Unified System for PCB Design Documentation in PCB Workflows | Cadence

Key Takeaways

• Unified documentation systems ensure real-time updates across mechanical drawings, PCB designs, and software for consistency.

• Integration of software and hardware documentation improves testing and continuous integration processes.

• Platforms like Allegro X enable centralized design management and real-time feedback, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
  

In the PCB and device design, having a unified system for design documentation does wonders to streamline workflows, ensure accuracy, and improve collaboration across engineering disciplines. Read on as we discuss the impact of such a system, particularly focusing on mechanical drawings, specifications, and manuals, as well as software, source code, object codes, and ROM images.

Key Aspects of A Unified System For Design Documentation

Mechanical Drawings, Specifications, and Manuals

Mechanical drawings, specifications, and manuals provide detailed instructions and guidelines for the design and assembly of hardware components. Specifically, they ensure that the following physical aspects of the device are consistent for manufacturing:

• Dimensions,

• tolerances, 

• materials, 

• and assembly instructions

In a unified documentation system, these mechanical documents should not be created standalone but should be generated and integrated with the broader design documentation ecosystem —from the PCB to the enclosure, to any connectors, and other components of the device.

For instance, engineers often use CAD software to create mechanical drawings that must be easily shared and incorporated into the unified system to test MCAD ECAD compliance. Integrating these CAD files into a unified documentation management system ensures that any updates or changes to the design are automatically reflected across all related documents, reducing the risk of error.

Real-Time Updates

Moreover, a unified system enables the linking of specifications and manuals with their corresponding drawings, both mechanical and electrical. For example, when a specification PCB stackup or MCAD file is updated to reflect a change in material thickness, the associated drawing and documentation should be automatically updated to ensure consistency.

Version Control

Another technical advantage of using a unified system is the ability to incorporate version control, allowing engineers to track changes across all documents with rollback ability.

Software, Source Code, Object Codes, and ROM Images

In addition to hardware documentation, software documentation—including source code, object codes, and ROM images—is important for device functionality, especially embedded systems.  A unified documentation system ensures alignment with the hardware design and facilitates smoother integration and testing processes.

One of the key technical components of software documentation is the Technical Design Document (TDD) which includes detailed descriptions of the software architecture, functional and non-functional requirements, data models, and algorithms. By integrating the TDD within a unified system, engineers can maintain a close connection between the software and hardware documentation, ensuring that both evolve in tandem.

Unified System for Design Documentation Enables Better Testing

Unified documentation systems often include features that aid in testing and continuous integration (CI) workflows, which are essential for managing source code and object codes. These systems can automatically trigger tests when changes are made to the codebase, providing immediate feedback to engineers and reducing the time required for manual testing. Additionally, by linking these tests to specific hardware configurations documented in the system, engineers can ensure that software is tested under conditions that closely resemble the final product environment​.

For ROM images and other firmware components, a unified documentation system also can provide tools for version control and traceability –important for software as much as hardware. This is particularly important in environments where multiple firmware versions must be maintained and supported simultaneously.

How Allegro X Provides a Unified System for Design Documentation

The Allegro X Design Platform enables a unified system for design documentation through various features that streamline the integration of various design elements into a single platform.

A unified system for design documentation is important to streamline workflows, improving collaboration, and ensuring accuracy. Designers can leverage the Allegro X Design Platform, to centralize design management, integrate ECAD-MCAD co-design, and maintain version control across all documents. Explore how Cadence's PCB Design and Analysis Software and Allegro X can enhance your documentation processes today.