A system design is captured, utilized, and archived through a hierarchical design process that encapsulates the design components for reuse. Design reuse is available at various levels of the hierarchical design and may occur within the same design or on future designs. The design engineer only need maintain a single instance of a functional block which may be used across several boards or independent designs. Design methodology conventions have been employed to appropriately capture a design in a hierarchical environment while supporting efficient reuse. This paper explores conventions including: system design, functional blocks, design partitioning, reuse methodology, schematic conventions, dynamic annotations, design documentation release, archival, and maintenance. Through application of hierarchical system design techniques that encapsulate detailed design comp onents at various levels, effective functional design reuse is realized.

Bio:
Pete Klein is a project engineer at Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley located in Milwaukee, WI. He performs project leadership, system-level design and detailed electronic design of industrial operator interface display products. Pete has pioneered efforts to incorporate both hierarchical design techniques and efficient reuse of functional blocks within the Allen-Bradley Mentor Graphics design environment. Pete has obtained degrees in Electronic Technology, Computer Technology, and Computer Engineering.