JP3181962B2 - Circuit diagram creation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit diagram creating apparatus which creates or reads various circuit diagram data of an electronic circuit or the like by a CAD system, draws a circuit diagram, and outputs the circuit diagram.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, circuit component information such as graphic symbols, signal lines, and characters of circuit components is input by a CAD system, and various circuit diagram data such as an electronic circuit for producing a printed circuit board is based on the circuit component information. There are proposed various circuit diagram input devices for creating, displaying, and storing (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
-158876 or JP-A-1-269176).

When a part of the circuit diagram data created by such a circuit diagram input device is modified due to a design change or the like, an operator replaces a circuit part, a signal line, or the like in the changed circuit diagram. Or delete it. For example, the same circuit diagram may be shown, but a part of the circuit diagram may be different from a circuit diagram for a printed wiring board layout, such as a circuit diagram for a circuit diagram.

In such a case as well, the operator has modified the different part of one circuit diagram data to create the other circuit diagram data and output the created circuit diagram data.
Also, a circuit diagram of a portion to be added as an option in the circuit diagram is laid out on the printed wiring board from the beginning, and necessary circuit components are assembled for each option circuit.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional circuit diagram inputting / creating apparatus, in order to correct a part of the circuit diagram, it is necessary to replace or delete circuit parts and signal lines in the corrected part. There is a problem that the burden on the operator is large because the operation becomes complicated. Also, if all the optional circuits are included in the circuit diagram data created for the printed wiring board, the circuit diagram for each option must be created by modifying the circuit diagram data for each combination of option circuits. Therefore, there is a problem that the work load of the operator increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to reduce an operator's work load at the time of correcting a circuit diagram.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a circuit diagram creating apparatus having a drawing means for drawing and outputting a circuit diagram based on circuit diagram data. A drawing mask designating means for designating a drawing mask indicating that no drawing is to be made, and means for preventing drawing by the drawing means with respect to the circuit diagram data of the portion where the drawing mask is designated by the means. It is.

Further, it is preferable to provide a means for individually managing a plurality of mask definition data of a portion where the drawing mask is specified by the drawing mask specifying means. further,
It is preferable to provide a means for displaying the circuit diagram in a different color from the portion where the drawing mask is specified in the circuit diagram data and the portion where the drawing mask is not specified.

[0008]

According to the circuit diagram creating apparatus of the present invention, when a drawing mask designating means indicating that drawing is not to be performed by the drawing mask designating means is performed on the created circuit diagram data or a part of the circuit diagram data read from the storage device, Since no drawing is performed on the circuit diagram data of the portion where the drawing mask is specified, a circuit diagram can be drawn by removing the desired portion from the same circuit diagram data.

Further, if a plurality of mask definition data of a portion for which a drawing mask is designated by the drawing mask designating means is individually managed, a plurality of different circuits excluding a desired portion from the same circuit diagram data. Drawings can be easily drawn. In addition, if a part where a drawing mask is specified for the created or read circuit diagram data is displayed in a different color from a part where the drawing mask is not specified, the drawing mask is already specified. Partial circuits can be identified at a glance.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circuit diagram creating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. This circuit diagram creation device includes a keyboard 1, a mouse 2, a display device 3, a plotter device 4, a storage device 5, and a processing device 6.

The keyboard 1 has various input keys, and is an input device for inputting circuit component information such as graphic symbols, signal lines, and characters of circuit components, and various operation information. The mouse 2 is an input device for inputting position data of a mouse cursor displayed on the display device 3 and selecting and inputting various commands related to drawing of a circuit diagram from a displayed command menu. The display device 3 is a CRT for displaying a circuit diagram, a command menu, and various messages.
Or a display such as an LCD.

The plotter device 4 is a printing device for drawing and outputting a circuit diagram on paper. The storage device 5 is a memory such as a hard disk device for individually storing the created circuit diagram data and a plurality of mask definition data of a portion of the circuit diagram data where a drawing mask is designated.

