PowerLogic Symbol Library

[Tom]

We desperately need a new PowerLogic Schematic Symbol Library that's 100% mapped to the pcbstandards decals. Is there anyone out there that's willing to step forward and demonstrate leadership skills to manage such a task?

According to Mentor Graphics data, there are almost 30,000 PowerLogic users. Are you all having fun creating your own schematic symbols? The same schematic symbols that the other 29,999 users are creating. Why people do not ban together for the better of the entire electronics industry is way beyond my comprehension.

A comprehensive standard schematic symbol library that was linked to a proven decal library is the only way to achieve ultimate productivity levels. If such a library existed, it would save millions of man hours in duplicated effort and accelerate all product development.

I am begging you, the PowerLogic Users to respond to the call of a "One World Library" system that's free to anyone who cares to use it. We can create a standard library construction specification that we can adhere to. We can voluntarily contribute our library symbols to a central library that's available to all PowerLogic Users whether they contribute anything or not.

One person can make the difference. One person who has the vision that such a goal is possible. Mentor Graphics is years away from any PowerLogic Library that is remotely "Up-to-date". If you are that person, will you please contact me so we can start the standardization process of a common "Up-to-date" PowerLogic Symbol Library. There are 30,000 engineers waiting for you.

[BFihe]

Tom (et al),

I would like to get involved with this. I teach PowerLogic and PowerPCB at The Copper Connection and am currently upgrading the sections of the training material on PADS libraries. I would love to be teaching my students how to create CAE Decals, PCB Decals and Parts that match a standard. I am willing to do some work in exchange for using the information available on this forum. Please let me know what I can do.

[Tom]

Bruce,

There are PCB decals that can be used with multiple Schematic Symbols. I.E.: The SOT-23 decal can be used with over 1,000 schematic symbols.

We already have PowerPCB Decals to link with over 50,000 different schematic symbols that need to be defined and created. That large number does not scare me because building a large schematic symbol library is just like any other project. You start with defining the rules or specifications and then you set out to build everything using the pre-defined specification. We already have a complete PCB Decal specification.

So, that's what needs to happen first. Someone must volunteer to write a schematic symbol specification that will be the guideline for the construction of all schematic symbols. It needs to be created like a good checklist. The checklist then must be reviewed by a team of volunteers and probably undergo some modifications, additions and deletions. The most important goal here is to have all the symbols look like they were built by the same person. The symbols should have a definite consistency.

These are some of the things to consider:
1. Inputs on left, Outputs on right
2. Pin Text Height / Width
3. Ref Des Text Height / Width
4. Grid Units
5. GND & Power pins visible / not visible?
6. Naming Convention
7. Line widths and spacing

The specification could be one that is very simple at the start and then modified as the symbols are created.

We need to standardize on three GND symbols for Digital, Analog and Chassis. Off page symbols, Connector symbols, Voltage symbols, Test Point symbols, etc.

The big problem with the existing PowerLogic library is its age. It's out of date with today's components. So we must start at the component manufacturer level. It's best to focus on a single component manufacturer like Texas Instruments and define the majority of the schematic symbols for their components. Then move on to the next component manufacturer like Motorola. This way, you can gather all the necessary data for a specific component manufacturer to get an idea of their entire component family of products. Since Motorola could produce thousands of different parts, all the Motorola symbols should reside in a Motorola library. Each major component manufacturer should have their own independent library. This will aid in searching for specific symbols and make it easy to track and delete obsolete symbols.

Once the schematic symbol specification is completed and distributed, volunteers can start the process of contributing symbols to a central point for accuracy verification, approval and transfer to the main libraries. The library symbols should be made available to the general public for free on pcbstandards.com.

I have always thought that students should be ones building the libraries of the future. It's a great way to get familiarized with the standard and contribute to the standard that will be used for all future product development. It's the standard that will have the greatest influence on the student’s productivity levels.

[BFihe]

It would be nice to have a bit of a discussion on this forum before we even tried to write a standard. Some major questions come to mind right away:

Do we try to do one-size-fits-all, or create family sets (for B-size, D-size, etc.)?

Is there any benefit to matching the size in the current PADS libraries (I hope not!)?

What general guidelines are currently being used by PowerLogic users as far as text size and line width?

Should we cross-post to the Talk list server to get more coverage and input?

Cheers,

[H.Tikkanen]

PowerLogic part generator is now available from:

http://www.designsystems.fi/powerlogic_part_generator.htm

It is free. For big components it is a real time saver.

Comments welcome!