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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

1080.0. "PCB router" by CSC32::S_ROSCIO (CSC/CS LAT/VMS Support) Wed May 10 1989 19:00

    Hi -
    
    I'm looking for a printed circuit board (PCB) trace routing algorithm.

    Givens:  	Coordinates (x,y) of all obstacles
      		Board bounds (min, max  x,y)
    		Number of layers if multi-layered
		Starting and ending points
		Minimum spacing between trace lines
    
    Wanted:	Shortest (or near shortest) path from start to end

    Use of a large grid for the implementation would go well with the
    surrounding routines, since they already use a grid.
    
    Any ideas welcome!
    - Steve 
    
    Cross posted in CHEST::ALGORITHMS.
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1080.1HERON::BUCHANANAndrew @vbo DTN 828-5805Thu May 11 1989 06:4417
	The most interesting solution to this problem that I've seen is
in the 3rd party product Allegro, part of Vista, from Valid Logic.   After
the components have been laid down on the board, the user enters a short
dialogue with an expert system.   The expert system determines the
routing strategy which is appropriate, and sets the parameters of the 
deterministic algorithm which then does the routing.   

	Even if this product isn't appropriate for you, I can't believe that
there aren't other programs around which would go a long way to addressing
your problems.

	The tricky stuff, it seems to me, isn't just the routing of a single
link, but the interaction between the links.   Particularly, routing for
analogue circuitry & power supplies involves constraints that are tricky to
work in.

Andrew.
1080.2Digital has it nowKOBAL::GILBERTOwnership ObligatesThu May 11 1989 14:066
    DEC WRL (Western Research Laboratory) published a research report on the
    board layout algorithms that were used for Titan.  Contact Jeremy Dion
    at RHEA::DION, or at (415) 853-6614.
    
    There are several other CAD/CAM tools available for in-house use.  I'll
    let Richie Lary direct you to them.
1080.3VLSCTCADM::ROTHIf you plant ice you'll harvest windThu May 11 1989 14:256
    There's also the VAX Layout System, which is state of the art.

    If this is for company use, let me know and I'll put you in touch
    with the right people...

    - Jim
1080.4thxCSC32::S_ROSCIOCSC/CS LAT/VMS SupportThu May 11 1989 23:043
    Thanx for the pointers.  It's for me, not for DEC projects.
    
    - Steve