TopoR
TopoR(TopologicalRouter)[nb 1]is anEDAprogram developed and maintained by the Russian company Eremex. It is dedicated to laying out aprinted circuit board(PCB). The current version is 6.3.17875 as of 2017-09-20.[1]
It features anautorouterand a set of tools intended to reduce the amount of effort needed for manual routing of a PCB. A distinctive feature of TopoR is the absence of preferred routing directions.
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Topor_board.jpg/180px-Topor_board.jpg)
Work on a flexible[2]topological router began in 1988.[citation needed]
1996[citation needed]saw the release of the first version of a topological router[3][4]that actually came to be used by industrial enterprises. In 2002, theFreeStyle Router[5](FSR) byДиал Инжиниринг( "Dial Engineering" ) ran underDOSand successfully routed dual-layer boards, interfacing withP-CAD.[5][6][7]This early router showed the advantages of an innovative approach to routing and high efficiency of the models, algorithms, and software implementation. A 1.44 MBfloppy diskwas enough for the program and accompanying examples.[5]The company also announced plans to commercially release aFreeStyle Suitefor Windows later the year.[8][7]The last version of FSR for DOS,[9]consisting of the router namedSpeedWayand the layout editor namedFreeStylewas version 1.6 as of 2003-09-26/2003-11-01.[10][11][12]
The firstWindowsversion of the topological router was released in 2001[citation needed]and renamed[10]toTopoR.[13]TopoR 1.03 was available on 2003-09-26 and distributed through ElekTrade (ЭлекТрейд).[10]The program routed not only dual-layer but also multi-layer printed circuit boards.[7]TopoR was developed by a group called theFreeStyleTeam,supervised by Sergey J. Luzin (Сергей Юрьевич Лузин),[14]with Oleg B. Polubasov (Олег Борисович Полубасов) as initial FSR developer, as well as Pavel I. Dmitriev (Павел Иванович Дмитриев), Gevorg S. Petrosyan (Геворг Самвелович Петросян), Michael S. Luzin (Михаил Сергеевич Лузин) and Andrew A. Lysenko (Андрей Александрович Лысенко).[15]Version 3.0 was released in 2006.[16][17]The software was commercially distributed by Prosoft Spb. (ПРОСОФТ СПб) in 2007.[14]TopoR 4.0 added support to import/export DSN design and SES session files.[18]Since TopoR 4.1 (2008) the software is further developed and maintained by Eremex, Ltd.
Features
[edit]TopoR can be used as an external autorouter for third-party layout editors or in conjunction with Eremex's ownschematic captureand layout editorDelta Design(DD). TopoR imports input in Delta Design's FST format, asSpecctra-/ELECTRA-compatible DSN design files,[19]or inP-CADPCB ASCII (2000, 2002, 2004),PADSPCB ASCII (3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 2005.0), orEAGLEBRD XML formats (6.x).[20]The resulting boards can be exported into Specctra/ELECTRA SES session files,DXF,Gerber,P-CAD PCB ASCII (2000, 2002, 2004), PADS PCB ASCII (3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 2005.0).
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Topor_approximation_lines.png/180px-Topor_approximation_lines.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Topor_approximation_arcs.png/180px-Topor_approximation_arcs.png)
Routing of the wiring topology is done automatically and flexibly; angles are not limited to 90° and 45°.
Efficient use of PCB space and absence of preferred routing directions in layers considerably reduces electromagneticcrosstalk.[citation needed]
TopoR routes all connections, even if this entails violating design constraints. Such violations can be automatically corrected later.
When objects (such as components and vias) are moved around, wire length and shape are optimized automatically with appropriate clearance.
The user is free to choose from two ways to calculate the wire shape: with or without arcs. The first method involves wires consisting of lines only. The other makes wires keep appropriate clearance when circling around pads; it consists of arcs and lines.
