, FIG. 7B is an example of an editor screen of the system circuit diagram design device 100, and various processes of the system circuit diagram design device 100 described above are performed on this editor screen.

  That is, setting of the board outline, arrangement of physical connector board symbols, processing of connection between physical connector board symbols, and the like are performed on this editor screen.

  In FIG. 7B, reference numeral 7-4 indicates a sheet area which is an area of the sheet 001.

  The board outlines 7-5-1 and 7-5-2 and physical connector board symbols 7-6-1, 7-6-2, and 7-6 shown by broken lines in the sheet region 7-4. 3 and 7-6-4 are the board outline and physical connector board symbols to be set on the editor screen in this operation example.

  As described above, the board outlines 7-5-1 and 7-5-2 are set by the user corresponding to the board circuit diagram design constituting the system circuit diagram design.

  Here, in FIG. 7B, the board outline 7-5-1 shown on the left side is a board circuit diagram design of the control circuit ("" The board circuit diagram design of the control circuit, which is the first circuit board diagram design, is referred to as “board circuit diagram design A”). The board shown on the right side corresponds to the board outline set by the user. The external shape 7-5-2 is a substrate circuit diagram design of a segment circuit which is a second substrate circuit diagram design used to explain this operation example ("substrate circuit diagram design of a segment circuit which is a second substrate circuit diagram design"). Is referred to as “substrate circuit diagram design B”).

Next, FIGS. 7C and 7D are examples of an editor screen in the conventional board circuit diagram design, such as a conventional board circuit diagram design, that is, an IC component symbol, a discrete component symbol, a physical connector board symbol, or the like. Arrangement and connection are performed on this editor screen.

  FIG. 7C shows an editor screen for board circuit diagram design A, and FIG. 7D shows an editor screen for board circuit diagram design B.

  That is, in the operation example of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, the system circuit diagram design is performed with the substrate circuit diagram design A and the substrate circuit diagram design B as processing targets. The board symbols 7-6-1 and 7-6-2 are reflected in the system circuit diagram design, and the physical connector board symbols 7-6-3 and 7-6-4 in the board circuit diagram design B are system circuit diagram designs. Will be reflected.

Next, FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of a display example displayed on the display device 16 in the physical connector extraction process 104.

  More specifically, FIG. 8A shows an example of the display screen 8-1 of the physical connector board symbol input tool, and the board circuit diagram is inputted by inputting the name of the board circuit diagram design in the name designation area 8-2. When a design is designated and the OK button 8-3 is clicked with a mouse or the like, a physical connector extraction process 104 for automatically extracting a physical connector board symbol included in the board circuit diagram design is executed.

  In the process of automatically extracting the physical connector board symbol included in the board circuit diagram design, for example, the type code included in the physical connector board symbol may be automatically extracted as a key.

  FIG. 8B shows an example of a display example in which the physical connector board symbol is extracted from the board circuit diagram design data by the physical connector extraction process 104.

  FIG. 8B shows a state where physical connector board symbols 7-6-1 and 7-6-2 in the board circuit diagram design A are extracted.

Next, FIG. 9 is an example of a display example displayed on the display device 16 in the physical connector placement processing 106, and physical connector board symbols 7-6-1 and 7- are displayed in the area of the board outline 7-5-1. 6B shows a state after the physical connector board symbols 7-6-3 and 7-6-4 are arranged in the area of the board outer shape 7-5-2.

Next, FIGS. 10A and 10B are displayed on the display device 16 in the inter-physical connector connection process 108 in which physical connectors having the same number of pins are connected, that is, physical connectors having the same number of pins are connected. An example of a display example is shown.

  More specifically, FIG. 10A shows an example of the display screen 10-1 of the board symbol automatic connection tool, and the connection between a pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected is automatically performed collectively. Is set.

