Auto-interactive Schematics to Layout Translation

An effective heuristic has been developed that provides an auto-interactive process to translate schematic net-lists to symbolic layouts. A net-list description of the logic-level of a circuit is the starting point for the process. This net-list initializes the symbolic layout system by providing device and pin names -- position information is provided interactively by the designer. The designer places these active elements by name and then makes the connections between them. As each connection is made a check is performed to verify that electrical connectivity of the layout exactly matches that of the net-list and the original schematic.