WILSONVILLE, OR — Mentor Graphics today called for entries of its 22nd annual Technology Leadership Awards competition, continuing its tradition of recognizing excellence in printed circuit board design.

Since 1988, the program has recognized engineers and computer-aided design designers who use Mentor software for PCB systems design. Winners will be named in each of six categories as well as for Best Overall Design. Entries will be accepted July 15 - Sept. 24. Entrants can apply online at mentor.com/go/tla. This web page also has a video from the judges with helpful hints on how to win.

The contest is open to any designs created with Mentor’s PCB solutions, including the Board Station, Expedition Enterprise and PADS design flows. Judging will be based on overcoming complexity challenges, such as small form factor, high-speed content, design team collaboration, advanced PCB fabrication technologies, and design-cycle time reduction.

Winners will be announced Nov. 9 on a web broadcast.

Prominent industry experts will judge the contest, including Happy Holden, vice president and chief technical officer, Foxconn Advanced Technology Group; Gary Ferrari, technical support director, FTG Circuits; Pete Waddell, president of UP Media, publisher of PCD&F and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY; Andy Kowalewski, senior interconnect designer, AdvantagePCB; and Rick Hartley, senior principal engineer, L-3 Communications.

This year, entrants will be able to submit their design accomplishments in any of six categories representing a wide variety of industries:

• Consumer electronics and handheld.

• Industrial control, instrumentation, security and medical.

• Military and aerospace.

• Computers, blade and servers, memory systems.

• Telecom, network controllers, line cards.

• Transportation and automotive.

“Mentor Graphics' PCB Technology Leadership Awards contest provides the opportunity to showcase the most innovative and talented designers worldwide,” said Dan Boncella, director of marketing, Systems Design Division, Mentor. “The program continues to attract the most skilled users of our PCB systems design tools and Mentor expects this year’s competition to be bigger than ever, with entries from virtually all the major electronics countries in the world.”