  That is, the name of one of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected is input to the first designation field 10-2 for designating one of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected, and the one physical connector board In the second designation field 10-3 for designating the symbol and designating the other of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected, enter the name of the other of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected. When the other physical connector board symbol is designated, the first designation field 10 is displayed in the connection pin information display area 10-4 as the attribute of the physical connector board symbol designated in the first designation field 10-2 and the second designation field 10-3. -2 and the connection pin information of the physical connector board symbol designated in the second designation column 10-3 are displayed in a list form.

  Here, the left half column 10-4-1 of the connection pin information display area 10-4 in FIG. 10A shows the connection pin information of the physical connector board symbol designated in the first designation column 10-2. On the other hand, the right half column 10-4-2 of the connection pin information display area 10-4 in FIG. 10A shows the connection pin information of the physical connector board symbol designated in the second designation column 10-3. And the same row is recognized as a pin having a connection relationship.

  In addition, as connection pin information, it may be possible to set attributes such as pin number, IO attribute, comment, or user label.

  Reference numeral 10-5 denotes an OK button. When this OK button 10-5 is clicked with a mouse or the like, a physical connector connection process 108 for connecting the physical connectors is executed.

  FIG. 10B shows an example of a display example of a system circuit diagram in a state after the physical connector board symbols are connected by the signal lines 10-6 and 10-7 by the physical connector connection processing 108. .

  The connection by the signal line 10-6 shows an example of straight connection in which the signal lines do not cross each other, and the connection by the signal line 10-7 shows an example of cross connection by which the signal lines cross each other.

Next, FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, and 11G connect physical connectors having different numbers of pins, that is, connect physical connectors having different numbers of pins. 7 shows an example of a display example displayed on the display device 16 in the physical connector connection process 108.

  More specifically, FIG. 11A shows a system circuit diagram design editor screen 11-1 before physical connectors are connected to each other by signal lines, that is, a table displayed on the display device 16 in the physical connector arrangement processing 106. It is an example of an example.

  In the editor screen 11-1 shown in FIG. 11A, the sheet area and the board outline are not shown, and the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and the 3-pin physical connector board symbol 11-3. And a 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4.

  FIG. 11B shows an example of a display screen 11-5 of the board symbol automatic connection tool. In the board symbol automatic connection tool, a 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and a 3-pin physical connector board symbol 11 are displayed. A setting example for connecting -3 is shown.

  Also, FIG. 11C causes the physical connector connection process 108 for connecting the physical connectors to be executed by clicking the OK button 11-6 on the display screen shown in FIG. An example of a display of a system circuit diagram in a state after a 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and a 3-pin physical connector board symbol 11-3 are connected by a signal line 11-7 is shown.

  FIG. 11D shows a display example after the physical connector connection process 108 on the display screen 11-5 shown in FIG. 11B in the board symbol automatic connection tool.

  FIG. 11E shows an example of the display screen 11-8 of the board symbol automatic connection tool. A new designation field 11-9 for designating the other of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected is newly added. Shows a state in which the 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 is designated, and the remaining 2 pins of the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and the 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 in the automatic board symbol connection tool. A setting example for connecting to is shown.

  Further, FIG. 11 (f) causes the physical connector connection processing 108 for connecting the physical connectors to be executed by clicking the OK button 11-10 with a mouse or the like on the display screen shown in FIG. 11 (e). An example of display of a system circuit diagram in a state after the remaining 2 pins of the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and the 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 are connected by the signal line 11-11 is shown. .

  FIG. 11G is a display example after the physical connector connection process 108 on the display screen shown in FIG. 11E in the board symbol automatic connection tool.

Next, FIG. 12 is an example of a display example of the display screen 12-1 displayed on the display device 16 in the connection check process between physical connectors, and the first pin name display area 12-2 includes a pair of connection targets. One pin name of the physical connector board symbol is displayed, and the other pin name of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected is displayed in the second pin name display area 12-3.

Next, FIGS. 13A, 13 </ b> B, 13 </ b> C, and 13 </ b> D show an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 16 in the parts table output process 110.

