JPH06231206A - Cad output device and image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the CAD output device which can handle an image display part in the same way as a prototype, and can facilitate spatial recognition of circuit patterns of the surface and the reverse side of a substrate, with regard to the CAD output device for outputting an image by selecting plural patterns formed on a circuit board. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with an image display means 16 in which the whole is formed in a reversible and roughly plate-like external appearance, image elements 14, 15 are arranged on both faces of the surface and reverse side, and plural patterns can be subjected to image output at every one face, and a converting means 17 for converting data subjected to image display in the image element in the patterns called from a storage means 11, to image data of a pattern state inverted by almost the same magnification as the pattern subjected to image display in the image element 14, and constituted so that plural patterns are subjected to image output simultaneously in a state that one of them is inverted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CAD output device for selecting a plurality of patterns formed on a circuit board and outputting an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the design of a circuit pattern in a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit, other large and small wiring components, etc.
A D (Computor Aided Design) device is used to semi-automatically perform an interactive operation by an operator. The circuit pattern design using a CAD device is easy to modify and add, and the total degree of perfection can be easily increased through trial and error. The data is directly input to the NC device to process the material and form the pattern. It is also possible to carry out and automate the trial production of printed circuit boards and the like.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operating state of a conventional CAD device. Here, a desktop CAD device is shown.

In FIG. 6, a monitor screen 61 is arranged on the front surface of a main body 60 of a CAD device, and image data of parts and circuit patterns created and stored in advance is displayed.
A monitor screen 6 can be displayed by freely calling from a storage device (for example, a hard disk) built in the main body 60 to display an image.
While visually recognizing the image on the screen 1, the input device such as the keyboard 62, the touch panel 63, and the remote controller 64 is operated to process the image, and a new circuit pattern is added to the image.
For example, the operator 65 calls the circuit pattern stored on the newly created board image on the monitor screen 61 through the operation of the touch panel 63, and another circuit pattern, a resist pattern, a component such as an IC or a through hole. The image, the contour image of the circuit board, the image of the housing, and the like are further called and overlapped, a part of the original circuit pattern is modified, and the image is again stored in the storage device of the main body 60.

The operator 65 also operates the remote controller 64 to freely enlarge, reduce, move, and rotate the images of the parts and circuit patterns displayed on the monitor screen 61.
It can be flipped (turned over), and one image can be overlaid with other images.

[0006]

In the CAD apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the displayed substrate and circuit pattern are located in the back of the screen, and it is relatively difficult to spatially understand the real thing. Flipping or rotating the image on the screen by operating the remote control 64 or the like makes it somewhat easier to grasp the space of the real thing, but actually picking up the real thing and moving it freely, you can change the viewpoint. Compared with the case of considering it differently, the operation itself necessary for reversing and rotating impedes continuous thinking about the circuit pattern and inhibits the generation of new ideas.

Further, a certain degree of skill is required before the substrate or circuit pattern displayed on the screen can be grasped as an entity, and further skill is required before the image can be processed and moved as desired on the screen. is necessary.

In particular, (1) inspect the actual circuit pattern of the prototyped printed circuit board against the design image on the monitor screen, and (2) observe the correspondence between the circuit patterns on the front and back of the printed circuit board on the monitor screen. (3) Create a component insertion program assuming that components such as ICs are mounted on the printed circuit board on the monitor screen, (4) Convert the circuit pattern into CAD data with reference to the old printed circuit board, etc. In this case, since the images on the front and back of the board are alternately utilized for reference, the correspondence between the front and back of the board image can be intuitively grasped, and further mobility of the movement and rotation of the board image is required. become.

However, in such a conventional CAD output device, in such a case, one of the perspective state of the printed circuit board on which the circuit patterns on the front and back sides of the printed circuit board are superimposed and image-outputted on the screen, and one of the circuit patterns on the front and back sides of the printed circuit board are displayed. It can be displayed only in a state of inverting and arranging two in parallel, and it is difficult to spatially recognize the image (especially understanding the positional correspondence of the circuit pattern on the front and back of the printed circuit board and the conduction relationship by through holes). Therefore, it takes time to compare and contrast the actual image and the displayed image, which impairs the accuracy and efficiency of these operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a CAD output device which can handle an image display section like a prototype and can easily recognize spatially the circuit patterns on the front and back of the substrate.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the basic configuration of the present invention. In FIG. 1, CA of claim 1
The D output device includes a storage unit 11 that stores a plurality of board design data formed on a circuit board and an operation unit 12 that can select and instruct a plurality of the board design data.
And a control unit 13 for calling a plurality of board design data from the storage unit based on the instruction, the CAD output device is formed to have a substantially plate-like outer appearance, and images are formed on both front and back surfaces. The elements 14 and 15 are arranged, and image display means 16 capable of outputting image data corresponding to the plurality of board design data on the designated surface, respectively, and a part of the plurality of called board design data. Conversion means 17 for creating image data in a pattern state that is inverted from the data at a magnification substantially the same as the image corresponding to the remaining data, and the image elements 14 and 15 on the front and back sides.
In addition, one of the image data corresponding to the partial data and the image data corresponding to the remaining data is simultaneously output in an inverted state.

An image reproducing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is one in which image elements are arranged on both front and back surfaces, the whole is formed into a substantially plate shape, and the whole is axially supported so that it can be turned upside down.

According to another aspect of the image reproducing apparatus of the present invention, two substantially plate-shaped image display devices, each having an image element on one side thereof, are foldably connected with the image element on the outside.

[0014]

In the conventional CAD output device, the circuit pattern displayed as an image is merely an image located at the back of the screen, but in the CAD output device of the present invention, the image display unit itself is treated almost like an actual product. The front and back images corresponding to each other on the two screens facilitate real-world spatial understanding. That is, by forming a pair of images on the image display means that ensure the correspondence between the front and the back as if they were real objects, the operator is given a virtual sense of reality, and the operator changes the posture of the image display means with as much freedom as the actual object, To recognize the correspondence between the front and back patterns. The position correspondence of the front and back circuit patterns is further facilitated by displaying a mark (cursor or the like) that moves in conjunction with the front and back images in an overlapping manner on the circuit pattern image.

Some of the "-means" in the following description can be configured as steps in a program installed in the CPU, and at this time, each function has one CPU.
Is realized in a time-sharing state.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the CAD output device according to the first aspect, the storage means 11 has various patterns formed in multiple layers on the circuit board, that is, the front and back circuit patterns, the intermediate layer circuit pattern, the resist pattern, Data such as an image of a component such as an IC or a through hole, a contour image of a circuit board, an image of wiring around a housing or a circuit board, and an arrangement of components is accumulated.

The operator designates a plurality of patterns to be displayed as an image from a large number of patterns stored in the storage means 11 through the operating means 12, and the control means 13 corresponds to the designated plurality of patterns. Data storage means 11
Call from. Further, the operator designates which one of the plurality of designated patterns is to be displayed on the image display means 14 through the operating means 12.

Of the plurality of designated patterns, the remaining patterns which have not been designated by the image display means 14 are displayed on the image display means 16. The pattern displayed on the image display means 16 has the same magnification (or reduced scale) and is inverted with respect to the pattern displayed on the image display means 14, and preferably is superimposed on the image of the corresponding circuit board. The circuit boards are reproduced from the front and back as they are.

The image display means 16 is preferably formed thin so that the image of the real thing on the circuit board can be grasped (illusion) more faithfully. For example, a liquid crystal image element, a plasma display, an EL display element or the like is used, and in an element such as a liquid crystal image element which does not have a light emitting function, the backlight unit is shared to reduce the overall thickness. Further, the image display means 16 is made compact and lightweight so that the image display means 16 itself can be moved, rotated, inverted and tilted at the same level as an actual circuit board, and sufficient rigidity and strength are imparted. If it is difficult to reduce the weight, the support method is devised to secure the handleability of the image display means 16 and enhance the mobility. It is desirable that the image is given a color similar to that of the real thing as a color display, but it may be a monochrome monotone.

The control means 13 calls the pattern data from the storage means 11 on the basis of the operator's selection via the operation means 12, and processes the pattern data on the basis of the operator's instruction via the operation means 12. . Control means 13
Is, for example, a circuit image of the intermediate layer, a resist pattern, a component image of an IC, a through hole, etc., a contour image of a circuit board, an image of wiring and component arrangement around the housing and the circuit board, with respect to the circuit pattern on the front side Synthesizes data such as. In addition to the data called from the storage means 11, shadows corresponding to parts such as a mark (for example, a cursor) and ICs are formed and combined on the reproduction screen, and the soldering state is image-represented to display the circuit board. Move, rotate, zoom in, and zoom out the entire image on the screen.

The operation means 12 has at least a function of selecting and supporting a pattern to be called by the operator, and a function of specifying distribution of the called pattern to the image elements 14 and 16, and if necessary, the image Equipped with various input devices for processing, keyboard, mouse, touch sensor, etc.

The conversion means 17 converts the data of a plurality of patterns called by the control means 13 into the image display means 1.
The image elements 14 and 15 of No. 6 are processed so as to obtain a realistic image state close to an actual object. That is, the magnifications of the two circuit patterns are made substantially equal to each other, one of the circuit patterns is inverted and viewed from the back side, and the positions of the two circuit patterns on the screen are adjusted. Are calculated so that they substantially overlap on the front and back of the image display means 16.

In the conversion means 17, the cursor indicating the place on the screen designated by the operating means and the shadow of the insertion part are formed in common at the corresponding positions of the image elements 14 and 15 of the image display means 16. Good. The place designated by the operator by visually recognizing one of the image elements 14 of the image display means 16 is
It is similarly displayed on the other image element 15 by using a cursor, blinking, or color change. As a result, even in the case of a complicated circuit pattern, the pattern positions on the front and back of the circuit board can be easily dealt with, and the contact state between the front and back via a through hole can be easily traced.

In other words, the one or more pattern images displayed on the image element on one side and the one or more pattern images displayed on the image element on the other side are always in the mutually inverted state and have substantially the same magnification. Becomes Two patterns (for example, front and back circuit patterns) designated by the operator out of the patterns accumulated in the storage means are made to have the same magnification or reduced scale, and one of them is inverted, and preferably, it is superposed on the image of the corresponding circuit board. The image display data is processed and output to the image elements on the front and back of the image display means. The operator acquires virtual reality through the patterns displayed on the front and back image elements.

Basically, the circuit pattern visible from the front side of the circuit board is displayed on one image element, and the circuit pattern viewed from the back side of the circuit board is displayed on the other image element.
Then, in order to help understanding of each circuit pattern, other intermediate layer circuit patterns, resist patterns, component images such as ICs and through holes, circuit board contour images, wirings and component arrangements around the casing and circuit board. Appropriately combine images related to. Each pattern combined into one image display data is assuredly superposed at the same magnification.

Here, the resist pattern is a heat-resistant resin film layer formed on the surface of the circuit board so as to cover the circuit pattern, and is used for soldering unnecessary portions on the circuit pattern when soldering is performed by solder reflow. To prevent the adherence of. Therefore, an image with a thin resist pattern is
It gives the operator a feeling of vision that is closer to the real thing than the exposed circuit pattern.

In the image reproducing apparatus of the second aspect, a preferable aspect of the image reproducing apparatus adopted for the image display means 16 of the CAD output apparatus of the first aspect is shown.

The entire plate-like structure in which image elements are arranged on both front and back sides is rotated around a support shaft, and the front and back sides can be alternately opposed to the operator. The operator can observe the circuit patterns on the front and back sides by reversing the whole with a small force around the support shaft as necessary. (Refer to FIG. 4) In the image reproducing apparatus of claim 3, another aspect of the image reproducing apparatus which is preferable for the image display means 16 of the CAD output apparatus of claim 1 is shown.

In addition to being able to observe the front and back of the circuit board by flipping the whole of the two image display devices in a folded state, if necessary, the two image display devices can be unfolded in a so-called open state. You can observe the front and back of the circuit board from one direction at the same time. (See Figure 5)

[0030]

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the construction of a CAD output device of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a double-sided display of the CAD output device of FIG. Here, the image can be processed through various input devices while the printed circuit board is being output as an image on the double-sided display device, and the processed image can be stored as CAD data.

In FIG. 2, double-sided display device 26
Is formed in a plate shape as a whole, and 10-inch type liquid crystal devices 24 and 25 are arranged on both front and back surfaces. When the circuit pattern on the front side of the printed circuit board is displayed as an image on the liquid crystal device 24, the circuit pattern on the back side of the printed circuit board is displayed as an image on the liquid crystal device 25. Further, the circuit pattern is output to the liquid crystal devices 24 and 25 at the same magnification in a state of being superimposed on the contour image of the printed circuit board, and the display images of the liquid crystal devices 24 and 25 are displayed on the front side and the back side of the double-sided display device 26. Positioned at almost the same position.

The display control device 27 forms operation signals of the liquid crystal devices 24 and 25 based on the CAD data processed by the CAD data processing device 23. The display control device 27 converts the front and back data of the printed circuit board sent from the CAD data processing device 23 into operation signals of the liquid crystal devices 24 and 25, respectively.

The CAD data processing device 23 is in charge of processing the CAD data for causing the double-sided display device 26 to display an image in the above-described format. That is, the magnifications are made uniform, the circuit pattern is superimposed on the contour image of the printed board, and the images are positioned at substantially the same positions on the front side and the back side of the double-sided display device 26. Then, when one of the front and back images moves or rotates within the screen, the other image is made to follow so that the corresponding state of the front and back images does not collapse.

The CAD data processing device 23 calls the data of the corresponding front and back circuit patterns from the CAD database 21 together with the contour data of the printed circuit board based on the selection made by the operator through the process input device 22. Further, based on the operator's instruction through the process input device 22, the CA
The contour data of mounted components such as ICs and other printed circuit boards and mechanical components that interfere with each other in a device using the printed circuit board is called from the D database 21 and the CAD data of the composite image is calculated by superimposing these data. To process. As a result, the mounting state and soldering state of each component on the printed circuit board are simulated.

Further, based on a command from the operator through the processing input device 22, a cursor is output on the image, a new wiring is added and output, and a point or area to be noticed on the image is changed in brightness. Creates image data that is highlighted by color differences. The CAD data updated in this way can be stored in the CAD database 21 in a format replacing the previous CAD data, if necessary.

The processing input device 22 converts an operation signal of an input device such as a keyboard, a touch sensor, a light pen, a scanner, a digitizer, and a mouse into CAD data and a CAD command, and sends it to the CAD data processing device 23.

The CAD database 21 includes circuit patterns on the front and back of the printed circuit board, circuit patterns of each intermediate layer of the multilayer circuit board, contours of parts such as ICs to be inserted in the printed circuit board,
The contours of mechanical parts and casings that have an interference relationship in a device using a printed circuit board are stored in the form of CAD data.

In FIG. 3, double-sided display device 26
Is shared by sandwiching the backlight unit 26B 2
It is composed of one liquid crystal device 24, 25. The double-sided display device 26 is entirely formed in a plate shape, and the operator can move, rotate, and reverse (turn over) the double-sided display device 26 with the frame portion quite freely.

An example of such an advantageous use of the double-sided display 26 is that the cord portion is provided with a long extension.
This is a method of arranging the double-sided displays 26 on the printed circuit board to be inspected at a position apart from the main body of the D device and alternately performing comparative observation. Another example of the method of use is a method in which a plurality of double-sided displays 26 are connected to one CAD device in the inspection line and a large number of people simultaneously use the circuit patterns output as images at a fixed magnification and a fixed posture. . In the former case, the mobility of the double-sided display 26 reduces the movement of the inspection target, and in the latter case, the mobility of the double-sided display 26 eliminates the need for individual image adjustment (rotation or reversal).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the double-sided display device, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of yet another embodiment of the double-sided display device. In FIG. 5, (a) shows a normal folded state, and (b) shows an unfolded state. Here, a mechanical function is added to the double-sided display device to improve handleability.

In FIG. 4, double-sided display device 46
Is formed in a plate shape as a whole, and liquid crystal devices 44 and 45 are arranged on both front and back surfaces. Liquid crystal device 44, 45
Can display images on different surfaces of the printed circuit board, and provide the operator with an artificial sense of reality close to that of the actual printed circuit board through the display images of the liquid crystal devices 44 and 45.

The double-sided display device 46 is axially supported by the indicator 42 via a rotary shaft 41 arranged in a line passing through the center of gravity, and the operator can freely flip the double-sided display device 46 with a small force. , Images of the liquid crystal devices 44 and 45 can be compared and referred to alternately.

In FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the double-sided display device 53 is composed of two single-sided display devices 56 and 57 which are rotatably connected at the central portion. In the single-sided display devices 56 and 57, the liquid crystal devices 54 and 55 are arranged on one side, respectively, and in the state of being folded in two in (a), an output image in the same format as the embodiment of FIG. 3 or FIG. Is available. On the other hand, in the unfolded state of (b), the printed boards are displayed as images on the liquid crystal devices 54 and 55 of the single-sided display devices 56 and 57 in a so-called open state, and the circuit patterns on the front and back sides can be visually recognized at the same time from one direction.

The double-sided display device 53 also has cursors C1 and C2 indicating the location on the screen designated by the operator.
And the shadows A1 and A2 of the inserted part can be output. The cursors C1 and C2 and the shadows A1 and A2 of the insertion parts are superimposed and output on the same position on the front and back sides of the printed circuit board which are image-displayed on the liquid crystal devices 54 and 55. Cursor C1, C
2 and the shadows A1 and A2 of the insertion parts are the liquid crystal devices 54 and 5,
5 moves in an interlocking manner on the image of 5 and, for example, the liquid crystal device 5
4 is the liquid crystal device 5 at the place designated by the operator by visually observing
It is specified correctly on the front side and the back side on 4. Cursor C
1 and C2 may be replaced with a blinking spot image or a different color classification from the surroundings.

According to such a method of designating the place on the screen, for example, the source on the other surface of the foot of the component inserted on one side of the printed circuit board or the circuit pattern on the front and back sides communicated through the through hole The conduction state can be confirmed more easily than on a real printed circuit board.

[0046]

According to the CAD output device of the first aspect, unlike the conventional CAD output device, the image-displayed substrate and the circuit pattern can be observed in a state substantially similar to that of the actual circuit substrate. The spatial understanding of the image is easy. In particular, the correspondence between the circuit patterns on the front and back of the circuit board can be intuitively grasped.

Further, since the circuit pattern can be examined by changing the viewpoint by picking up the image display means and arbitrarily moving and reversing the image display, a complicated operation like that of the conventional CAD apparatus is not required, and the circuit is eliminated. Concentration on patterns increases, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of CAD data update creation and prototype matching inspection.

Even if one lacks the skill of operating the CAD output device and evaluating the image, the board and the circuit pattern displayed on the screen can be easily grasped spatially, and the circuit pattern on the front and back of the circuit board can be easily recognized. The corresponding state can be intuitively understood fairly accurately, and the CAD data of these images can be easily processed and corrected in the visible state.

According to the image reproducing apparatus of the second aspect, it is not an operator's trouble to invert the image reproducing apparatus, and the image reproducing apparatus is frequently inverted so that spatial understanding of the front and back images can be quickly performed. Can be acquired accurately.

According to the image reproducing apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to reversing the image reproducing apparatus, the development of the image reproducing apparatus can be utilized and the images on the front and back of the circuit board can be visually recognized at the same time in a so-called open state. The spatial understanding of images can be acquired quickly and accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a CAD output device according to an embodiment.

3 is an explanatory diagram of a double-sided display device of the CAD output device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the double-sided display device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of still another embodiment of the double-sided display device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operating state of a conventional CAD device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Storage Means 12 Operating Means 13 Control Means 14 Image Elements 15 Image Elements 16 Image Display Means 17 Converting Means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage means (11) for accumulating a plurality of board design data formed on a circuit board, and an operation means (12) capable of selecting and instructing a plurality of the board design data. In a CAD output device having a control means (13) for calling a plurality of board design data from the storage means based on the instruction, the CAD output device is formed into a generally plate-like reversible appearance and is formed on both front and back surfaces. An image display means (16) which arranges image elements (14, 15) and is capable of outputting image data corresponding to the plurality of board design data on a designated surface, respectively, and the plurality of called board design data. A conversion means (17) for creating image data in a pattern state, which is inverted from a part of the data at substantially the same magnification as the image corresponding to the remaining data; To 4, 15), among the image data corresponding to the image data and residual data corresponding said some data, CAD output apparatus characterized by simultaneous image outputs while inverting one. 2. An image display device characterized in that image elements are arranged on both front and back sides, the whole is formed into a substantially plate shape, and the whole is axially supported so that the front and back can be reversed. 3. An image display device, comprising: two substantially plate-shaped image display devices, each having an image element on one side thereof, and foldably connected with the image element on the outside.