Hardware/software combo can create professional schematics from undocumented PCBs Fairport, NY. The Rev Eng. System is a remarkable reverse-engineering hardware tool for creating professional quality circuit schematic diagrams from a sample PCB that lacks documentation.
The Rev Eng. System consists of a PC-controlled continuity-detecting hardware system, Rev Win control software, and Ed Win, a fully featured CAD package. Rev Eng. learns the connectivity of the sample circuit, producing a net list of the components and connections for importing into Ed Win software, resulting in professional quality circuit diagrams. Rev Engʼs learning process is achieved through clips, connectors, and probes that are attached to clusters of components. Rev Win guides the operator to place and walk the clips around the device under test. Rev Win generates the most efficient sequence of clip combinations and movements to learn all possible connections, but the operator can override the automatic placement of the clips if necessary.
To minimize operator errors, the system applies an orientation check and pin check to confirm clip contact and position. Rev Eng. learns without the need for applying power to the board and limits the applied voltage and current so that semiconductor gates are not affected, which also makes it safe to use on low power technologies.
The Ed Win professional drawing capability includes features such as: importing net list place components, auto routing signals, multi-page schematics, bus structure support, an extensive library of over 12,000 devices, rubber band and rats nest functions, block move and rotate, etc.
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