US3653071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for producing circuit artwork utilizing a data processing machine
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-08
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Granted: 1972-03-28
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Expires: 1990-01-08
Abstract
Abstract Artwork for a logic circuit to be fabricated by printed circuit board techniques is produced by a data processing machine programmed to run a packaging routine, a placement routine, and a routing routine, in addition to check routines. All logic elements for a particular circuit are coded and identified prior to carrying out any of the machine run routines. This circuit diagram information, along with mechanical criteria of the printed circuit board on which the circuit is to be fabricated, are supplied as input data to the data processing machine. The data processing machine first takes the coded circuit diagram information and checks it for errors. It then packages the individual logic elements into multi-element units (integrated circuits). Upon completion of the packaging routine, the data processor places the multi-element units within the limits of the mechanical criteria supplied as input data. After the packaging and placing routines have been completed, the machine routes interconnections between the terminal pins of the multi-element units using a numbered ordered maze restrained to proceed within pre-established limits.
Inventors
- 👤 John W Hill
- 👤 Charles L Satterwhite
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/39; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0005; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/05; H05K2203/0548; H05K2203/056; H05K3/0002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; and d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; and d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the coded representation of the circuit artwork to record an image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of storing the generated representation of said circuit artwork on a storage medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the process of claim 3, the generated representation of the circuit artwork is stored on magnetic tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the process of claim 3, including the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the stored representation of the circuit artwork to record an image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of checking the coded input information includes the steps of: a. checking the coded information to determine if each signature of the logic systems has a source; b. checking the coded input information to determine if each signature appears at more than one element; and c. checking the coded input information to determine if each signature has only one source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of checking the coded input information includes the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if each element in the logic system corresponds to a real element as defined by the standards stored in said data processing machine; and b. checking the coded input information to determine if each terminal of the elements of the logic system corresponds to a real pin as defined by the standards stored in said data processing machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of checking the coded input information includes the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if each element will operate within its power capabilities; b. checking the coded input information to determine if each element has at least one input signature and an output signature; and c. checking the coded input information to determine if each element has an identifying name.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the process of claim 1, the step of checking the coded input information includes the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if each terminal pin is identified with only one element; and b. checking the coded input information to determine if each terminal pin identification appears only once on one element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information; b. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; c. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information; b. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; c. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the process of claim 10, the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the coded representation of the circuit artwork to record an image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 10, the step of storing the generated representation of said circuit artwork on a storage medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the process of claim 12, the generated representation of the circuit artwork is stored on magnetic tape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the process of claim 12, including the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the stored representation of the circuit artwork to record an image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
In the process of claim 10, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork includes the steps of: a. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if more than one signature has been connected to an element terminal pin; b. checking the coded represenTation of the circuit artwork to determine if more than one signature has been connected to the same feedthrough circuit board layers; c. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if all signatures of the desired logic system have been routed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
In the process of claim 10, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork includes the steps of: a. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if two interconnecting paths having different signatures cross on the same circuit board layer; b. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if an interconnecting path crosses a circuit board cell occupied by an unused element terminal pin; c. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if an interconnecting path crosses the circuit board on a diagonal; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if all interconnecting paths terminate at an element terminal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
In the process of claim 10, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork includes the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if continuity exists between all terminal pins having a common signature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and e. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and e. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against standards stored in said data processing machine to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the process of claim 18, the step of checking the coded input information including the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if each signature has a source; b. checking the coded input information to determine if each signature appears in more than one terminal pin; and c. checking the coded input information to determine if each signature has only one source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
In the process of claim 18, the step of checking the coded input information including the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if each element operates within its power capabilities; b. checking the coded input information to determine if each element has at least one input signature and an output signature; and c. checking the coded input information to determine if each element has an identifying code.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
In the process of claim 20, the step of checking the coded input information further including the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine if an element of the logic system corresponds to an element as defined in the standards stored in said data processing machine; and b. checking the coded input information to determine if each terminal of an element corresponds with the standards stored in said data processing machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
In the process of claim 18, the step of checking the coded input information including the steps of: a. checking the coded input information To determine if all preplaced elements have been assigned a multi-element package; b. checking the coded input information to determine if all packaged elements have been assigned sequentially numbered packages; c. checking the coded input information to determine if two preassigned elements of a multi-element package have been assigned the same position in a package; d. checking the coded input information to determine if an element has been preassigned a position which is not a legitimate position for that element; and e. checking the coded input information to determine if more elements have been assigned to one multi-element package than possible for that type.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the process of claim 18, the step of checking the coded input information including the steps of: a. checking the coded input information to determine the coordinates of the terminal pins with respect to a reference to each element of a multi-element package; and b. checking the coded input information to determine if a signature appears only at an input/output connector terminal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
In the process of claim 18, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork including the steps of: a. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if more than one signature has been connected to an element terminal pin; b. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if more than one signature has been connected to the same feedthrough between circuit board layers; and c. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if all signatures of the desired logic system have been routed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
118 words
In the process of claim 24, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork further including the steps of: a. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if two interconnecting paths having different signatures cross on the same circuit board layer; b. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if an interconnecting path crosses a circuit board cell occupied by an unused element terminal pin; c. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if an interconnecting path crosses the circuit board on a diagonal; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if all interconnecting paths terminate at an element terminal pin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the process of claim 24, the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork further including the step of checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork to determine if continuity exists between all terminal pins having a common signature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against predefined standards to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages from the generated representations of such multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; and d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages from the generated representations of the locations for the multi-element packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. checking the coded input information as it is received by the data processing machine against predefined standards to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded input information; b. generating representations of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information after it has been checked; c. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages from the generated representations of such multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; and d. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages from the generated representations of the locations for the multi-element packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the process of claim 27, the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the representation of the circuit artwork to producE a recorded image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 27, the step of storing the generated representation of the circuit artwork on a storage medium.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the process of claim 29, the generated representation of the circuit artwork is stored on magnetic tape.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the process of claim 29, including the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the stored representation of the circuit artwork to produce a recorded image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. generating representation of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information; b. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages from the generated representation of the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; c. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages from the generated representation of the locations for the multi-element packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against predefined standards to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a process for producing a coded representation of circuit artwork from coded input information representing a desired logic system and coded mechanical input criteria for a circuit board by a data processing machine, the steps of: a. generating representation of multi-element packages of circuit elements of the desired logic system from the coded input information; b. generating representations of locations for the multi-element packages from the generated representation of the multi-element packages upon a circuit board layout in accordance with said coded mechanical input criteria; c. generating said coded representation of the circuit artwork comprising a representation of interconnections between terminal pins of the located packages from the generated representation of the locations for the multi-element packages using a numbered ordered maze and backtracking routine; and d. checking the coded representation of the circuit artwork against predefined standards to determine the completeness and accuracy of such coded representation of the circuit artwork.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the process of claim 32, the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the coded representation of the circuit artwork to produce a recorded image of the circuit artwork.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 32, the step of storing the generated representation of said circuit artwork on a storage medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the process of claim 34, the generated representation of the circuit artwork is stored on magnetic tape.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the process of claim 34, including the step of operating a data plotter in accordance with the stored representation of the circuit artwork to produce a recorded image of the circuit artwork.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-28 | 1975-09-27 | 1976-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-28 | 1979-09-27 | 1980-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-09-27 | 1984-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |