Mentor Graphics has introduced a tool that allows critical data paths to be autorouted.
“We have been trying to get an autorouter to think like a design engineer: to recognise patterns and see the flow of the design,” market development manager John Isaac told
EW. “Heretofore we have been totally unsuccessful in doing this, until now.”
The product that Mentor claims now hits the spot comes in two parts: Topology Planner for the design engineer and Topology Router for the PCB designer. Together these aim to automate the process of passing handwritten notes.
“Typically shortly after schematic capture, the engineer creates a plan in terms of where the major components are placed and where the major connections run,” said Isaac. “Tests can be performed, for example with impedance, and the bus structures can be moved around between layers to ensure they meet delay constraints.”
This is passed to the PCB designer. “Topology Router will autoroute these nets, then the routing of more random nets is completed using the old router,” said Isaac.
Mentor is not claiming the result will be flawless first time. “It might still require some interaction between the engineer and CAD designer, but the data base can pass information back. This is not a start-over process,” said Isaac.
The two tools are options on the firm’s Board Station and Expedition.