The processing device 6 includes a CPU, a ROM, and an RA.
A built-in microprocessor composed of M and the like, a circuit diagram data creating process for creating circuit diagram data based on the control process of the entire device and input circuit component information, and reading the created circuit diagram data or the storage device 5 Various processes related to circuit diagram creation such as a drawing process for causing the plotter device 4 to draw a circuit diagram based on the circuit diagram data are performed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions according to the present invention in the processing unit 6 of the circuit diagram creating apparatus shown in FIG. The circuit diagram creation device includes, as a function related to the present invention, an image mask designation unit 7 that designates an image mask indicating that image formation is not performed on a part of the circuit diagram data;
A drawing control unit 8 for controlling the drawing processing unit 9 not to perform drawing on the circuit diagram data of the portion where the drawing mask is specified; a drawing processing unit 9 for performing drawing processing by the plotter device 4; A drawing mask definition data management unit 10 is provided for individually managing (writing and reading processing to a file) a plurality of mask definition data of a portion where the drawing mask is specified by the specifying unit 7.

The drawing processing unit 9 determines a portion where the drawing mask is specified by the mask definition data managed by the drawing mask definition data management unit 16 with respect to the created or read circuit diagram data. The display device 3 is also provided with a function of displaying the portion where the drawing mask is specified in the drawing in a different color from the portion where the drawing mask is not specified.

Next, the processing according to the present invention in the circuit diagram creating apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing. In this example, first, the circuit diagram data to be drawn is read from the storage device 5, and it is determined whether or not there is drawing mask definition data for the circuit diagram data.

Therefore, if there is drawing mask definition data,
The drawing mask definition data is read, and if there is no drawing mask definition data, the circuit diagram data is laid out and displayed on the display device 3 as it is. At this time, the circuit portion for which the drawing mask is already specified by the drawing mask definition data is displayed in a different color from the portion where the drawing mask is not specified.

Next, when an area or a graphic symbol or the like of a portion of the circuit diagram displayed on the circuit diagram displayed by the operator is designated by the mouse and a drawing mask is designated, the drawing mask is defined for the designated portion. The flag is turned on (set) as data. Conversely, the instruction of the drawing mask can be canceled and the flag can be turned OFF (reset). When the drawing mask specification is completed in this way, the drawing mask definition data (the flag ON / OFF)
OFF) is written to a file in the storage device 5.

Thereafter, when the operator instructs drawing of a circuit diagram by a mouse from a command menu displayed on the screen of the display device or by key input from a keyboard, drawing processing by the plotter device 4 is started. The ON / OFF of the flag of the drawing mask is determined for each predetermined area or for each symbol, and the symbol or the like with the flag ON is not drawn, but the symbol or the like with the flag OFF is drawn and output. This process is repeatedly performed for all the symbols and the like in the circuit diagram data, and when the drawing is completed, the process is terminated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a circuit diagram drawn according to this embodiment. This circuit diagram includes a common circuit 11 and two option circuits OP1 and O2 as shown in FIG.
When there is P2 and there is no drawing mask designation, all the circuits are drawn. However, the two option circuits OP1,
When a drawing mask is designated for each of OP2, when a drawing instruction is given, only the common circuit 10 is drawn as shown in (b), and two option circuits OP1 and OP2 are enclosed in a portion 12 surrounded by a broken line in the drawing. Are not drawn.

When a drawing mask is designated for one of the option circuits OP2 and OP1, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, the option circuit is added to a portion 13 or 14 surrounded by a broken line. OP2 or option circuit OP1 is not drawn. in this way,
Various circuit diagrams having different option circuits can be easily created using the same circuit diagram data.

Therefore, when there is an unnecessary option circuit in the circuit diagram data, it is not necessary to correct (delete) the unnecessary circuit to create new circuit diagram data for drawing. Further, since a plurality of partially different circuit diagrams can be created from the same circuit diagram data, the circuit diagram data can be unified even when the circuit diagram data is changed due to a design change or the like.

That is, even if a design change occurs in the circuit diagram data, a plurality of circuit diagrams that follow the design change can be easily generated. In addition, the drawn circuit diagram data can be not only drawn on paper with a plotter device, but also transmitted to another device by communication means or stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk.

