Pin2Pin Route Length Program

The Pin2Pin Route Length program is a PCB routing analysis tool for PADS PowerPCB.   It's main function is to report on all route lengths in a net from a selected pin to all other pins. It does this without regard for assigned pin-pairs since the final routing may not be based on these pin-pairs.

Figures 1 and 2 help to illustrate this. The ratsnest connection display in Figure 1 shows a pin-pair connection from U4.6 to U5.6. The final routing as shown in Figure 2 has U5.6 routed to C5.2 with the pin-pair connection remaining as U4.6 to U5.6.

To get a pin to pin connection report on this net would then involve reporting on each trace segment in the net, analyzing the data, eliminating shared copper paths and route loops, ect.  The Pin2Pin Route Length program solves these problems using decision-tree algorithms to locate the shortest 'electrical path' to each pin. In addition batch processing is available to analyze and report on an entire netlist.

Figure 1.  Example component pin-pair connections (net $$$25).

              Figure 2. Example routed connections -connection U5.6 to C5.2 is
                                actually pin-pair U4.6-U5.6

The above is a simple example of routing possibilities.  Real-life routing could involve very complex and lengthy routes with multi-tiered branches, T-routes and loops. The Pin2Pin Route Length program provides net length reporting beyond the current PADS PCB netlist functions and report scripting.

Applications

• high-speed routing analysis
• matched length bus
• max length multi load e.g. PCI bus
• matched length differntial pairs e.g. LVDS
• clock line propagation delay
• pin to pin resistance calculations
• autoroute analysis and net length reports
• final design archiving and engineering reports

Summary of Features and Benefits

• finds the shortest electrical path between selected pins
• reports on all route lengths in a net from a selected source pin
• ignores false pin-pair assignments
• compensates for shared copper pathways
• handles T-routing and multi-branch networks
• route loop exclusion
• checks for coincident pads (pads top & bottom in same x-y coordinates)
• can be batch driven by Excel input file
• pin-pin route length summary reporting to Excel

      Figure 3.  Pin2Pin Route Length program dialog set to analyze net $$$25 using a
                     source pin of U3.12.

     Figure 4. Pin to pin analysis completed with results reports in Route Length pane.

                           Figure 5. Pin to pin analysis reported to Excel.

Program Evaluation

An evaluation version of the Pin2Pin Route Length program is in development.  Currently we are providing a free analysis service for customers interested in seeing the results of the program using their own designs.  Send us your PADS design (ver 2.1 or greater) or a partial design (binary or ascii) along with a list of nets and primary pins you'd like analysis completed on.  We'll run the analysis on your design using your selected nets and pins and send you a completed Excel pin-to-pin route length analysis file the same day. Requests and file data (zipped please) should be sent to: software@mindlinktech.com

Pricing

Please contact us for pricing or additional infomation.