TopoR simultaneously optimizes several alternative variants of the layout. Variants with the worst parameters (per total wire length and number of vias) will be removed.[21][22]
TopoR has an automatic component placement feature. The procedure can be used both for all components of the board and only for components in a specific area. It is not comparable to the quality of the manual placement, but it can be used as a preparation step for manual placement.
The minimum and desired clearances for each net can be specified.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Topor_teardrops.gif/180px-Topor_teardrops.gif)
TopoR automatically supportstrace necking,that is, it reduces the width of a wire that approaches a narrow pad (or one with a diameter that is less than the width of the wire), or when it passes through bottlenecks (for example, between the pads of a component).
Wire-to-pad transitions useteardrop-style smoothing. The use of this procedure at the design stage helps avoid violations in design-rule checking when teardrops are added in the CAM editor.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Topor_bga.gif/180px-Topor_bga.gif)
TopoR can recognizeball grid array(BGA) component areas and apply a special strategy for routing them. This helps reduce the number of vias, the density of connections, and in some cases the number of routing layers.[23][24][25]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Topor_singlelayer.png/180px-Topor_singlelayer.png)
A special algorithm is used for routing single-layer boards minimizing the number of interlayer junctions or to find a single-layer routing.[26]
Similar solutions
[edit]The layout programPCBof thegEDA suiteincludes a similar topological autorouter namedToporouter,which was written by Anthony Blake in aGoogle-fundedopen sourceproject mentored byDJ Deloriein 2008.[27]It is mostly based on an implementation of the algorithms described in Tal Dayan's 1997 PhD thesis, "Rubberband based topological router".[27][28]This router has meanwhile been adapted for use with the open-sourceKiCadproject as well.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^In Russian (the mother language of the developers),topormeans "axe".
References
[edit]- ^Обновление версии TopoR 6.3.17875(in Russian).Eremex.2017-09-20.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-24.Retrieved2017-09-24.
- ^Базилевич, Р. П. (1981).Декомпозиционные и топологические методы автоматизированного метода конструирования электронных устройств[Decomposition and topological methods of the automated method of designing electronic devices] (in Russian). Lviv (Львов): Вища школа. p. 168.
- ^Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (1997).Пакет гибкой трассировки "FreeStyle Route"[A package of flexible routing "FreeStyle Route"] (in Russian). Odessa: Мат-лы междунар. науч.-техн. конф. "Системы и средства передачи и обработки информации" [Mathematical scientific-technical conference "Systems and means of information transmission and processing" ]. p. 35.
- ^Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (1997).Трассировка печатных плат - Новые методы решения старых проблем[Routing of printed circuit boards - New methods for solving old problems].САПР и графика [CAD and graphics](in Russian) (11): 58–59.
- ^abcСухарев [Sukharev], А. В. [A. V.] (1999).FreeStyleRoute - Трассировка печатных плат[FreeStyleRoute - PCB routing] (in Russian). St. Petersburg, Russia.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-25.Retrieved2017-09-25.[1]
- ^Бесплатный трассировщик от "Диал".Computerworld Россия(in Russian).2002(8). 2002-03-05.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-25.Retrieved2017-09-25.
- ^abcRazevig [Разевиг], Vsevolod [Всеволод] (2002-03-26).Трассировщик FreeStyle Router доступен в Интернете[FreeStyle Router is available on the Internet].PC Week/RE/ IT week(in Russian).2002(11 #329).Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-25.Retrieved2017-09-25.
[…] The companyDial Engineeringfreely offers on the Internet (www.dial-eng.spb.ru) agridless PCB routerFreeStyle RouterforDOSand announced the continuation of the development of a FreeStyle CAD Suite forWindows(the commercial release is planned for 2002). If the DOS version only routes single- and double-layer printed circuit boards, the version for Windows is designed to route multi-layer boards. A distinctive feature of the FreeStyle Router products is a smaller number of vias on the PCB with a smaller total length of conductors; in addition, the optimization of the placement of components is performed during the routing process. The preliminary version of the PCB design can be prepared using CAD-CAD and transferred to FreeStyle Router viaPDIF format.The purchase of FreeStyle Router for DOS (price $950) entitles to purchase FreeStyle Suite with 50% discount. […]
- ^Диал Инжиниринг (2002-02-20).Уникальный трассировщик размещен на сайте[A unique router is available on the site] (in Russian).Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-26.Retrieved2017-09-26.
