• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 82 subscribers
  • Views 627 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

TMDXIDDK379D: PCB Layout Software for the IDDK Documentation Found in controlSUITE

Kevin Alstrin
Prodigy 80 points
Part Number: TMDXIDDK379D
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CONTROLSUITE

Hello I am interested in utilizing the board layout documentation found in controlSUITE for my IDDK_v2.0.  At location C:\ti\controlSUITE\development_kits\TMDSIDDK_v2.0\IDDK_HwDevPkg_r2.2.1 there are several board layout files with extension .pcb.  Can someone verify what board layout software these files were created with?  Several board layout packages recognize the .pcb extension but I'm afraid there could be import issues if I start working with something different than what they were created with.

Thanks.

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 27240 points

    Hello,

    This is done with Express Schematic and PCB.

    This is a simple tool with limited capabilities. So we created individual schematic modules as PCBs, verified their functionality and made it into a PCB component which can then be placed into a higher level PCB. This is somewhat like the hierarchical approach.

    You will see a couple of .PCB files in this folder.

    "**TL**.pcb" is the top level hierarchical PCB with sub modules represented as a PCB component without their inner layouts.

    "**FG**.pcb" is the final PCB with the actual submodule layout substituting for the submodule component.The subfolder within this folder has the submodule schematic and their PCB layout.

    Hope it clarifies.

  • 0 in reply to Ramesh Ramamoorthy
    Prodigy 80 points
    Thanks, Ramesh.

    This answered my question. I now understand that the boards were developed with ExpressPCB and ExpressSCH. One followup question is that I did not find any top level boards (**TL**.pcb) in controlSUITE as you mentioned. I do see the 'top level' schematic and the **FG**.pcb. Is my installation of controlSUITE missing some files that you guys intended to include?
  • 0 in reply to Kevin Alstrin
    TI__Mastermind 27240 points
    Yep, it is not included here. But, based on the same concept, the FG pcb file (Fully Grouped file) can be reverted to TL pcb file by replacing the submodule layout with the submodule component. Again, you will find it in the subfolder representing the submodule.
    Fyi, the advantage with TL file is that you can verify for netlist compliance using the schematic netlist. Once you replace the comp with its actual layout, net list will be all messed up. If each module is already netlist verified, then FG should be safe. Hope it clarifies further.