LG AI Research 510

PCB (Printed Circuit Board), the core module of every electronic device, performs its function by connecting various components such as processors, resistors, and capacitors with copper wiring. Modern mass production systems would be impossible without sophisticated PCB technology.

PCB design goes through the stages of creating a schematic based on purpose, Component Placement, and Circuit Wiring, which connects components with actual copper wires. LG affiliates carry out thousands of PCB design tasks every year, with each task taking anywhere from several hours to several days.

PCB Auto-routing aims to use AI to shorten the complex wiring work performed by experts. Unlike typical pathfinding problems, PCB wiring has the following unique characteristics.

• Constraints: maintaining distance between signal lines to prevent short circuits, differences in line thickness depending on current amount, and the existence of no-routing zones
• Inefficient paths: intentional detour paths, rather than the shortest path, may be required to make connections within limited space
• Multilayer structure: 8 to 12 or more layers are used to secure space, and using VIA for inter-layer connections creates space constraints

To solve this problem, LG AI Research is taking a dual approach: a Grid-based method (converting it into the Steiner Tree Packing Problem from the combinatorial optimization field) and a Continuous space-based method (using the board as-is without conversion).