The evolution of schematic entry: moving from gates to geography

Schematic entry is evolving from a graphical technique to capture the logic interconnect between hardware elements to a graphical road map of a design´s geography. New Windows OLE technology from Microsoft allows EDA vendors to facilitate true Electronic System Design Automation tool integration. This paper describes the current techniques to capture a design concept in a schematic editor, some innovative new technologies that facilitate design targeting and mapping, and finally a hint of how the schematic editor is evolving into a universal front-end for landscaping logic designs