- ^FreeStyle Router - топологический трассировщик(in Russian). 2003-09-30.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-26.Retrieved2017-09-26.[2]
- ^abc"News".ElekTrade. 2003-09-26. Archived fromthe originalon 2003-12-05.
[…] Today, the developers of the popular domestic autoroute programFreeStyleRouteannounced the termination of the further development of its DOS version. In its place will come 32-bit Windows version of the program, called TopoR (TOPOlogical Router). The following changes are made to the version of TopoR 1.03 compared to FSR 1.6 […]
- ^"Software Download".FreeStyleTeam.2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-13.
FreeStyleRoute V1.6 Topological PCB router for DOS. Freeware. 1.15 MB (1210820 bytes) 1.6 01.11.2003
[3] - ^"FreeStyleRoute V1.6 Topological PCB router - Installation Guide".FreeStyleTeam.2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-16.
The FreeStyleRoute (FSR) program consists of a high-efficiency gridless two-layer PCB routerSpeedWayand theFreeStyleeditor. The editor can also be applied independently for routed boards corrections. It reaches the quality of routing and placement density, comparable or surpassing high-quality of manual routing. As a result, we have smooth wires, without breaks. The algorithms used in the design, allow to place any number of conductors between components pins. Compatible withP-CAD,byPDF-files. Version forDOS.Freeware. Now the program is not supported.
- ^Система топологической трассировки печатных плат TopoR ver 1.0 - Руководство пользователя[TopoR 1.0 Topological routing system - User manual](PDF)(in Russian). St. Petersburg, Russia. 2003. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2005-01-16.
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:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ab"Contacts".FreeStyleTeam.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-13.
- ^"About group".FreeStyleTeam.2007. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-13.
- ^ЭлекТрейд (2006-01-17).Готовится к выходу новая версия трассировщика TopoR 3.0[Preparing for release a new version of the router TopoR 3.0] (in Russian).Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-26.Retrieved2017-09-26.
- ^"EDA Expert"(PDF).Chip-News (RU)(in Russian).106(3): 65–66. 2006.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2017-09-26.Retrieved2017-09-26.
- ^"Version History".Eremex, Ltd.2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-03-06.
- ^Латышев, П. Н. (2011),Каталог САПР 2011—2012 Программы и производители[CAD Catalog 2011-2012 Programs and manufacturers] (in Russian), Moscow: Солон-Пресс, p. 600
- ^"TopoR Version History - What's New in TopoR version 6.2".Eremex.2017-09-24.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-24.Retrieved2017-09-24.(NB. Includes a list of new features since TopoR 3.0. TopoR 5.4.14203 (2012-12-21) introduced support forEAGLE:"The Eagle BRD plain-text format is now supported. This format is used by files created in the Eagle 6.0 system.". Improved in TopoR 5.4.14362 (2013-07-02): "During import of Eagle BRD-files: in some cases the angle of rotation of pads was disregarded, in some cases the vias' pad size was assigned incorrectly, sometimes the wires on the inner layers were disappearing." )
- ^Uvarov [Уваров], A. S. [А. С.] (2006).Проектирование печатных плат: 8 лучших программ[PCB design: The 8 best programs] (in Russian). ДМК Пресс [DMK Press].ISBN5-94074-089-8.
- ^Карабран, В. М.; Зырин, И. Д. (2013).Методы снижения паразитной связи между проводниками[Methods for reducing the parasitic connection between conductors] (in Russian) (3). ТЭМС (TEMS): 68–77.
