How funny we coincided in the moment of writing this, and you spoke my mind ;) On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 3:46 PM, Sean Breheny wrote: > I interpreted Tobias to be talking about more geometrical-type > equations. I think this could be very useful. For example, I have had > boards where I needed to place 9 identical half-H bridge units on a > grid across the board. I couldn't use "copy and paste" within the > layout because the parts were already in existence in the schematic - > I had to arrange them into their own blocks and then move the blocks > around. It would have been much better if I could create a layout for > one unit, assign that subunit an identifier, tell the tool to > duplicate that unit N times, and then assign parts from the schematic > to each unit. Then, a simple numerical "step and repeat" command could > be used to place those N units into a grid pattern. > > Similarly, I often have components which need to be placed all in a > row at some certain spacing, and then another group of components > which need to go in a row but with a different spacing. It would be > nice to just be able to select all of the parts in one group and then > issue a command "place in a line with 0.1 inch spacing" This is the > kind of thing which Solidworks lets you do but I've never seen a PCB > layout tool with many such features (unless you write your own > macros/scripts) > > Sean > > > On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 10:58 AM, M.L. wrote: > > On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 7:57 AM, Tobias Gogolin > wrote: > >> What I am envisioning is that, starting from the schematic, components > can > >> be associated with formulas that consider placement options, variation= s > of > >> product capabilities (for example number of parallel transistors or > memory > >> banks) and eventually associativity to the pads of the PCB (linked to = or > via > >> spreadsets), BOM and pick and place coordinates generated, etc. > > > > > > A complicated schematic is just many small circuits put together. Some > > are linear, some are not. > > Some are programmable and may output a signal that appears non-linear > > (a digital PWM signal) but that can be interpreted in a linear fashion > > through a simple R-C filter and fed into an opamp. > > > > This is getting very complicated very quickly. Maybe not to us who > > design electronics, but to describe this parametrically with equations > > in a complete and unambiguous seems very very tedious and complicated. > > > > Electronic parametric EDA seems to be adding a time dimension to your > > example of parametric 3D modelling such as Solidworks. In Solidworks > > you create 2D drawings and extrude or cut. Now imagine if you not only > > had to design a single 3D part, but also describe how they interact, > > then add electrons and semiconductors that behave in non-mechanical > > ways. > > > > An interesting idea - > > It might be more complicated than just having the design engineer redo > > the calculations. > > > > -- > > Martin K. > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 Tobias Gogolin Tel. Movistar (646) 124 32 82 Tel. Telcel (646) 160 58 99 skype: moontogo messenger: usertogo@hotmail.com Blog: http://zeitgeistensenada.blogspot.com/ You develop Sustainable Ranch Technology at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SURA-TECH an Open Source Electric Motor/Alternator at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Performance_Axial_Flux and an Open Source Motor Controller at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GoBox --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .