JPH0253826B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a layout design support system that automatically displays an appropriate layout diagram according to an arrangement target and improves design efficiency in layout design through interactive processing. It is something.

[Background of the invention]

Previously, layout design methods have been discussed regarding chip placement in the LSI field. For example, "CAD for VLSI computers" (Sangyo Tosho) (1983) by Yamada et al.
It is described on pages 72 to 83 of the annual publication, and discusses how to divide the target section of the layout into small unit sections.

Also, for information on how to assign levels to drawings displayed on a CAD device and use the drawings in a hierarchical manner,
How to select the drawing level of CAD equipment
180652). Regarding a method for partially modifying a layout using the relationship between the overall layout and the partial layout contained in it, the layout design change method
114265).

As described above, a hierarchical layout method is known in which the layout design is performed by dividing the target space into small parts.

Further, it is a well-known technique to specify or change the range of a drawing to be displayed on an output device using an indicating device or a switching device. For example, multiple image display/switching device
An example is given in 180628).

However, conventional methods and means for layout design or for supporting layout design do not take into consideration what kind of layout diagram the system should display, and it is up to the designer to decide. I was searching for and selecting a layout diagram with an appropriate display range.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a layout design support system that can create a layout diagram having a necessary display range according to specified elements to be arranged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a layout design support system capable of knowing the arrangement possible area of a specified arrangement target element.

[Summary of the invention]

A feature of the present invention is that first data indicates the relationship between a plurality of unit sections obtained by dividing a layout design target area into a plurality of units and elements to be arranged, and first data indicates the connection relationship of the elements to be arranged between different unit sections. 2. Based on the arrangement target element inputted from the input device, the related first data is stored.
The data and second data are searched, and based on the searched data, a unit section containing the input element to be placed and another unit containing another element to be placed in a connection relationship with this element to be placed. and a processing means for creating a layout diagram of the division.

Another feature of the present invention is that first data indicates the relationship between a plurality of unit sections obtained by dividing the layout design target area into a plurality of sections and the placement target element, and indicates the connection relationship of the placement target element between different unit sections. storage means for storing second data and third data indicating an arrangement possible area of the arrangement target element within the unit section; The data and the third data are searched, and based on the retrieved data, the unit area including the input placement target element and other placement target elements including other placement target elements in a connection relationship with this placement target element are searched. The present invention further comprises a processing means for creating a layout diagram of a unit section, which includes a figure of an arrangement possible area of an element to be arranged within the unit section.

[Embodiments of the invention]

A layout design support system that is a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is a layout design support system that divides the entire space targeted for layout design into small unit sections, assigns placement targets to these unit sections, and determines the placement of the placement targets through interactive processing. We propose a system that uses the following processing steps to automatically create and display a layout diagram in which unnecessary parts are omitted from the display range according to the layout target, and the necessary parts become the main part of the display range. It is something to do.

In the first step, a second arrangement object having a connection relationship with the first arrangement object selected as an arrangement object via the input device is determined.

In the second step, for both of the placement targets in the first step, the unit area to which the placement target is assigned is determined, and the unit area is determined for a part of the entire space necessary to indicate the positional relationship between these placement objects. seek.

In the third step, the unit sections obtained in the second step are combined to create a layout diagram and displayed on the output device.

The layout diagram obtained by the above processing steps includes information regarding the second placement target that should be considered in designing the layout of the first placement target, and excludes parts that are not important in the layout design of the first placement target. It is something. Such a layout diagram is appropriate in the sense that it limits the designer's field of view to important parts.

The specific contents of the outline of this embodiment described above will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 17.

First, the overall configuration of the layout design support system according to the present invention will be explained. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment using a computer. According to this, this embodiment consists of an input device 1, an output device 2, and a computer main body 3.
The type of input device 1 is a keyboard with an optical mouse added for position indication, and the type of output device is a bitmap type CRT.

The computer main body 3 includes a storage device 4 that stores data and programs that support layout design, and a CPU 5 that uses the contents of the storage device 4 to determine the display contents of a layout diagram and controls input and output. The contents of the storage device 4 are:
Data 6 representing the positional relationship between unit sections obtained by dividing the spatial portion of the overall layout, data 7 representing the relationship between the arrangement target and the unit section, data 8 representing the connection relationship between the arrangement objects, and arrangement of the arrangement object. A program module 11 includes data 9 representing positions or possible layout positions, and other data 10, and a program module 11 for determining the necessary display range, creating and displaying a layout diagram, program module 12 for managing to match the situation;
and other program modules 13.

Next, the flow of processing in a layout design support system using interactive processing will be explained by comparing the conventional technology and the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in a layout design support system according to the prior art. In the figure, 21 steps are layout space,
This is the input of basic data such as the shape and dimensions of each unit section and layout target. Step 22 is an interactive input for the designer to specify the range to be displayed as a layout diagram, and step 23 is the input of the above range. This is a display of a layout diagram. In step 24, the designer determines whether the resulting layout diagram is appropriate, and if it is appropriate, the process proceeds to step 25; if it is inappropriate, the process returns to step 22 and the display range is corrected. Step 25 is the input of position data for the placement target, and step 26
stores the position data of the placement target corresponding to this data. In step 27, it is determined whether or not the layout design is complete. If not, the process returns to step 22 and continues.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in the layout design support system according to the present invention. In the figure, step 31 includes, in addition to the basic data input in step 21, data 6 indicating the positional relationship between the unit sections, data 7 indicating the relationship between the arrangement target and the unit section, and the connection between the arrangement targets. Data 8 representing the relationship and data 9 representing the placement position or possible placement position of the placement target are input. At this time, for general placement targets for which placement has not been given in advance, possible placement positions are input as data 9. Step 32 is an interactive input for selecting the first arrangement target, which is the direct target of layout design.

Steps 33 to 36 and steps 35a and 36a are program module 1 for determining the necessary display range, creating and displaying a layout diagram.
1 is executed. Step 33 uses data 8 to determine whether there is a second placement object that has a connection relationship with the first placement object given in step 32. If not, proceed to step 35a. Step 34 uses data 7 to find unit sections to which the first and second placement targets are assigned. Step 35 includes the unit compartments obtained in step 34 above, that is, the unit compartment where the first placement target exists and the unit compartment where the second placement target exists, and which is necessary to show the connection relationship between the two. Find a layout diagram that includes all parts and excludes unnecessary parts. It is a necessary part to show the connection relationship between the two, and includes at least the arrangement positions or possible arrangement positions of both. This space becomes the display range of the layout diagram. Using data 6, a layout diagram having the above display range is created by combining unit sections.

In step 36, the layout diagram of the display range obtained in the above step is displayed on the output device 2. At this time, using the data 9, the arrangement positions or possible arrangement positions of the first and second arrangement targets are displayed together.

In step 35a, the unit section to which the first arrangement target is assigned is determined using the data 7, and a layout diagram is created in which the unit section is the display range. In step 36a, this layout diagram is displayed together with the possible placement positions of the first placement target given by data 9.

Step 37 is the interactive input of the position data of the first placement target, and step 38 corresponds to this data, and data 9 regarding the first placement target is input from the placement possible position to step 37 above. The location will be changed to the one specified. At the same time, if there is an unplaced placement target belonging to the unit section to which the first placement target has been allocated, its placement possible position is updated to reflect the position of the first placement target.

In step 39, it is determined whether or not the layout design is complete. If not, the process returns to step 32 and continues.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, an example according to the present invention will be explained in more detail using data when applied to an example problem of plant layout design. In the layout design of a plant, the objects to be arranged are devices, and the connection relationships between the objects to be arranged are those through piping, wiring, ducts, and the like. Although the example problem is a two-dimensional layout problem, it is also possible to handle a three-dimensional layout problem in this embodiment. Further, there is no need to take particular constraints into consideration regarding layout space, unit divisions, and shapes and dimensions of placement targets.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing unit sections in an example of layout design. In this case, the spatial portion of the layout is divided into 24 unit sections from R1 to R24, and the layout design is proceeded with. In the figure, 41 is the entire layout space, 42 is a unit section obtained by dividing the layout space, and 43 is an
The axis 44 indicates the Y axis.

FIG. 5 shows data 6 indicating the relationship between unit sections in a layout design example for unit section R9 in FIG. 4. in this case,
The unit compartment is a square with a side length of 10, and the position data of the unit compartment is 51, which is the minimum and maximum value for the X and Y coordinates, and adjacent in the positive and negative directions of the X and Y coordinates. It is expressed using the unit area 52.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the arrangement target and the unit sections in the layout design example problem, such as the unit sections R1, R3,
It is a figure shown about R6 and R10. Here, the arrangement targets 61 to 63 are shown to be allocated to the unit section R1.

Similarly, the placement targets 64 to 66 are in the unit section R3,
The placement targets 67 and 68 are assigned to the unit section R6, and the placement targets 69 to 72 are assigned to the unit section R10.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing two examples of connection relationships between placement targets in layout design examples. In the figure, when 61 placement target A is selected as the first placement target, 6
The arrangement target B of No. 4 becomes the second arrangement target. Also, 6
When the arrangement target D of 5 is selected as the first arrangement target, the arrangement target C of 67 and the arrangement target E of 69 which are connected thereto become the second arrangement targets.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship among placement targets, unit sections, and possible placement positions of placement objects in a layout design example, using one unit section as an example.
In the figure, the arrangement targets 61 to 63 are assigned to the unit section R1 as described above, and the positions where these can be arranged are the diagonally shaded portions 85, 86, and 87, respectively, within the unit section R1. The placement possible position 85 indicates that the placement target 61 can be placed anywhere in the unit area R1, and the placement possible position 86 indicates that the placement target 62 can be placed anywhere in the unit area R1.
This shows that it can be placed anywhere except for the part numbered 8.

FIG. 9 shows data 7 and 8 for arrangement target D as an example.
and 9 are shown. In the figure, 91 is data 7, 92 is data 8, and 93 is data 9.
It corresponds to

Using the above data, the process of proceeding with the layout design of the example will be described to supplement the explanation of the processing flow in the layout design support system of this embodiment shown in FIG.

In step 31, the data shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 are input. Although these data can be input directly from an input device, they can be stored in an external storage medium such as a disk, diskette, card, or MT through separate processing, and then input from the storage medium.
It is also possible to input it into a layout design support system.

In step 32, when the 61 placement targets A assigned to the unit area R1 are selected, the layout diagram of the display range suitable for the layout design of this placement target A is created through the processing in steps 33 to 35.
Output in 6 steps. FIG. 10 is a layout diagram displayed on the CRT 2 when arrangement target A 61 is selected. In Figure 10, 101
is a layout diagram and includes unit sections R1, R2, and R3, and the possible placement position 8 of placement target A is
5 and 89 indicate positions where 64 placement targets B can be placed. In this case, for the first arrangement target A, as shown in FIG. 7, the contents of each step up to obtaining the layout diagram of FIG. 10 will be explained in detail below.

There is a second placement target B that has a connection relationship. 3
In step 3, a YES determination is made, and in step 34, unit sections R1 and R3 to which placement targets A and B are allocated are determined from the data shown in FIG. In step 35, the unit section R1,
A layout diagram that includes R3 and does not include unnecessary parts to show the positional relationship of placement targets A and B is required to be a combination of unit sections R1, R2, and R3. Determine the scale of

In step 37, the position of the placement target A is designated by interactive input. Figure 11 shows placement target A.
3 is a layout diagram obtained after inputting layout position data from the input device 1. FIG. In the figure, 11
1 indicates the placement position of placement target A, and 112 is
A virtual connection path between placement target A and placement target B that is not displayed on the screen and has the shortest length is shown. In this case, placement position 1 of placement target A
In determining 11, the possible placement position 89 of placement target B is taken into consideration. The placement position 111 of placement target A is obtained by processing 36 steps.
The designer specifies using the input device 1 while looking at the layout diagram shown in FIG. 10 displayed on the CRT 2.

In step 38, the data 9 is updated to reflect the arrangement of the arrangement target A. As a result, the arrangement position or arrangement possible position for the unit section shown in FIG. 8 is updated as shown in FIG. 12. In the figure, 121 is an area that will not be occupied by placement targets X and Y due to shape and size constraints, and this fact is reflected in the data on the possible placement positions of placement targets X and Y. .

Below are 39 steps for your reference.
The following describes the results when the layout design of the example problem is further advanced.

FIG. 13 is a layout diagram regarding arrangement target C. In the figure, 131 is the first placement target C
, 132 is the possible placement position of the second placement target D, and 133 is the placement position of the second placement target C.

FIG. 14 is a layout diagram regarding the arrangement target D. In the figure, reference numeral 141 indicates a placement possible position of the placement target E, and 142 indicates the placement of the placement target D.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the arrangement position and possible arrangement position of the unit section R1 after arrangement target A and Y are arranged. The possible placement position of placement target X is 151, reflecting the placement position 152 of Y.
This has been updated from the case in Figure 12.

In the embodiment described above, 35 in FIG.
In the step of FIG. 10, FIG. 13, and FIG.
As shown in the layout diagram of FIG. 4, an algorithm is adopted that provides a layout diagram consisting only of unit compartments inside a framework whose diagonals are the unit compartments in which the first and second arrangement targets exist. If it is necessary to include a layout diagram for one layer of unit area outside the above framework, by changing the algorithm for this part, the layout design support system according to this embodiment can meet such requests. Can be easily handled. FIG. 16 shows the contents of FIG. 10 in such a case.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, a space portion that is an imaginary in layout design is divided into small unit sections, placement targets are assigned to these unit sections, and the placement targets are arranged through interactive processing. In the layout design support system that determines layout design, a new function has been realized that automatically creates and displays a layout diagram that excludes unnecessary parts from the display range depending on the layout target and makes the necessary parts the main part of the display range. can. As a result, it is possible to achieve the quantitative effect of saving design labor by saving the layout designer the trouble of searching for a layout diagram with an appropriate display range. moreover,
Since it is possible to provide the designer with an appropriate layout diagram that clearly shows the area in which the placement target can be placed, it becomes easier to specify the placement position of the placement target, making it easier to optimize the layout design, which has the qualitative effect of improving the performance of the layout design. There is. Furthermore, after the layout of the placement target is completed, the arrangable area of the placement target can be easily updated.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment. In the figure, 171 is an input device with a three-dimensional position pointing device, 172 is a three-dimensional stereoscopic image display device,
175 is a high speed CPU.

In order to make it possible to perform 3D layout design with a sense of realism, in this example, a 3D image is
It can be treated as a three-dimensional object rather than a projection onto a dimensional plane paper. For that purpose, a three-dimensional stereoscopic image display device 172 and a three-dimensional position pointing device 171 are used. At the same time, 175 high-speed
Equipped with a CPU.

In this embodiment that supports three-dimensional layout design, the data 6, 7, 8, and 9 and programs 11 and 12 for determining the display range of the layout diagram are two-dimensional data as described in the previous embodiment. It is not based on a structure or algorithm, but on a two-dimensional data structure or algorithm.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to one feature of the present invention, it is possible to create a layout diagram having a necessary display range according to the specified placement target element, and it is possible to significantly reduce the effort required by the operator to search for a unit section related to the specified placement target element.

According to another feature of the present invention, the operator can easily know the arrangement possible area of the specified arrangement target element.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the layout design support system of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the conventional system, Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the system of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the system of the present invention. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between unit compartments, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between placement targets and divisions, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between layout targets. 8 is a diagram showing possible placement positions; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of data related to placement targets; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout diagram when a placement target is selected; Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of a layout diagram when position data is input, Figure 12 is a diagram showing the data update status, Figure 13 is a diagram showing another example of a layout diagram, and Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of another layout diagram. Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of another layout diagram, Figure 15 is a diagram showing a situation where data is further updated, Figure 16 is a diagram showing an example of a layout diagram that also displays one layer outside the related section, Figure 17 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system for three-dimensional stereoscopic display. 1...Input device, 2...Output device, 3...Computer body, 4...Storage device, 5...CPU (arithmetic unit), 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...Data, 1
1, 12, 13...Program module, 1
71... Three-dimensional stereoscopic indicating device, 172... Three-dimensional stereoscopic image display device, 175... High-speed CPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. First data indicating the relationship between a plurality of unit sections obtained by dividing a layout design target area into a plurality of sections and the arrangement target element, and a connection relationship of the arrangement target element between different unit sections. an input device for inputting the placement target element, and searching for the related first data and second data based on the placement target element input from the input device; , based on these retrieved data, create a layout diagram of the unit section containing the input arrangement target element and other unit sections containing other arrangement target elements that have a connection relationship with this arrangement target element. 1. A layout design support system, comprising: a processing means for processing a layout diagram; and a display means for displaying a layout diagram obtained by the processing means. 2. First data indicating a relationship between a plurality of unit sections obtained by dividing a layout design target area into a plurality of units and the placement target element, second data indicating a connection relationship of the placement target element between different unit sections, and the above-mentioned a storage means for storing third data indicating an arrangement possible area of the arrangement target element within a unit section; an input device for inputting the arrangement target element; and based on the arrangement target element input from the input device,
The related first data, second data, and third data are searched, and based on the searched data, the unit section including the input element to be placed is connected to the element to be placed. processing means for creating a layout diagram of another unit section including another arrangement target element, the layout diagram including a figure of an arrangement possible area of the arrangement target element within the unit section; A layout design support system comprising display means for displaying a layout diagram.