Interactive system for guiding electronics design and assembly

Abstract

A computer implemented method is disclosed relating to the design of electronic circuits and systems. In some examples, a graphical user interface is utilized to receive first information relating to a requested electronic circuit. The first information includes a selected type of electronic circuit and one or more operating criteria relating to requested fundamental functionality of the selected type of electronic circuit. Second information is also received, relating to requested secondary attributes of a hypothetical candidate electronic circuit that satisfies the first information. In response, a set of candidate circuit architectures are displayed satisfying the first information, as well as a visualization of how each of the candidate circuit architectures relates to the second information.

1 . A computer implemented method for electronics design, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI), first information including a selected type of electronic circuit assembly and one or more criteria relating to the selected type of electronic circuit assembly;   for each one of a plurality of subtypes of the selected type of electronic circuit assembly: simultaneously displaying, via the GUI, a plurality of circuit assemblies satisfying the first information, wherein each of the circuit assemblies comprises a respective configuration of circuit components, and a plurality of graphical visualizations, each of the plurality of graphical visualizations displaying how each of the plurality of circuit assemblies relates to the one or more criteria;   receiving, via the GUI, a user selection from the plurality of circuit assemblies to define a selected circuit assembly; and   displaying, via the GUI, detailed information regarding the selected circuit assembly, including a listing of specific components included in the selected circuit assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying detailed information regarding the selected circuit assembly further includes simulating expected electronic behavior of the selected circuit assembly and displaying information relating to the simulated behavior. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the GUI, at least one change to one of the specific components, and in response verifying whether the selected circuit assembly continues to satisfy the first information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the GUI, at least one change to a physical layout of the selected circuit assembly, and in response verifying whether the selected circuit assembly continues to satisfy the first information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing of specific components includes vendor-specific information relating to each of the specific components. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more criteria comprises operating criteria relating to fundamental functionality of the selected type of electronic circuit assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more operating criteria include a specific voltage input and/or a specific voltage output. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more operating criteria include a maximum operating temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more criteria comprises one or more secondary attributes of the selected type of electronic circuit assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more secondary attributes include a maximum overall printed circuit board (PCB) dimension. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of graphical visualizations comprises:
 one or more bar charts, each of the bar charts corresponding to a respective one of the criteria, and each bar at a given relative position in each of the bar charts representing a corresponding value of the criteria for a respective one of the plurality of circuit assemblies;   wherein each of the bar charts further includes a visual indication of a desired value for the respective one of the criteria.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ordering the specific components from respective vendors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying trust-related information relating to at least one of the specific components, the trust-related information being provided by a different user. 
     
     
         14 . A data processing system for designing electronics, the system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory; and   an electronics design program including a plurality of instructions stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to:
 receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI), first information including a selected type of electronic circuit assembly and one or more criteria relating to the selected type of electronic circuit; 
 for each one of a plurality of subtypes of the selected type: simultaneously display, via the GUI, a set of circuit assemblies satisfying the first information, wherein each of the circuit assemblies comprises a respective configuration of circuit components, and a plurality of graphical visualizations, each of the plurality of graphical visualizations corresponding to how each of the circuit assemblies relates to the one or more criteria; 
 receive, via the GUI, a user selection from the set of circuit assemblies to define a selected circuit assembly; and 
 display, via the GUI, detailed information regarding the selected circuit assembly, including a simulation of electronic behavior of the selected circuit assembly and a listing of specific components included in the selected circuit assembly. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further executable to:
 receive, via the GUI, at least one change to one of the specific components, and in response verify whether the selected circuit assembly continues to satisfy the first information.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further executable to:
 receive, via the GUI, at least one change to a physical layout of the selected circuit assembly, and in response verify whether the selected circuit assembly continues to satisfy the first information.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more criteria include a specific voltage input and/or a specific voltage output. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first information further includes a maximum overall printed circuit board (PCB) dimension. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein displaying the plurality of graphical visualizations comprises:
 presenting one or more bar charts, each of the bar charts corresponding to a respective one of the criteria, and each bar at a given relative position in each of the bar charts representing a corresponding value of the criteria for a respective one of the set of circuit assemblies;   wherein each of the bar charts further includes a visual indication of a desired value for the respective criteria.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of instructions are further executable to:
 simulate expected electronic behavior of the selected circuit assembly and display information relating to the simulated behavior on the GUI.