Whatever PCB layout software you use, there comes a time when you may have to create your own schematic symbol and PCB footprint. Even with with symbols & footprints provided by distributors like Digikey and Mouser, less-common parts may require you build your own.
SnapEDA provides symbols and footprints for many components, but I recently learned they have a tool to help you build a schematic symbol from the data sheet. You upload the datasheet and highlight the pin table, and their software uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to identify the pinout.
You need to scan the list to verify everything imported correctly (in the sample I tried, 'Input2' was misidentified as 'InputZ', so minor editing may be needed). The software attempts to determine if each pin is an input, output, power, gnd, etc. from the name of the pin, so you may need to help it a bit there too.
When the table is correct, click the button and you are quickly rewarded with the schematic symbol and standard PCB footprint as identified from the data sheet. If the footprint is non-standard (i.e., not a standard IC footprint), you'll still have to do that yourself (but I'll bet they are working on that too!).
Download the newly created library package in most layout package formats, and you're good to go. EasyEDA users are reminded that EasyEDA imports libraries in several formats, including Eagle.
This package presents the symbol in a functional arrangement rather than a physical one – inputs on the left side of the chip, outputs to the right, power at the top, ground at the bottom. I don't know if there's an option to select the type of layout. Interestingly, they say from their results that users are just about split down the middle in their preferences for the arrangement.
As a note: SnapEDA will make custom symbols and footprints for you for around $30 – if you are designing circuit boards for a living, this may be a worthwhile investment. Your time may be better spent elsewhere, and you get a verified symbol and footprint designed by a professional.
SnapEDA provides symbols and footprints for many components, but I recently learned they have a tool to help you build a schematic symbol from the data sheet. You upload the datasheet and highlight the pin table, and their software uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to identify the pinout.
You need to scan the list to verify everything imported correctly (in the sample I tried, 'Input2' was misidentified as 'InputZ', so minor editing may be needed). The software attempts to determine if each pin is an input, output, power, gnd, etc. from the name of the pin, so you may need to help it a bit there too.
When the table is correct, click the button and you are quickly rewarded with the schematic symbol and standard PCB footprint as identified from the data sheet. If the footprint is non-standard (i.e., not a standard IC footprint), you'll still have to do that yourself (but I'll bet they are working on that too!).
Download the newly created library package in most layout package formats, and you're good to go. EasyEDA users are reminded that EasyEDA imports libraries in several formats, including Eagle.
This package presents the symbol in a functional arrangement rather than a physical one – inputs on the left side of the chip, outputs to the right, power at the top, ground at the bottom. I don't know if there's an option to select the type of layout. Interestingly, they say from their results that users are just about split down the middle in their preferences for the arrangement.
As a note: SnapEDA will make custom symbols and footprints for you for around $30 – if you are designing circuit boards for a living, this may be a worthwhile investment. Your time may be better spent elsewhere, and you get a verified symbol and footprint designed by a professional.
