JP5612351B2 - Paneling design apparatus, paneling design method, program, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paneling design apparatus, a paneling design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium, and more specifically, a paneling design apparatus, a paneling design method suitable for use when placing a child board on a parent board, The present invention relates to a program and a computer-readable recording medium.

  In general, when a substrate is mass-produced, a plurality of substrates (corresponding to “child substrates” in the present specification) are arranged on one substrate (corresponding to “parent substrate” in the present specification). In some cases, the efficiency of mass production can be improved, and this method is called “paneling” or “multi-faceted”.

  However, various problems as described below have been pointed out regarding the paneling technique.

[Problems of conventional technology]
(1) In the prior art, the process of placing a child board on a parent board is performed by using an automatic placement function set in advance in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system. Either the sub-boards are arranged on the parent board by the manual operation of the designer.

  Further, the ratio of the child board to the parent board when the child board is arranged on the parent board (hereinafter referred to as “child board occupation ratio” as appropriate) is perceived by the designer through his / her own visual sense. It was.

  However, when the child boards are individually placed on the parent board using the automatic placement function set in advance in the above-described CAD system, generally only one placement result is obtained. There was a problem that there was a possibility that comparative examination was not sufficiently performed.

  On the other hand, when the child boards are individually arranged on the parent board by the manual operation of the designer, there is a problem that the work of the designer becomes complicated and the burden on the designer increases.

  Moreover, in the conventional technology, the child board occupancy is not quantified, and the designer must grasp the child board occupancy sensuously by his own visual sense, so the child board occupancy is accurately grasped. There was a problem that it was not possible.

  Further, in the conventional technology, since the daughter board occupancy rate is not quantified, it is not easy to create a reference for the child board occupancy ratio, and this causes a variation in the daughter board occupancy ratio by the designer. There was a point.

  (2) In the prior art, the process of creating a combination of two sub-boards has been performed only by the manual operation of the designer.

  Further, the two sub-boards combined cannot be handled as one group.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that it takes time to combine the two sub-boards, and it is not easy to combine the sub-boards so that there is no extra space between the sub-boards.

  Further, since the two child boards combined cannot be handled as one group, there is a problem that the two child boards cannot be moved while maintaining the combined state.

  (3) When a substrate having the same external shape with respect to a plurality of substrates is a “same type” substrate, and a substrate having a different external shape with respect to a plurality of substrates is a “different type” substrate, When disposing different kinds of sub-boards on the main board, the designer had to do it manually.

  For this reason, when disposing different kinds of sub-boards on the main board, there has been a problem that it takes time to arrange the sub-boards.

  In the present specification, as described above, those having the same outer shape for a plurality of substrates are defined as “same type”, and those having a different outer shape for a plurality of substrates are defined as “different”. I decided to.

  (4) In the conventional technology, the parent substrate can be used only as the parent substrate when the diversion design is performed.

  That is, when designing the diversion, there is a problem that the existing parent substrate cannot be diverted as a child substrate, and therefore it cannot cope with hierarchical diversion.

  (5) In the prior art, when creating a via for checking the cross section of a hole on the parent board, the layer is formed from all the vias used in the child board by manual operation while the designer visually observes it. One is selected for each configuration, and it is generated by copying it into the hole cross section check area on the parent substrate.

  That is, according to the prior art, when generating a via for checking the cross section of a hole on the parent board, the layer structure is selected for each layer configuration from among all the vias used in the child board by manual operation by the designer. Since it is necessary to extract one, there is a problem that time may be spent for extraction or leakage may occur in extraction.

  (6) In the prior art, the process of adding the identification number to the child board has to be performed manually by the designer.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that it may take time to add the identification number to the child board, or leakage may occur in the addition of the identification number.

  (7) In the conventional technology, when revising the parent board, for example, the position of the reference hole for fixing the parent board is moved only by the manual operation of the designer in order to distinguish it from the parent board before the revision. It was.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that it may take time to move the reference hole, or there may be a leakage of the reference hole.

  (8) In the prior art, when setting the board outline, the designer sets the necessary parameters individually one by one by manual operation.

  For this reason, there are problems such as spending time for setting the necessary parameters and a possibility of omission of necessary parameters.

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 an object of the present invention is to automate processing related to a parent board and a child board, and A paneling design apparatus, a paneling design method, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium that can reduce the human error and the like. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a paneling design apparatus in which a child board is arranged on a parent board, a child board designating unit for designating each of a plurality of child boards, and a plurality of devices designated by the child board designating means. A placement position candidate generating means for generating a plurality of placement position candidates when placing the child board on the parent board, and a placement position candidate presentation for presenting a plurality of placement position candidates generated by the placement position candidate generation means And a sub-board occupancy ratio calculating unit that calculates a ratio of a sub-board occupying the parent board for each of the placement position candidates presented by the placement position candidate presentation unit, and the placement position candidate generation unit Is a placement position when a plurality of child boards are placed on the parent board from the provisional placement candidates after generating a provisional placement candidate that is a provisional child board placement candidate based on the placement direction of the child board If a fixed placement candidate that is a candidate is generated and the placement direction of the child board is a mixture of horizontal placement and vertical placement, one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement is set as the placement direction in the primary placement. And the other arrangement direction is set as the arrangement direction in the secondary arrangement, and the vertical arrangement is set as the primary arrangement, the primary arrangement is set according to the number of child boards arranged as the vertical arrangement. Temporary placement candidates and temporary placement candidates for secondary placement are generated according to the number of child boards to be placed horizontally, and when horizontal placement is set as the primary placement, the placement of child boards to be placed horizontally Temporary placement candidates for the primary placement according to the number, and temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement according to the number of child boards to be placed vertically are generated, and the temporary placement candidates for the primary placement as a reference are aligned. will asked a provisional arrangement candidate of become secondary position, a defined arrangement climate It is obtained so as to generate.

Further, the present invention provides a paneling design apparatus in which a child board is arranged on a parent board, a child board designating unit that designates each of the plurality of child boards, and a plurality of child boards designated by the child board designating unit as the parent board. Arrangement position candidate generation means for generating a plurality of arrangement position candidates for arrangement above, arrangement position candidate presentation means for presenting a plurality of arrangement position candidates generated by the arrangement position candidate generation means, and the arrangement position For each of the placement position candidates presented by the candidate presenting means, there is a child board occupancy rate calculating means for calculating the ratio of the child board occupying the parent board, and the placement position candidate generating means is arranged for placing the child board Based on the direction, after generating a provisional placement candidate that is a provisional child board placement candidate, a fixed placement that is a placement position candidate when placing a plurality of child boards on the parent board from the provisional placement candidate If the placement direction of the child board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement, one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement is set as the placement direction in the primary placement. When the other arrangement direction is set as the arrangement direction in the secondary arrangement, and the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement is a prime number, the sub board is arranged in the one arrangement direction, When the horizontal arrangement and the vertical arrangement are generated as the first provisional arrangement candidates, and the number of child boards in the primary arrangement is other than a prime number, the child boards are arranged in rows in the matrix in the one arrangement direction. When a combination of rows and columns using a column and a column is generated as a second provisional placement candidate, and the provisional placement candidate of the secondary placement is a prime number when the number of child boards in the secondary placement is a prime number The child board is arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the other arrangement direction. When the arrangement in one column is generated as a third provisional arrangement candidate, and the number of child boards in the secondary arrangement is other than a prime number, the child boards are arranged in the other arrangement direction with the rows and columns in the matrix. Using a row × column combination to generate a fourth provisional placement candidate, and when the secondary placement provisional placement candidate is the third provisional placement candidate, the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and When the third temporary placement candidate is brought to the primary placement temporary placement candidate from at least one of the downward directions, and the number of child boards placed in the third temporary placement candidate is “2” The sub-boards that make up the columns or rows are divided into left and right halves or upper and lower halves, and the divided provisional placement candidates are generated by sandwiching the temporary placement candidates of the primary placement with the third provisional placement candidates divided into two. And temporary arrangement of secondary arrangement When the candidate is the fourth provisional placement candidate, the fourth provisional placement candidate is brought to the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction, and Only when the number of sub-boards arranged in the fourth provisional arrangement candidate is an even number, the sub-boards constituting the columns and rows are divided into two halves, the left and right halves or the upper and lower halves, and divided into two. If the candidate is placed so as to sandwich the provisional placement candidate of the primary placement and a fixed placement candidate is generated, and the placement direction of the slave board is either horizontal or vertical, the number of slave boards is a prime number In this case, in the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, those arranged in a horizontal row and a vertical row are generated as provisional arrangement candidates, the provisional arrangement candidates are set as fixed arrangement candidates, and the number of sub-boards is other than a prime number. If so, how to place the child board On the other hand, an arrangement arranged in a row × column combination using rows and columns in a matrix is generated as a provisional arrangement candidate, and this provisional arrangement candidate is set as a final arrangement candidate .

In addition, the present invention provides a minimum interval setting means for setting a minimum interval provided between the child substrates when a plurality of child substrates are brought close to each other, with a minimum interval set by the minimum interval setting means, And a sub board combination creating means for creating a combination of a plurality of sub boards specified by the sub board specifying means .

In the present invention , the child board designating unit designates a plurality of child boards whose outer shapes do not match .

The present invention further includes a parent substrate layering unit that repeats at least one or more times to make a parent substrate a child substrate of another parent substrate .

In the present invention, there is provided a sub board number adding means for adding numbers to all the sub boards arranged on the main board .

Further, the present invention increases the number of versions of the parent board when the design of the parent board is finished and saves it, and is set in advance for the previously saved version of the parent board when the design of the parent board starts. A parent board version managing means for moving parts based on the moving method is provided.

Further, the present invention has a parent board outer shape taking-in means for taking in an existing parent board outer shape .

Further, the present invention provides a paneling design apparatus in which a child board is arranged on a parent board, a child board designating unit that designates each of the plurality of child boards, and a plurality of child boards designated by the child board designating unit as the parent board. Arrangement position candidate generation means for generating a plurality of arrangement position candidates for arrangement above, arrangement position candidate presentation means for presenting a plurality of arrangement position candidates generated by the arrangement position candidate generation means, and the arrangement position For each of the placement position candidates presented by the candidate presenting means, based on the child board occupancy rate calculating means for calculating the ratio of the child board occupying on the parent board, and the holes of all the child boards placed on the parent board And a hole cross-section check via automatic generation means for automatically generating a hole cross-section check via on the parent substrate .

The present invention also provides a paneling design method in which a child board is arranged on a parent board by a paneling design apparatus, wherein a first step of designating a plurality of child boards, and a plurality of children designated by the first step. A second step of generating a plurality of placement position candidates when placing the substrate on the parent substrate; a third step of presenting a plurality of placement position candidates generated by the second step; For each of the placement position candidates presented in step 3, the paneling design apparatus executes a fourth step of calculating the proportion of the child substrate on the parent substrate. In the second step, the child substrate is After generating a temporary placement candidate that is a provisional child board placement candidate based on the placement direction of a plurality of placement boards, the placement position indication when placing a plurality of child boards on the parent board from the provisional placement candidates If the placement direction of the child board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement, one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement is set as the placement direction in the primary placement. When the other arrangement direction is set as the arrangement direction in the secondary arrangement and the vertical arrangement is set as the primary arrangement, the temporary arrangement of the primary arrangement is made according to the number of child boards arranged as the vertical arrangement. The temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are generated according to the number of placement candidates and the number of child boards to be placed horizontally, and when the placement is set as the primary placement, the number of child boards to be placed horizontally The temporary placement candidates for the primary placement and the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are generated according to the number of child boards to be placed in the vertical placement, and the temporary placement candidates for the primary placement as a reference are aligned. will asked a provisional arrangement candidates for the secondary position, of determining the arrangement candidates In which it was to be formed.

The present invention also provides a paneling design method in which a child board is arranged on a parent board by a paneling design apparatus , wherein a first step of designating a plurality of child boards, and a plurality of children designated by the first step. A second step of generating a plurality of placement position candidates when placing the substrate on the parent substrate; a third step of presenting a plurality of placement position candidates generated by the second step; For each of the placement position candidates presented in step 3, the paneling design apparatus executes a fourth step of calculating a proportion of the child substrate on the parent substrate. In the third step, the child substrate is After generating a temporary placement candidate that is a provisional child board placement candidate based on the placement direction of a plurality of placement boards, the placement position indication when placing a plurality of child boards on the parent board from the provisional placement candidates If the placement direction of the child board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement, one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement is set as the placement direction in the primary placement. In addition, the other arrangement direction is set as the arrangement direction in the secondary arrangement, and the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement is determined as the one of the above-described one when the number of sub boards in the primary arrangement is a prime number. In the arrangement direction, those arranged in one horizontal row and one vertical row are generated as the first provisional arrangement candidates, and when the number of sub boards in the primary arrangement is other than a prime number, the sub boards are arranged in the one arrangement direction. , A combination of rows and columns using rows and columns in the matrix is generated as a second provisional placement candidate, and the provisional placement candidate of the secondary placement is a prime number of child boards in the secondary placement. In some cases, the daughter board is placed in the other arrangement direction. When the number of sub-boards in the secondary arrangement is other than a prime number, the sub-boards are arranged in the other arrangement direction in the matrix when the arrangement in the horizontal row and the vertical row is generated as the third provisional arrangement candidate. A row / column combination arranged in a row × column combination is generated as a fourth provisional placement candidate. When the secondary placement provisional placement candidate is the third provisional placement candidate, the left direction, the right The third provisional placement candidate is brought to the primary placement provisional placement candidate from at least one of the direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction, and the number of child boards placed in the third provisional placement candidate is “ 2 ”, the child board constituting the column or row is divided into two halves, the left and right halves or the upper and lower halves, and the third tentative placement candidates divided into two are put together so as to sandwich the temporary placement candidates of the primary placement. Generate placement candidates for When the next temporary placement candidate is the fourth temporary placement candidate, the fourth temporary placement candidate is placed in the primary placement temporary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction. Only when the number of sub-boards arranged in the fourth provisional placement candidate is an even number, the sub-boards constituting the columns and rows are divided into two, left and right or top and bottom halves, and divided into two. A final placement candidate is generated by sandwiching the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement with the fourth provisional placement candidate, and if the placement direction of the child board is either horizontal placement or vertical placement, When the number of boards is a prime number, the arrangement in the horizontal row and the vertical row in the arrangement direction of the child boards is generated as a provisional placement candidate, and this provisional placement candidate is set as a final placement candidate, and the number of child boards If is non-prime In the arrangement direction of the sub-board, a layout in which a combination of rows and columns using rows and columns in the matrix is generated as a provisional placement candidate, and the provisional placement candidate is set as a final placement candidate. is there.

  Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a paneling design apparatus according to the present invention.

  The present invention is also a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to function as the paneling design apparatus according to the present invention.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the processing related to the parent substrate and the child substrate is automated, and the processing related to the parent substrate and the child substrate can be made more efficient. This makes it possible to reduce the number of mistakes and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of an embodiment of a paneling design apparatus according to the present invention that performs processing related to a parent substrate and a child substrate at the stage of manufacturing and designing an electronic substrate. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram obtained by blocking functional features of the paneling design apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of parent board data. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of overall processing by the paneling design apparatus. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the parent board outline capturing process. FIGS. 5B and 5C are image diagrams of the processing contents of the parent board outline capturing process expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing routines for the sub-board placement candidate presentation process and the sub-board occupation ratio presentation process. 7 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) show the sub-board placement candidate presentation process and the sub-board occupancy ratio presentation using the display mode displayed on the display device. It is an image figure of the processing content of a process. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the child board combination creation process. FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E are image diagrams of processing contents of the child board combination creating process expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are explanatory views showing a specific example related to the child board combination creating process. FIG. 10A shows a combination creation example 1, FIG. 10B shows a combination creation example 2, and FIG. 10C shows a combination creation example 3. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the different substrate placement process. FIGS. 12A and 12B are image diagrams of the processing contents of the dissimilar substrate placement processing expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIGS. 13A and 13B are image diagrams of the processing content of the parent substrate layering processing expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the subsidiary board number addition processing. FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D are image diagrams of the processing contents of the child board number adding process expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C are image diagrams of the processing contents of the child board number addition processing expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing. FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C are image diagrams of the processing content of the hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the parent substrate version management process. 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D are image diagrams of the processing contents of the parent board version management processing. FIGS. 21A and 21B are image diagrams of processing contents of a child board combination creation process expressed using a display mode displayed on the display device. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of the processing routine of the automatic placement process when the placement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure (processing flow) of the temporary placement candidate creation processing for the primary placement. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing procedure (processing flow) of the creation processing of the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement and the creation processing of the final placement candidate. FIGS. 25A and 25B are explanatory diagrams illustrating primary placement temporary placement candidates when the number of primary placement child board data is a prime number “3”. FIG. 25A shows the case of one horizontal row, and FIG. 25B shows the case of one vertical column. FIGS. 26A, 26 </ b> B, 26 </ b> C, and 21 </ b> D are explanatory diagrams illustrating primary placement temporary placement candidates when the number of primary placement child board data is “6” other than a prime number. 26A shows the case of 1 row and 6 columns (1 row × 6 columns), and FIG. 26B shows the case of 2 rows and 3 columns (2 rows × 3 columns), and FIG. ) Is a case of 3 rows and 2 columns (3 rows × 2 columns), and FIG. 26D is a case of 6 rows and 1 column (6 rows × 1 column). FIGS. 27A and 27B are explanatory diagrams showing the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement when the number of sub-board data in the secondary placement is a prime number “3”. FIG. 27A shows the case of one horizontal row, and FIG. 27B shows the case of one vertical column. 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D are explanatory diagrams showing secondary placement temporary placement candidates when the number of secondary placement child board data is "6" other than a prime number. FIG. 28A shows the case of 1 row and 6 columns (1 row × 6 columns), and FIG. 28B shows the case of 2 rows and 3 columns (2 rows × 3 columns). ) Is the case of 3 rows and 2 columns (3 rows × 2 columns), and FIG. 28D is the case of 6 rows and 1 column (6 rows × 1 column). 29 (a), (b), (c), and (d), the horizontal arrangement is the primary arrangement, the number of sub-board data in the primary arrangement is designated by the prime number “3”, and the vertical arrangement is performed. Is an explanatory diagram showing an example of creating a definite arrangement candidate when the number of sub-board data in the secondary arrangement is designated by a prime number “3”. FIG. 29A shows a case where the temporary placement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is a horizontal line. FIG. 29B shows a case where the temporary placement candidates for the reference primary placement are one horizontal row and the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are a single vertical row. FIG. 29C shows a case where the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical column and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are in a horizontal line. FIG. 29D shows a case where the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical row and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are in a vertical row. 30 (a) and 30 (b) show the direction in which the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement is shifted with respect to the temporary placement candidate for the reference primary placement, and the right direction with respect to the temporary placement candidate of the reference primary placement. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of creating a definite placement candidate when moving from left to right, from left to right, from up to down, and from down to up. FIG. 30A shows a reference primary layout temporary placement candidate when the primary layout temporary placement candidate is one horizontal line and the secondary layout temporary placement candidate is one horizontal line. On the other hand, there are four combinations of temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement that are shifted from the right direction to the left direction, the left direction to the right direction, the upward direction to the downward direction, and the downward direction to the upward direction. Indicates. FIG. 30B shows the temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement when the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are a single vertical line. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is. 31 (a) and 31 (b) show the direction in which the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement is shifted with respect to the temporary placement candidate for the reference primary placement, and the right direction with respect to the temporary placement candidate of the reference primary placement. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of creating a definite placement candidate when moving from left to right, from left to right, from up to down, and from down to up. FIG. 31A illustrates a case where the reference primary placement temporary placement candidates are arranged in a single column and the secondary placement temporary placement candidates are one horizontal row, the reference primary placement temporary placement candidates. On the other hand, there are four combinations of temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement that are shifted from the right direction to the left direction, the left direction to the right direction, the upward direction to the downward direction, and the downward direction to the upward direction. Indicates. In addition, FIG. 31B shows a temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement in the case where the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical row and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are in a vertical row. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is. 32 (a), (b), (c), and (d), when the number of sub-board data in the secondary layout is “2” out of the prime numbers, the temporary layout candidate in the secondary layout is divided into two, and the reference It is explanatory drawing which shows the creation example which produces a fixed arrangement | positioning candidate so that it may be pinched | interposed from the right and left of the temporary arrangement candidate of this primary arrangement | positioning, and upper and lower sides. In FIG. 32A, when the temporary arrangement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is one horizontal line, the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is divided into two. The combination of the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement sandwiched from the left and right is shown. In addition, FIG. 32B illustrates that when the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a single vertical column and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are one horizontal line, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are two. A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched between the left and right of the temporary placement candidates for the reference primary placement. Further, FIG. 32C illustrates that when the temporary arrangement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are in a single vertical row, the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are 2 A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched from above and below the provisional placement candidates of the reference primary placement. Further, FIG. 32D shows that when the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a single vertical column and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are in a vertical line, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are two. A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched from above and below the provisional placement candidates of the reference primary placement. 33 (a) and 33 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing a display example of confirmed placement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 33A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime number “3”, the horizontal setting is set to a prime number “3”, and the pitch is set to “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set. FIG. 33B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is set as a primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is set as a secondary arrangement. 34 (a) and 34 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of confirmed placement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 34 (a), the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime number “3”, the horizontal setting is set to a prime number “5”, and the pitch is set to “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set. FIG. 34B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is a primary arrangement that is a reference, and the horizontal arrangement is a secondary arrangement that is aligned. FIGS. 35A and 35B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a display example of a confirmed arrangement candidate on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 35 (a), the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime number “3”, the horizontal setting is set to “4” other than the prime number, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. FIG. 35B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is set as a primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is set as a secondary arrangement. 36 (a) and 36 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing a display example of confirmed placement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 36A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime number “3”, the horizontal setting is set to “6” other than the prime number, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. FIG. 36B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is set as a primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is set as a secondary arrangement. 37 (a) and 37 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of confirmed placement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 37A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime “2”, the horizontal setting is set to a prime “2”, and the pitch is set to “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set. FIG. 37B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is a primary arrangement that is a reference, and the horizontal arrangement is a secondary arrangement that is aligned. 38 (a) and 38 (b) are explanatory diagrams illustrating a display example of confirmed placement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In FIG. 38 (a), the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical setting is set to a prime number “2”, the horizontal setting is set to “4” other than the prime number, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. FIG. 38B shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is set as a primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is set as a secondary arrangement. FIGS. 39A, 39B, 39C, and 39D are explanatory diagrams illustrating display examples of confirmed arrangement candidates on the display screen of the display device. In (a-1) of FIG. 39A, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of child board data to be arranged is set to a prime number “2”, and the pitch is set to “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set. Also, (a-2) in FIG. 39 (a) shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate in the setting of (a-1) in FIG. 39 (a). In (b-1) of FIG. 39B, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of sub-boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “3”, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. Also, (b-2) in FIG. 39 (b) shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate in the setting of (b-1) in FIG. 39 (b). Further, in (c-1) of FIG. 39C, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of child boards to be arranged is set to “4” other than the prime number, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to "." Also, (c-2) in FIG. 39 (c) shows a display example of a confirmed arrangement candidate in the setting of (c-1) in FIG. 39 (c). In (d-1) of FIG. 39D, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of sub-boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “5”, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. Also, (d-2) in FIG. 39 (d) shows a display example of a confirmed arrangement candidate in the setting of (d-1) in FIG. 39 (d). 40 (a) and 40 (b) are explanatory diagrams illustrating a display example of a confirmed arrangement candidate on the display screen of the display device. In (a-1) of FIG. 40A, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of child boards to be arranged is set to “6” other than the prime number, and the pitch is set to “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set. Also, (a-2) in FIG. 40 (a) shows a display example of a confirmed arrangement candidate in the setting of (a-1) in FIG. 40 (a). In (b-1) of FIG. 40B, the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only”, the number of child boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “7”, and the pitch is “10.0”. It is an example of a display when set to. Also, (b-2) in FIG. 40 (b) shows a display example of a fixed arrangement candidate in the setting of (b-1) in FIG. 40 (b). FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram relating to the combination creation example 3 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of a paneling design apparatus, a paneling 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.

I. 1. Description of Hardware Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of an embodiment of a paneling design apparatus according to the present invention that performs processing related to a parent board and a child board at the stage of manufacturing and designing an electronic board. It is shown.

  A paneling design apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “paneling design apparatus” as appropriate) 10 according to the present invention is constructed on, for example, a CAD system, and has a hardware configuration of a known personal computer system or general-purpose computer. It is realized by a computer system or the like, and is configured to control the entire operation using a central processing unit (CPU) 12.

  The CPU 12 is provided with a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a program for controlling the CPU 12, which will be described later, various data, and a storage area used as a working area for the CPU 12, via the bus 14. Generated by a storage device (memory) 16 composed of a random access memory (RAM), a display device 18 having a screen such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel that performs various displays based on the control of the CPU 12, and a control of the CPU 12 An output device 20 such as a printer for outputting various data, a pointing device 22 such as a mouse for specifying an arbitrary position on the screen of the display device 18, and an input device for inputting arbitrary characters. A character input device 24 such as a keyboard is connected to the outside. An input-output interface circuit (I / O) 26 seeds devices are connected.

  In the paneling design apparatus 10, an external storage device 28 such as a hard disk is connected via the I / O 26, and a computer-readable recording medium such as a compact disk (CD) or a flexible disk (FD). (Hereinafter referred to simply as “recording medium” as appropriate) 30 Read / write for writing various data generated under the control of the CPU 12 to the memory 30 and reading various data stored in the recording medium 30 into the memory 16 A device 32 is connected via the I / O 26.

  Here, a program for executing processing by the paneling design apparatus 10 to be 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 memory 16, or externally. You may make it read into the random access memory of the memory 16 from the memory | storage device 28 or the recording medium 30. FIG.

  In addition, the paneling design apparatus 10 is provided with a communication function so that a program for executing processing by the paneling design apparatus 10 and various data used for the processing are transmitted from various external devices to the memory 16 of the paneling design apparatus 10 by communication. The random access memory may be read, or various data may be output from the paneling design apparatus 10 to various external devices by communication.

  In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the paneling design apparatus 10, a program for executing processing by the paneling design apparatus 10 described later and various data used for the processing are stored in the memory 16 in advance. It shall be.

  In addition, a plurality of paneling design apparatuses 10 are connected by a network such as a LAN or a WAN, and various types of data can be transmitted / received between the plurality of paneling design apparatuses 10, and various data can be transmitted between the plurality of paneling design apparatuses 10. Various processes may be performed by sharing.

II. Description of Functional Features of Paneling Design Apparatus 10 In the configuration described above, processing related to a parent board and a child board executed by the paneling design apparatus 10 will be described in detail below.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram in which the functional features of the paneling design apparatus 10 described above are blocked. In the paneling design apparatus 10, the CPU 12 controls the parent board and the child board. As processing, child substrate arrangement candidate presentation processing 10A, child substrate occupation ratio presentation processing 10B executed as one processing in child substrate arrangement candidate presentation processing 10A, child substrate combination creation processing 10C, and heterogeneous child substrate arrangement processing 10D Then, a parent board layering process 10E, a child board number addition process 10F, a hole cross-section check via automatic creation process 10G, a parent board version management process 10H, and a parent board outline capturing process 10I are executed.

  By appropriately executing each of the above-described processes, it becomes possible to improve the efficiency of the processes related to the parent board and the child board, and to reduce human errors.

III. Explanation about parent board data and child board data In each processing explained in the above II, main board data and child board data are mainly used among various data stored in the memory-16. First, the master board data and the slave board data will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of parent board data. The parent board data is arranged in a child board data arrangement area 40a in which child board data can be arranged, and in the child board data arrangement area 40a. Sub-board data 40b, hole cross-section check via data generation area 40c capable of automatically generating hole cross-section check via data, and hole cross-section check via data 40d automatically generated in the hole cross-section check via data generation area In addition to the reference hole data 40e, data such as guides, targets, marks, and the like used for alignment are included, and the parent substrate data is a collection of these data.

  Further, the sub-board data means a generic name of the board data arranged in the sub-board data arrangement area 40a of the parent board data. It should be noted that when the sub board data is arranged in the sub board data arrangement area 40a, the state of data designated as the sub board data is assumed to include a state constituted by a plurality of boards in addition to the single board. .

Further, in the present embodiment, the sub board data arrangement area 40a has a rectangular shape, and the outer shape of the parent board also has a rectangular shape.

  Then, in the clearance between the outer shape of the child board data arrangement area 40a and the outer shape of the parent board (hereinafter referred to as “parent board outer shape clearance” as appropriate), the upper parent board outer shape clearance in the rectangular shape is the upper side parent board outer shape clearance. 42a, the lower parent board outer clearance is the lower parent board outer clearance 42b, the left parent board outer clearance is the left parent board outer clearance 42c, and the right parent board outer clearance is the right parent board outer clearance 42d.

  Therefore, the size of the outer shape of the sub-board data arrangement area 40a is changed from the size of the parent board (hereinafter referred to as “parent board outer size” as appropriate) to the parent board outer clearance for each side (upper parent parent board outer clearance). 42a, lower side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42b, left side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42c and right side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42d).

  Note that the values of the upper side parent board outer shape clearance 42a, the lower side parent board outer shape clearance 42b, the left side parent board outer shape clearance 42c, and the right side parent board outer shape clearance 42d can be arbitrarily set by the user by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. Enter a value.

IV. Description of Overall Processing Hereinafter, the processing related to the parent board and the child board executed by the paneling design apparatus 10 will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart and a display mode displayed on the display device 18.

  First, in this section, the entire process (overall process) related to the parent board and the child board executed by the paneling design apparatus 10 will be described.

  In the following description after this section, the sub-board data used by the paneling design apparatus 10 is generated by a general printed circuit board CAD / CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) design apparatus or the paneling design apparatus 10 that is conventionally known. Shall be.

Here, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart showing the overall processing related to the parent board and the child board executed by the paneling design apparatus 10.

  When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command for instructing the paneling design apparatus 10 to start processing related to the parent board and the child board by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the flowchart of FIG. The processing routine of the entire process shown is started.

  When the processing routine of the entire process is started, first, various parameters are set based on various information input by the user operating the pointing device 22 and the character input device 24.

  In particular, in relation to the present invention, the upper side parent board outer shape clearance 42a, the lower side parent board outer shape clearance 42b, the left side parent board outer shape clearance 42c, and the right side parent board that are input by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. The value of the outer clearance 42d is set to set the parent substrate outer clearance (step S402).

  When the process of step S402 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S404. As a mode for setting the value of the parent board outer size by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user, “fixed mode” (hereinafter, “fixed” It is determined whether or not “automatic mode (hereinafter referred to as“ automatic ”)” is selected.

  Here, the fixed mode is a mode in which a desired value input by the user by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 is set as the value of the parent board outer size. At that time, by using the parent substrate outer shape capturing process 10I, an existing parent substrate outer shape size may be acquired and used, and details thereof will be described later.

  On the other hand, in the automatic mode, by arranging the sub board data in the main board data, the minimum rectangle surrounding the sub board data automatically becomes the size of the outer shape of the sub board data arrangement area 40a, and this sub board data arrangement area 40a. From the size of the outer shape, the parent substrate outer shape clearance for each side (the upper side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42a, the lower side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42b, the left side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42c and the right side parent substrate outer shape clearance 42d set in step S402). ) Is a mode in which a value obtained by adding () is set as the outer size of the parent board.

  That is, in the automatic mode, the child board data is arranged on the parent board data, so that the size of the outer shape of the child board data arrangement area 40a and the parent board outer size are automatically determined. . As described above, the size of the external shape of the sub board data arrangement area 40a is changed from the parent board outline size to the parent board outline clearance for each side (upper side parent board outline clearance 42a, lower side parent board outline clearance 42b, This is because the values are obtained by subtracting the left-side parent board outline clearance 42c and the right-side parent board outline clearance 42d).

  If it is determined in the determination process in step S404 that the fixed mode is selected as the mode for setting the board outer size value, the process proceeds to step S406, and the parent board outer size is set in accordance with the fixing mode. To do.

  That is, an arbitrary desired value input by the user by the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 one by one is set as the value of the parent substrate outer size. At that time, the existing parent board outline size may be taken in and used by using the parent board outline import processing 10I.

  When the process of step S406 is completed, the process proceeds to step S408.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that the automatic mode is selected as the mode for setting the value of the board outer size, the process jumps to step S408.

In the process of step S408, one or more child board data specified by the user by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 is arranged and set on the parent board data. As the processing, the arrangement may be set by using a technique of individually arranging the child board data one by one in the child board data arrangement area 40a of the parent board data by a conventionally known technique. Of course, in the present embodiment, the parent / parent arrangement using the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A, the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B, the child board combination creation process 10C, and the heterogeneous child board arrangement process 10D is used. A method for arranging the sub board data on the board data and setting the arrangement will be described. The details will be described later for each process.

  In addition, since it is obvious that the child board data is arranged in the child board data arrangement area 40a, in the following description, when “the arrangement of the child board data” is described, “in the child board data arrangement area 40a”. The description will be omitted as appropriate.

  When the process of step S408 is completed, the process proceeds to step S410, and whether the fixed mode is selected as the mode for setting the value of the board outer size by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user, Alternatively, it is determined whether the automatic mode is selected.

  If it is determined in step S410 that the automatic mode is selected as the mode for setting the value of the board outer size, the process proceeds to step S412 to set the parent board outer size in accordance with the automatic mode. .

  That is, the minimum rectangle surrounding the child board data arranged on the parent board data in the processing of step S408 is automatically set as the size of the outer shape of the child board data arrangement area 40a, and the outer size of the child board data arrangement area 40a. To the parent board outline clearance for each side (the upper side parent board outline clearance 42a, the lower side parent board outline clearance 42b, the left side parent board outline clearance 42c, and the right side parent board outline clearance 42d set in step S402). The value is set as the parent board outer size.

  When the process of step S412 is completed, the process proceeds to step S414.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S410 that the fixed mode is selected as the mode for setting the value of the substrate outer size, the process jumps to the process of step S414.

  In the process of step S414, it is determined whether or not hierarchization has been selected by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user.

  If it is determined in step S414 that hierarchization has been selected (Yes), the process proceeds to step S416, and the parent substrate data is stored as child substrate data. Return to processing.

  In other words, the processing in step S414 and step S416 is a processing step corresponding to the parent substrate layering processing 10E, and processing in which the parent substrate is a child substrate of another parent substrate is executed. Details of the parent substrate layering process 10E will be described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S414 that the hierarchization is not selected (No), the process proceeds to step S418, and the child board number addition process 10F adds the parent board data. An identification number is added to the arranged sub board data. Details of the sub board number adding process 10F will be described later.

  When the process of step S418 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S420, and the hole section check via data 40d is added to the hole section check via data generation area 40c of the parent board data by the hole section check via automatic generation process 10G. Is automatically generated. The details of the hole cross-section check via automatic generation process 10G will be described later.

  When the process of step S420 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S422, and the version of the parent board data is updated by the parent board version management process 10H. Details of the parent substrate version management process 10H will be described later.

  When the process of step S422 is completed, the process proceeds to step S424, the parent substrate data is stored in the memory 16, and the process ends. As a result, parent substrate data is generated.

Note that the processing procedure of the overall processing described above is merely an example, and the processing steps may be in any order as long as they do not hinder the operation.

  For example, the order of the process of step S418, the process of step S420, and the process of step S422 may be changed as appropriate.

V. Description of Parent Board Outline Capture Process 10I Available in Step S406 In this section, the parent board outline capture process 10I available in step S406 will be described.

  According to the parent substrate outer shape capturing process 10I, the existing parent substrate outer shape size can be loaded into the paneling design apparatus 10, and details thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c). To do.

  FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the parent board outline capturing process 10I.

  FIGS. 5B and 5C are image diagrams of the processing contents of the parent board outer shape capturing process 10I represented using the display mode displayed on the display device 18.

  Note that in a conventional general printed circuit board CAD / CAM design apparatus, a layer number is assigned for each attribute of data constituting the board, such as a board outline, a wiring pattern, resist, or silk. In addition, similarly to a conventionally well-known general printed circuit board CAD / CAM design apparatus, it is assumed that data can be processed corresponding to data having the same layer configuration as described above.

  The handling of data having a layer configuration is the same as that of a conventional general printed circuit board CAD / CAM design apparatus that has been conventionally known. The detailed description of the processing is omitted by using the above.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command for instructing the start of execution of the parent board outline capturing process 10I by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the parent board outline shown in the flowchart of FIG. The processing routine of the capturing process 10I is started.

  When the processing routine of the parent substrate outline import processing 10I is started, first, the specified existing parent substrate data is set as a processing target based on the specification by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. (Step S502).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the processing routine of the parent board outline capturing process 10I is started, a screen as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display device 18.

  The user operates the pointing device 22 to select the existing use button 50a-1 in the outline window 50a on the screen shown in FIG. 5B, and any one of the existing outline files, that is, the parent file in the outline file window 50b. One of the existing parent board data for which the board outer size has been designated is designated by the file name 50b-1. Reference numeral 50 b-2 is a pull-down button for listing file names of existing parent board data set in advance in the paneling design apparatus 10.

  In accordance with the designation by the above operation, in step S502, the designated existing parent board data is set as a processing target.

  Incidentally, when the shape creation button 50a-2 is selected in the outline window 50a, the parent board outline size is designated by an arbitrary value one by one as described above without taking in the existing parent board outline size. Then, the setting process is performed.

  When the process of step S502 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S504, and the panel number of the parent board outline of the parent board data being designed in the paneling design apparatus 10 and the parent board outline of the existing parent board data set in step S502. Connect the layer number. In the following description, the connection between layers is appropriately referred to as “layer mapping”.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. The layer mapping tool 50b-3 is clicked in the outline file window 50b to activate the layer mapping tool, and the layer mapping screen 50c shown in FIG. Display.

  When the automatic map button 50c-1 is clicked on the layer mapping screen 50c shown in FIG. 5C, for example, the layer number 4 (reference numeral 50c-2) of the parent board data being designed by the paneling design apparatus 10 is referred to. ), The layer number 55 (see reference numeral 50c-3) of the existing parent board data is layer-mapped in the same row.

  This is because the layer number 4 of the parent board data being designed by the paneling design apparatus 10 and the layer number 55 of the existing parent board data are both board outer layers, and therefore the paneling design apparatus 10 has the same layer attribute. This is the result of layer mapping of the numbers.

  In accordance with the above operation, in step S504, the layer number of the parent board outline of the parent board data being designed by the paneling design apparatus 10 is linked to the layer number of the parent board outline of the existing parent board data set in step S502. , Layer mapping is performed.

  When the process in step S502 is completed, the process proceeds to step S506, and the existing parent board outer size is copied to the parent board data being designed by the paneling design apparatus 10.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the OK button 50c-4 is clicked on the layer mapping screen 50c, the process of copying the existing parent board outline size to the parent board data being designed by the paneling design apparatus 10 is completed. To do.

As described above, the existing parent board outline size can be imported into the paneling design apparatus 10 by the parent board outline import processing 10I.

VI. Detailed description of “placement and setting of child board data on parent board data” in S408 (child board placement candidate presentation processing 10A, child board occupation rate presentation processing 10B, child board combination creation processing 10C and heterogeneous board placement processing 10D explanation)
Hereinafter, as details of the processing in step S408, the sub-board placement candidate presentation processing 10A, the sub-board occupation ratio presentation processing 10B, the sub-board combination creation processing 10C, and the heterogeneous sub-board placement processing 10D are used on the parent / parent board data. A method for arranging sub board data and setting the arrangement will be described.

VI-1. Explanation of Child Board Placement Candidate Presentation Process 10A and Child Board Occupancy Rate Presentation Process 10B A method of placing child board data on parent board data by means of child board placement candidate presentation process 10A and child board occupancy rate presentation process 10B is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g).

  Note that FIG. 6 shows a child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and a child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B (the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B is a process within the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A as described above. It is a process executed).

  7A, 7 </ b> B, 7 </ b> C, 7 </ b> D, 7 </ b> E, 10 </ b> F, and 10 </ b> G show the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10 </ b> A and child displayed using the display mode displayed on the display device 18. It is an image figure of the processing content of the board | substrate occupation rate presentation process 10B.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command instructing the start of execution of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, FIG. The processing routine of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B shown in the flowchart is started.

  When the processing routines of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B are started, first, the designated child boards are designated based on designation by the user through the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. Data and the number thereof are set (step S602). More specifically, as the sub board data to be arranged in the main board data, the sub board data designated by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 and the number of the sub board data are set as processing targets. become.

  The data specified as the sub board data may be a single board state, or may be a state constituted by a plurality of board data (board data 1 and board data 2) as shown in FIG. Good.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the processing routines of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B are started, the display device 18 displays the processing routine as shown in FIG. A screen will be displayed.

  The user operates the pointing device 22 to input the file name (refer to reference numeral 70a-1) of the file specified as the child board data in the input file name window 70a on the screen shown in FIG. 7B. , The number of inputs (refer to reference numeral 70a-2) is input.

  It should be noted that the specification contents of the sub board data shown in FIG. 7B indicate that eight pieces of the same sub board data are specified.

  In accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, in step S602, the designated child board data and the number thereof are set as processing targets.

  In the following description, the contents of designation shown in FIG. 7B, that is, a case where the same sub-board data is designated by the number of 8 will be described as an example.

  When the process of step S602 is completed, the process proceeds to step S604, and the arrangement method of the designated child board data is set based on the designation by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user.

  More specifically, one of “vertical only”, “horizontal only”, and “vertical and horizontal freedom” designated by the user's operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 is set as the arrangement direction of the sub board data. become.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. On the screen shown in FIG. 7C displayed on the display device 18 by starting the processing routines of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A and the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B. In the arrangement method window 70b, one of “vertical only”, “horizontal only”, and “vertical and horizontal freedom” (refer to reference numeral 70b-2) is selected as an arrangement direction (refer to reference numeral 70b-1).

  When “arbitrary vertical and horizontal freedom” is selected as the arrangement direction in the arrangement method window 70b, the arrangement is arranged as vertical (refer to reference numeral 70b-3) in accordance with the number of input sub board data set in step S602. The number of sub-board data to be placed (refer to reference numeral 70b-4) is input, and the number of sub-board data to be arranged horizontally (refer to reference numeral 70b-5) (refer to reference numeral 70b-6). .)

  If “vertical only” is selected as the arrangement direction in the arrangement method window 70b, all the sub-board data of the number of inputs set in step S602 are arranged as a vertical arrangement, and the arrangement method window When “horizontal only” is selected as the arrangement direction in 70b, all the sub-board data of the number of inputs set in step S602 are arranged side by side.

  Here, when the child board data is arranged horizontally, the child board data is arranged in the parent board data in the state shown in FIG. 7A, that is, in the default arrangement direction.

  On the other hand, when the sub board data is arranged vertically, the sub board data is arranged on the main board data in the state shown in FIG. 7A, that is, rotated 90 degrees from the default arrangement direction. become. In the paneling design apparatus 10, it is assumed that the designation of the rotation direction (clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction) when rotating 90 degrees can be arbitrarily designated. In the paneling design apparatus 10, the rotation axis when rotating 90 degrees is the center point of the data to be processed (point C in the example shown in FIG. 7A).

  In the example shown in FIG. 7C, “vertical and horizontal freedom” is selected as the arrangement direction in the arrangement method window 70b, and four pieces are input as the number of child board data to be placed vertically. The number of four is input.

  When the process of step S604 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S606, and the placement position candidate for placing the child board data on the parent board data (in this specification, “place the child board data on the parent board data”). At this time, at least one “candidate arrangement position” is appropriately referred to as “sub-board arrangement candidate”. More specifically, one or more child board placement candidates are created by automatically placing the child board data into the parent board data by an automatic placement process using a known algorithm or an automatic placement process according to the present invention, which will be described later. Candidates are displayed on the display device 18 and presented respectively (see FIGS. 7D and 7F).

  FIG. 7D shows an example of a plurality of child board arrangement candidates when the mode for setting the value of the board outer size is “automatic” and the arrangement direction is designated as “horizontal only”. FIG. 7E is a partially enlarged view of the sub board occupation rate display area in FIG.

  On the other hand, FIG. 7F shows a case where the mode for setting the value of the board outer size is “automatic”, the arrangement direction is “free vertical and horizontal”, “4” is set in the vertical position, and “4” is specified in the horizontal position. Shows an example of a plurality of sub-board placement candidates. FIG. 7G is a partially enlarged view of the sub board occupation rate display area in FIG.

  The automatic placement processing according to the present invention for automatically placing the child board data on the parent board data to create a child board placement candidate will be described in detail later.

  When the process of step S606 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S608, and the ratio of the child board data occupying the parent board data is calculated for each child board placement candidate by the child board occupancy rate presentation process 10B. The result is displayed on the display device 18 in percentage (%) (refer to the reference numeral 70c-2) together with the area of the sub board data (refer to the reference numeral 70c-1) (FIG. 7 (d)). 7 (e) which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7 (d) and FIG. 7 (g) which is a partially enlarged view of FIGS. 7 (f) and 7 (f).

  When the process of step S608 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S610, sorted in descending order of the child board occupancy, and the results are displayed on the display device 18 and presented respectively (FIGS. 7D and 7D). (See FIG. 7 (e), which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7), and FIG. 7 (g), which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7 (f) and FIG. 7 (f).

  In the example shown in FIG. 7 (e) which is a partially enlarged view of FIGS. 7 (d) and 7 (d) and FIG. 7 (g) which is a partially enlarged view of FIGS. 7 (f) and 7 (f). In addition, numbers (No) (see reference numeral 70c-3) are assigned in descending order for each sub-board placement candidate, and the order from the higher sub-board occupation ratio is shown.

  In the examples shown in FIG. 7D and FIG. 7F, the number of sub-board arrangement candidates that can be displayed at one time is up to four.

  Here, if there is a next candidate for the sub-board placement candidate, as shown in FIG. 7 (f), the >> button 70d is displayed in black and can be clicked (that is, the next candidate for the sub-board placement candidate). Present state).

  On the other hand, when there is no next candidate for the sub-board placement candidate, as shown in FIG. 7D, the >> button 70d is displayed in gray, so that it cannot be clicked (that is, there is a next candidate for the sub-board placement candidate). State).

  Here, if the number of actual sub-board placement candidates is 10, the >> button 70d is clicked once to present four next sub-board placement candidates, and then the >> button 70d is clicked again. When two next sub-board placement candidates are presented, the >> button 70d is grayed out and cannot be clicked, and it can be confirmed that the number of sub-board placement candidates is finally ten.

  For the time being, when it is desired to check only the number of sub-board placement candidates, the above-described operation becomes complicated. Therefore, the total number of sub-board placement candidates is calculated in advance, and the result (in this case, 10). May be separately displayed on the display device 18 for presentation.

  When the process of step S610 described above is completed, the process proceeds to step S612, and the arrangement by one child board arrangement candidate selected from the plurality of child board arrangement candidates by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user is performed. This is set as the arrangement of the child board data in the parent board data.

  When the process of step S612 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S614. The arrangement of the child board data in the parent board data set in the process of step S612 is changed to the child board data in the child board data arrangement area 40a of the parent board data. This processing routine is terminated.

VI-2. Description of Sub-Board Combination Creation Process 10C FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9B, 9C, and 9D show a method for arranging the sub-board data combined on the parent board data by the sub-board combination creation process 10C. e), FIG. 10 (a) (b) (c), FIG. 21 (a) (b) and FIG. 41 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the child board combination creation process 10C.

  9 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e), FIG. 10 (a) (b) (c), FIG. 21 (a) (b) and FIG. It is an image figure of the processing content of child board combination creation processing 10C represented using the display mode etc. which are performed.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command instructing the start of execution of the child board combination creation process 10C by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the child board combination creation process 10C shown in the flowchart of FIG. This processing routine is started.

  When the processing routine of the child board combination creation process 10C is started, first, the designated reference data and the alignment data are set based on designation by the user by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 (step S802). More specifically, for the two sub-board data for creating a combination, the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to designate one of them as reference data and the other as reference data. The designated reference data and alignment data are set as processing targets.

  The reference data and the alignment data may be the same kind of sub board data or different kinds of sub board data.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the processing routine of the slave board combination creation process 10C is started, a screen as shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the display device 18.

  The user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to input the file name (refer to reference numeral 90a-1) of the file designated as the reference data in the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. At the same time, the file name (refer to reference numeral 90a-2) of the file specified as the alignment data is input to specify the reference data and the alignment data.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S802, the designated reference data and alignment data are set as processing targets.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9A, different kinds of sub board data are designated as the reference data and the alignment data.

  When the process of step S802 is completed, the process proceeds to step S804, where the presence / absence of reversal of the shift data is set based on the designation by the user through the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. More specifically, when the user designates that the alignment data is to be inverted 180 degrees by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, it is set that the alignment data is inverted. On the other hand, it is specified that the alignment data is inverted 180 degrees. If not, it is set that there is no inversion of the data.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. In the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. 9A, when the user clicks the reverse button 90a-3 by operating the pointing device 22, the shift data is inverted 180 degrees. If the reversal button 90a-3 is not clicked, the reversal data is not reversed 180 degrees.

  In step S804, whether or not the inversion data is reversed, that is, whether or not the inversion data is inverted by 180 degrees is set in accordance with the designation by the operation described above.

  When the process of step S804 is completed, the process proceeds to step S806, where the rotation angle of the reference data and the rotation angle of the shift data are set based on designation by the user by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, respectively.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. In the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. 9A, the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to operate the rotation angle value (reference numeral 90a- 4) and a value of the rotation angle of the shift data (see reference numeral 90a-5) is input to specify the rotation angle of the reference data and the rotation angle of the shift data. When inputting the rotation angle, as the specification of the paneling design apparatus 10, the angle may be increased in the clockwise direction, or the angle may be increased in the counterclockwise direction.

  When the rotation angle is not designated, the rotation angle is input as 0 degrees in the above operation.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S806, the rotation angle of the reference data and the rotation angle of the shift data are set.

  When the process of step S806 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S808, and the alignment direction of the alignment data is set based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. More specifically, the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to change the alignment direction of the alignment data from “bottom to top”, “top to bottom”, “right to left”, or “left to right”. By designating one of them, the designated approach direction is set.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. In the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. 9A, the user operates the pointing device 22 to move the bottom direction to “down to top”, “top to bottom”, “ A pull-down menu 90a-7 for opening a pull-down menu for listing "right to left" and "left to right" is clicked to open the pull-down menu. Select from "Bottom to Top", "Top to Bottom", "Right to Left", or "Left to Right".

  In accordance with the designation by the above operation, in step S808, the alignment direction of the alignment data is set.

  FIG. 9A shows a state in which “bottom to top” (refer to reference numeral 90a-7) is selected and specified as the shifting direction.

  When the process of step S808 is completed, the process proceeds to step S810, and the pitch between the reference data and the shift data is set based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24.

  Note that the above-mentioned pitch is the minimum interval between data, and in the paneling design apparatus 10, access between data exceeding the pitch (minimum interval) is prohibited, and even if the child board data are brought close to each other, At least an interval set as a pitch is provided.

  That is, this pitch sets the minimum interval provided between the sub-boards when a plurality of sub-boards are brought close to each other.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. In the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. 9A, the user refers to the pitch value (reference numeral 90a-9) by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. .) To specify the pitch.

  In accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, in step S810, the pitch between the reference data and the alignment data is set.

  When the process in step S810 is completed, the process proceeds to step S812, where the user designates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by operating the reference data and the alignment data. It means the actual outer shape of the board data)), or it is determined whether or not.

  Here, when the user specifies that the reference data and the alignment data are matched with each other in the actual shape, the check is performed by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 in the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. If the box 90a-10 is checked and the user does not specify that the reference data and the alignment data are matched with the actual shape, the check box 90a-10 is not checked.

  If it is not specified that the reference data and the alignment data are matched with the actual shape, both the reference data and the alignment data are handled as rectangular data.

  If it is determined in the determination process of step S812 that the user designation is to match the reference data and the alignment data with the actual shape (Yes), the process proceeds to step S814, and the pointing device 22 or In accordance with the designation by the operation of the character input device 24, whether or not to match on the opposite side is set, and the process proceeds to step S816.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. The user operates the pointing device 22 and clicks the position adjustment button 90a-11 in the combination creation window 90a shown in FIG. The position adjustment window 90b shown in FIG. When designating the matching on the opposite side, the check box 90b-1 is checked by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 in the position adjustment window 90b shown in FIG. If it is not specified to match on the opposite side, the check box 90b-1 is not checked.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S814, whether or not to match on the opposite side is set.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined in the determination process of step S812 that the user's designation is to match the reference data and the alignment data with the actual shape (No), the process jumps to the process of step S816.

  In the child board combination creation process 10C, the process of bringing the shift data to the reference data is automatically performed as needed in accordance with the settings in the respective processing steps of Steps S802 to S814.

  At this time, in the paneling design apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 9A, on the board display area 90a-12 of the combination creation window 90a, according to the setting in each processing step of step S802 to step S814 described above. Since the registration status of the data to the reference data, that is, the combination status of the sub board data is displayed in real time, the user can input an instruction for setting in each processing step while checking the display. it can.

  In the process of step S816, the process of finely adjusting the combination status of the sub board data according to the setting in each of the above-described steps S802 to S814, that is, the position of the shift data with respect to the reference data is vertically and horizontally. Processing for fine adjustment is performed.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the user desires to perform a process of finely adjusting the position of the shift data in the vertical and horizontal directions, the user operates the pointing device 22 to display FIG. In the combination creation window 210a after the process of step S814 shown in (1) of FIG. 21 is completed, the position adjustment button 210a-1 is clicked to display the position adjustment window 210b shown in (1) of FIG. .

  Then, in the position adjustment window 210b shown in (1) of FIG. 21B, for example, the X direction (the X direction means the horizontal direction in the board display area 210a-2 of the combination creation window 210a). Pressing the button 210b-1 five times (instead of pressing the + button 210b-1 five times, “5.0” is input to the numerical value input area 210b-2 and the + button 210b-1 is pressed once. (Refer to (2) in FIG. 21B).

  At this time, if the reference data and the shift data are not closer than the pitch set in step S810, it is possible to execute the process of step S818 described later. When approaching the pitch set in S810, a warning message “The distance between files cannot be maintained” is displayed (see (2) in FIG. 21A), which will be described later. The execution of the process of step S818 is prohibited.

  On the other hand, in the position adjustment window 210b shown in (1) of FIG. 21B, for example, the X-direction −button 210b-3 is pressed five times (instead of pressing the −button 210b-3 five times, a numerical value input area It is the same even if "5.0" is input to 210b-2 and the -button 210b-3 is pressed once) (see (3) in FIG. 21B).

  At this time, since the reference data and the alignment data are not closer than the pitch set in step S810 (see (2) in FIG. 21A), the processing of step S818 described later is performed. Enable execution.

  Although the fine adjustment in the X direction has been described above, the fine adjustment in the Y direction (Y direction means the vertical direction in the board display area 210a-2 of the combination creation window 210a). By using the + button 210b-4, the-button 210b-5 and the numerical value input area 210b-6, the same processing as the fine adjustment in the X direction described above can be performed.

  Further, in the paneling design apparatus 10, during the process of step S816, the X direction + button 210b-1, the X direction-button 210b-3, the Y direction + button 210b-4, or the Y direction-button 210b. Every time -5 is pressed, in the board display area 210a-2 of the combination creation window 210a, the situation of fine adjustment of the combination status of the sub board data, that is, the position of the shift data with respect to the reference data is finely adjusted up, down, left and right. Since the situation is displayed in real time, the user can perform fine adjustment while checking the display.

