Mentor Releases PADS2007
Published: 06 March 2007
WILSONVILLE, OR – Mentor Graphics Corp. has announced the availability of PADS2007. The release is said to offer layout designers and engineers the ability to implement RF and microwave circuitry using highly automated functionality, perform design for fabrication (DFF) checking early in the design process and optimize performance with advanced high-speed analysis/verification functionality, thus significantly improving their productivity and design quality.
Reported PADS2007 enhancements include:
- High-speed routing improvements – Controls for matched length nets and differential routing improvements.
- Square and chamfered corners, DXF-in import and via matrixing enhancements for RF design.
- Blind/buried via drill table improvements – Designs with partial vias (blind or buried) are automatically updated with the layer pairs and drill count of the partial vias in the design.
- Alphanumeric pin improvements – Simplifies creation of large BGA-based parts.
- ECO enhancements – Includes comparison of design rules between the schematic and layout databases.
- Design for fabrication (DFF) analysis – Powerful fabrication checks, such as acid trap, starved thermals, solder mask slivers are checked in the CAD environment and database, allowing the designer to identify and correct manufacturing problems in PADS Layout, before Gerber generation.
- Pin number visibility – The user has the ability to turn on/off the visibility of the component pin numbers, either numeric or alphanumeric, improving designer productivity during routing.
- SI analysis – Integration of DxDesigner and the HyperLynx LineSim tool through a new interface allows fast transfer of a circuit for analysis and back annotation of termination resistor values.
- Analog simulation - Provides a board level simulation analysis and verification through a common schematic editor for both simulation and PCB design entry.