  More specifically, FIG. 13A shows an example of the display screen 13-1 of the BOM output tool, and a start sheet number input area for inputting the start sheet number of the system circuit diagram design to be output from the BOM. An end sheet number input area 13-3 for inputting an end sheet number of the system circuit diagram design to be output in 13-2 or the parts table is provided.

  13B is output from the output device 18 by clicking the OK button 13-4 of the BOM output tool shown in FIG. 13A with a mouse or the like to execute the BOM output processing 110. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a parts table.

  FIG. 13C is a display screen 13-5 on the display device 16 showing an example of selection of physical connector board symbols in the file manager of system circuit diagram design.

  FIG. 13D shows a display screen 13-6 of the assist menu in the display device 16 showing the start command for designing the circuit board diagram.

Hereinafter, as an example of the operation of the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, a case where a system circuit diagram design is newly created by the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this case, first, a sheet name “sheet 001 (001. sht)” (refer to the sheet name display area 7-2) is created as a system circuit diagram design sheet in the file manager (see FIG. 7A). ) And a system circuit diagram design editor screen (see FIG. 7B) is displayed on the display device 16.

Next, by the board outline setting process 102, the board outline 7-5-1, 7-5-5 is applied to the sheet area 7-4 of the sheet 001 on the system circuit diagram design editor screen using the pointing device 20 such as a mouse. 2 is set (step S302, step S304).

  Whether to set the board outline shape strictly or to a standard level is left to the user's judgment, but if it is set strictly, board outline setting information is passed to the board design side. You may be made to do.

Next, a physical connector board symbol 7-6-1 arranged in the area of the board outlines 7-5-1 and 7-5-2 set on the system circuit diagram design editor screen by the physical connector extraction processing 104. , 7-6-2, 7-6-3, 7-6-4 are extracted (step S402, step S404, step S406).

  As a specific operation, by using the physical connector board symbol input tool (see FIG. 8A) and specifying the name of the board circuit diagram design A, the board circuit diagram design A can be executed. The included physical connector board symbols 7-6-1 and 7-6-2 are extracted (refer to FIGS. 7C and 8B). Similarly, by using the physical connector board symbol input tool to designate and execute the name of the board circuit diagram design B, the physical connector board symbols 7-6-3, 7 included in the board circuit diagram design B are executed. -6-4 is extracted (see FIG. 7D).

Next, the physical connector symbol 106 is placed in the area of the board outline 7-5-1 by using the pointing device 20 such as a mouse on the system circuit diagram design editor screen by the physical connector placement processing 106 as shown in FIG. 7-6-1 and 7-6-2 are arranged, and physical connector symbols 7-6-3 and 7-6-4 are arranged in the area of the board outline 7-5-2 (Steps S502 and S504). Step S506).

Next, physical connector board symbols having a connection relationship are connected to each other through the physical connector connection processing 108 (steps S602, S604, and S606).

  Specifically, using the board symbol automatic connection tool (see FIG. 10A), the pins in the same row displayed in the connection pin information display area 10-4 are automatically connected together.

  By the way, the connection between the physical connector board symbols is generally either a straight connection or a cross connection, but when the symbol automatic connection tool is used, a display example of the connection pin information display area 10-4 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, when the board symbol 1 and the board symbol 2 are both arranged in ascending order, the pin numbers are arranged in this order, and when the board symbol automatic connection tool is executed in this state, a straight connection as shown by the signal line 10-6 is obtained (FIG. 10). (See (b)).

  On the other hand, in the connection pin information display area 10-4, the substrate symbol automatic connection tool with one of the substrate symbol 1 and the substrate symbol 2 arranged in ascending order and the other arranged in the descending order Is executed, the cross connection as shown by the signal line 10-7 is made (see FIG. 10B).

  The display examples shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B are examples of connection between physical connector board symbols having the same number of pins. However, when connecting physical connector board symbols having different numbers of pins, the display is as follows. is there.

  11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, and 11G are the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and 3-pin physical connector board shown in FIG. An example of connection between a symbol 11-3 and a 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 is shown.

