Approach for Multilayer PCB (Printed Circuit Boards) Design with Automatic Routing

摘要

A computer aided design (CAD) tool for the design of multilayer printed circuit boards with automatic routing was designed which used the Stanford University designed Chip Layout Language (CLL), an integrated circuit CAD tool, to produce the output plot and the final fabrication file. The routing algorithm used was based on the line probe algorithm and was defined for multipoint paths. The system was not implemented. The design rules for a multilayer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) are stated and explained. The system design is presented in Chapter 3 with the definition of the PCB programming language. The detail design is presented in Chapter 4 with the pseudo-coding for the system. Also, a method for adjusting the Caltech Intermediate Format (CIF) output of CLL to a CIF output acceptable for PCB fabrication is discussed in Chapter 4. Finally, CLL is detailed in the appendix with the insight gained from the source code. (Author)