Pulsonix provides a powerful set of constraint driven, rules based, interactive High Speed design features. The Interactive High Speed Design option is a collection of features which are provided as an additional cost option in Pulsonix. Please contact your local sales office for more information and costs.
Constraint Driven Design
Many rules controlling the high speed features can be defined in the Schematic, and so the design can be conceived and defined by the engineer during the early logical capture phase. All constraint rules are passed to the PCB design automatically when it is created, or later using the Synchronise Designs option.
Net Length Checking
Some Design Rule Net Checks are available to support checking of high speed nets.
- Track Length - Checks that the total track length for a net does not exceed the limit defined in the Track Length Rules or Track Length Match Rules.
- Connection Length - Checks that the each Pin to Pin track path for the net does not exceed the limit defined in the Track Length Rules or Track Length Match Rules.
- Connection Vias - Checks that no Pin to Pin track path exceeds the maximum via count defined in the Track Length Rules or Track Length Match Rules.
Daisy Chain Routing
Signal Paths or Sub Nets allow you to create specific serial and parallel track sequences using pin to pin rules. Daisy chain routing gives you precise control over tracks where the exact path required is critical. Once defined, these rules can be checked using the Design Rule Check Pin Order feature.
Interactive Net Length Indicators
During track routing, an interactive display shows an ‘oval’ around the area to be routed indicating whether the track is within the minimum or maximum limits you have set. Colour and textual indicators show whether you are within required length limits and give an estimate of the final track length.
Differential Pair Routing
Once defined as Differential Pairs, two nets can be routed together interactively following a parallel path. The Differential Pairs may have rules that define how close the tracks should be to one another and how much they are allowed to differ in length. These rules also form part of the post layout Design Rule Checking. Interactive Net Length Indicators may be used at the same time to control the length of the Differential Pairs.
Serpentine Routing
Serpentine Routing enables you to increase the length of high speed nets without introducing spacing errors. You can select a track segment (or segments) and run the Serpentine Routing command where you can define amplitude and separation of each loop, the number of loop cycles to insert, and the amount of additional length required. These values can also be defined on a net using the Serpentine Rules dialog.
Interactive Spiral Shape Support
High Speed support also includes some RF design features. Specifically, Spirals are supported as copper, tracks and shapes. These can be used on electrical and non-electrical layers as required and can be specified to follow a circular or square spiral pattern.
When created as tracks or copper, they can also be connected to as part of a net and full Design Rule Checking to these items is performed. Spirals can also be added to footprints to create components such as planar transformers for use through multiple layers and with embedded component technologies.
RF Design Support
As an important facet to RF design, Pulsonix contains the ability to have square ended tracks and chamfered track corners. Both features can be enabled on a net or net class using the Track RF Rules dialog.
Square ended tracks provide precise track ends when an open ended square end is required without the use of a landing pad to achieve this.
Chamfered corners allow a traditional 45-degree inside and outside mitre to contain a 90-degree inner corner and 45-degree outer corner, ideal for RF designs.
Related Topics
Define Differential Pairs | Design Rule Checking | Track Length Rules | Track Length Match Rules | Serpentine Routing | Show Track Length Limits | Spirals | Square Ended and Chamfered Tracks