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(help) - ^Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Петросян [Petrosyan], Геворг Самвелович [Gevorg S.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (2008).Проблемы трассировки печатных плат с BGA-компонентами[Problems of routing PCBs with BGA components](PDF).Chip-News(in Russian).2008(5).
- ^Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Петросян [Petrosyan], Геворг Самвелович [Gevorg S.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (February 2009)."Probleme beim Routing von Leiterplatten mit BGA-Komponenten".Produktion von Leiterplatten und Systemen(in German).2009(2). Leuze-Verlag: 263–270.
- ^Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Петросян [Petrosyan], Геворг Самвелович [Gevorg S.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (November 2009)."Problems In Routing of PCB with BGA Components".OnBoard Technology.2009(11): 12–15. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-04-26.
- ^Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (2001) [2000-10-19]."Глобальная минимизация количества межслой-ных переходов"[Global minimization of the number of interlayer junctions].Технология и конструирование в электронной аппаратуре (TKEA)(in Russian).2001(2). НИИ "Звезда", St. Petersburg, Russia. УДК 681.14.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-24.Retrieved2017-09-24.[4]
- ^abBlake, Anthony (2009-07-07) [2008]."Topological Autorouter - Introduction".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-02-27.
- ^Dayan, Tal (June 1997).Rubberband based topological router(PDF)(PhD thesis).University of California Santa Cruz.S2CID107646249.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-07-18.Retrieved2017-09-25– via Semantic Scholar.
Further reading
[edit]- English
- Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (May 2011)."Routing Concepts of a Topological Router CAD System".OnBoard Technology.2011(5): 11–15. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-01-21.
- Lysenko [Лысенко], Andrew A. [Андрей Александрович]; Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (September 2011)."Synchronizing Delays in Signal Transmission Lines".OnBoard Technology.2011(9): 14–17. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-11-07.
- Popov, Sergei; Popov, Iurii (2013-12-05)."Speed and improve PCB routing".EDN Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-09-24.Retrieved2017-09-24.
- Russian
- Chip News:
- Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (May 2002).Топологическая трассировка: реальность или миф?[Topological route: Reality or myth?](PDF).Chip News / EDA Expert(in Russian).68(5): 42–46.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2017-10-03.Retrieved2017-10-03.[5]
- "Тоnор для радиоинженера"(PDF).Chip News / EDA Expert(in Russian).77(4): 73. April 2003.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2004-02-25.Retrieved2017-10-03.
- #10, 2003
- Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (March 2006)."... TopoR"(PDF).Chip News / EDA Expert(in Russian).106(3): 74–76.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2017-09-27.Retrieved2017-10-03.
- Electronics, #5, 2005
- Electronic components:
- Modern electronics journal:
- Потапов [Potapov], Юрий [Yuri] (2002).ПОГОВОРИМ О ТРАССИРОВЩИКАХ[Talk about routers](PDF)(3). ЭлекТрейд (ElekTrade): 1–3.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-04-22.
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(help)[6](3 pages)
- German
- Лузин [Luzin], Юрьевич Сергей [Sergey J.]; Полубасов [Polubasov], Олег Борисович [Oleg B.] (September 2008)."Optimierung von Layouts mit TopoR".Produktion von Leiterplatten und Systemen(in German).2008(9). Leuze-Verlag: 1852–1856.
External links
[edit]- "Диал Инжиниринг"[Dial Engineering] (in Russian). 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 2002-05-23.(Former website of Dial Engineering, developers of the FreeStyle Router up to 2002.)
- "FreeStyleTeam"(in Russian and English). 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-02-03.(Former website of theFreeStyleTeam,developers of FreeStyleRouter and TopoR up to 2009.)
- "Toporouter.com".2013. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-11-26.(Former 2009-2014 website for the TopoR router, as represented byNovarm, Ltd.andEremex, Ltd.- unrelated to Anthony Blake's Toporouter.)
- "Eremex TopoR official site".(since 2008)
- "Eremex TopoR official site"(in Russian).(since 2008)
- "Eremex TopoR user forum".2015-02-04.