Automated Copper Layer Design and Optimization Tool based on Progressive Point Expansion Algorithm for Switch Mode Power Supplies

Switch mode power supply (SMPS) layout design requires a more refined iterative design and testing process due to its stricter performance considerations at present. Design automation (DA) has become an emerging area to solve this. Automated component placement and routing algorithms have been widely studied. However, automatically generating the copper tracks meeting the high frequency, high efficiency, low EMI and high power density requirements for SMPS remains an unsolved problem. A novel automated copper layer design and optimization tool is developed in this paper to promote the realization of DA for SMPS. The technical details and examples are elaborated in detail. Based on the progressive point expansion algorithm, copper layer designs described by polygons are generated from any given PCB design with placed components.