  When the process of step S816 is completed, the process proceeds to step S818. Based on the settings specified by the user in the processes of steps S802 to S816, two pieces of data created by moving the shift data to the reference data are generated. The result of the combination of the sub board data is reflected in the sub board data arrangement area 40a of the main board data, and this processing is finished.

  It should be noted that at the time when the two sub board data are arranged in the sub board data arrangement area 40a, that is, when the processing of the above-described step S818 is completed, the sub board data may be stored as the main board data (FIG. 9 ( a) shows an example thereof.)

  If the layer configuration is the same, the stored data can be used as child board data of other parent board data. These points will be described in detail in the description of the parent substrate layering process 10E described later.

  In the paneling design apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 9A, on the board display area 90a-12 of the combination creation window 90a, the combination state of the child board data according to the setting specified by the user is displayed. It is possible to reflect the combination result of the sub board data in the sub board data arrangement area 40a by finally clicking the OK board 90a-13 while checking in real time.

Here, for the purpose of deepening the understanding of the processing contents of the child board combination creation processing 10C, three specific examples (combination creation example 1 (refer to FIG. 10A) relating to the processing of the above-described steps S812 to S814 are referred to. ), Combination creation example 2 (refer to FIG. 10B) and combination creation example 3 (refer to FIG. 10C)) are shown below.

  In the following specific example, the sub board data shown in FIG. 9C is used as the reference data, and the sub board data shown in FIG. 9D is used as the alignment data.

  In the child board data shown in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D, the figure surrounded by the solid line is the actual shape data indicating the actual shape of the child board data, and the figure surrounded by the one-dot broken line is the rectangular shape. The point at which the diagonal lines of the rectangular data intersect is the center point.

  In addition, in the process of step S804 described above, when it is set to invert the shift data shown in FIG. 9D, the figure rotated 180 degrees around the center point from the state shown in FIG. 9D. The state shown in 9 (e) is obtained.

  Also, in the process of step S806, if the angle between the reference data and the shift data is set, the reference data state shown in FIG. 9C and the shift data state shown in FIG. , Each is rotated by an angle set around the center point.

  In the description of the specific example below, in the process of step S802, different kinds of sub board data are specified and set as the reference data and the shift data, and in the process of step S804, it is specified that the shift data is not inverted. In step S806, the angle between the reference data and the shift data is set to 0 degrees, and in the process of step S808, the direction of the shift data is specified as “from bottom to top”. It is assumed that the pitch between the reference data and the alignment data is designated and set to the value “P” in the process of step S840.

  According to the setting by the above-mentioned designation, the alignment data is vertically aligned from bottom to top with the center points of the reference data shown in FIG. 9C and the alignment data shown in FIG. 9D aligned on the same vertical axis. It will be brought to.

  In the following combination creation example, as described above, a case will be described in which the alignment data is vertically aligned from bottom to top with the center point of the reference data and alignment data aligned on the vertical axis. In this sub-board combination creation process 10C, according to the setting of the alignment direction, the alignment data is vertically aligned from bottom to top or from top to bottom with the center point of the reference data and alignment data aligned on the vertical axis. There are cases in which the alignment data is shifted horizontally from left to right or from right to left with the center point of the reference data and the alignment data aligned on the horizontal axis.

[Combination creation example 1]
Combination creation example 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the process of step S812, if it is not determined that the reference data and the alignment data are to be matched with the actual shape, that is, if the reference data and the alignment data are not aligned with the actual shape, as described above. Both the reference data and the alignment data are handled as rectangular data, and the alignment is completed in a state where the alignment data is vertically aligned from the bottom to the top in a state where the pitch of the both rectangular data becomes the value of P.

[Combination creation example 2]
Combination creation example 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the process of step S812, when it is determined that the reference data and the alignment data are specified to be matched with the actual shape, that is, when the reference data and the alignment data are aligned with the actual shape, and in step S814 In the processing, if it is set not to match on the opposite side, both the reference data and the alignment data are treated as actual shape data. However, in the process of shifting the alignment data vertically from the bottom to the top, it is once rectangular. It is treated as data and brought up to the same state as the combination creation example 1 (first stage: refer to FIG. 10B-1). Thereafter, the reference data and the alignment data are treated as actual shape data, and the alignment data is shifted from the bottom to the top while shifting the alignment data to the left side of the reference data, and the pitch between the actual shapes is a value of P, and Then, the shifting is completed in a state where the distance Z between the centers is the shortest (see Z ′ in FIG. 10B-2) (second stage: refer to FIG. 10B-2).

  However, the distance between the center points in the state after shifting the alignment data to the left of the reference data and moving it from the bottom to the top is greater than the state before the alignment data is shifted to the left of the reference data and aligned from the bottom to the top. When Z becomes long, the shift data is shifted to the left side of the reference data and is not shifted from the bottom to the top.

  As described above, when the reference data and the alignment data are matched with each other in the actual shape, a state in which the distance Z between the centers is the shortest may be employed.

[Combination creation example 3]
Combination creation example 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the process of step S812, when it is determined that the reference data and the alignment data are specified to be matched with the actual shape, that is, when the reference data and the alignment data are aligned with the actual shape, and in step S814 In the processing, when it is set to match on the opposite side, both the reference data and the alignment data are treated as actual shape data. However, in the process of shifting the alignment data vertically from the bottom to the top, once the rectangular data To the same state as the combination creation example 1 (first stage: refer to FIG. 10C-1). Thereafter, the reference data and the alignment data are handled as actual shape data, and the alignment data is shifted from the bottom to the top while shifting the alignment data to the right side of the reference data, and the pitch between the actual shapes is a value of P, and In the state where the distance Z between the centers is the shortest (see Z ″ in FIG. 10C-2), the shifting is finished (second stage: see FIG. 10C-2). .

  In the process from the first stage (see FIG. 10C-1) to the second stage (see FIG. 10C-2), the close state shown in FIG. When the distance Z between the centers is compared, the distance between the centers in the close state shown in FIG. 10C-2 is more than the distance Z ′ ″ between the centers in the close state shown in FIG. Since Z ″ is shorter, the close state shown in FIG. 10C-2 is adopted.

  As described above, when the reference data and the alignment data are matched with each other in the actual shape, a state in which the distance Z between the centers is the shortest may be employed.

  However, the distance between the center points in the state after shifting the alignment data to the right side of the reference data and moving it from the bottom to the top is greater than the state before the alignment data is shifted to the right side of the reference data and shifted from the bottom to the top. When Z becomes long, the shift data is shifted to the right side of the reference data and is not shifted from the bottom to the top.

In the above-described specific example, in the combination creation example 2, the shift data is shifted to the left from the reference data and shifted from the bottom to the top, while in the combination creation example 3, the shift data is shifted to the right of the reference data and from the bottom to the top However, it is a matter of course that the data to be shifted may be shifted to the left or right side of the reference data, and the direction of shifting between the combination creation example 2 and the combination creation example 3 may be reversed.

  Further, in the specific example described above, the distance Z between the center points is compared with the actual distance, but it may be simply compared with the distance of the Manhattan length.

  The Manhattan length means the total length of the distance between the center points in the X-axis direction and the distance in the Y-axis direction.

VI-3. Description of Different Substrate Arrangement Process 10D A technique for arranging different kinds of sub board data on the parent board data by the heterogeneous board arrangement process 10D will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12A and 12B.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the heterogeneous substrate placement processing 10D.

  FIGS. 12A and 12B are image diagrams of the processing content of the dissimilar substrate placement processing 10 </ b> D expressed using the display mode displayed on the display device 18.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command for instructing the start of execution of the heterogeneous board arrangement process 10D by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the process of the heterogeneous board arrangement process 10D shown in the flowchart of FIG. The routine is invoked.

  When the processing routine of the heterogeneous board arrangement process 10D is started, first, the subboard data input method is set to be different based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. More specifically, when the user designates a different type as the input method by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the sub board data input method is set to a different type based on this designation (step). S1102).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the processing routine of the different substrate placement processing 10D is started, a screen as shown in FIG. 12A is displayed on the display device 18.

  When the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 and clicks and selects the “specify different type” check button 120a-1 as the input method in the input file name window 120a shown in FIG. Different types are specified as the board data input method.

  In accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, in step S1102, setting is made so that the input method of the sub board data is different.

  When the process of step S1102 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1104, and the pitch between the sub board data is set based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24.

  The pitch described above is the minimum interval between data as described above, and the paneling design apparatus 10 prohibits access between data exceeding the pitch (minimum interval).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. In the input file name window 120a shown in FIG. 12A, the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to refer to the pitch value (see reference numeral 120a-2). To specify the pitch.

  In accordance with the designation by the above operation, in step S1104, the pitch between the sub board data is set.

  When the process of step S1104 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1106, and the child board data to be initially arranged and the number thereof are set in the parent board data based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24. . More specifically, as the sub-board data to be initially arranged in the main board data, the sub-board data designated by the user's operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 and the number of the sub-board data are set as processing targets. Will do.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the user operates the pointing device 22, the file name (reference numeral 120a-3) of the file specified as the child board data in the input file name window 120a shown in FIG. And the number of inputs corresponding to the number (refer to reference numeral 120a-4) is input. At this time, in order to display a graphic representing the sub board data in a desired color, the color of the sub board data (see reference numeral 120a-5) may be input.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S1104, the designated child board data and the number thereof are set as processing targets. If the color of the sub board data is input, the color is also set.

  In the following description, in step S1104, the designation content shown in FIG. 12A, that is, the child board data to be placed first in the child board data placement area 40a is designated by two, and the color is further set. A case where yellow is specified will be described as an example.

  When the process of step S1106 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1108, and the child board data set in step S1106 is automatically placed on the parent board data by an automatic placement process using a known algorithm or an automatic placement process according to the present invention described later. To do.

  Here, in the process of step S1108, as shown in FIG. 12A, the number of input child board data to be arranged first is “2” (refer to reference numeral 120a-4). As shown in (b), two child board data (refer to reference numerals 120b-2 and 120b-3) are automatically arranged in the substrate display area 120b-1 of the paneling simulation window 120b.

  And two child board data (refer to numerals 120b-2 and 120b-3) arranged in board display field 120b-1 of paneling simulation window 120b maintained the pitch set up in Step S1104 between them. Arranged in a state.

  Until the processing of step S1108 described above, the first arrangement of the child board data in the parent board data, that is, the first arrangement is made, so that the arrangement of the different kinds of child board data has not yet been performed.

  When the process of step S1108 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1110, and it is determined whether or not designation of adding different kinds of sub board data has been made by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user. More specifically, it is detected whether or not the add button 120a-6 in the input file name window 120a shown in FIG. 12A is pressed by the user operating the pointing device 22, and the add button 120a-6 is pressed. If it has been specified, it is determined that a different kind of sub-board data is added. On the other hand, if the add button 120a-6 has not been pressed, a different type of sub-board data has been specified. Judge that there is no.

  If it is determined in the determination process in step S1110 that the designation to add different kinds of sub board data has been made, the process proceeds to step S1112 and pointing by the user after the add button 120a-6 is pressed. Based on the designation by the operation of the device 22 or the character input device 24, different kinds of child board data to be arranged in the parent board data and the number thereof are set. More specifically, as different kinds of child board data to be arranged in the parent board data, different kinds of child board data specified by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 after the add button 120a-6 is pressed. The number of the different kinds of sub board data is set as a processing target.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the user presses the add button 120a-6 and then operates the pointing device 22, the input file name window 120a shown in FIG. The file name of the file to be specified (refer to the reference numeral 120a-7) is input, and the input number (refer to the reference numeral 120a-8) is input. At this time, in order to display a graphic representing different kinds of sub board data in a desired color, the color of the different kinds of sub board data (see reference numeral 120a-9) may be input.

  In accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, in step S1112, the designated different kinds of child board data and the number thereof are set as processing targets. If the color of the sub board data is input, the color is also set.

  In the following description, in step S1112, the designation content shown in FIG. 12A, that is, two different kinds of child board data to be arranged in the different kind of child board data arrangement area 40a are designated. A case where blue is designated as a color will be described as an example.

  When the process of step S1112 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1114, and the dissimilar child board data set in step S1112 is converted into the parent board data by an automatic placement process using a known algorithm or an automatic placement process according to the present invention described later. Automatically place in

  Here, in the process of step S1114, as shown in FIG. 12A, the number of inputs of the different kinds of child board data is “2” (refer to reference numeral 120a-8). As shown in FIG. 2, two child board data (refer to reference numerals 120 b-4 and 120 b-5) are additionally automatically arranged in the board display area 120 b-1 of the paneling simulation window 120 b.

  And two child board data (refer to numerals 120b-4 and 120b-5) arranged in board display field 120b-1 of paneling simulation window 120b maintained the pitch set up at Step S1104 between them. Arranged in a state.

  Further, two child board data (refer to reference numerals 120b-4 and 120b-5) arranged in the board display area 120b-1 of the paneling simulation window 120b are already arranged in the board display area 120b-1. The two sub board data (refer to reference numerals 120b-2 and 120b-3) are also arranged in a state where the pitch set in step S1104 is maintained.

  When the process of step S1114 is completed, the process returns to the determination process of step S1110, and by repeating the above-described process, further different kinds of child board data can be arranged on the parent board.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the file name (refer to reference numeral 120a-10) of the file designated as the different child board data is input in the input file name window 120a, and The number of inputs (refer to reference numeral 120a-11) is input as “2”, and two child board data (reference numeral 120b-6 and reference numeral 120b) are input to the board display area 120b-1 of the paneling simulation window 120b. (See -7).

  As described above, by repeating the processing from step S1110 to step S1114, a desired number of different kinds of sub board data can be arranged in the sub board data, and in the determination process of step S1110, different kinds of sub board data can be arranged. If it is determined that the designation for adding the child board data is not made, this processing routine is terminated.

Note that the paneling design apparatus 10 can appropriately rotate and relocate the child board data arranged by the heterogeneous board arrangement processing 10D by the operation of the pointing device 22 and the character input device 24 by the user. ing.

  Further, in the heterogeneous board arrangement processing 10D described above, the arranged heterogeneous child board data may be stored as the parent board data when the different kind of child board data is arranged in the parent board data.

  Furthermore, if the layer configuration is the same, this stored data can be used as child board data of other parent board data. These points will be described later in the description of the parent substrate layering process 10E.

  In the above-described heterogeneous substrate arrangement processing 10D, as an input method, “number designation” other than “heterogeneous designation” (refer to reference numeral 120a-12) or “array designation” (refer to reference numeral 120a-13). In FIG. 5, it is possible to specify different kinds of sub board data.

  As a supplement, in the case of trial manufacture of an electronic board, it is not necessary to manufacture so much, and it is assumed that efficiency is achieved by appropriately replacing a part of the sub board data arrangement area 40a for trial manufacture during mass production. Is done.

  In addition, when “specifying number” (refer to reference numeral 120a-12) or “arrangement specifying” (refer to reference numeral 120a-13) is used to specify different kinds of sub-board data, “number specification” ( 120a-12) or "array designation" (see 120a-13) is specified, and a row of heterogeneous child board data in the line below the file name indicated by reference numeral 120a-3. And a row of heterogeneous child board data may be added to the row below it if necessary.

  When “number designation” (see reference numeral 120a-12) is selected, the arrangement direction is designated as the arrangement method in the arrangement method window 70b shown in FIG. It is possible to start and execute the processing routine of the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A (including the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B executed as one process in the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A).

  Similarly, when “arrangement designation” (see reference numeral 120a-13) is selected, the above-described child is obtained by designating the number of rows and the number of columns (not shown) as the arrangement method. It becomes possible to start and execute the processing routine of the board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A (including the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B executed as one process in the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A).

  In the case of arrangement designation (refer to reference numeral 120a-13), the arrangement method is limited compared to the case of number designation (refer to reference numeral 120a-12), so that the child board arrangement candidate presentation processing is performed. 10A (including the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B executed as one process in the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A) is assumed to be low, so there is only one arrangement candidate. (For example, it is a candidate having the highest child board occupancy rate.).

  Incidentally, “array designation” designates the number of rows and the number of columns. For example, when the number of rows is 5 and the number of columns is 3, 5 rows and 3 columns (15 in total) are children. A board | substrate will be arrange | positioned on a parent board | substrate.

  Further, “array designation” can be applied to the same kind of child board data.

  In the “specify different”, “specify number”, and “arrangement” processes, the default arrangement is determined in advance for each process, such as whether the child board data is placed vertically or horizontally. The direction may be determined, or the user may arbitrarily set the direction.

  It should be noted that the number designated by “number designation” or “array designation” is always equal to the total number of inputs of different kinds of sub board data (refer to reference numerals 120a-4, 120a-8, and 120a-11). It must be done.

  It should be noted that the following differentiation may be made in “different specification”, “number specification”, and “matrix specification” when different kinds of sub-board data are added.

  In the case of “specify different type”, the number of already arranged child board data cannot be changed when the different kind of child board data is added to the already placed child board data, and the existing child board data is not changed. On the other hand, it will be excluded from the target of automatic placement. On the other hand, in the case of “number designation” and “matrix designation”, the number of already arranged child board data can be changed, and the existing child board data is subject to automatic placement. Note that automatic placement is performed for all child board data of the parent board when adding different kinds of child board data, changing the number of already placed child board data, changing the arrangement direction, changing the matrix, etc. Executed.

  With this differentiation, in the case of “different type designation”, it is possible to add different types of sub board data while maintaining the arrangement state of the already arranged sub board data. In addition, the arrangement result depends on the order of adding different kinds of sub board data. On the other hand, in the case of “Specify number” and “Specify matrix”, it is possible to flexibly change the number ratio, arrangement direction, matrix, etc. between different kinds of child board data arranged on the parent board data. Become.

VI-4. Description of Parent Board Hierarchization Processing 10E A method of hierarchizing parent board data by parent board hierarchy processing 10E will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 13A and 13B.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the entire process as described above.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are image diagrams of the processing contents of the parent board layering process 10E represented using the display mode displayed on the display device 18. FIG.

Here, since the processing from step S402 to step S412 has been described above, a duplicate description is omitted.

  In the process of step S414, it is determined whether or not hierarchization is selected by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user.

  If it is determined in step S414 that the hierarchization is not selected (No), the process proceeds to step S418 without performing the hierarchization process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S414 that hierarchization has been selected, the process proceeds to step S416, and the parent board data is saved as child board data with an arbitrary file name.

  In this specification, data obtained by storing the parent board data as the child board data in the process of step S416 will be appropriately referred to as “hierarchical data”.