  In this case, first, using a board symbol automatic connection tool (see FIG. 11B), a 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and a 3-pin physical connector board symbol 11-3 are connected. When set and executed in ascending order, as shown in FIG. 11C, the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and the 3-pin physical connector board symbol 11-3 are connected straight through the signal line 11-7. Only the remaining two pins of the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 are displayed on the board symbol automatic connection tool (see FIG. 11D).

  Therefore, when the board symbol automatic connection tool designates a new 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 as shown in FIG. 11E and sets and executes them in the same ascending order as shown above, As shown in f), the remaining two pins of the 5-pin physical connector board symbol 11-2 and the 2-pin physical connector board symbol 11-4 are connected straight through the signal line 11-11. The unconnected pins disappear and no display is made (see FIG. 11G).

Here, in the automatic connection between the physical connector board symbols, the connection state between the physical connector board symbols may be checked before the connection with the signal line by the connection check process between the physical connectors.

  That is, in this system circuit diagram design apparatus 100, it is possible to set attributes such as pin numbers, IO attributes, comments, user labels, etc. as connection pin information of physical connector board symbols. Select the attribute to be executed.

  For example, when a pin name is a check execution target, a difference in pin names is a check target.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, the pin names of the first and third lines in the first pin name display area 12-2 are A and C, respectively, whereas 1 in the second pin name display area 12-3. Since the pin names of the row and the third row are C and A, respectively, the result of the physical connector connection check process is detected as an error, and the cell at the error location is highlighted.

  Therefore, with such a check function, it is possible to check the error of the connection pin information set in the board circuit diagram design. When designing the system circuit diagram, the connection error between the physical connector board symbols and the physical connector board symbol It becomes possible to prevent attribute entry mistakes.

Next, the parts table of the system circuit diagram design is output by the parts table output process 110. Specifically, the parts table output tool is used on the system circuit diagram design (see FIG. 13A). The start number of the sheet number to be output is input and specified in the start sheet number input area 13-2, and the end number of the sheet number to be output is input in the end sheet number input area 13-3. If you specify and execute BOM output, all symbols placed in the board schematic design that are deployed through the physical connector board symbols placed on the system schematic design are symbols for each type. The numbers are totaled and output as a parts table (see FIG. 13B).

  By arranging the physical connector board symbols in the system circuit diagram design in this way, it becomes possible to easily create a bill of materials for all symbols included in the board circuit diagram design.

  Since it is possible to develop the board circuit diagram design through the physical connector board symbol, after selecting the board circuit in the system circuit diagram design file manager (see FIG. 13C), in the assist menu. When “Open board circuit” is selected (see FIG. 13D), the board circuit diagram design is activated. When “Select board symbol” is selected in the assist menu (see FIG. 13D), the physical connector board symbol can be selected.

  Specifically, when the system circuit diagram design file manager shown in FIG. 13C designates and clicks, for example, a segment circuit as a substrate circuit with the pointing device 20, an assist menu shown in FIG. 13D is displayed. When “Open substrate circuit” is designated and clicked on the pointing device 20 in this assist menu, the board circuit diagram design for the segment circuit is activated, while the assist menu shown in FIG. 13D is displayed. In this assist menu, when “select board symbol” is designated and clicked with the pointing device 20, all the physical connector board symbols related to the segment circuit are selected.

  At this time, when the substrate circuit is designated by the pointing device 20 in the file manager of the system circuit diagram design shown in FIG. 13C, for example, if it is designated by double-clicking, the assist menu shown in FIG. It may be set so that the board circuit diagram design of the designated board circuit is automatically started without going through the above.

  In addition, the activation of the board circuit diagram design and the selection of the physical connector board symbol may be performed not on the file manager but on the physical connector board symbol on the system circuit diagram design.

  That is, by selecting a physical connector board symbol on the system circuit diagram design, the board circuit diagram design of the board circuit on which the selected physical connector board symbol is arranged may be activated.

Although detailed explanation is omitted, the net list output by the connection information output process 112 is performed by changing the connection target from the parts table to the connection information for the parts table output process 110. Good.

Since the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 is configured as described above, the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 has excellent effects as described below.

  That is, the system circuit diagram design apparatus 100 designs system circuit diagrams while imagining physical connectors and board outlines used in board design, that is, board outline setting, physical connector extraction / placement, physical connector connection / By performing the check, the parts table output, the connection information output, etc., it becomes possible to connect the plurality of boards without any mistake in the board design as a subsequent process.

The embodiment described above may be modified as described in (1) to (7) below.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the case where each of the pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected by the signal line has a plurality of pins has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. is there.

That is, the present invention can also be applied to a case where each of a pair of physical connector board symbols to be connected by signal lines has a single pin, and a pair of physical connectors to be connected by signal lines. The present invention can also be applied to the case where one of the connector board symbols has a single pin and the other has a plurality of pins,
(2) In the above-described embodiment, detailed description is omitted to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. However, when the physical connector board symbol is arranged in the area of the board outline, the board circuit diagram design is omitted. You may arrange | position so that the relative positional relationship of the pin of a physical connector board | substrate symbol may be hold | maintained.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the signal lines are automatically connected according to the rules and parameters defined in advance has been described in the inter-physical connector connection processing 108. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The signal lines may be connected one by one manually (manual operation) using an input device such as a mouse.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the case where all symbols including the physical connector board symbols are output in the parts table output processing 110 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only the board symbols may be output, or only other symbols excluding the physical connector board symbols may be output.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the check target is the pin name in the inter-physical connector connection check process, but it is not limited to this, and other parameters such as a pin number may be used.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, detailed description is omitted to facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, it is possible to set attributes such as pin number, IO attribute, comment, and user label as connection pin information. It is good.

  (7) You may make it combine suitably the embodiment shown above and the modification shown in said (1) thru | or (6).

  The present invention is preferably used when designing various devices that accommodate a plurality of substrates in one housing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of an embodiment of a system circuit diagram design apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram in which functional features of the system circuit diagram design apparatus are blocked. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the processing routine of the board outline setting process. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a processing routine of physical connector extraction processing. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a processing routine for physical connector placement processing. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a processing routine of physical connector connection processing. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are explanatory diagrams schematically showing main display examples displayed on the display device of the system circuit diagram design device, and FIG. An example of the manager display screen is shown. FIG. 7B shows an example of the editor screen of the system circuit diagram designing apparatus. FIGS. 7C and 7D are views of conventional circuit board design. An example of an editor screen is shown. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a display example displayed on the display device in the physical connector extraction process, and FIG. 8A shows an example of a display screen of the physical connector board symbol input tool. FIG. 8B shows an example of a display example in which a physical connector board symbol is extracted from board circuit diagram design data by physical connector extraction processing. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display displayed on the display device in the physical connector arrangement process. FIGS. 10A and 10B are examples of display examples displayed on the display device in a connection process between physical connectors in which physical connectors having the same number of pins are connected, that is, physical connectors having the same number of pins are connected to each other. FIG. 10A shows an example of a display screen of the board symbol automatic connection tool, and FIG. 10B shows signal lines between physical connector board symbols by physical connector connection processing. 2 shows an example of a display example of a system circuit diagram in a state after being connected by. 11 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) connect physical connectors having different numbers of pins, that is, connect physical connectors having different numbers of pins. FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display example displayed on the display device in the inter-connection processing. FIG. 11A is an editor screen for designing a system circuit diagram before connecting physical connectors with signal lines, that is, physical An example of the display example displayed on the display device in the connector arrangement process is shown. FIG. 11B shows an example of the display screen of the board symbol automatic connection tool, and FIG. By clicking the OK button on the display screen shown in (b) with a mouse or the like, a physical connector connection process for connecting the physical connectors to each other is executed, and the 5-pin physical connector board symbol and the 3-pin are connected. FIG. 11D shows an example of a display example of a system circuit diagram in a state after a physical connector board symbol is connected with a signal line. FIG. 11D is a display screen shown in FIG. FIG. 11E shows an example of the display screen of the board symbol automatic connection tool, and FIG. 11F shows the display example after the physical connector connection process of FIG. Click the OK button on the display screen shown in e) with a mouse or the like to execute a physical connector connection process for connecting the physical connectors to each other, and the remaining 2 pins of the 5-pin physical connector board symbol and the 2-pin physical connector FIG. 11G shows an example of a display example of a system circuit diagram in a state after a board symbol is connected with a signal line, and FIG. It illustrates a display example after a run between physical connector connection processing on the display screen shown in 1 (e). FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the display device in the connection check process between physical connectors. FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are explanatory diagrams showing examples of display screens displayed on the display device in the parts table output process, and FIG. FIG. 13B shows an example of the output tool display screen. FIG. 13B shows an example of executing the BOM output process by clicking the OK button of the BOM output tool shown in FIG. FIG. 13C shows an example of the selection of physical connector board symbols in the file manager, and FIG. 13D shows the start of board circuit diagram design. Indicates a command.

