System and method for evaluating signal trace discontinuities in a package design

Abstract

A method evaluates signal trace discontinuities in an electronic design of the type having one or more traces. The method includes the steps of formulating one or more trace discontinuity rules, processing the electronic design to determine whether the traces violate the trace discontinuity rules, and generating an indicator (e.g., a DRC) associated with the electronic design to identify violated trace discontinuity rules. Each level, each signal net, or a group of signal nets may be evaluated, for example, to ensure compliance with the trace discontinuity rules.

1 . A method for evaluating signal trace discontinuities in an electronic design of the type having one or more traces, comprising the steps of: 
 formulating one or more trace discontinuity rules corresponding to one or more turning angles of the traces;    processing the electronic design to determine whether the traces violate the trace discontinuity rules; and    generating an indicator associated with the electronic design to identify traces that violate trace discontinuity rules;    wherein each trace discontinuity is formed by a turning angle between adjoining segments of one trace.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , the electronic design comprising a package design, the step of formulating comprising the step of formulating one or more group trace discontinuity rules for a group of signal nets of the package design, wherein the step of processing comprises the step of processing the group of signal nets to determine whether traces of the group of signal nets violate the group trace discontinuity rules.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , the step of generating comprising the step of generating a DRC for each violation of the group trace discontinuity rules.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , the electronic design comprising a package design, the step of processing comprising the step of processing all levels of the package design for violation of the trace discontinuity rules.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , the step of processing comprising determining a number of trace discontinuities within signal nets of the electronic design.  
   
   
       6 . A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for determining signal trace discontinuities in an electronic design, comprising instructions for: 
 determining instances of trace discontinuities based upon a turning angle between adjoining segments of a trace within the electronic design;    comparing the instances to one or more trace discontinuity rules; and    generating an indicator identifying violations of the trace discontinuity rules.    
   
   
       7 . The software product of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for formulating one or more of the trace discontinuity rules.  
   
   
       8 . The software product of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for determining whether one signal net in a group of signal nets exceeds a threshold of trace discontinuities.  
   
   
       9 . The software product of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for generating a report summarizing violations of the trace discontinuity rules.  
   
   
       10 . The software product of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for counting trace discontinuities within the electronic design and determining a turning angle for each of the trace discontinuities.  
   
   
       11 . A system for evaluating signal trace discontinuities in an electronic design, comprising: 
 means for formulating one or more trace discontinuity rules corresponding to trace discontinuities within traces of the electronic design, each of the trace discontinuities having a turning angle between adjoining trace segments;    means for processing the electronic design to determine whether one or more traces violate trace discontinuity rules; and    means for generating an indicator associated with the electronic design to identify traces that violate trace discontinuity rules.