  It should be noted that information indicating the parent-child relationship is added to the hierarchical data and the parent board data that handles the hierarchical data as the child board data. As a result, when the hierarchization described later is repeated, a hierarchy of hierarchical data with the parent substrate data as the top hierarchy when the hierarchization is completed is formed.

  The information indicating the parent-child relationship may include not only hierarchical data but also non-hierarchical child board data. In this case, the end of the genealogy is child board data that is not hierarchized.

When the process of step S416 is completed, the process returns to the process of step S402, the process of step S404 and step S406 is followed to the process of step S408, and the process of arranging and setting the child board data on the parent board data is performed. The sub-board data to be arranged sometimes may include only hierarchical data or may include non-hierarchical sub-board data.

  Further, display or non-display of the sub board data arranged on the hierarchical data may be switched by clicking an ON / OFF button (not shown).

  When the process of step S418 is completed, the process proceeds to the determination process of step S410, and the hierarchization process may be repeated again as necessary.

In this paneling design apparatus 10, it is assumed that there is no particular limitation on the number of times the hierarchization is repeated. However, it is a precondition that the layer configuration is the same regardless of the presence or absence of hierarchization.

  By repeating the hierarchization, hierarchized data having different hierarchies can be mixed on the parent board data.

Here, FIG. 13A shows a display example when the file name (refer to reference numeral 130a-1) of the child board data or the hierarchical data is designated.

  FIG. 13B shows a display example of a next button 130b-1 and an execution button 130b-2, which are operation buttons when saving parent board data or hierarchical data.

  That is, when the file name (refer to reference numeral 130a-1) is designated and then the next button 130b-1 is pressed, hierarchical data with the designated file name is secured in the virtual memory (step S416).

  That is, the hierarchical data is secured on the virtual memory by the number of times that the processing step of step S416 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the execution button 130b-2 is pressed after designating the file name (see reference numeral 130a-1), the parent board data is generated as a real file with the designated file name, not on the virtual memory, It will be saved (step S424). At this time, all the hierarchical data secured in the virtual memory are also generated and saved as real files.

  Note that the parent board data, layered data, and child board data basically differ in whether the number of boards is one or more, and all have the same file extension (for example, “xxx.pnl”). It can be handled as data. Therefore, if the layer configuration is the same, it can be used as child board data of other parent board data.

VI-5. Description of Sub-Board Number Adding Process 10F A method of adding numbers to the sub-board data arranged on the main board data by the sub-board number adding process 10F is shown in FIGS. 14, 15A, 15B, and 15C. This will be described with reference to d) and FIGS. 16 (a), 16 (b) and 16 (c).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the child board number addition processing 10F.

  15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16C, the sub-board number adding process shown using the display mode displayed on the display device 18 and the like. It is an image figure of the processing content of 10F.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command for instructing the start of the execution of the sub board number adding process 10F by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the sub board number adding process 10F shown in the flowchart of FIG. This processing routine is started.

  When the processing routine of the sub-board number adding process 10F is started, first, based on the designation by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user, Hierarchical data is designated, and based on the designation, parent board data or hierarchized data to which the number of child board data is added is set (step S1402).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the processing routine of the sub board number adding process 10F is started, a screen as shown in FIG. 15A is displayed on the display device 18.

  The user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 as parent substrate data or hierarchical data to be subjected to numbering of the child substrate data in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. Designates the name of the parent board data or hierarchical data currently being designed (see reference numeral 150a-1).

  In step S1402, in accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, parent board data or hierarchical data to be subjected to child board data numbering is set.

  Here, hierarchical data having different levels exists as many times as the number of hierarchical layers repeated by the parent substrate hierarchical processing 10E. The files that can be specified by the operation in step S1402 are the parent substrates of the top hierarchy. Only layered data connected to data and parent board data.

  When the user specifies parent board data or layered data to which child board data numbers are added, the name of the target parent board data or layered data is selected from a list notation or tree structure notation. It may be. The parent board data may be designated as default.

  When the process of step S1402 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1404. Based on the designation by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the generation position (generation reference position) of the child board number designated by the user is reached. And string direction).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. The user operates the pointing device 22 and the character input device 24 to operate the generation reference position (reference numeral 150a-2) in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. ) Is designated as one of “lower left”, “lower right”, “upper right”, “upper left” or “placement reference point”.

  Furthermore, the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to “fix” the character string direction (see reference numeral 150a-3) in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. Specify one of “Data direction”.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S1404, the generation reference position and the character string direction are set as the generation position of the child board number.

  Here, FIG. 15B shows a display example showing the generation state of the child board data numbers when the generation reference position is set to “lower left” and the character string direction is set to “fixed”. Has been.

  FIG. 15C shows a display example showing the generation state of child board data numbers when the generation reference position is set to “lower left” and the character string direction is set to “data direction”. Has been.

  When the process of step S1404 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1406, and the sub-board data number adding method (start) specified by the user according to the specification by the user operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 (start) Number, numbering mode, order and generation mode).

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. The user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 to display the start number (reference number 150a-4) in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. Is designated, the numbering mode (see reference numeral 150a-5) is designated as either “vertical” or “horizontal”, and the order (see reference numeral 150a-6) is designated as “lower left”. To the same direction "," alternate from lower left "," alternate from upper left "," same direction from upper left "," same direction from lower right "," alternate from lower right "," alternate from upper right "or" same direction from upper right " And the generation mode (see reference numeral 150a-7) is designated as "serial number", "column-row", or "row-column".

  In accordance with the designation by the above-described operation, in step S1406, the start number, numbering mode, order, and generation form are set as the method for adding the child board data number.

  Here, FIG. 16A shows a specific example for each order when the numbering mode is set to “vertical”.

  FIG. 16B shows a specific example for each order when the numbering mode is set to “horizontal”.

  Further, FIG. 16C shows a display example ((c-1) in FIG. 16C) showing the generation state of the child board data number when the generation form is set to “serial number”, and the generation form. Display example ((c-2) in FIG. 16 (c)) showing the generation state of child board data numbers when “column-row” is set, and the generation mode is set to “row-column” A display example ((c-3) in FIG. 16C) showing the generation state of the child board data numbers is shown.

  When the process of step S1406 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1408, and the generation layer of the number of the child board data designated by the user is set based on the designation by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the user operates the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the generation layer (reference numeral 150a-8) is generated in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. Specify the layer number with.

  In accordance with the designation by the operation described above, in step S1408, the layer number of the generation layer of the child board data number is set.

  Note that the assignment of the layer number to the layer attribute is omitted because it overlaps with the technical contents described above, but the child board data number is generally assigned to the silk layer, conductor layer, resist layer, etc. Often generated.

  When the process of step S1408 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1410, a number is added to the child board data based on the setting contents by the processes of steps S1402 to S1408, and the process routine is terminated.

  Here, a specific operation procedure will be described. When the user presses the OK button 150a-9 in the child file numbering window 150a shown in FIG. 15A by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, The processing of step S1410 is executed, and the child board data number is added.

  Here, in FIG. 15D, the generation reference position is set to “lower left”, the character string direction is set to “fixed”, the start number is set to “1”, and the numbering mode is “vertical”. A display example of the result of adding the sub board data number when the order is set to “same direction from the lower left” and the generation layer is set to “No. 4” is shown.

VI-6. Description of hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing 10G A method of automatically generating hole cross-section check via data on the parent substrate data by hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing 10G will be described with reference to FIGS. ) (C) will be described below.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing routine of the hole section check via automatic generation processing 10G.

  FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C are image diagrams of the processing content of the hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command for instructing the start of the hole section check via automatic generation process 10G by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the hole section check shown in the flowchart of FIG. The processing routine of the automatic via generation processing 10G is started.

  When the processing routine of the hole cross-section check via automatic generation process 10G is started, first, according to the operation of the pointing device 22 and the character input device 24 by the user, the hole cross-section check via data generation area is set on the parent board data. Is set (step S1702).

  When the process of step S1702 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1704, and all vias existing in the child board data arrangement area 40a are extracted.

  When the process in step S1704 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1706, and the vias extracted in the process in step S1704 are classified into those having the same via configuration.

  Here, to classify into the same via configuration means, for example, that the vias between the first layer and the second layer are classified as two vias between the second layer and the third layer, the vias between the first layer and the third layer, and the like. That means.

  When the process of step S1706 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1708, and one via having the smallest hole diameter is adopted for each via configuration.

  Here, FIG. 18A shows an example classified by vias between the first layer and the second layer. In this case, in step S1708, the left via with the smallest diameter is adopted.

  When the process of step S1708 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1710. The vias adopted in step S1708 are arranged in order for each layer configuration, and are automatically generated in the hole cross-section check via data generation area set in step S1702. The processing routine ends.

Here, FIG. 18B shows a minimum hole diameter via between the first layer and the second layer, a minimum hole diameter via between the third and fourth layers, a minimum hole diameter via between the second and third layers, and a first hole between the first and fourth layers. An example is shown in which the minimum hole diameter via is aligned and automatically generated in the via cross-section check via data generation region. Note that the minimum hole diameters of the vias between the first layer and the second layer and the vias between the third layer and the fourth layer are the same, but are generated because the layer configurations are different.

  Further, in the processing routine of the above-described hole cross-section check via automatic generation processing 10G, the via having the smallest hole diameter is adopted for each via configuration, but the land diameter is the smallest even if the hole diameter is the smallest. Not necessarily.

  Therefore, as the processing in step S1708 described above, the hole diameter and the land diameter are minimized for each via configuration by adopting the land having the minimum land diameter after adopting the hole having the minimum hole diameter for each via configuration. Vias may be employed.

  FIG. 18C shows an example in which the vias between the first layer and the second layer are classified. In FIG. 18C, the hole diameter is the smallest, but the land diameter is not the smallest. On the other hand, (2) has the smallest land diameter of one layer, and (3) has the smallest land diameter of two layers.

  Accordingly, in the example shown in FIG. 18 (c), holes are adopted from (1), one-layer lands are adopted from (2), and two-layer lands are adopted from (3). The combination (4) may be adopted as the minimum via between the first and second layers.

  The reason for adopting the via with the smallest hole diameter and land diameter is that the smaller the hole diameter and land diameter, the stricter the manufacturing conditions. By checking the vias in that state, the accuracy of the board manufacturing judgment can be improved. It is to increase.

VI-7. Description of Parent Board Version Management Process 10H A method for performing version management of parent board data by designating parent board data version management by the parent board version management process 10H will be described with reference to FIGS. c) Description will be made with reference to (d).

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of the parent substrate version management process 10H.

  20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D are image diagrams of the processing contents of the parent substrate version management processing.

When the user of the paneling design apparatus 10 inputs a command instructing the start of execution of the parent board version management process 10H by operating the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24, the parent board version management process 10H shown in the flowchart of FIG. This processing routine is started.

  When the processing routine of the parent substrate version management processing 10H is started, first, it is determined whether or not the version management of the parent substrate data is set by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user. (Step S1902).

  If it is determined in step S1902 that it is not set to perform version management of the parent substrate data (No), the processing routine is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S1902 that the version management of the parent substrate data is set (Yes), the process proceeds to the process of step S1904, and the version update management file is read.

  In the version update management file, component arrangement information such as reference holes, version update count information, and the like are recorded.

  The component arrangement information constituting the version update management file is information indicating the arrangement coordinates of each component, the component to be moved at the time of revision, the moving direction, the moving pitch (specified pitch), and the like. In addition, in the component arrangement information, it is possible to specify an arrangement coordinate for newly generating each component as an initial value.

  That is, when there is no designation of the initial value, there is no reference hole data on the board, so the user first places the reference hole data around the four corners of the board by manual operation. There is a need to.

  On the other hand, when the initial value is specified, the reference hole data is arranged on the board according to the setting contents (designation of coordinate values) when the version update management file is read.

  As a method for designating the coordinate values, for example, formulas for obtaining the coordinate values of the four corners from the reference coordinate values (such as the origin of the parent substrate) and the parent substrate outer size are created.

  Hereinafter, as an example of the above expression, an expression in the case where the reference coordinate is the origin (0, 0) of the parent substrate and the size of the outer shape of the parent substrate is (x, y) will be described.

The coordinates of the first corner of the reference hole (0 + a, 0 + b)
The coordinates of the second corner of the reference hole (0 + a, 0 + y−b)
The coordinates of the third corner of the reference hole (0 + x−a, 0 + y−b)
Coordinates of the fourth corner of the reference hole (0 + x−a, 0 + b)
a and b are arbitrary values set in the version update management file. In addition, as the arrangement coordinates of each component, the coordinate values may be directly described, or the external size and origin of the parent board data are variables. You may make it obtain | require by the formula which made it.

  The initial value of the component arrangement information may be specified regardless of the version management of the parent board data.

  When the version update management file is read for the first time, if the initial value is specified in the component placement information, the placement coordinates of each component are read. If the initial value is not specified in the component placement information, the placement coordinates of each component is read. Do not load

  When the version update management file is read for the first time, 1 is added to the initial value 0 as the version update count information, that is, it is read as 1.

  When the processing in step S1904 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1906, and the reading result of the version update management file read in step S1904 is reflected on the parent board data.

  Here, FIG. 20A shows a display example in which the reference hole data is generated at the four corners on the parent board data by specifying the initial value of the component arrangement information.

  If no initial value is specified in the component arrangement information, component data such as a reference hole is generated individually one by one.

  When the process of step S1906 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of 1908 to save the parent board data and write it to the version update management file.

  More specifically, the storage of the parent substrate data is also executed in the processing step of step S424. However, in the processing of step S1906, when the parent substrate data is stored, the reference currently placed on the parent substrate data is stored. Write component data arrangement information such as holes and update count information (once) to the version update management file.

  It is assumed that the process of performing the processes from step S1904 to step S1908 for the first time is the process of the first version, and then the design of the second version is started.

  That is, when the process of step S1908 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S1910, and whether or not the parent board data or another parent board data is specified by the operation of the pointing device 22 or the character input device 24 by the user. Is determined (step S1910).

  If it is determined in step S1910 that it is not specified to open the parent substrate data or another parent substrate data (No), the processing routine is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process in step S1910 that it is designated to open the parent substrate data or another parent substrate data (Yes), the process returns to step S1902, and steps subsequent to step S1902 are performed. Repeat the above process.

  That is, it is determined whether or not version management of the parent substrate data is performed (step S1902), and when the version management of the parent substrate data is not performed (No), this processing routine is ended.

  On the other hand, when version management of the parent board data is performed (Yes), the version update management file is read (step S1904).

  Here, when the version update management file is read for the second time, the coordinate value of the part data such as the previous reference hole, the part to be moved at the time of the current revision, the moving direction, and the moving pitch (specified) Pitch).

  At the same time, 1 is added to the previous version number 1 as the version update count information, that is, read as 2 (step S1904).

  Next, the reading result of the version update management file read in step S1904 is reflected on the parent board data (step S1906).

  Here, FIG. 20B is an example in which the reading result of the second version update management file for the parent board data in FIG. 20A is reflected on the parent board data. The movement target part is designated to move upward by a designated pitch as reference hole data at the lower left.

  In addition, FIG. 20 (c) adds to the specification of the version update management file of FIG. 20 (b) a specification for moving the upper right reference hole data downward by a specified pitch and reflects it on the parent board data. This is an example.

  As described above, in the description of the version update management file, a plurality of parts to be moved can be specified, and the moving direction and the moving pitch (specified pitch) can also be specified individually.

  Then, the parent board data is saved. At the time of this saving, the arrangement information and update number information (twice) of the component data such as the reference hole currently arranged on the parent board data are updated. Write to the file (step S1908).

  The processing up to here is the processing of the second version, and thereafter, the same processing may be repeated as necessary.

  20D is an example in which the result of reading the third version update management file for the parent board data in FIGS. 20A and 20B is reflected on the parent board data. Starting from the arrangement coordinates of (b), the lower left reference hole data is further moved by a specified pitch in the upward direction.

In the above, the version management for only the parent board data with the same original was explained, but it is selected in the parts such as the parent board outline, the number of layers of the parent board, and the reference hole data arranged on the parent board. Different parent board data satisfying the conditions may be targeted.

  Here, since the selection conditions differ depending on the management criteria, it can be arbitrarily set.

  In actual board manufacturing sites, if version management is performed only on a parent board having the same original, management is easy, so there is almost no risk of manufacturing errors associated with version management.

  However, for example, if version management is performed in an environment where parent boards that have the same parent board outline and number of layers, but the original is not the same, management becomes complicated, and manufacturing errors associated with version management occur. Etc. are likely to occur.

  In the paneling design apparatus 10, as described in the process of step S 1910, plate management that is not the same as the original is possible, so that it is more effective in reducing manufacturing errors in the latter operation.

VII. Explanation of automatic placement processing VII-1. Description Based on Flowchart Automatic placement processing that is executed when multiple pieces of child board data are automatically placed on parent board data will be described in detail below.

  When the automatic placement process is executed in each process described above, the automatic placement process is executed.

Here, FIG. 22 shows a flowchart of the processing routine of the automatic arrangement processing when the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”.

  As for the arrangement direction, there are “vertical only” and “horizontal only” in addition to “vertical and horizontal freedom”. When the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”, respectively, the flowchart of FIG. Only the “primary placement” in the processing is performed, and the temporary placement temporary substrate placement candidates (hereinafter referred to as “temporary child placement placement candidates” are “vertical only” or “horizontal only”). The term “provisional placement candidate” is appropriately referred to as a sub-board placement candidate (hereinafter referred to as “final placement candidate” as appropriate).

  Therefore, in the case where the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”, the detailed explanation is given by using the description of the case where the arrangement direction performed is “vertical and horizontal freedom” with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Shall be omitted.

When the automatic placement process is performed in each process described above and “Free Vertical and Horizontal” is set as the placement direction, the processing routine of the automatic placement process shown in FIG. 22 is started. Vertical placement (refer to reference numeral 70b-3 in FIG. 7B) and lateral placement are used as placement positions when a plurality of child board data designated to be placed on the parent board data is placed on the parent board data. (Refer to reference numeral 70b-5 in FIG. 7B) is set as the primary arrangement, and either the vertical arrangement or the horizontal arrangement is set as the secondary arrangement (step S2202).

  In the processing after step S2204, which will be described later, since the primary arrangement and the secondary arrangement are exchanged for the vertical placement and the horizontal placement, either the vertical placement or the horizontal placement is performed in the processing of step S2202. May be a primary arrangement, and may be set appropriately in the specifications of the paneling design apparatus 10.

  When the process of step S2202 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S2204. When vertical placement is set as the primary placement, the number of child board data to be placed as vertical placement (see reference numeral 70b-4). If the horizontal placement is set as the primary placement, the primary placement is provisional depending on the number of child board data to be placed in the horizontal placement (see reference numeral 70b-6). A child board arrangement candidate, that is, a provisional arrangement candidate is created.