By the way, the type of the symbol shape data representing the circuit component is stored in the circuit diagram data file, and only the pointer of the circuit component is stored in the circuit diagram data file. There are two types of data that are stored in a symbol library file. When a circuit diagram data file is created by converting both types of circuit diagram data, it is impossible to convert the same circuit components when the sizes are different. Therefore,
It is advisable to take measures to allow conversion even if the circuit components have the same size.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a function added to the processing device 6 of the circuit diagram input device shown in FIG. 2 in order to realize this. The symbol shape data registration designation processing unit 15 has a function of designating whether or not to register the symbol shape data in the circuit diagram data file. A process of writing and registering in the figure data file is performed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the registration processing of the symbol shape data. First, when the operator instructs to register symbol shape data and instructs to write circuit diagram data, the component data (symbol shape data) of the circuit component is written to the circuit diagram data file.
It is determined whether or not an instruction to register symbol shape data has been issued. If instructed, read the symbol shape data,
The symbol shape data is written to a circuit diagram data file.

If not instructed, a pointer (symbol number, etc.) to the symbol shape data is written in the circuit diagram data file. This process is continued until writing of all the circuit components is completed, and when the process is completed, the process ends. Therefore, the symbol shape data can be written in the circuit diagram data file for each circuit component.

In this way, it is possible to select and process either the case where the symbol shape data is included in the circuit diagram data file or the case where the symbol shape data is not included in the circuit diagram data file. When converting data, there is no need to perform processing to convert the size of the symbol of the circuit component, and there is no need to move the signal line connected to the symbol, or when pointing to the symbol number Since there is no need to convert the symbol shape into a symbol library and register it, it is easy to perform. Further, even if a change occurs in the converted circuit diagram data, the symbol shape of the circuit component can be added to the circuit diagram data and changed, so that the circuit diagram data can be easily shared.

[0029]

As described above, according to the circuit diagram creating apparatus of the present invention, a drawing mask that does not cause drawing of a part of the circuit diagram data can be designated, so that an optional portion of the circuit diagram and the like can be specified. This makes it easy to create a circuit diagram partially eliminating the above, and can reduce the workload of the operator. In addition, by separately managing a plurality of mask definition data of the portion where the drawing mask is specified, it is not necessary to modify the circuit diagram data for each combination of optional circuits, and a circuit combining various optional circuits as necessary. You can get the figure.

Furthermore, if the circuit diagram is displayed in different colors for the portion where the drawing mask is specified and the portion where the drawing mask is not specified for the read circuit diagram data, the drawing mask is already specified. The parts can be easily identified, and the operator can efficiently change the designation of the drawing mask or instruct the drawing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions according to the present invention in a processing device 6 of the circuit diagram creation device shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circuit diagram creating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process according to the present invention in the circuit diagram input device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating various configuration examples of a circuit diagram drawn when a drawing mask according to the present embodiment is not specified and when a drawing mask is specified;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions related to symbol shape data registration in a processing device 6 of the circuit diagram creation device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing related to symbol shape data registration by the circuit diagram creation device of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 keyboard 2 mouse 3 display device 4 plotter device 5 storage device 6 processing device 7 drawing mask designation unit 8 drawing control unit 9 drawing processing unit 10 drawing mask definition data management unit 15 symbol shape data registration designation processing unit 16 symbol shape data registration process Department

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A circuit diagram creating apparatus comprising a drawing means for drawing and outputting a circuit diagram based on circuit diagram data, wherein a drawing mask for designating a drawing mask indicating that a part of the circuit diagram data is not to be drawn. A circuit diagram creating apparatus, comprising: a designating unit; and a unit that prevents the drawing unit from performing drawing on the circuit diagram data of a portion where the drawing mask is specified by the unit. 2. The circuit diagram creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for individually managing a plurality of mask definition data of a portion where the drawing mask is specified by said drawing mask specifying means. Circuit diagram creation device. 3. The circuit diagram creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a circuit diagram in a color different from a portion in which the drawing mask is specified in the circuit diagram data and a portion in which the drawing mask is not specified. A circuit diagram creation device, comprising: