Patent US4970664A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4970664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Critical path analyzer with path context window
Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1988-06-10
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Granted: 1990-11-13
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Expires: 2008-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A screen display includes a path context window for displaying a signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets on which the path portions appear. The window contains multiple display portions each graphically displaying a path portion appearing on a separate schematic sheet. The multiple display portions are arranged adjacent to each other to display the entire signal path as continuous. The screen display also includes a path list window and may include view sheet windows each showing a schematic sheet of a path portion in the path context window. A user selects a path from the path list window, which causes a path context window containing the selected path to appear. Selecting a path portion from the displayed signal path causes a view sheet window containing the corresponding schematic sheet to appear. The means for producing the various windows and other features of the screen display is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R. Kaiser
- 👤 Robert W. Bartel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/32; G06F30/33; G06F30/3308; G06F30/3312; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A screen display for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: a first display portion for graphically displaying a path portion apart from a schematic sheet of the circuit; and at least a second portion for graphically displaying a path portion apart from another schematic sheet of the circuit, the multiple display portions arranged adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A screen display for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: a first display portion for graphically displaying a path portion apart from a schematic sheet of the circuit; and at least a second portion for graphically displaying a path portion apart from another schematic sheet of the circuit, the multiple display portions arranged adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The screen display of claim 1 including sheet identifiers in each display portion for identifying the schematic sheet for each portion of the displayed signal path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The screen display of claim 1 including a schematic sheet display for displaying the schematic sheet of a path portion in response to a selection of the path portion from the displayed signal path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The screen display of claim 1 including a path list display for displaying a list of the signal paths for selection of a critical path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The screen display of claim 1 in which the displayed signal path appears in contrasting indicia to the display background for highlighting the displayed path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The screen display of claim 1 including a component symbol displayed adjacent each path portion that travels through a path component having a separate schematic sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A screen display for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: a first display portion for graphically displaying a path portion appearing on a schematic sheet of the circuit; at least a second portion for graphically displaying a path portion appearing on another schematic sheet of the circuit; and separators appearing between each portion of the displayed signal path indicating a transition from one schematic sheet to another, the multiple display portions arranged adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A screen display for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: a first display portion for graphically displaying a path portion appearing on a schematic sheet of the circuit; at least a second portion for graphically displaying a path portion appearing on another schematic sheet of the circuit; and separators appearing between each portion of the displayed signal path indicating a transition from one schematic sheet to another, the multiple display portions arranged adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The screen display of claim 7 in which the schematic sheets are arranged in a hierarchy of circuit design levels and the separators are constructed to indicate a transition to another sheet at the same design level or another sheet at a different design level for each portion of the signal path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining at least one signal path in the circuit; and display generator means in communication with the path means for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a path context window apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining at least one signal path in the circuit; and display generator means in communication with the path means for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a path context window apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including means for generating sheet indentifiers for identifying in the screen display the schematic sheet for each portion of the displayed signal path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including schematic sheet generator means responsive to a selection of a portion of the displayed signal path for producing in the screen display the schematic sheet of the selected path portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including analyzing means for determining from the path means which of the defined signal paths are considered critical, the display generator means being responsive to the selection of a critical path for producing a display of the selected critical path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including path list generating means for producing in the screen display a list of the signal paths for selection of a critical path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including indicia means for displaying the selected signal path in contrasting indicia to the single display for highlighting the selected path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including symbol generating means means for producing a component symbol in the single display adjacent to each path portion that travels through a component having a separate schematic sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining at least one signal path in the circuit; display generator means in communication with the path means for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit; and separator generator means for producing separators in the screen display appearing between each portion of the displayed signal path for indicating a transition from one schematic sheet to another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining at least one signal path in the circuit; display generator means in communication with the path means for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit; and separator generator means for producing separators in the screen display appearing between each portion of the displayed signal path for indicating a transition from one schematic sheet to another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; analyzing means for determining from the path means which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; display generator means responsive to selection of a critical path for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; analyzing means for determining from the path means which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; display generator means responsive to selection of a critical path for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; analyzing means for determining from the path means which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; display generator means responsive to selection of a critical path for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit of the circuit; and path list generator means for producing in the screen display a list of the critical signal paths for selection of a critical path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: path means for accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; analyzing means for determining from the path means which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; display generator means responsive to selection of a critical path for producing a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit of the circuit; and path list generator means for producing in the screen display a list of the critical signal paths for selection of a critical path.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: displaying a path portion apart from a first schematic sheet; simultaneously displaying another path portion apart from another schematic sheet of the circuit; and positioning the path portions adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: displaying a path portion apart from a first schematic sheet; simultaneously displaying another path portion apart from another schematic sheet of the circuit; and positioning the path portions adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety apart from the schematic sheets.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 including displaying separators between each path portion of the displayed signal path for indicating a transition from one schematic sheet to another.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 20 in which the schematic sheets are arranged in a hierarchy of circuit design levels, the method including displaying separators to indicate a transition to another sheet at the same design level or another sheet at a different design level for each path portion of the displayed signal path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 including displaying a schematic sheet of a path portion in response to a selection of the path portion from the displayed signal path.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 including displaying a path list of the signal paths for selection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 including displaying the signal path in contrasting indicia to the display background to highlight the path.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 including displaying a component symbol adjacent to each path portion that travels through a component having a separate schematic sheet.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: displaying a portion from a first schematic sheet; simultaneously displaying another portion from another schematic sheet of the circuit; positioning the path portions adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety; and displaying sheet identifiers adjacent to each path portion of the displayed signal path for identifying the schematic sheet for each path portion.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of displaying a signal path through a circuit, the signal path having multiple portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: displaying a portion from a first schematic sheet; simultaneously displaying another portion from another schematic sheet of the circuit; positioning the path portions adjacent to each other to display the signal path in its entirety; and displaying sheet identifiers adjacent to each path portion of the displayed signal path for identifying the schematic sheet for each path portion.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; determining from the data which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; displaying in response to the selection of a critical path a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of analyzing the timing of signals propagated along signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; determining from the data which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; displaying in response to the selection of a critical path a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of analyzing the timing of signals propagated signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; determining from the data which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; displaying in response to the selection of a critical path a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit; and displaying in the screen display a list of the critical paths for selection of a critical path.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of analyzing the timing of signals propagated signal paths through a circuit, each signal path having portions that appear on separate schematic sheets of the circuit, comprising: accepting data defining signal paths in the circuit; determining from the data which of the defined signal paths are considered critical for timing; displaying in response to the selection of a critical path a display of the signal path entirely in a screen display apart from the schematic sheets of the circuit; and displaying in the screen display a list of the critical paths for selection of a critical path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-12 | 1994-05-14 | 1994-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-12 | 1998-05-14 | 1998-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-12 | 2002-05-14 | 2002-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |