For better communication with your customer, you can consider visualizing your design data in 3D.

  To do that, it is not necessary to invest on expensive systems. Instead, you can just use Google Earth or Google SketchUp, both provided by Google on the net.

  The Google Earth is well known software for virtually travelling around the planet. If you zoom in into a big city, you may see buildings appearing as 3D models. Then it is possible to view the semiconductor products also in 3D, if you represent the chip design as a building data. Google Earth runs fast, and very easy to use, so it suites well as a presentation tool in design review meetings. Google SketchUp is another easy-to-use tool where you can create 3D models for Google Earth. Although SketchUp is somewhat heavier than Google Earth, it suites in technically deeper meetings since detailed parts can be examined more precisely, distance can be measured in arbitrary points, objects can be moved, rotated, altered, even created manually as you like.

  Importing the design data into the Google software is possible in several ways. First, Google SketchUp supports DXF import. When read, the data is shown as flat object lying on the X-Y plane, then you can 'pull-up' the geometries, one by one, to Z-direction. Google SketchUp supports exporting the data to Google Earth. Second, you may prefer entering 3D models by mouse and keyboard on SketchUp, if the object is simple enough. Third, you can write your code to generate 3D models using the API information provided on the net by Google. Finally, we offer a tool by which you can convert DXF to Google Earth, as well as to Google SketchUp. See 'Our Product' page for more information.