Neurocad’s autorouter had an embedded neural-net algorithm that helped it determine the best routing. The Windows-based NeuroRoute shape-based autorouter viewed the board as geometric shapes rather than as grid patterns.
In 1996, Orcad acquired source-code rights to Neurocad’s NeuroRoute 200 software for pc-board autorouting, but rival Protel Technology went a step further, acquiring the whole company.
