Traceformer: AI‑Powered Schematic Review Elevates Design Accuracy

Traceformer introduces a new paradigm for electrical design verification by leveraging large‑language‑model agents to perform comprehensive schematic checks. Rather than merely detecting rule violations, the system dives deep into component specifications, application notes, and functional nuances that conventional Electrical Rule Checkers (ERC) and Design Rule Checkers (DRC) routinely miss. **Why Traceformer?** - **Early Error Detection**: Flags simple mistakes such as unintentional respins that typically lead to rework. - **Complex Issue Surface**: Identifies higher‑level design concerns—e.g., power‑domain integrity, signal‑swing violations, or un‑satisfied thermal criteria—that ERC cannot surface. - **Transparent Pricing**: Pay solely for the API calls used by the AI; no hidden costs. **How It Works** Traceformer’s architecture is built around a three‑phase orchestrator pipeline: 1. **Planning** – The orchestrator parses a KiCad or Altium netlist and segments the design into logical subsystems such as power, communication, and sensors. 2. **Parallel Evidence Retrieval** – Dedicated agents run concurrently (up to ten at once) to collect relevant datasheets and application documents. Each agent uses lightweight models to keep token usage in check. 3. **Synthesis** – All collected evidence is aggregated, and a higher‑level model synthesizes a structured report, complete with actionable recommendations and citations to specific datasheet pages. This workflow maximises review depth while mitigating cost, as token consumption is spread across specialised agents and the synthesis phase is deliberately efficient. **Features** - **Configurable Parameters**: Set token limits, design‑rule thresholds, and custom review guidelines. - **Multi‑Provider Support**: Choose between OpenAI, Anthropic, or other models, with the system automatically switching to the most appropriate one based on workload. - **Automatic Datasheet Retrieval**: Links from the netlist or curated search queries fetch the latest datasheets from trusted vendors. **Pricing and Plans** Plans are engineered to match project complexity and scale: - **Free Tier**: $0/month, one review per month, up to 10 datasheets, designed for hobbyists or early‑stage validation. - **Hobby Tier**: $10/month (includes $7.50 API credit and $2.50 platform fee), up to 20 datasheets. - **Subscribe Pro Tier**: $20/month (includes $17.50 API credit and $2.50 platform fee), up to 40 datasheets. All plans support the latest GPT‑5.2, Opus 4.5, and Sonnet 4.5 models, with the system auto‑updating to newer iterations as they become available. Token usage and estimated cost are displayed in real‑time, ensuring predictability. **Ensuring Trust and Integrity** - **IP Protection**: Designs are used only for on‑demand analysis and diagnostics; they are never fed back into the training data of the models. All intellectual property remains the customer’s. - **Hallucination Mitigation**: Every claim is backed by a specific datasheet reference. If evidence cannot be found, the agent flags the item as *Missing Info* instead of reporting a false positive. **Complementary to Existing Tools** Traceformer is not intended to replace ERC/DRC or simulation; instead, it augments them by catching application‑level misconfigurations and datasheet mismatches that those tools overlook. **Get Started** Engineers can sign up for a free trial to evaluate their own designs. A single review per month allows validation of known issues, while the paid tiers unlock higher volume and advanced model options. --- *Experience the next step in schematic review—AI‑driven, datasheet‑powered, and perfectly transparent.*