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Design News

SANTA CLARA, CA – Agilent Technologies Inc. and ASTER Technologies have partnered, allowing the integration of ASTER’s TestWay Coverage Analyst (TCA) across Agilent’s PCB assembly test platforms.

Read more: Agilent and ASTER Partner for Seamless Test Coverage

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Soon, students at the Centro UniversitÃ¡rio Salesiano (UNISAL) will have access to Altium’s NanoBoard and Altium Designer.

Read more: Altium Design Solutions Encourage Students in Brazil

MULINO, OR -- Sunstone Circuits is collaborating with NXP Semiconductors to build and certify the complete NXP parts catalog within Sunstone’s PCB123 V3.2 design software.

Design engineers can search the manufacturer’s parts library, including certified footprints and schematic symbols, and then order parts in real time directly from Digi-Key’s online database via PCB123’s LiveBOM functionality.

“By eliminating the need for designers to build out their own parts libraries, we are saving designers a tremendous amount of time and energy, which translates into greater productivity and reduced costs throughout the entire design flow,” said president and CEO of Sunstone Circuits, Terry Heilman.

Mark Larson, Digi-Key president and COO said, “We know our colleagues at NXP share our view that providing reliable information and getting components in front of engineers at the point of part selection through the integration of our information databases into design software such as the PCB123, is another way of providing our mutual customers within the engineering design community with superior service.”

“NXP continually looks for industry innovators to collaborate with to best serve our customer base,” said John Tuley, senior director, distribution Americas of NXP Semiconductors. “Sunstone Circuits and its world-class PCB123 software, combined with Digi-Key’s electronics parts database, present design engineers with the perfect solution to quickly and easily design and build prototype PCBs – creating unique opportunities for NXP and our customers.”

CHELMSFORD, MA – There’s a new kid on the block. A group of PCB, EE and EDA veterans has created TechBridge Solutions, offering low-cost electrical engineering support and layout services.

Founded by Dave Castine, who has been in the PCB design and EDA software industry for over two decades, the company’s staff is comprised of Allegro/Expedition/PADS experts. Capabilities include: analog and mixed-signal; HDI and high-speed design (>10 GHz); and telecommunications and networking.

“Our early-stage customers will be given special rates, and these rates will be locked. We want to mitigate their risk and thank them for their business at this critical stage of our business,” said Castine.

AUSTIN, TX – National Instruments (NI) introduces Multisim and Ultiboard 10.1.1 software packages. The latest software enhances user interface functionality, including improved database synchronization, added temperature simulation parameter support and over 300 new components from third-party manufacturers.

The software allows simulation of popular device designs by including SPICE models. Features include a community element, providing an online forum for Multisim users to discuss and collaborate on designs. Designers of all ability levels will be able to access and share information.

FREMONT, CA – SchmartBoard has signed an agreement with MicroControllerShop.com to distribute the SchmartBoard prototyping products line. MicroControllerShop.com is a shopping Web site carrying a large selection of embedded development tools and boards.

“MicroControllerShop.com is a perfect partner for our embedded market goals,” said Neal Greenberg, VP of marketing for SchmartBoard. “We have been watching forums for users of PIC, ARM, AVR, Parallax, and others and have observed that SchmartBoard is already a valuable tool to these embedded microprocessor users.”