Explanation of symbols

10 Central processing unit (CPU)
12 bus 14 storage device 16 display device 18 output device 20 pointing device 22 character input device 24 input / output interface circuit (I / O)
26 External storage device 28 Read / write device 30 Recording medium 100 System circuit diagram design device 102 Substrate outline setting processing 104 Physical connector extraction processing 106 Physical connector placement processing 108 Physical connector connection processing 110 Parts table output processing 112 Connection information output processing

Claims (9)

A system circuit diagram design apparatus for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between a plurality of board designs,
Board outline setting means for setting a plurality of board outlines;
Physical connector extraction means for extracting a physical connector from a board circuit diagram design corresponding to each of a plurality of boards whose board outline is set by the board outline setting means;
Physical connector placement means for placing the physical connector extracted by the physical connector extraction means in a region of the board outline set by the board outline setting means;
A physical circuit for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between the boards in which the physical connectors arranged in the area of the board outline by the physical connector arrangement means are connected by signal lines and the board outline is set by the board outline setting means. A system circuit diagram design apparatus comprising: a connector connecting means. In the system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 1,
The system circuit diagram design apparatus, wherein the inter-physical connector connecting means checks a connection relation between physical connectors arranged in a region of a board outline by the physical connector arranging means. The system circuit diagram design apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising:
A parts table output means for outputting part information relating to a system circuit diagram generated by the physical connector connecting means;
A system circuit diagram design apparatus comprising: at least one of connection information output means for outputting connection information relating to a system circuit diagram generated by the inter-physical connector connection means. A system circuit diagram design method for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between a plurality of board designs by a system circuit diagram design apparatus ,
A board outline setting step for setting a plurality of board outlines;
A physical connector extraction step of extracting a physical connector from a board circuit diagram design corresponding to each of a plurality of boards whose board outline has been set by the board outline setting step;
A physical connector placement step for placing the physical connector extracted in the physical connector extraction step in a region of the board outer shape set in the substrate outer shape setting step;
A physical circuit for generating a system circuit diagram showing a connection state between the boards in which the physical connectors arranged in the area of the board outline by the physical connector arrangement process are connected by signal lines and the board outline is set by the board outline setting process. A system circuit diagram design method, wherein the system circuit diagram design device executes a connector connection step. In the system circuit diagram design method according to claim 4,
The system circuit diagram design method, wherein the connection step between the physical connectors is performed by checking a connection relation between the physical connectors arranged in the region of the board outline by the physical connector arrangement step. The system circuit diagram design method according to claim 4, further comprising:
A parts table output step for outputting part information relating to the system circuit diagram generated by the physical connector connection step;
A system circuit diagram design method, wherein the system circuit design device executes at least one of a connection information output step of outputting connection information relating to a system circuit diagram generated by the inter-physical connector connection step.   A program for causing a computer to function as the system circuit diagram design apparatus according to claim 1.   The program for making a computer perform the system circuit diagram design method of any one of Claim 4, 5 or 6.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of any one of Claim 7 or 8.