PEARL: An Expert System for Power Supply Layout

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) expert systems technology has demonstrated its advantages with many new tools in the computer aided design (CAD) field. This paper describes how domain specific knowledge was integrated with a conventional CAD architecture to develop an expert system. The combination resulted in a tool that provides intelligent assistance to printed wiring board (PWB) layout designers. This CAD tool focuses entirely on the layout requirements of power supply circuits for PWBs. The system is called PEARL for Power-supply Expert Assisted Rule-based Layout. PEARL acts as an advisor to the layout designer, providing expert assistance with the placement of components on PWBs. It is presently being enhanced to provide etch routing assistance as well.