US6177942B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Part development system
Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-30
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2016-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A part development system implemented on a computer for developing software versions of parts for use in computer-generated designs, such as electrical circuits. The system includes a process developer environment for developing part development processes and a parts developer environment for developing parts in accordance with such processes. In a preferred embodiment, the two environments are implemented as computer programs with graphical interfaces to enable process developers to easily construct part development processes and parts developers to easily develop parts using the processes. The part development processes capture the library and part specifications required for acceptable parts, thus minimizing errors in part creation and time required for test.
Inventors
- 👤 Woo Peng Keong
- 👤 Khoong Hock Yun
- 👤 Sia Siong Huat
- 👤 Liau Hon Chung
- 👤 Ken Salzberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A part development system implemented on a computer, comprising: (a) a process developer environment that develops software versions of parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs by developing part development processes including: a process hierarchy area generated on a display providing access to part creation processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts, the processes having at least one process command; a command list area generated on the display providing access to process commands of a part creation process; and a menu definition area generated on the display for constructing a menu of the process commands for use with a data object to develop a part; and (b) a part development environment that develops software versions of parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs by developing parts using part development processes developed with the process developer environment, the parts developer environment comprising: a process selection area generated on a display for selecting a part development process for developing a part; an object list area generated on the display providing access lo data objects that can be developed into parts with a selected process; a means for selecting a data object; and a command area generated on the display providing a menu of commands that can be selected for use with the data object to develop a part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A part development system implemented on a computer, comprising: (a) a process developer environment that develops software versions of parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs by developing part development processes including: a process hierarchy area generated on a display providing access to part creation processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts, the processes having at least one process command; a command list area generated on the display providing access to process commands of a part creation process; and a menu definition area generated on the display for constructing a menu of the process commands for use with a data object to develop a part; and (b) a part development environment that develops software versions of parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs by developing parts using part development processes developed with the process developer environment, the parts developer environment comprising: a process selection area generated on a display for selecting a part development process for developing a part; an object list area generated on the display providing access lo data objects that can be developed into parts with a selected process; a means for selecting a data object; and a command area generated on the display providing a menu of commands that can be selected for use with the data object to develop a part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for associating a data object with a command for making the command available for use upon selection of the data object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for associating a part development tool with a command for invoking the tool upon selection of the command.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The part development system of claim 3 including means for providing access to a tool invocation script for the part development tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for defining arguments for process commands.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for defining a results directory for storing results produced by process commands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for defining a results directory for storing results produced by test process commands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The part development system of claim 1 including a computer-readable medium for storing instructions of a computer program comprising the processor developer environment and part developer environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The part development system of claim 1 wherein the part developer environment further comprises: means for providing access to a configuration to set program parameters dictated by library and process specifications.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for controlling operation of a selected command on a data object to execute only, record only, or execute and record.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The part development system of claim 10 including a command buffer for storing recorded commands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The part development system of claim 9 wherein the part developer environment comprises means for managing the execution of a pre-tool script, a tool script and a post-tool script.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for launching a development tool associated with a command in response to selection of a command, the tool for operating on the data object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for storing and accessing results of execution in areas defined in the process development environment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The part development system of claim 1 including means for executing the recorded commands in batch fashion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus comprising: a process developer environment that executes on a computer for developing part development processes, such processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs, the process developer environment including a process hierarchy area generated on a display providing access to part creation processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts, the processes having at least one process command; a command list area generated on the display providing access to process commands of a part creation process; and a menu definition area generated on the display for constructing a menu of the process commands for use with a data object to develop a part.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus comprising: a process developer environment that executes on a computer for developing part development processes, such processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts for use in computer-generated electronic circuit designs, the process developer environment including a process hierarchy area generated on a display providing access to part creation processes used for developing software versions of electronic parts, the processes having at least one process command; a command list area generated on the display providing access to process commands of a part creation process; and a menu definition area generated on the display for constructing a menu of the process commands for use with a data object to develop a part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process developer environment of claim 16 including means for associating a data object with a command for making the command available for use upon selection of the data object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus comprising: a part developer environment that executes on a computer for developing software versions of electronic parts in accordance with part development processes, the parts developer environment including a process selection area generated on a display for selecting a part development process for developing a part; an object list area generated on the display providing access to data objects that can be developed into parts with a selected process; means for selecting a data object; and a command area generated on the display providing a menu of commands that can be selected for use with the data object to develop a part.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus comprising: a part developer environment that executes on a computer for developing software versions of electronic parts in accordance with part development processes, the parts developer environment including a process selection area generated on a display for selecting a part development process for developing a part; an object list area generated on the display providing access to data objects that can be developed into parts with a selected process; means for selecting a data object; and a command area generated on the display providing a menu of commands that can be selected for use with the data object to develop a part.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The part developer environment of claim 17 including means for controlling operation of a selected command on a data object to execute only, record only, or execute and record.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |