Process and apparatus for adjusting traces
AssigneeFormFactor, Inc.
InventorMac Stevens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Traces routed through a computer depiction of a routing area of a system, such as an electronics system, comprise a plurality of connected nodes. The traces may be smoothed, straightened, or otherwise adjusted (e.g., to correct design rule violations) by assigning forces to the nodes and moving the nodes in accordance with the nodes. The forces may be based on such things as the proximity of the nodes to each other and to obstacles in the routing area.
Claims30
A computer for use in determining locations of traces in a physical layout comprising a processor:
- means for receiving information representing a proposed physical layout of a routing space in an electronics system including obstacle locations and end points of traces, each trace defined by a set of sequential nodes;
- means for assigning forces to ones of said sequential nodes defining a selected trace between a first one of said end points and a second one of said end points in said proposed physical layout;
- and
- means for adjusting in said proposed physical layout said location of selected ones of said nodes in accordance with said forces resulting in at least one of:
- reducing a physical length of said selected trace between said first end point and second end point in said proposed physical layout, or
- moving at least part of said selected trace away from one of said obstacle locations in said proposed physical layout.
A computer for use in uncrossing a first trace and a second trace in a proposed physical layout of a routing space in an electronics system, wherein said first trace is defined by a plurality of first sequential nodes in said proposed physical layout and said second trace is defined by a plurality of second sequential nodes in said proposed physical layout, said computer comprising a processor:
- means for receiving information representing said proposed physical layout;
- means for determining from said proposed physical layout which one of said first trace and said second trace has a nearest end to a crossing of said first trace and said second trace, and selecting the other trace;
- means for assigning forces to ones of the nodes of said selected trace, wherein said forces tend to move said nodes towards said nearest end;
- and
- means for adjusting in said proposed physical layout said ones of said nodes in accordance with said forces.
The computer of 14, wherein:
- said first trace represents a first conductor that electrically connects a first electronic element and a second electronic element in said electronics system:
- and
- said second trace represents a second conductor that electrically connects a third electronic element and a fourth electronic element in said electronics system.
A computer-readable storage medium comprising software for adjusting a trace defined by sequential nodes in a proposed physical layout of a routing space in an electronics system, said trace being between first and second end points, said method comprising:
- receiving information defining said proposed physical layout including said sequential nodes and obstacle locations;
- assigning forces to ones of said nodes;
- and
- moving within said proposed physical layout of locations of selected ones of said nodes in accordance with said forces resulting in at least one of:
- reducing a physical length of said trace between said first end point and said second end point in said proposed physical layout, or
- moving at least part of said trace away from an obstacle location in said proposed physical layout.
A computer-readable storage medium comprising software for uncrossing a first trace and a second trace in a proposed physical layout of a routing space of an electronics system, wherein said first trace is defined by a plurality of first sequential nodes in said proposed physical layout and said second trace is defined by a plurality of second sequential nodes in said proposed physical layout, said method comprising:
- receiving information representing said proposed physical layout;
- determining from said proposed physical layout which of said first trace and said second trace has a nearest end to a crossing of said first trace and said second trace, and selecting the other trace;
- assigning forces to ones of the nodes of said selected trace, wherein said forces tend to move said nodes towards said nearest end;
- and
- moving said ones of said nodes within said proposed physical layout in accordance with said forces.
The medium of 29, wherein:
- said first trace represents a first conductor that electrically connects a first electronic element and a second electronic element in said electronics system:
- and
- said second trace represents a second conductor that electrically connects a third electronic element and a fourth electronic element in said electronics system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.