Zuken 3D Routing Checker Cuts Design Time For Higher Voltage Printed Circuit Boards By Six Weeks

May 31st, 2005 Munich, Germany and Westford, MA - Zuken cuts typical design time by six weeks with the introduction of Spacing Synthesizer, a 2D and 3D routing checker for high voltage printed circuit boards (PCBs) such as those carrying power supply circuits or boards designed for intrinsically safe applications.

Where voltages over 60V appear on a multilayer PCB, designers are challenged with the problem of ensuring adequate separation of signal paths in the Z dimension of the board, as well as in the X and Y dimensions. This is particularly important where the board is to be used in environments that demand intrinsically safe performance, for example on oil rigs and in mines, where any insulation breakdown between layers can cause hazardous sparking. The traditional way of making the Z-axis checks is manual, often taking a designer up to six weeks to check a typical 4-layer board. This task has been reduced to a few minutes with a new Spacing Synthesizer tool that works within the CR-5000 enterprise-wide PCB design suite from Zuken.

The tool enables engineers to assign groups of signals, and the distance between signals of the same or a different group, from within the system schematic during the design process. The signal groups can then be visualized in different colors within System Designer, the schematic capture module of CR-5000. A distance-matrix is automatically created that shows the design rules required in Board Designer, the tool-suite's board layout module.

Until now, designers had to settle for completing design rule checks in 2D. Using the Spacing Synthesizer, net groups are assigned to signals in System Designer, where they are distinguished by color-coding. Spacings are easily defined, both within each net group and between groups, and design rule checks (DRCs) are automatically generated to ensure that the required spacings are maintained throughout the board design process. The same color-coding transfers into the Board Designer layout tool within CR-5000. Both 2D and 3D DRC is then carried out to pinpoint potential conflict areas and enable rapid correction of the layout.

By automating the checking process, human error is largely eliminated and board integrity with respect to conductor spacing is assured. In addition, variations in board fabrication process can be taken into account, the 3D check being adjustable for varying board thicknesses and design rule exceptions.

The Spacing Synthesizer complete package, which includes front-end base spacing rule definition, back-end design rule stack generation and full 3D design rule check is available now and is priced from $58,500/ 45,000.

www.zuken.com/bd