JPH06176093A - Circuit design support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a circuit design support system which supports the design of a circuit diagram by an electronic computer system, can minimize the converting time of plural types of symbols, and also can perform the effective permutation. CONSTITUTION:The cirtcuit design support system consists of the input means 2 and 3, a data base 4 which stores the circuit information, a display part 1 which shows the circuit information, and a graphic data operation processing part 5. A symbol list included in a circuit is shown at the part 1 based on the circuit information given from the base 4. Then the elements to be permuted are specified by the means 2 and 3 together with input of the permuting conditions. Then the part 5 permutes en block all symbols based on the permuting conditions of each symbol.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Table of Contents) Industrial Application Field of the Prior Art Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (FIGS. 1 to 2) Action Embodiments (FIGS. 3 to 7) Effects of the Invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit design support system for supporting a circuit diagram design by a computer organization.

In a logic circuit diagram editing system (CAD) using a computer in recent years, when a circuit diagram is designed and edited, it is required that a designer can easily design and save man-hours.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that can easily and quickly replace symbols by updating the version number when inputting a figure.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a circuit diagram design, as a technique relating to symbol replacement, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-175
871, JP-A-3-58278 or JP-A-3-8
The technique described in the publication of No. 3168 is known.

Here, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-17587 discloses a device which replaces a specific symbol that has been drawn with another pixel and outputs the image on the screen.

The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-58278 is a system in which element symbols of different types are replaced so that the positions do not overlap but remain the same.

Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-83178 discloses a circuit diagram input device in which a displayed symbol which has already been input is replaced and displayed by a graphic symbol replacing means.

[0009] Although such a known technique refers to symbol replacement in circuit diagram design, it does not disclose a technique of specifically replacing when a plurality of symbols are replaced.

Further, even in the case of replacing a plurality of symbols, in the conventional technique, the symbols to be replaced are designated one by one and the replacement is executed. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-58278)

[0011]

Therefore, in the prior art, in order to convert plural kinds of symbols, it is necessary to execute the same number of kinds of symbols to be replaced, and access to the library storing the symbols as data. However, it is inefficient because it takes a long time and it is necessary to restrain the operator to the device during this period.

Further, when the operator needs to make a judgment such as when the number of pins or pin positions of the symbol to be replaced is different from that of the existing symbol when the symbol to be replaced is larger than the existing symbol and overlaps with another graphic element. Could not replace all at once.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system which minimizes the time required to convert multiple types of symbols and allows efficient replacement. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system in which all processing is carried out in a conversational manner so that an operator can easily work.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the system of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the graphic data arithmetic processing unit 5 in the basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numerals 2 and 3 are a keyboard and a mouse, respectively, which serve as input means. Reference numeral 4 is a database in which circuit information is stored. A display unit 1 displays the circuit information from the database 4.
Further, it has a graphic data calculation processing section 5.

In such a system, the symbol list included in the circuit is displayed on the display unit 1 based on the circuit information from the database 4. Further, the input means 2 and 3 specify the element to be replaced from the symbol list displayed on the display unit 1.

Next, the replacement condition of the specified symbol to be replaced is input. (Input means 2, 3 shown in FIG.
Refer to the replacement data input entered by

Next, all the symbols to be replaced specified by the graphic data arithmetic processing unit 5 are collectively replaced according to the corresponding replacement conditions.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the replacement condition is set by specifying a processing condition for a failure that occurs during replacement.

[0020]

In the present invention, the symbol list included in the circuit is displayed on the display unit 1 based on the circuit information from the database 4. Furthermore, the symbols to be replaced are specified from the symbol list displayed on the display unit 1 by the input means 2 and 3.

After that, the replacement condition of the symbol to be replaced is input. In this way, all the symbols to be replaced are specified, and the replacement condition for each symbol is set.

As a result, the graphic data arithmetic processing unit 5 can collectively replace all the specified symbols to be replaced according to the corresponding replacement conditions.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of an editing screen according to the present invention. Further, FIGS. 5 to 7 show an operation flow of the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in the description of the embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings, the same or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals for description. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 is an edit screen of one embodiment of batch replacement of symbols according to the present invention.
This screen is a list showing all the symbol names existing in the circuit based on the information from the database 4 in which the circuit information is stored, and this list is displayed on the display unit 1.

Next, the symbol name to be replaced is specified by the operator from this list. Now consider first replacing the symbol, "and".

At this time, when the cursor is moved to the symbol name to be replaced, that is, "AND", and the mouse 3 is clicked, FIG.
A panel screen represented by middle 21 is displayed on the display unit 1.

Here, the configuration of the hardware device in the process of displaying on the display unit 1 of the panels 20 and 21 in FIG. 3 and specifying the AND gate as a symbol to be replaced will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, the graphic data arithmetic processing section 5 comprises arithmetic substitution processing means 50, RAM work area 51 and ROM processing program means 52. The RAM work area 51 temporarily stores data based on information from the database 4 and replacement data input by the keyboard 2 or the mouse 3.

Further, the ROM processing program means 52 is a fixed memory in which programs necessary for circuit design are stored. This ROM processing program means 5
The program fixedly stored in 2 is called and given to the operation replacement processing means 50.

Therefore, the arithmetic substitution processing means 50 follows RA according to the program command from the ROM processing program means 52.
The arithmetic substitution process is performed on the data from the database stored in the M work area 51 and the substitution data from the input means (keyboard 2 and mouse 3).

Referring again to FIG. 3, NFLAG shown on the display screen 21 is a new symbol name to be replaced instead of the AND element to be replaced. This new symbol name NFLAG is entered by keyboard 2,
It is displayed on the display unit 1 via the arithmetic substitution processing unit 50, and becomes the state of the display screen panel 21.

The symbol NFLAG to be replaced in this way
When is input, "confirm" is displayed on the display screen panel 21.
When the cursor is moved to and the mouse 3 is clicked, 22 display screen panels are displayed on the display unit 1.

The panel 22 is a panel for designating the number of pins and the symbol type for the symbol NFLAG designated on the panel 21. In the panel 22, "varpin" is an abbreviation of "Valuable Pin" and indicates that the number of input pins on the input side X is variable. The number 2 means that the number of this variable pin is two.

In this way, the number of pins of the symbols to be replaced and the symbol type are specified on the panel 22. The function of the symbol indicated by NFLAG will be briefly described. NFLAG is a constant comparison macro and has the following functions.

For example, an NFLA having a constant number of 3 and a number of pins of 4
G is input pins X1 to X4 to X1 = 0, X2 = 0, X
Output pin Y is set to 1 only when there is an input of 3 = 1 and X4 = 1
Is output. That is, a signal flows. Output pin Y outputs 0 for inputs other than this pattern. That is, no signal flows.

Therefore, the meaning of the numeral of the constant 3 at this time represents the arrangement of the input pins when 3 is expressed in a binary number. Three
The binary number of 11 is 11, and the number of pins is 4, so the sequence becomes 0011.

“That is, 3 (decimal) → 11 (binary). When 11 is expressed by 4 digits (4 pins), a signal flows to the input of 0011 0011 (when a signal flows to X3 and X4). Signal will flow to the output).

Similarly, NFLAG having a constant of 3 and a pin count of 7
Is 3 (decimal) → 11 (binary) If 11 is expressed by 7 digits (7 pins), it is 0000011, and a signal flows to the input of 0000011 (X
When a signal flows to 6 and X7, a signal flows to the output).

Next, when the number of pins and the symbol type are specified on the panel 22 as described above, the cursor is set to "confirm" and the mouse 3 is clicked.

The result display unit 1 displays the screen shown in FIG. 4, that is, the screen represented by the panel 30. On the display screen 30, the specified symbols to be replaced and the newly replaced symbols are displayed in contrast.

Further, below the symbol, a display for specifying the setting of the replacement method is displayed. In particular, other circuit parts that already exist due to the new symbol are set as to the replacement process, which is how to deal with the case where there is an obstacle.

For example, if there is an obstacle, the replacement is not performed. Alternatively, only the existing symbol is deleted. Put commenting instead. Remove obstacles and replace. Replace obstacles by moving them. Etc., the method of the replacement process is set.

Further, it is possible to specify the setting of the net. That is, the net means wiring. As a matter of course, the number of pins or the positions of the pins are changed by replacing the symbols, or the wiring area and the number of wirings are changed with respect to the existing element.

On the other hand, how to perform the processing is specified by the net setting. That is, there are the following items as the method of setting the net. Automatic wiring is performed after deleting the existing net. The line related to the area of the replacement symbol is deleted, and automatic wiring is performed from that point. Do not wire automatically. Alternatively, only the line related to the area of the replacement symbol is deleted. Etc.

When the setting of the replacement method and the setting of the net when an obstacle is present are specified on the display screen panel 30, the cursor is brought to a confirmation and the mouse is clicked. As a result, all the replacement conditions for the new symbol "NFLAG" for the symbol "AND" are set.

Then, the screen returns to the symbol name list screen of the panel 20 shown in FIG. 3 and the necessary symbols to be replaced are similarly specified. In this way, it is possible to specify all the symbols to be replaced in the symbol name list panel 20 previously displayed.

When all the symbols to be replaced have been specified, the cursor is led to "execute" on the display screen panel 2 of FIG. 3 and the mouse 3 is clicked, so that all the replacement processing executions described later with reference to FIG. 6 are executed. Are performed collectively for the symbols to be replaced.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the operation flows of FIGS.

In FIG. 5, first, the symbol data included in the circuit diagram is loaded from the database 4 in which the circuit information is stored into the RAM work area 51 of the graphic data calculation processing section 5. (Step S1)

When the symbol data is loaded into the RAM work area 51, interactive replacement processing data input is next performed. (Step S2)

The conversational replacement processing data input procedure is performed according to the operation flow shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6, first, the panel 20 of the list of symbols in the circuit is displayed on the display unit 1 and the symbol name to be replaced can be designated.
(Step S20)

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the execution of the replacement process is confirmed. If the execution has been confirmed, the processing ends.

When the execution is not confirmed, the operation flow shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as it is, and the panel 21 for connecting and designating the symbol to be replaced is displayed. (Step S22)

Then, it is judged whether or not the replacement symbol name is designated. (Step S23)

When the designation of the replacement symbol name is confirmed on the panel 21 (step S24), the panel 22 for designating the attribute of the symbol designated on the previous panel, that is, the panel 21 is displayed. (Step 25)

When the designation of the symbol attribute is confirmed (step S26), the panel 30 (FIG. 4) for designating the pin correspondence and the replacement condition setting is displayed. (Step S27)

When the setting of the corresponding replacement condition for the pin is confirmed (step S28), the input data for the specified replacement process is stored in the RAM work area 51. (Step S29)

Next, returning to FIG. 5, the replacement process is performed.
(Step S3) The operation of the replacement process will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not another part of the circuit diagram that already exists when the replacement symbol is replaced becomes an obstacle. (Step S40)

If there is no obstacle, a normal replacement process is performed. (Step S41) On the other hand, if there is an obstacle during the replacement, then the replacement process according to the set conditions is performed.
(Step S42)

Here, the setting condition is set according to the setting of the replacement method when there is an obstacle described in FIG. When the replacement processing of the replacement symbol is performed, the wiring of the net according to the setting condition is performed thereafter. (Step S43)

The wiring of the nets according to the setting conditions is similarly performed according to the setting conditions of the nets set in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 5 again, the replacement process (step S3)
Then, it is determined whether there is a symbol to be further replaced. (Step S4)

When there is a symbol to be replaced, a replacement process (step S3) is further performed. Then, when the final symbol replacement process is performed, the replacement symbol disappears, and that state, that is, the data after replacement, is stored in the database 4 that stores circuit information. (Step S5)

Finally, a list of replacement symbols is output for confirmation. (Step S6)

In the above description, the normal replacement process,
Alternatively, a specific process such as a replacement process according to the set condition or a net wiring according to the set condition is performed by the operation / replacement processing means 50 of the graphic data operation processing unit 5.

A specific method and a hardware configuration therefor in such a portion are not directly targeted by the present invention, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. However, such methods and hardware configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
You can replace multiple types of symbols in a single run,
Further, even if the conventional replacement processing cannot be performed due to the number of pins, the pin position, or the size of the pin symbol area, the replacement processing can be advanced to a certain stage by setting the replacement condition.

From the above points, according to the present invention, the number of working steps in drawing preparation is greatly reduced, and the present invention greatly contributes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a graphic data arithmetic processing unit in the basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an editing screen (1) of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example edit screen of the present invention (No. 2).

FIG. 5 is an operation flow (No. 1) of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow (No. 2) of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flow (No. 3) of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 display unit 2 keyboard as input means 3 mouse as input means 4 database 5 storing circuit information 5 graphic data arithmetic processing unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Input means (2, 3), a database (4) in which circuit information is stored, a display section (1) for displaying circuit information from the database (4), and a graphic data arithmetic processing section ( 5), displaying a symbol list included in the circuit on the display unit (1) based on the circuit information from the database (4), and displaying on the display unit (1) by the input (2, 3). The element to be replaced is specified from the displayed symbol list, and the replacement condition of the specified symbol to be replaced is input, and then all the specified replacements are made by the graphic data operation processing unit (5). The circuit design support system is characterized in that the symbols are collectively replaced according to the corresponding replacement conditions. 2. The circuit design support system according to claim 1, wherein the replacement condition is set by specifying a processing condition for a failure that occurs during replacement.