acm-header
Sign In

Communications of the ACM

Communications of the ACM

Automation of etching-pattern layout


HELP (Heuristic Etching-Pattern Layout Program) is an application program developed to computerize the tedious and error-prone although vitally important wiring design of printed circuit boards. HELP helps automate a design stage one step closer to production than logical design. It can be used to design wiring patterns of two-layer circuit boards on which ICs in dual-in-line packages as well as discrete components such as transistors and resistors have been placed. HELP employs two methods of wiring. One is the heuristic method, which simulates human approaches to wiring design, and the other is the theoretically interesting but time-consuming method of maze-running, based on the Lee's algorithm. HELP performs more than 90 percent of required wiring by the heuristic method. The maze-running method finds an optimal path with respect to a performance function for each point-to-point, and point-to-line connection. It can bring the number of successful wiring connections very close to 100 percent.

The full text of this article is premium content


 

No entries found

Log in to Read the Full Article

Sign In

Sign in using your ACM Web Account username and password to access premium content if you are an ACM member, Communications subscriber or Digital Library subscriber.

Need Access?

Please select one of the options below for access to premium content and features.

Create a Web Account

If you are already an ACM member, Communications subscriber, or Digital Library subscriber, please set up a web account to access premium content on this site.

Join the ACM

Become a member to take full advantage of ACM's outstanding computing information resources, networking opportunities, and other benefits.
  

Subscribe to Communications of the ACM Magazine

Get full access to 50+ years of CACM content and receive the print version of the magazine monthly.

Purchase the Article

Non-members can purchase this article or a copy of the magazine in which it appears.
Sign In for Full Access
» Forgot Password? » Create an ACM Web Account