Here, FIG. 23 shows a detailed processing procedure (processing flow) of the temporary layout candidate creation process of the primary layout, which is the process in step S2204.

  That is, when creating a temporary placement candidate for primary placement, if the number designated as the number of child board data to be placed primarily is a prime number (step S2302), the child board data is placed in a horizontal row ( “Horizontal row” means “row” in “matrix.” Therefore, “horizontal row” is the same as “one row.”) And vertical column (note that “vertical row” means “matrix”. Therefore, “vertical one column” is the same as “one column”), and a temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement is created (step S2304).

  That is, when the number designated as the number of sub-board data to be primarily arranged is a prime number, there are two temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement, one horizontal row and one vertical column.

  The processing in step S2304 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  On the other hand, when creating the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement, if the number designated as the number of the child placement data for the primary placement is other than a prime number (step S2306), the child placement data is stored in rows and columns in the matrix. Are used to create a temporary placement candidate for the primary placement (step S2308).

  Accordingly, when the number specified as the number of child board data to be primarily arranged is other than a prime number, the provisional arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement include the number of combinations of rows × columns. For example, when the number of child board data is 4, there are three temporary placement candidates for primary placement, and when the number of child board data is 6, there are four temporary placement candidates for primary placement, When the number of child board data is 8, there are four primary placement candidates for primary placement, and when the number of child board data is 9, there are three temporary placement candidates for primary placement.

  The processing in step S2308 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

When the processing in step S2204 is completed, when vertical placement is set as the secondary placement, the number of child board data to be placed as vertical placement (see reference numeral 70b-4) is also determined. When the horizontal placement is set as the secondary placement, the provisional child board placement candidate of the secondary placement is determined according to the number of child board data to be placed as the horizontal placement (see reference numeral 70b-6). In other words, a temporary placement candidate is created (step S2206), and then the temporary placement candidate created in step S2206 is used as a reference, based on one of the temporary placement candidates created in step S2204. One of the placement candidates is brought together to create a confirmed child substrate placement candidate, that is, a confirmed placement candidate (step S2208).

  In other words, the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement that is the primary arrangement is added to the temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement that is the reference, and a final arrangement candidate is created.

  The processing in step S2208 is all performed by changing the reference and the alignment for each of the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement and the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement by the processing in steps S2210 to S2216 described later. The process is performed so that the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement and the temporary placement candidate of the secondary placement are aligned with each other.

  Therefore, the order in which the reference and the alignment are determined in the process of step S2208 may be appropriately set in the specification of the paneling design apparatus 10.

Here, FIG. 24 shows a detailed processing procedure (processing flow) of the secondary placement temporary placement candidate creation processing that is the processing in step S2206 and the final placement candidate creation processing that is the processing in step S2208. Has been.

  That is, when the provisional placement candidate for the secondary placement is created, if the number specified as the number of the secondary placement data is a prime number (step S2402), the secondary placement data is stored in one horizontal row and one vertical row. To create a temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement (step S2404).

  That is, when the number specified as the number of child board data to be secondarily arranged is a prime number, there are two types of temporary arrangement candidates for the second arrangement, one horizontal row and one vertical column.

  Note that the processing of step S2404 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  On the other hand, when the provisional placement candidate for the secondary placement is created, if the number specified as the number of the secondary placement child substrate data is not a prime number (step S2406), the child substrate data is represented by a row and a column in the matrix. Are arranged in a row × column combination to create a temporary arrangement candidate for a secondary arrangement (step S2408).

  Therefore, when the number specified as the number of sub-board data to be secondarily arranged is other than a prime number, the provisional arrangement candidates for the second arrangement include the number of combinations of rows and columns. For example, when the number of child board data is 4, there are three types of temporary arrangement candidates for secondary arrangement, and when the number of child board data is 6, there are four types of temporary arrangement candidates for secondary arrangement, When the number of sub-board data is 8, there are four types of temporary arrangement candidates for secondary arrangement, and when the number of sub-board data is nine, there are three types of temporary arrangement candidates for secondary arrangement.

  Note that the processing in step S2408 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  The processing in steps S2402 to S2408 described above corresponds to the processing for creating a temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement in step S2206.

  The processing from step S2410 to step S2432 corresponds to the creation processing of the determined placement candidate in step S2208. Hereinafter, the processing from step S2410 to step S2432 will be described.

  That is, when the number designated as the number of sub-board data to be secondarily arranged is a prime number, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be shifted are moved from the left and right directions to the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement as the reference respectively. In the case (step S2410), and the case where the temporary placement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be brought close to the primary placement candidate for the primary placement from both the upper and lower directions (step S2416), the determined placement candidates are respectively created. .

  First, when the temporary placement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be brought together are moved from both the left and right directions to the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement serving as a reference (step S2410), the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be moved are moved leftward. To the right from the temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement serving as a reference, arrange as a fixed arrangement candidate to create a fixed arrangement candidate, From the right direction to the left direction, the arrangement is performed as a temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement serving as a reference and arranged as a definite arrangement candidate to create a definite arrangement candidate (step S2412).

  Next, only in the case where the number of sub-board data constituting the column of the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement to be aligned is “2” of the prime numbers, that is, even if it is an even number, Sub-board data constituting the provisional arrangement candidate row is divided into left and right halves, and the temporary arrangement candidates of the primary arrangement serving as a reference are sandwiched from the two left and right directions by the provisional arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement divided into two. The added arrangement is separately added as a confirmed arrangement candidate (step S2414).

  Note that the processing of the above-described steps S2410 to S2414 will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  In the case where the temporary placement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be brought together are moved from both the upper and lower directions to the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement serving as the reference (step S2416), the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be moved are moved upward. From the first to the tentative temporary placement candidate of the primary arrangement, and as a final placement candidate to create a final placement candidate, From the downward direction to the upward direction, the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement serving as a reference is arranged and arranged as a definite arrangement candidate to create a definite arrangement candidate (step S2418).

  Next, only when the number of sub-board data constituting the temporary arrangement candidate row of the secondary arrangement to be aligned is “2” of the prime numbers, that is, even if the number is not an even number, The sub-board data constituting the temporary placement candidate row is divided into two in the upper and lower halves, and the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement serving as a reference is sandwiched from the upper and lower directions by the two-way divided temporary placement candidate of the secondary placement. Are newly added as final placement candidates (step S2420).

  Note that the processing of steps S2416 to S2420 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  Also, when the number specified as the number of secondary board data to be arranged in a secondary order is other than a prime number, the number specified as the number of secondary board data to be arranged secondary is a close 2 as in the case of the prime number. When the temporary placement candidates for the next placement are moved from the left and right directions respectively to the temporary placement candidates for the primary placement (step S2422), the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement to be moved from each of the upper and lower directions are used as the reference primary. In the case of approaching the provisional placement candidate for placement (step S2428), a final placement candidate is created.

  First, when the temporary placement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be shifted are moved from the left and right directions to the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary layout as the reference (step S2422), the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary layout to be shifted to the left To the right from the temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement serving as a reference, arrange as a fixed arrangement candidate to create a fixed arrangement candidate, From the right direction to the left direction, the temporary arrangement candidates of the primary arrangement serving as a reference are arranged to be arranged as definite arrangement candidates, and a definite arrangement candidate is created (step S2424).

  Next, only when the number of sub-board data constituting the column of the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement to be aligned is an even number, the sub board constituting the column of the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement to be arranged The data is divided into two halves, and an arrangement in which the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement serving as the reference is sandwiched from the two left and right directions by the provisional arrangement candidate of the two-divided secondary arrangement is separately set as a fixed arrangement candidate. (Step S2426).

  Note that the processing of steps S2422 to S2426 described above will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  In the case where the temporary placement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be brought together are moved from both the upper and lower directions to the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement serving as the reference (step S2428), the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be moved are moved upward. From the first to the tentative temporary placement candidate of the primary arrangement, and as a final placement candidate to create a final placement candidate, From the downward direction to the upward direction, the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement serving as a reference is arranged and arranged as a definite arrangement candidate to create a definite arrangement candidate (step S2430).

  Next, only when the number of child board data constituting the temporary arrangement candidate row of the secondary arrangement to be aligned is an even number, the child board constituting the row of the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement to be arranged The data obtained by dividing the data into two halves and placing the temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement serving as a reference from the two-way provisional arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement so as to be sandwiched from two directions in the upper and lower directions is separately provided as a fixed arrangement candidate. (Step S2432).

  Note that the processing of the above-described steps S2428 to S2432 will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  Further, in the process of creating the fixed placement candidate described above, a case has been described in which the temporary placement candidate of the secondary placement to be moved is brought to the reference temporary placement candidate of the primary placement from each of the upper, lower, left, and right directions. (Refer to step S2410, step S2416, step S2422, and step S2428). Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are moved from the left to the right. From left to right only, from top to bottom only, from bottom to top only, from left to right and from right to left, or from top to bottom As the specification of the paneling design apparatus 10, the direction of the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement is appropriately set so as to only move from the downward direction to the upward direction. It may be as a specification to be limiting.

When the process of step S2208 is completed, the process proceeds to step S2210, and it is determined whether or not there is a temporary arrangement candidate for another secondary arrangement that is not a target for alignment in the process of step S2208.

  If it is determined in the determination process of step S2210 that there is another temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement that is not targeted in the process of step S2208 (Yes), the process proceeds to step S2212. The temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement that is determined in the process of S2208 is changed to one of the other temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement that are not targeted in the process of step S2208.

  Then, when the process of step S2212 ends, the process returns to step S2208, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, in the determination process of step S2210, when it is not determined that there is any other temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement that is not targeted for alignment in the process of step S2208 (No), the process proceeds to step S2214. In step S2208, it is determined whether or not there is a temporary arrangement candidate for another primary arrangement that is not a reference target.

  If it is determined in step S2214 that there is a temporary arrangement candidate for another primary arrangement that is not a reference target in step S2208 (Yes), the process proceeds to step S2216. The temporary arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement used as the reference in the process of S2208 is changed to one of the other temporary arrangement candidates of the primary arrangement that are not set as the reference targets in the process of step S2208.

  Then, when the process of step S2216 ends, the process returns to step S2208, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, in the determination process of step S2214, when it is not determined that there is a temporary arrangement candidate for another primary arrangement that is not a reference target in the process of step S2208 (No), the process proceeds to step S2218. In step S2208, it is determined whether or not it is the first time that it has not been determined that there is a temporary placement candidate for another primary placement that is not a reference target.

  If it is determined that it is the first time in the determination process in step S2218 (Yes), the process proceeds to the process in step S2220, and the primary layout and the secondary layout related to the vertical position and the horizontal position set in the process in step S2202 are performed. Swap the placement.

  When the process of step S2220 ends, the process returns to step S2204, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined that it is the first time in the determination processing in step S2218 (No), this processing routine is terminated.

  That is, if it is not determined in step S2218 that it is the first time, the primary arrangement is vertical, the secondary arrangement is horizontal, and the primary arrangement is horizontal. Since the processing from step S2204 to step S2216 has been performed for both cases where the secondary arrangement is vertical, this processing routine is terminated.

In this automatic placement process, as in the child board combination creation process 10C, the setting for matching with the actual shape (including the setting for matching on the opposite side when matching with the actual shape) and the setting for not matching with the actual shape (actual shape) In the case of not matching with each other, the provisional placement candidate for the primary placement as a reference and the provisional placement candidate for the secondary placement as a reference are treated as rectangular data, respectively) Alternatively, it may be set in advance as an initial setting.

  In addition, when the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement that is a close relative to the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement that is the reference in this automatic placement processing, the primary placement that becomes the reference is determined according to the direction of the close placement. The center point between the temporary placement candidate and the temporary placement candidate of the secondary arrangement to be brought together (when handling the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement as a reference and the temporary placement candidate of the secondary placement to be brought together as rectangular data, respectively. In the state where the diagonal lines of the rectangular data intersect with each other on the vertical axis), the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be aligned are vertically aligned from bottom to top or from top to bottom. Go to the left and select the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement from the left in the state where the center points of the temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement and the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement to be aligned are aligned on the horizontal axis. Just go horizontally from right or right to left

  Then, in the case of the setting for matching with the actual shape (including the setting for matching on the opposite side when matching with the actual shape), as with the slave board combination creation process 10C, the temporary layout candidate for the primary layout as a reference is selected. When laying out temporary placement candidates for secondary placement, the initial placement is done with a setting that does not match the actual shape, and then the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement that becomes the reference by the actual shape and the secondary placement that becomes the gathering It is assumed that the distance between the center points of the temporary placement candidates and the Manhattan length is the shortest.

  In addition, if the basic setting of the automatic placement processing in the paneling design apparatus 10 is set so as not to match the actual shape, the processing can be simplified and the processing speed can be improved.

VII-2. Description of Creation Example Hereinafter, a creation example of the placement of child board data by the above-described automatic placement processing will be described with reference to the drawings.

(1) Creation Example 1: Description of Steps S2204 to S2304 Creation Example 1 is a case where the horizontal placement is primary placement and the number of sub-board data in the primary placement is specified by a prime number “3”. An example of creating temporary placement candidates for primary placement is shown.

  At this time, the secondary arrangement is vertically arranged, and the number of sub-board data of the secondary arrangement is arbitrary, but the present production example 1 shows an example of creating a temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement. The description relating to the secondary arrangement is omitted.

  When the number of sub-board data in the primary layout is a prime number, the provisional layout candidates for the primary layout are a total of two patterns, one horizontal row shown in FIG. 25A and one vertical column shown in FIG. (Step S2304).

  Here, a specific arrangement method in the case where the temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement shown in FIG. 25A is one horizontal line will be described. The first sub-board data is collected.

  That is, the first sub-board data of the first reference sub-board data is put together with the pitch from right to left while matching the heights of the center points of both. Arrange.

  At that time, the first and second sub-board data are compared with the result obtained by using the sub-board combination creating process 10C while rotating the base board data of the reference or shift (1) by 180 degrees in each combination. It is possible to adopt the one having the smallest rectangular area surrounding the sub board data.

  Note that such a variation in approach can be used as appropriate in the creation examples described below.

  The set of the first reference sub-board data and the second shift (1) sub-board data becomes a new reference, and the third shift (2) sub-board data is the new reference. In the same way, they are arranged from the right to the left.

  The set of the three sub-board data arranged in this way, that is, the reference sub-board data, the sub-board data of the registration (1), and the sub-board data of the registration (2) is a temporary arrangement candidate for the primary arrangement. .

  Note that the case where the primary placement temporary placement candidates shown in FIG. 25B are in a single vertical row is the same as the case where the primary placement temporary placement candidates shown in FIG.

(2) Creation Example 2: Description of Steps S2204 to S2308 Creation Example 2 is a case where the horizontal placement is primary placement, and the number of child board data in the primary placement is specified by a number other than a prime number. An example of creating temporary placement candidates for primary placement is shown.

  At this time, the secondary arrangement is vertically arranged, and the number of sub-board data of the secondary arrangement is arbitrary, but this creation example 2 shows a creation example of the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement. The description relating to the secondary arrangement is omitted.

  When the number of primary placement child board data is specified by a number other than a prime number, there is a temporary placement candidate for a primary placement corresponding to a combination of rows and columns (step S2308).

  For example, when the number of sub-board data is 4, there are a total of three primary arrangement candidates for primary arrangement of 1 row × 4 columns, 2 rows × 2 columns, and 4 rows × 1 columns.

  Of these, 1 row × 4 columns corresponds to the case of one horizontal row shown in FIG. 25A, and 4 rows × 1 column corresponds to the case of one vertical column shown in FIG.

  Similarly, when the number of sub board data is 6, 1 row × 6 columns (refer to FIG. 26A), 2 rows × 3 columns (refer to FIG. 26B), and 3 There are a total of four temporary placement candidates for primary placement of rows × 2 columns (see FIG. 26C) and 6 rows × 1 column (see FIG. 26D).

  Similarly, in the case where the number of sub-board data is 8, provisional layouts of a total of four primary layouts of 1 row × 8 columns, 2 rows × 4 columns, 4 rows × 2 columns, and 8 rows × 1 columns. There are candidates.

  Similarly, when the number of sub-board data is 9, there are three primary arrangement temporary arrangement candidates in total of 1 row × 9 columns, 3 rows × 3 columns, and 9 rows × 1 column.

  Thereafter, even if the number of child board data increases, a temporary placement candidate for the primary placement may be created by the same method.

  Here, when the child board data is arranged together, it may be in the order of rows and columns, or in the order of columns and rows.

(3) Creation Example 3: Description of Steps S2206 to S2404 Creation Example 3 is a case where the vertical placement is a secondary placement, and the number of child board data in the secondary placement is designated by a prime number “3”. An example of creating a temporary placement candidate for secondary placement is shown.

  At this time, the primary layout is horizontal, and the number of sub-board data of the primary layout is arbitrary, but this creation example 3 shows a creation example of a temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement. The description relating to the primary arrangement is omitted.

  When the number of sub-board data in the secondary arrangement is a prime number, the provisional arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are two types in total: one horizontal row shown in FIG. 27A and one vertical column shown in FIG. (Step S2404).

  Note that the specific arrangement method of the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement is the same as in the above-described creation example 1.

(4) Creation Example 4: Description of Steps S2206 to S2408 Creation Example 4 is a case where the vertical placement is a secondary placement, and the number of child board data in the secondary placement is specified by a number other than a prime number. An example of creating a temporary placement candidate for secondary placement is shown.

  At this time, the primary layout is horizontal, and the number of sub-board data of the primary layout is arbitrary, but this creation example 4 shows a creation example of a temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement. The description relating to the primary arrangement is omitted.

  If the number of secondary placement sub-board data is specified by a number other than a prime number, there are provisional placement candidates for secondary placement corresponding to a combination of rows and columns (step S2408).

  For example, when the number of sub-board data is 4, there are a total of three types of temporary arrangement candidates of secondary arrangement of 1 row × 4 columns, 2 rows × 2 columns, and 4 rows × 1 columns.

  Of these, 1 row × 4 columns corresponds to the case of one horizontal row shown in FIG. 27A, and 4 rows × 1 column corresponds to the case of one vertical column shown in FIG.

  Similarly, when the number of sub-board data is 6, 1 row × 6 columns (refer to FIG. 28A), 2 rows × 3 columns (refer to FIG. 28B), and 3 rows. There are a total of four types of temporary arrangement candidates of secondary arrangement of rows × 2 columns (see FIG. 28C) and 6 rows × 1 column (see FIG. 28D).

  Similarly, in the case where the number of sub-board data is 8, provisional layout of 4 types of secondary layouts of 1 row × 8 columns, 2 rows × 4 columns, 4 rows × 2 columns, and 8 rows × 1 columns in total. There are candidates.

  Similarly, when the number of sub-board data is 9, there are a total of three types of temporary arrangement candidates of secondary arrangement of 1 row × 9 columns, 3 rows × 3 columns, and 9 rows × 1 column.

  Thereafter, even if the number of sub-board data increases, a temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement may be created by the same method.

  Here, when the child board data is arranged together, it may be in the order of rows and columns, or in the order of columns and rows.

(5) Creation Example 5: Description of Steps S2208 to S2410 to Step S2420 In creation example 5, the horizontal placement is primary placement, and the number of sub-board data in the primary placement is specified by a prime number “3”. In addition, when the vertical arrangement is a secondary arrangement and the number of sub-board data of the secondary arrangement is specified by a prime number “3”, an example of creating a definite arrangement candidate is shown. Based on one of the temporary placement candidates for the next placement, one of the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement is brought together to create a final placement candidate.

  Here, when the number of sub-board data in the primary layout is a prime number, the provisional layout candidate for the primary layout as a reference is a horizontal row and a vertical column as shown in FIGS. There are two ways.

  Similarly, when the number of sub-board data in the secondary arrangement is a prime number, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement to be aligned are as shown in FIGS. 27 (a) and 27 (b). There are two ways.

  Then, one of the temporary placement candidates for the primary placement is used as a reference, and one of the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement is brought together, and the child board placement candidate that has been brought to the relevant reference As one of the following.

  Here, for example, the direction in which the temporary placement candidate in the secondary arrangement is brought close to the temporary placement candidate in the reference primary placement is moved from the right to the left with respect to the temporary placement candidate in the reference primary placement. In such a case, as shown in FIGS. 29 (a), (b), (c), and (d), there are four combinations.

  That is, FIG. 29A shows a case where the temporary placement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is a horizontal line.

  FIG. 29B shows a case where the provisional arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are a single vertical line.

  Further, FIG. 29C illustrates a case where the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a single vertical column, and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are a horizontal line.

  FIG. 29D shows a case where the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical row and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are in a vertical row.

  These four combinations shown in FIGS. 29 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are determined arrangement candidates.

  Here, the direction in which the temporary placement candidate for the secondary arrangement is shifted with respect to the temporary placement candidate for the reference primary layout is shifted from the right to the left with respect to the temporary placement candidate for the reference primary layout described above. In addition to the above case, when the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are moved from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, FIG. ) (B) and FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b), the combination is four times by simple calculation.

  That is, FIG. 30A shows the temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement in the case where the temporary arrangement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidate of the adjacent secondary arrangement is one horizontal line. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is.

  FIG. 30B shows the temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement when the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are a single vertical line. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is.

  Further, FIG. 31A shows the temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement in the case where the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical column and the temporary arrangement candidates of the adjacent secondary arrangement are one horizontal line. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is.

  FIG. 31B shows the temporary arrangement of the reference primary arrangement in the case where the temporary arrangement candidates of the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical row and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are in a vertical row. When the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are shifted from the right to the left, from the left to the right, from the upper to the lower, and from the lower to the upper, there are four combinations. It shows that there is.

  As described above, the final temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are added to the temporary placement candidates for the primary primary placement to create a final placement candidate. If the placement results of the child board data when the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are brought together with the placement candidates overlap, the overlap is excluded from the confirmed placement candidates.

  32 (a) (b) () because the number of secondary board data is an even number only when the number of secondary board data is “2” out of the prime numbers. c) As shown in (d), the temporary placement candidate of the secondary placement is divided into two, and the combination sandwiched from the left and right and the top and bottom of the temporary placement candidate of the reference primary placement is determined as the child board placement candidate.

  That is, FIG. 32A shows that when the temporary arrangement candidate for the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement is one horizontal line, the temporary arrangement candidate for the secondary arrangement is 2 A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched between the left and right of the temporary placement candidates for the reference primary placement.

  In addition, FIG. 32B illustrates that when the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a single vertical column and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are one horizontal line, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are two. A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched between the left and right of the temporary placement candidates for the reference primary placement.

  Further, FIG. 32C shows that when the temporary arrangement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is one horizontal line and the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are in a single vertical row, the temporary arrangement candidates of the secondary arrangement are 2 A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched from above and below the provisional placement candidates of the reference primary placement.

  FIG. 32D shows that when the temporary arrangement candidates for the reference primary arrangement are in a vertical row and the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are in a vertical row, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement are two. A combination is shown that is divided and sandwiched from above and below the provisional placement candidates of the reference primary placement.

(6) Creation Example 6: When the number of primary-layout child board data and secondary-placement child board data is other than a prime number The number of primary-placement child board data is other than a prime number and is secondary When the number of sub-board data of the arrangement is other than a prime number, the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement include the arrangement candidates for the combination of rows x columns, and similarly, the temporary arrangement candidates for the secondary arrangement also have the arrangement of rows x columns. There are arrangement candidates for combinations.

  The method of bringing the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement to the temporary arrangement candidate of the reference primary arrangement is the same as in the case of the prime number described in the above creation example.

  The processing in step S2426 and step S2432 in which the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement is divided into two so as to sandwich the temporary placement candidate for the primary placement will be described, for example, as shown below.

    (A) When the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is an even number row × odd number column (refer to FIGS. 28B and 28D): The row is divided into two halves so as to be sandwiched vertically (for example, In the case of 6 lines, it is divided into 2 for every 3 lines.)

    (B) When the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is an odd number row × an even number column (refer to FIGS. 28A and 28C): The column is divided into two halves and placed so as to be sandwiched between the left and right (for example, In the case of 6 columns, it is divided into 2 for every 3 columns.)

    (C) When the temporary arrangement candidate of the secondary arrangement is an even number row × an even number column: The row is divided into two halves so as to be sandwiched between the upper and lower sides (for example, in the case of six rows, it is divided into two every three rows) In addition, the column is divided into two halves and sandwiched between the left and right sides (for example, in the case of six columns, each column is divided into two in two).

(7) Supplement to the creation example The primary placement and the secondary placement are performed by replacing the primary placement and the secondary placement regarding the vertical placement and the horizontal placement by the processing in step S2220 and performing the same processing as in the creation example. Compared with the arrangement before replacement, the number of fixed arrangement candidates is doubled by simple calculation.

  However, if the placement result of the child board data when the temporary placement candidate for the secondary placement is shifted with respect to the temporary placement candidate for the reference primary placement is duplicated, the overlap is determined from the final placement candidate. exclude.

  Further, in the above-described creation example, when the sub board data is arranged in rows × columns, it is needless to say that the order may be row and column, or column and row.

  In the above example, for convenience, the same kind of sub board data is described and illustrated, but the same processing procedure is used for different kinds of sub board data.

  Furthermore, when the sub board data is arranged, for example, the sub board data may be arranged in order from the large area.

VII-3. Explanation while referring to the display screen of the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom” Hereinafter, in this section and the next section VII-4, examples of fixed arrangement candidates in each condition will be described. However, in the paneling design apparatus 10, when the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the number of vertical and horizontal placements is specified, and the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”. In this case, at the time when the arrangement direction is specified, a paneling simulation window on the display screen of the display device 18 (for example, reference numeral 33a in FIG. 33A) is referred to for the determined arrangement candidate having the highest child board occupation ratio. ) In the substrate display area (see, for example, reference numeral 33a-1 in FIG. 33A) by default.

  When viewing all the confirmed placement candidates including the first confirmed placement candidate having the highest child board occupancy rate, the placement review button (for example, the symbol 33a-2 in FIG. By pressing the button, all confirmed placement candidates are sequentially displayed and presented in a placement review window (for example, refer to reference numeral 33b in FIG. 33B) on the display screen of the display device 18. It is made to be done.

  Then, any fixed placement candidate display area (for example, the reference symbol 33b-1 in FIG. 33B) displayed in the arrangement examination window (for example, refer to the reference symbol 33b in FIG. 33B). When the user clicks the button, the confirmed placement candidate displayed in the clicked area is selected, and in this selected state, an OK button (for example, refer to the reference numeral 33b-2 in FIG. 33B). When is clicked, the arrangement candidate for determining the selected state is the substrate display region (for example, reference numeral 33a-1 in FIG. 33 (a)) of the paneling simulation window (for example, reference numeral 33a in FIG. 33 (a)). The arrangement review window (for example, refer to the reference numeral 33b in FIG. 33B) is closed. It is.

(1) Example in which the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical placement is “3”, and the horizontal placement is “3” In FIG. 33A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and the vertical placement is a prime number. Is a display screen on the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to a prime number “3”. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 33B shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is a primary arrangement that is a reference and the horizontal arrangement is a secondary arrangement that is aligned.

  First, No. 3 in FIG. 1 shifts the first horizontal candidate (vertical row) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) with respect to the standard vertical candidate (vertical one row). The bottom is not aligned.)

  In addition, No. 3 in FIG. 2 shifts the second horizontal candidate (one horizontal line) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) The bottom is not aligned.)

  Furthermore, No. 3 in FIG. 3 shifts the first horizontal candidate (one vertical column) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) with respect to the standard vertical second candidate (one horizontal line). The bottom is not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. No. 4 shifts the second horizontal candidate (one horizontal line) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) with respect to the standard vertical candidate (vertical one column). The bottom is not aligned.)

  Next, by replacing the reference and the misalignment, that is, when the horizontal placement is set as the primary layout as the reference and the vertical placement is set as the secondary layout as the shift, a fixed placement candidate is created. In the example, the result will be duplicated even if the standard and alignment are swapped (Note that the alignment is not from right to left but from left to right, and right to left, bottom to top, top to bottom is not performed. .)

(2) Example in which the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical placement is “3”, and the horizontal placement is “5” In FIG. 34A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and the vertical placement is a prime number. This is a display screen on the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to a prime number “5”. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 34B shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate in the case where the vertical arrangement is set as the primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is set as the secondary arrangement.

  First, No. 2 in FIG. 1 shifts the first candidate for horizontal alignment (one horizontal line) from the right to the left (from left to right, from bottom to top, from the top) with respect to the first vertical candidate (horizontal one line) The bottom is not aligned.)

  In addition, No. in FIG. 2 shifts the second horizontal candidate (vertical line) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) with respect to the standard vertical candidate (vertical one line). The bottom is not aligned.)

  Furthermore, No. in FIG. 3, the second candidate for vertical alignment (vertical row) is aligned from right to left (left to right, bottom to top, top The bottom is not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. No. 4 shifts the first candidate for horizontal alignment (one horizontal line) from the right to the left (from left to right, from bottom to top, from the top) with respect to the standard vertical candidate (vertical one column). The bottom is not aligned.)

  Next, by replacing the reference and the misalignment, that is, when the horizontal placement is set as the primary layout as the reference and the vertical placement is set as the secondary layout as the shift, a fixed placement candidate is created. In the example, the result will be duplicated even if the standard and alignment are swapped (Note that the alignment is not from right to left but from left to right, and right to left, bottom to top, top to bottom is not performed. .)

(3) Example in which arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, vertical installation is “3” and horizontal installation is “4” In FIG. 35A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and the vertical arrangement is a prime number. This is a display screen in the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to “4” other than a prime number. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 35 (b) shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is a primary arrangement that is a reference and the horizontal arrangement is a secondary arrangement that is aligned.

  First, No. 3 in FIG. 1 shifts the first horizontal candidate (4 rows and 1 column: 4 rows × 1 column) from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the first vertical candidate (one vertical column) as a reference. Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  In addition, in FIG. 2, the second candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal row) is divided into two left and right halves and the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 4 columns: 1 row × 4 columns) is sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Furthermore, No. 5 in FIG. 3 is the second candidate for vertical placement (one horizontal row), and the third candidate for horizontal placement (two rows and two columns: two rows by two columns) is divided into two halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Next, No. 5 in FIG. 4, with respect to the first candidate for vertical placement (one vertical column), the third candidate for horizontal placement (2 rows × 2 columns: 2 rows × 2 columns) is divided into two halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  In addition, in FIG. 5, the first candidate (4 rows and 1 column: 4 rows × 1 column) is shifted from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the second vertical candidate (one horizontal row) of the reference. Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. 6, with respect to the first candidate for vertical placement (one vertical column), the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 4 columns: 1 row × 4 columns) is divided into two halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Next, by replacing the reference and the alignment, that is, creating a final arrangement candidate when the horizontal position is set as the reference primary arrangement and the vertical position is set as the secondary arrangement. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(4) Example in which arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, vertical placement is “3” and horizontal placement is “6” In FIG. 36A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and vertical placement is a prime number. This is a display screen on the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to “6” other than a prime number. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 36B shows an example of a definite placement candidate when the vertical placement is the primary placement as the reference and the horizontal placement is the secondary placement as the alignment.

  First, No. 3 in FIG. 1 is the first candidate for vertical placement (vertical one column), and the first candidate for horizontal placement (3 rows × 2 columns: 3 rows × 2 columns) is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  In addition, in FIG. 2, the second candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal row) is divided into two left and right halves and the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 6 columns: 1 row × 6 columns) is sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Furthermore, No. 3 in FIG. 3 aligns the third candidate for horizontal alignment (6 rows and 1 column: 6 rows × 1 column) from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the first vertical candidate for the reference (vertical one column). Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  Next, No. 3 in FIG. No. 4 shifts the fourth horizontal candidate (2 rows and 3 columns: 2 rows × 3 columns) from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the second vertical candidate (one horizontal row) as a reference. Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  In addition, in FIG. 5 is the first candidate for horizontal placement (3 rows and 2 columns: 3 rows x 2 columns) with respect to the second candidate for the standard vertical placement (one horizontal row) and is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right So

  And No. in FIG. 6 aligns the fourth horizontal candidate (2 rows × 3 columns: 2 rows × 3 columns) from right to left with respect to the first vertical candidate (vertical one column) (from left to right). Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. 7 aligns the third candidate for horizontal placement (6 rows and 1 column: 6 rows × 1 column) from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the second candidate for the vertical orientation (one horizontal row). Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. No. 8 is the first candidate for vertical placement (vertical one column), and the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 6 columns: 1 row × 6 columns) is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Next, by replacing the reference and the alignment, that is, creating a final arrangement candidate when the horizontal position is set as the reference primary arrangement and the vertical position is set as the secondary arrangement. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(5) Example in which the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical placement is “2”, and the horizontal placement is “2” In FIG. 37A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and the vertical placement is a prime number. Is a display screen on the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to a prime number “2”. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 37 (b) shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is the primary arrangement as a reference and the horizontal arrangement is the secondary arrangement as an alignment.

  First, No. 3 in FIG. 1 shifts the first horizontal candidate (vertical row) from the right to the left (left to right, bottom to top, top to bottom) with respect to the standard vertical candidate (vertical one row). The bottom is not aligned.)

  In addition, in FIG. 2 is arranged so that the second candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal line) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right with respect to the second candidate for vertical placement (one horizontal line).

  Further, in No. 37 in FIG. No. 5 is arranged such that the second candidate for horizontal alignment (one horizontal line) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right with respect to the first vertical candidate (vertical one row).

  Next, No. 37 in FIG. 6, the first candidate for horizontal alignment (vertical row) is aligned from left to right (from right to left, from bottom to top, and from top) to the standard second vertical candidate (one horizontal line). The bottom is not aligned.)

  And No. in FIG. 3 and no. 4 shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate in which the reference and the alignment are switched, that is, the horizontal arrangement is set as the primary arrangement as the reference and the vertical arrangement is set as the secondary arrangement as the alignment.

  That is, No. 3 in FIG. 3 is arranged such that the first candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal line) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right with respect to the first candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal line).

  In addition, in FIG. 4, the first candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal row) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right with respect to the second candidate for horizontal placement (vertical one row).

(6) Example in which the arrangement direction is “vertical and horizontal freedom”, the vertical arrangement is “2”, and the horizontal arrangement is “4” In FIG. 38A, the arrangement direction is set to “vertical and horizontal freedom”, and the vertical arrangement is a prime number. This is a display screen on the display device 18 when the horizontal position is set to “4” other than a prime number. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  Here, FIG. 38B shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the vertical arrangement is a primary arrangement that is a reference and the horizontal arrangement is a secondary arrangement that is aligned.

  First, No. 3 in FIG. 1 is the first candidate for vertical placement (vertical one column), and the first candidate for horizontal placement (2 rows × 2 columns: 2 rows × 2 columns) is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right So

  In addition, No. 38 in FIG. 3, the second candidate for horizontal placement (one horizontal row) is divided into two left and right halves and the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 4 columns: 1 row × 4 columns) is sandwiched from the left and right. So

  Furthermore, No. 38 in FIG. No. 4 shifts the third horizontal candidate (4 rows and 1 column: 4 rows × 1 column) from the right to the left (from the left) with respect to the first vertical candidate (vertical one column). Right, bottom to top, top to bottom are not aligned.)

  Next, No. 3 in FIG. 6, the first candidate for horizontal alignment (2 rows × 2 columns: 2 rows × 2 columns) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right with respect to the standard vertical second candidate (one horizontal row). So

  In addition, No. 38 in FIG. 8 is the first candidate for vertical placement (one vertical column), and the second candidate for horizontal placement (1 row, 4 columns: 1 row × 4 columns) is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  And No. in FIG. 2, no. 5 and no. 7 shows an example of a fixed arrangement candidate when the reference and the alignment are exchanged, that is, the horizontal arrangement is set as the primary arrangement as the reference and the vertical arrangement is set as the secondary arrangement as the alignment.

  That is, No. 3 in FIG. 2 is the first candidate for horizontal placement (1 row x 4 columns: 1 row x 4 columns), and the first vertical placement candidate (horizontal row) is divided into two halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

  In addition, No. 38 in FIG. 5 is the first candidate for horizontal placement (2 rows x 2 columns: 2 rows x 2 columns), and the first candidate for vertical placement (horizontal one row) is divided into two left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right So

  And No. in FIG. 7 is the first candidate for horizontal placement (4 rows and 1 column: 4 rows x 1 column), and the first candidate for vertical alignment (one horizontal row) is divided into left and right halves and sandwiched from the left and right. So

33 (b), FIG. 34 (b), FIG. 35 (b), FIG. 36 (b), FIG. 37 (b), and FIG. 38 (b) show all determined arrangement candidates. It does not mean, but only a definite arrangement candidate.

  That is, FIG. 33B, FIG. 34B, FIG. 35B, FIG. 36B, FIG. 37B, and FIG. 38B are used when creating a fixed arrangement candidate. This is a case where the direction in which the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement are arranged is limited. For example, even if a specification for bringing the temporary placement candidates for the secondary placement to be gathered from bottom to top or from top to bottom is added Of course it is good.

VII-4. Description with reference to the display screen of the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is “horizontal only” As described above, regarding the arrangement direction, “vertical only” and “horizontal only” in addition to “vertical and horizontal freedom”. However, when the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”, only “primary arrangement” in the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 22 is performed, and the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”. The provisional child board arrangement candidate of the primary arrangement “” becomes the decided child board arrangement candidate as it is.

  When the arrangement direction is “vertical only” or “horizontal only”, the processing of “secondary arrangement” in the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 22 does not occur, so the number of child board data is “2”. When the prime number is excluded, an incomplete matrix may be created and added to the fixed arrangement candidate.

  39 (a), (b), (c), (d) and FIGS. 40 (a), (b), provisional arrangement of the primary arrangement in the process of the flowchart of FIG. 22 when the arrangement direction is “horizontal only”. Between a confirmed child substrate placement candidate when the candidate child substrate placement candidate is a confirmed child substrate placement candidate, and a confirmed child substrate placement candidate when an incomplete matrix is created and added as a confirmed placement candidate. A display example showing an example is shown.

  That is, (a-1) in FIG. 39A is the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of sub-board data to be arranged is set to a prime number “2”. It is a display screen. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (a-2) of FIG. 39 (a), in the setting of (a-1) of FIG. A display example is shown in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown as 1.

  Next, (b-1) in FIG. 39B is the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of child boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “3”. It is a display screen. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (b-2) of FIG. 39 (b), in the setting of (b-1) of FIG. 1 shows a definite arrangement candidate based on the incomplete matrix described above. 2 shows a display example in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown.

  Incidentally, (b-1) in FIG. The result of No. 2 is displayed by default. No. 1 is an incomplete matrix. 1 is excluded from the default display target in (b-1) of FIG.

  The same applies to (d-1) in FIG. 39D and (b-1) in FIG.

  It should be noted that this is merely an example, and it is a matter of course that specifications that do not perform such exception processing may be used.

  Next, (c-1) in FIG. 39C shows the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of child boards to be arranged is set to “4” other than the prime number. It is a display screen in. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (c-2) of FIG. 39 (c), in the setting of (c-1) of FIG. 1 shows a definite placement candidate based on a complete matrix. 2 shows a display example in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown.

  Next, (d-1) in FIG. 39D is the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of child boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “5”. It is a display screen. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (d-2) of FIG.39 (d), in the setting of (d-1) of FIG. 1 shows a definite arrangement candidate based on the incomplete matrix described above. 2 shows a display example in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown.

  Next, (a-1) in FIG. 40A is a display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of child boards to be arranged is set to “6” other than a prime number. It is a display screen in. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (a-2) of FIG. 40 (a), in the setting of (a-1) of FIG. 1 shows a definite placement candidate based on a complete matrix. 2 shows a display example in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown.

  Next, (b-1) in FIG. 40B is the display device 18 when the arrangement direction is set to “horizontal only” and the number of sub-boards to be arranged is set to a prime number “7”. It is a display screen. The pitch is set to “10.0”.

  And in (b-2) of FIG.40 (b), in the setting of (b-1) of FIG.40 (b) mentioned above, it is No. 1 shows a definite arrangement candidate based on the incomplete matrix described above. No. 2 shows a definite arrangement candidate based on the incomplete matrix described above. 2 shows a display example in which a fixed arrangement candidate for one horizontal line is shown.

  In the above, an example in which the arrangement direction is “horizontal only” is shown. However, even when the arrangement direction is “vertical only”, only the arrangement direction changes from “horizontal only” to “vertical only”. The other is the same as the case where the arrangement direction is “horizontal only”.

Note that (a-2) in FIG. 39 (a), (b-2) in FIG. 39 (b), (c-2) in FIG. 39 (c), (d-2) in FIG. 39 (d), In (a-2) of FIG. 40 (a) and (b-2) of FIG. 40 (b), not all confirmed placement candidates are shown, but confirmed placement candidates are illustrated. Not too much.

  That is, (a-2) in FIG. 39 (a), (b-2) in FIG. 39 (b), (c-2) in FIG. 39 (c), (d-2) in FIG. 39 (d), (A-2) in FIG. 40 (a) and (b-2) in FIG. 40 (b) show cases where the creation of temporary placement candidates for the primary placement that is the final placement candidate is restricted. Of course, for example, it is possible to add a vertical line or add another variation in an incomplete matrix.

VIII. Other Embodiments The above-described embodiments may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (5) to form other embodiments.

  (1) In the embodiment described above, the case where automatic placement is performed using the automatic placement processing according to the present invention described above when the child board data is automatically placed in the parent board data has been described in detail. Of course, it is not limited thereto, and automatic placement processing by a known automatic placement algorithm may be used.

  (2) The various values used in the embodiment described above are merely examples, and the user can use desired values.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the paneling design apparatus 10 performs the child board arrangement candidate presentation process 10A, the child board occupation ratio presentation process 10B, the child board combination creation process 10C, the heterogeneous board arrangement process 10D, and the parent board hierarchy. The processing 10E, the sub-board number addition processing 10F, the hole cross-section check via automatic creation processing 10G, the parent substrate version management processing 10H, and the parent substrate outer shape capture processing 10I have been described as being executable. Of course, it is not necessary to be able to configure, and at least one of these processes may be executed.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, when the arrangement direction is set to “free vertical and horizontal”, the vertical direction is determined according to the number of inputs (refer to reference numeral 70a-2) as the number of files specified as the child board data. The number of child board data to be arranged as a position (refer to the reference numeral 70b-3) (refer to the reference numeral 70b-4) and the number of child board data to be arranged as a horizontal position (refer to the reference numeral 70b-5) (Refer to reference numeral 70b-6) may be automatically set as an initial setting in advance as shown in the following (a) to (f), for example.

(A) When the number of inputs is “1”: vertical position is “1” and horizontal position is “0”
(B) When the number of inputs is “2”: vertical placement is “1” and horizontal placement is “1”
(C) When the number of inputs is “3”: vertical placement is “2” and horizontal placement is “1”
(D) When the number of inputs is “4”: vertical placement is “2” and horizontal placement is “2”
(E) When the number of inputs is “5”: vertical placement is “3” and horizontal placement is “2”
(F) When the number of inputs is “6”: vertical placement is “3” and horizontal placement is “3”
Further, as described above, after the number of child board data to be arranged vertically and the number of child board data to be arranged horizontally are automatically set as initial settings, the number of vertically arranged or horizontally arranged When the user inputs a desired numerical value, the number of vertical positions or horizontal positions may be automatically changed according to the input by the user.

  For example, as an initial setting, as shown in (f) above, when the number of inputs is “6” and the vertical position is “3” and the horizontal position is “3”, the user sets the vertical position to “1”. ”Is automatically changed to“ 5 ”, and when the user makes an input to change the vertical position to“ 2 ”, the horizontal position is automatically changed to“ 4 ”. When the user inputs to change the vertical position to “3”, the horizontal position may be automatically changed to “3”.

  Similarly, as shown in (f) above, when the number of inputs is “6” and the vertical position is “3” and the horizontal position is “3”, the user sets the horizontal position as “3”. When the input is changed to “1”, the vertical position is automatically changed to “5”. When the user inputs the horizontal position to “2”, the vertical position is automatically changed to “4”. Further, when the user inputs to change the horizontal position to “3”, the vertical position may be automatically changed to “3”.

  (5) You may make it combine suitably the embodiment shown above and the modification shown in said (1) thru | or (4).

  The present invention is preferably used for manufacturing design of an electronic substrate when manufacturing and designing an electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paneling design apparatus 10A Sub-board placement candidate presentation processing 10B Sub-board occupation ratio presentation processing 10C Sub-board combination creation processing 10D Heterogeneous board placement processing 10E Parent board hierarchization processing 10F Sub-board number addition processing 10G Hole cross-section check via automatic creation processing 10H Parent substrate version management processing 10I Parent substrate outer shape capture processing 12 Central processing unit (CPU)
14 bus 16 storage device (memory)
18 Display Device 20 Output Device 22 Pointing Device 24 Character Input Device 26 Input / Output Interface Circuit (I / O)
28 External storage device 30 Computer-readable recording medium 32 Read / write device

Claims (13)

In a paneling design device that places a child board on a parent board,
A sub board specifying means for specifying a plurality of sub boards,
Arrangement position candidate generating means for generating a plurality of arrangement position candidates when arranging a plurality of sub boards specified by the sub board specifying means on a main board;
Arrangement position candidate presenting means for presenting a plurality of arrangement position candidates generated by the arrangement position candidate generating means;
For each of the placement position candidates presented by the placement position candidate presenting means, there is a child board occupancy rate calculating means for calculating the ratio of the child board occupying the parent board,
The arrangement position candidate generation means includes:
Based on the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, a provisional arrangement candidate that is a temporary sub-board arrangement candidate is generated, and then a fixed arrangement that is a candidate for an arrangement position when a plurality of sub-boards are arranged on the parent board from the temporary arrangement candidates Generate suggestions,
When the placement direction of the slave board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement,
While setting one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement as the placement direction in the primary placement, the other placement direction is set as the placement direction in the secondary placement,
When the vertical arrangement is set as the primary arrangement, the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement are set according to the number of the sub-boards arranged as the vertical arrangement, and the secondary arrangement is set according to the number of the sub-boards arranged as the horizontal arrangement. When temporary placement candidates are generated and horizontal placement is set as the primary placement, the temporary placement candidates for primary placement and the child boards placed as vertical placement according to the number of child boards placed as horizontal placement Generate temporary placement candidates for secondary placement according to the number,
A paneling design apparatus characterized in that a temporary arrangement candidate of a secondary arrangement that is close to a primary arrangement candidate of a primary arrangement that is used as a reference is generated and a fixed arrangement candidate is generated. In a paneling design device that places a child board on a parent board,
A sub board specifying means for specifying a plurality of sub boards,
Arrangement position candidate generating means for generating a plurality of arrangement position candidates when arranging a plurality of sub boards specified by the sub board specifying means on a main board;
Arrangement position candidate presenting means for presenting a plurality of arrangement position candidates generated by the arrangement position candidate generating means;
For each of the placement position candidates presented by the placement position candidate presenting means, there is a child board occupancy rate calculating means for calculating the ratio of the child board occupying the parent board,
The arrangement position candidate generation means includes:
Based on the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, a provisional arrangement candidate that is a temporary sub-board arrangement candidate is generated, and then a fixed arrangement that is a candidate for an arrangement position when a plurality of sub-boards are arranged on the parent board from the temporary arrangement candidates Generate suggestions,
When the placement direction of the slave board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement,
While setting one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement as the placement direction in the primary placement, the other placement direction is set as the placement direction in the secondary placement,
If the number of sub-boards in the primary arrangement is a prime number, the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement are arranged in a horizontal row and a vertical row in the one arrangement direction in the first temporary arrangement. If the number of sub-boards generated as candidates is not a prime number, the sub-boards are arranged in a row × column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the one arrangement direction. As a second provisional placement candidate,
If the number of secondary boards in the secondary layout is a prime number, a temporary layout candidate in the secondary layout is a third provisional layout in which the secondary boards are arranged in one horizontal row and one vertical row in the other arrangement direction. If the number of sub-boards generated as candidates is not a prime number, the sub-boards are arranged in a row x column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the other arrangement direction. As a fourth provisional placement candidate,
When the secondary temporary placement candidate is the third temporary placement candidate, the third temporary placement candidate is assigned to the primary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction. When the number of sub-boards arranged in the third provisional placement candidate is “2”, the sub-boards constituting the column or row are divided into two halves, left and right halves or top and bottom halves. The determined temporary placement candidate is generated by sandwiching the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement with the third provisional placement candidate,
When the secondary temporary placement candidate is the fourth temporary placement candidate, the fourth temporary placement candidate is assigned to the primary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction. Only when the number of sub-boards arranged in the fourth provisional placement candidate is an even number, the sub-boards constituting the columns and rows are divided into the left and right halves or the upper and lower halves and divided into two. A final placement candidate is generated by interposing the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement with the fourth provisional placement candidate,
When the placement direction of the slave board is either horizontal or vertical,
When the number of sub-boards is a prime number, in the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, the one arranged in a horizontal row and a vertical row is generated as a temporary placement candidate, and this temporary placement candidate is set as a final placement candidate,
If the number of child boards is other than a prime number, a provisional placement candidate is generated as a placement by row / column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the placement direction of the child board, and this provisional placement candidate A paneling design apparatus characterized in that is a definite placement candidate. In paneling designing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further
Minimum interval setting means for setting a minimum interval provided between the child substrates when a plurality of child substrates are brought close to each other;
A paneling design apparatus comprising: a sub-board combination creating unit that creates a combination of a plurality of sub-boards specified by the sub-board specifying unit with a minimum interval set by the minimum interval setting unit. In the paneling design apparatus of any one of Claim 1 or 2 ,
The paneling design apparatus, wherein the sub-board specifying means specifies a plurality of sub-boards whose outer shapes do not match. In paneling designing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further
A paneling design apparatus, comprising: a parent substrate layering unit that repeats at least once a parent substrate as a child substrate of another parent substrate. In paneling designing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further
A paneling design apparatus comprising: a sub-board number adding unit that adds numbers to all the sub-boards arranged on the parent board. In paneling designing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further
When the parent board design is finished, the version number of the parent board is increased and saved, and when the parent board design is started, the parts are stored based on the movement method set in advance for the previously saved version of the parent board. A paneling design apparatus, comprising: a parent board version managing means for moving the board. In paneling designing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further
A paneling design apparatus, comprising: a parent board outer shape taking-in means for taking in an existing parent board outer shape. In a paneling design device that places a child board on a parent board,
A sub board specifying means for specifying a plurality of sub boards,
Arrangement position candidate generating means for generating a plurality of arrangement position candidates when arranging a plurality of sub boards specified by the sub board specifying means on a main board;
Arrangement position candidate presenting means for presenting a plurality of arrangement position candidates generated by the arrangement position candidate generating means;
For each of the placement position candidates presented by the placement position candidate presenting means, a child board occupancy rate calculating means for calculating a ratio of the child board occupying on the parent board;
A paneling design apparatus comprising: a hole cross-section check via automatic generation unit that automatically generates a hole cross-section check via on a parent board based on holes of all the sub-boards arranged on the parent board. In a paneling design method in which a child board is arranged on a parent board by a paneling design apparatus,
A first step of designating each of the plurality of sub-boards;
A second step of generating a plurality of placement position candidates when placing the plurality of child boards specified in the first step on the parent board;
A third step of presenting a plurality of placement position candidates generated by the second step;
The paneling design apparatus executes a fourth step of calculating a ratio of the child board on the parent board for each of the placement position candidates presented in the third step,
In the second step,
Based on the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, a provisional arrangement candidate that is a temporary sub-board arrangement candidate is generated, and then a fixed arrangement that is a candidate for an arrangement position when a plurality of sub-boards are arranged on the parent board from the temporary arrangement candidates Generate suggestions,
When the placement direction of the slave board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement,
While setting one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement as the placement direction in the primary placement, the other placement direction is set as the placement direction in the secondary placement,
When the vertical arrangement is set as the primary arrangement, the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement are set according to the number of the sub-boards arranged as the vertical arrangement, and the secondary arrangement is set according to the number of the sub-boards arranged as the horizontal arrangement. When temporary placement candidates are generated and horizontal placement is set as the primary placement, the temporary placement candidates for primary placement and the child boards placed as vertical placement according to the number of child boards placed as horizontal placement Generate temporary placement candidates for secondary placement according to the number,
A paneling design method, characterized in that a temporary arrangement candidate of a secondary arrangement that is close to a reference temporary arrangement candidate of a primary arrangement is brought together to generate a fixed arrangement candidate. In a paneling design method in which a child board is arranged on a parent board by a paneling design apparatus,
A first step of designating each of the plurality of sub-boards;
A second step of generating a plurality of placement position candidates when placing the plurality of child boards specified in the first step on the parent board;
A third step of presenting a plurality of placement position candidates generated by the second step;
The paneling design apparatus executes a fourth step of calculating a ratio of the child board on the parent board for each of the placement position candidates presented in the third step,
In the second step,
Based on the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, a provisional arrangement candidate that is a temporary sub-board arrangement candidate is generated, and then a fixed arrangement that is a candidate for an arrangement position when a plurality of sub-boards are arranged on the parent board from the temporary arrangement candidates Generate suggestions,
When the placement direction of the slave board is mixed with horizontal placement and vertical placement,
While setting one of the horizontal placement and the vertical placement as the placement direction in the primary placement, the other placement direction is set as the placement direction in the secondary placement,
If the number of sub-boards in the primary arrangement is a prime number, the temporary arrangement candidates for the primary arrangement are arranged in a horizontal row and a vertical row in the one arrangement direction in the first temporary arrangement. If the number of sub-boards generated as candidates is not a prime number, the sub-boards are arranged in a row × column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the one arrangement direction. As a second provisional placement candidate,
If the number of secondary boards in the secondary layout is a prime number, a temporary layout candidate in the secondary layout is a third provisional layout in which the secondary boards are arranged in one horizontal row and one vertical row in the other arrangement direction. If the number of sub-boards generated as candidates is not a prime number, the sub-boards are arranged in a row x column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the other arrangement direction. As a fourth provisional placement candidate,
When the secondary temporary placement candidate is the third temporary placement candidate, the third temporary placement candidate is assigned to the primary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction. When the number of sub-boards arranged in the third provisional placement candidate is “2”, the sub-boards constituting the column or row are divided into two halves, left and right halves or top and bottom halves. The determined temporary placement candidate is generated by sandwiching the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement with the third provisional placement candidate,
When the secondary temporary placement candidate is the fourth temporary placement candidate, the fourth temporary placement candidate is assigned to the primary placement from at least one of the left direction, the right direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction. Only when the number of sub-boards arranged in the fourth provisional placement candidate is an even number, the sub-boards constituting the columns and rows are divided into the left and right halves or the upper and lower halves and divided into two. A final placement candidate is generated by interposing the temporary placement candidate of the primary placement with the fourth provisional placement candidate,
When the placement direction of the slave board is either horizontal or vertical,
When the number of sub-boards is a prime number, in the arrangement direction of the sub-boards, the one arranged in a horizontal row and a vertical row is generated as a temporary placement candidate, and this temporary placement candidate is set as a final placement candidate,
If the number of child boards is other than a prime number, a provisional placement candidate is generated as a placement by row / column combination using rows and columns in a matrix in the placement direction of the child board, and this provisional placement candidate A paneling design method characterized in that is a definite placement candidate. A program for causing a computer to function as the paneling design apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 . The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 12 .