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Question about modification of the CADSTAR schematic and PCB files (cc1111)

Zhuoqian Zhang
Prodigy 20 points

Our team is about to modify some of the hardware design of TI CC1111.  We are not going to touch the analog circuit but just add some digital components on board.

Since none of us familiar with the hardware design, we don't want waste too much time to learn how to use PCB design software from the begin.

As I noticed, the source files which TI provided are schematic file CC1111_USB_Dongle_Johanson_1_0.scm and PCB file CC1111_USB_Dongle_Johanson_1_0.pcb

Our current situation is: our lab just have Cadence but it couldn't  open these two files which generate by CADSTAR. And it is expensive to buy a CADSTAR license that we can't afford.

Though there is a circuit layout file included,  pick Cadence up and draw everything from the beginning by ourselves will be waste of time.

My question is: Do anyone have some suggestion that which way is better? To convert the scm and pcb file to Cadence files or to draw them by ourselves?  How hard is it?

Will TI provide this kind of file converting service? This kind of software cost thousands of dollars, so it not worth to buy for just one shot.

Thank you!!!

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 39860 points

    CadStar Express is freeware (www.zuken.com) and can import .scm and .pcb files. There is an upper limit to the number of components (50?) soI do not think Express will work in your case. I think you need to do schematic and PCB layout in Cadence yourself. There are tools that converts from one CAD tool to another, but they cost a fortune (not even sure they support CadStar......)

     

  • 0
    Prodigy 20 points

    AFAIK the base version of CADSTAR does not cost thousands of dollars, in fact it can be quite competative at the moment.

    Although thats UK, I'm not sure about in the US etc.

    You could always employ someone that has CADSTAR to make the changes for you, or even a conversion to your preferred software - although conversions are not guaranteed to go well and can contain errors.

    Looking at the cc1111 dongle swrr049 download, .csa archive files are included so it should import into other cad software as they generally use the archive format for transfer to them.

    Matt

  • 0 in reply to Matty Lad
    Intellectual 310 points

    Are .CSA files (like the one in the swrr049 download) in a standard format that is generally supported by third-party CAD software, or do other CAD systems have to specifically provide Cadstar .CSA import capability?  I can see that the file looks superficially like EDIF (Lispy matched parens), but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

    Thanks.

  • 0 in reply to David Eisner
    Prodigy 20 points

    Unfortunatly looking at the above mentioned files it is 5 components over the express limit :(

    Yes, .CSA/.CPA are common archive formats used for Zuken CADSTAR imports into other software.

    What PCB software do you have?

    What changes do you want to do to it and is swrr049 the correct one?

  • 0 in reply to Matty Lad
    Intellectual 310 points

    First, thanks for your help -- it's appreciated.

    We have Cadence SPB 16.01, which includes Cadence Allegro and a bunch of other tools and utilities.

    Yes, swrr049 is the correct one.  We need to add three sensors to it and a microSDHC socket. One sensor is analog and has three I/O pins. The other two are digital.  One is an eight I/O DIP, and the other is a 16 I/O LGA, though we're only using six "pins" so far.  The two digital sensors and the microSDHC card need to be joined in an SPI bus connected to the CC1111.  There will also be a battery, and we may need modifications to the antenna trace. An additional LED or two may be needed as well.

    Thanks again.