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PCB Designbi_tool~10 mins

Electrical Rules Check (ERC) in PCB Design - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

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Sample Data

This data represents a simplified Electrical Rules Check (ERC) table for a PCB design. Each row shows a net with two pins, their types, connection status, and the ERC result indicating if the connection passes or fails electrical rules.

CellValue
A1Net Name
B1Pin 1 Type
C1Pin 2 Type
D1Connection Status
E1ERC Result
A2VCC
B2Output
C2Input
D2Connected
E2Pass
A3GND
B3Output
C3Output
D3Connected
E3Fail
A4SIGNAL1
B4Input
C4Input
D4Connected
E4Fail
A5SIGNAL2
B5Output
C5Input
D5Not Connected
E5Fail
Formula Trace
IF(AND(D2="Connected", OR(AND(B2="Output", C2="Input"), AND(B2="Input", C2="Output"))), "Pass", "Fail")
Step 1: D2="Connected"
Step 2: AND(B2="Output", C2="Input")
Step 3: AND(B2="Input", C2="Output")
Step 4: OR(TRUE, FALSE)
Step 5: AND(TRUE, TRUE)
Step 6: IF(TRUE, "Pass", "Fail")
Cell Reference Map
    A       B        C           D           E
1 | Net   | Pin 1  | Pin 2    | Connection | ERC
  | Name  | Type   | Type     | Status     | Result
--------------------------------------------------
2 | VCC   | Output | Input    | Connected  | Pass
3 | GND   | Output | Output   | Connected  | Fail
4 | SIGNAL1| Input  | Input    | Connected  | Fail
5 | SIGNAL2| Output | Input    | Not Connected | Fail
The formula references cells B2, C2, and D2 to check pin types and connection status for the net 'VCC'. These cells determine if the ERC result in E2 is 'Pass' or 'Fail'.
Result
    A       B        C           D           E
1 | Net   | Pin 1  | Pin 2    | Connection | ERC
  | Name  | Type   | Type     | Status     | Result
--------------------------------------------------
2 | VCC   | Output | Input    | Connected  | Pass
3 | GND   | Output | Output   | Connected  | Fail
4 | SIGNAL1| Input  | Input    | Connected  | Fail
5 | SIGNAL2| Output | Input    | Not Connected | Fail
The final ERC results show 'Pass' for the valid output-to-input connected net (VCC) and 'Fail' for nets with invalid pin type connections or not connected status.
Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions
Test your understanding
What does the formula check first in the ERC evaluation?
AIf the net name is 'VCC'
BIf both pins are 'Output'
CIf the connection status is 'Connected'
DIf the ERC result is 'Pass'
Key Result
IF connection is 'Connected' AND pin types are Output-Input or Input-Output THEN 'Pass' ELSE 'Fail'