PADS is a printed circuit board design software, which Mentor Graphics have developed. The software is available in three different versions: the Standard Version, the Standard Plus Version, and the Professional Version.
Key Features of PADS PCB
Super schematic and layout tools:
PADS PCB provides graded schematic capture with advanced component selection and authentication.
Scalability:
As technological specifications and layout complexities continue to grow, you can incorporate extra tasks to the application to ensure it synchronizes with your layout requirements.
Component data organization:
PADS PCB enables users to monitor component numbers, values, and others easily. The PADS starter library comes with over 11,000 components and numerous devices.
Variant reprocesses and management:
This feature will enable you to use one schematic for numerous design rehearsals and layouts.
A programmed FPGA optimization feature creation process:
This feature will save you as much time as 30X than standard methods. This will minimize time-to-market and production costs.
Broad electrical rule check:
PADS PCB has a useful and accurate design rule screening feature. The feature checks and confirms complicated design rules, like Electromagnetic rules.
Analog simulation:
PADS PCB comprises an advanced circuit model with detailed scrutiny. This will help you to simulate equivalent, mixed-signal, and technology circuits.
PADS PCB Versions
As mentioned earlier, the PADS PCB software is available in three versions. These versions have, unlike capacities. The Mentor Graphics developers have designed them for diverse target end-users. We will compare their capacities in a table format. Also, remember that for this tutorial, we will use the PADS Standard as an illustration.
Using the PADS PCB Design Software
Visit the PADS PCB website to download the latest version freely.
To guarantee that no physical damages occur when you place the board in an enclosure, your electrical and mechanical layout should consider the component permissions. Besides, you should take into account the mechanical aspects during design. Also, ensure proper communication between your electrical and mechanical movements to align your design appropriately for manufacturing. Consequently, you will prevent last-minute modifications, which consume more resources and time.
Acknowledging that your PADS application can produce and handle all the content requires lay a firm foundation for building your design. PADS PCB presents a complete packaged front-to-back design flow. This enables you to balance rules and constraints in the right way, creating high-end systems that are profitable.
Capturing Schematics
The schematic is basically a graphical illustration of your design. It bears the connectivity, component characteristic data, and design rules. The schematic helps you extract information in numerous formats, like a connectivity netlist and BoM. It will also enable you to get the information you will feed into the simulators and design plots. Since it is a progressive design database, it carries the real component interconnection, component characteristics, values, and tolerances.
First, go to your PADS’ start page, and press the Create tab to capture a schematic. After that, set the features of all the components you select. The software provides a sample on the right-hand side. It is also important to realize that the toolbar on the upper part of the application has various features and displays. You can make good use of them to create customized designs.
After you have finished capturing your schematic, you can confirm if your circuit design functions accordingly. Navigate to the Libraries section, press Common and then select the Central Library Synchronization feature to view circuit parts with issues. Parts with issues always show yellow warnings.
The Management of Components
With PADS PCB Design component handling, you can access any component information from just one spreadsheet. You do not have to worry about data redundancy, numerous libraries, or time-consuming features overhead. Remember also that PADS PCB Design easily incorporates with other commercial parts and MRP databanks via industry-based ODBC. This allows physically distributed designers to access critical component data quickly. The software also synchronizes and updates the databases. This prevents expensive redesigns and other issues that may go unnoticed.
Remember, you can use the PADS PCB Design component manager in various ways. If you want to find a unique component, you basically enter a search criterion, and the application will show all the available components. Still, you can narrow your search by keying additional information, like the tristate output. The software also shows the number of participants that accomplished the itemized criteria after every search.
If you want to review and choose a component, you check all participant components and their corresponding parameters in the parts administration spreadsheet. It is important to note that you can use direct spreadsheet links to access all component datasheets. This gives you comprehensive component information. Once you have chosen them, you will find it easy to instantiate your preferred parts directly into your schematic.
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