MENTOR Graphics, represented in Australia by In-Circuit Design , has released PADS Suites with a complete front-to-back PCB design flow.
Options include component information management, variant management, co-simulation, topology planning and analysis, mixed-language simulation, enterprise integration, chip-on-board design, physical design reuse, and post-route verification.
Protel, Orcad, and Expedition translators are included in the PADS 2004 package to ease migration of legacy databases to the PADS environment. An improved component library eliminates the need for time consuming library creation and on-line training.
The PADS suites are available in PADS PE, XE, and SE configurations to support a variety of design needs from individuals to small teams. The PADS PE suite includes design definition, layout, and autorouting capabilities. The PADS XE suite adds analogue simulation and signal integrity (SI) analysis. The PADS SE allows the entry of advanced constraints and interactive routing of high speed signals.
The PADS suites provide tight integration of PADS Designer and PADS PowerPCB, allowing cross-probing between schematic and layout to aid critical placement and routing. A library of symbols, footprints, and parametric data is also provided with each PADS suite to allow customers to install the software and immediately start designing. A user can also save reusable modules and incorporate them into the design library for later reuse.
PADS Designer provides the ability to plan and manage signal integrity and manufacturing constraints at the schematic level, reducing time-consuming debug cycles and board iterations. All design data can be viewed and rapidly updated in spreadsheets. A user can ensure that component selections don't negatively impact on bills of materials or delay manufacturing. Designer works with corporate parts databases without leaving the design environment and can synchronise a schematic with a parts database rapidly finding missing or incorrect information. This eases the production of design audits to meet cost and part availability requirements. The implementation of design variants can automatically generate the associated paperwork, eliminating tedious work and ensuring quality documentation and updates.