pads es suite evaluation guide

PADS ES Suite Evaluation Guide

Included in this guide:

A complete guided tour of the entire PADS ES Suite including:

� Introduction to the PADS ES Suite � Design Capture with DxDesigner � DxDesigner LineSim Link � DxDesigner HyperLynx Analog � PC Board Placement and Routing

with PADS Layout � High Speed Routing and Autorouting

with PADS Router � Completing the Design � HyperLynx BoardSim � HyperLynx Thermal � DFM Analysis � Creating CAM Outputs � PADS 3D Viewer � PADS Layout PDF

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Introduction 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2 Design Process Overview .............................................................................................. 4 Flow Graphic ................................................................................................................. 5 ES Suite Highlights ........................................................................................................ 6

Design Capture with DxDesigner 9 About This Evaluation ................................................................................................. 10 Lesson 1: DxDesigner Workspace ............................................................................... 10 Lesson 2: Setting up a New Project ............................................................................ 21 Lesson 3: Creating a Symbol with the Symbol Editor ................................................. 29 Lesson 4: Selecting and Verifying Parts with DxDataBook .......................................... 39 Lesson 5: Creating a New Schematic/Placing Parts .................................................... 50 Lesson 6: Wiring the Schematic .................................................................................. 60 Lesson 7: Rules and Constraints ................................................................................. 72 Lesson 8: Variant Manager ......................................................................................... 80 Lesson 9: Generating the BOM (Bill of Material) ........................................................ 92 Lesson 10: DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim ...................................... 97 Lesson 11: DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog ..................................... 104 Lesson 12: DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration ............................................... 111

Contents

Contents i

PC Board Placement and Routing with PADS Layout .................................. 123 Lesson 13: PADS Layout Environment ...................................................................... 124 Lesson 14: Setting Up a New Design......................................................................... 131 Lesson 15: Creating Component Information ........................................................... 134 Lesson 16: Placement ............................................................................................... 139 Lesson 17: Rules and Constraints ............................................................................. 146 Lesson 18: Interactive Routing ................................................................................. 152 Lesson 19: Creating Plane Layers .............................................................................. 158 Lesson 20: RF Options .............................................................................................. 167 Lesson 21: Verification (in Layout) ............................................................................ 171

High Speed Routing and Autorouting with PADS Router 175 Lesson 22: PADS Router Environment ...................................................................... 176 Lesson 23: Component Placement ........................................................................... 194 Lesson 24: Rules and Constraints ............................................................................. 199 Lesson 25: Interactive Routing ................................................................................. 211 Lesson 26: High Speed Interactive Routing .............................................................. 217 Lesson 27: Setting up a Design for Autorouting ....................................................... 229 Lesson 28: Verification .............................................................................................. 232

Contentsii

Simulation with HyperLynx BoardSim & HyperLynx Thermal 239 Lesson 29: Simulation with HyperLynx BoardSim ..................................................... 240 Lesson 30: Thermal Analysis with HyperLynx Thermal ............................................. 247

Completing the Design 253 Lesson 31: DFM Analysis .......................................................................................... 254 Lesson 32: Generating Manufacturing Outputs (CAM) ............................................ 258 Lesson 33: 3D Layout View ....................................................................................... 266 Lesson 34: Creating PDFs .......................................................................................... 268 Lesson 35: Archive Navigator ................................................................................... 271

Conclusion 273

Contents iii

List of Figures Figure 1: Design Process Steps ..................................................................................... 4 Figure 2: PADS ES Suite Flow Diagram .......................................................................... 5 Figure 3: PADS Suites Configurations ............................................................................ 6 Figure 4: DxDesigner Main Window ........................................................................... 11 Figure 5: DxDesigner Toolbars ...............................................................................12-13 Figure 6: PADS Layout Main Window ....................................................................... 125 Figure 7: PADS Layout Toolbars .........................................................................126-127 Figure 8: PADS Router Main Window ....................................................................... 177 Figure 9: PADS Router Toolbars .........................................................................178-179 List of Reference Tables Table 1: PADS Router Table of Common Keyboard Commands ................................ 185

Contentsiv

Introduction to the PADS ES Suite

In this section:

� Introduction � Design Process Overview � The PADS Design Flow � ES Suite Feature Highlights

Welcome to the PADS ES Suite Evaluation Guide. Our goal is to introduce you to the broad spectrum of highly-inte-

grated PADS design tools and assist you in understanding how to apply them to your most complex design situations.The PADS ES Suite is specifically configured to address the mul-titude of design challenges faced by engineers trying to meet the ever-increasing demands of the rapidly-expanding global demand for electronic products. As component speeds increase and product designs continue to evolve into more complex and higher-density packages, the design tools used by these engineers must keep pace with these developments. The PADS ES Suite has been specifically matched to these demanding requirements and offers an outstanding breadth and depth of features to meet these design challenges.We invite you to use this guide to fully explore both the power and ease of use of the PADS ES Suite.

1

Introduction

Uncommon is the design project that requires you to work in only one application from start to finish. To get the job done in today’s market, design engineers move back and forth between numerous design, simulation and layout applications. Even the simplest design, which you might capture in DxDesigner, often includes library content accessed through DxDataBook, as well as simulations from HyperLynx Analog and HyperLynx LineSim. As the design develops, multiple versions of the design are often created for production, each of which can be tracked with Variant Manager. Then, the design needs to be reviewed, verified, and passed to PADS Layout for physical placement and routing. Using the interactive placement and routing tools in PADS Layout, the data develops into the physical representation of the design. Additional power and flexibility found in PADS Auto-router allows high-speed design rules and constraints to be enforced. Once critical signals have been routed, the power of PADS Autorouter can be used to quickly complete the routing tasks.

IntroductionSeamless integration between the applications allows the design to be returned to PADS Layout for verification checks and manufacturing output generation. Additional simulations can be performed in HyperLynx BoardSim and HyperLynx Thermal to verify proper signal integrity and thermal performance of the completed design. Lastly, intelligent PDF files can be generated and the design can also be passed to the PADS 3D Viewer for realistic visualization of the finished board.The PADS ES Suite fits perfectly into this world by providing a complete design solution from design concept through manu-facture and test. This Evaluation Guide shows you how the PADS ES Suite can be used effectively to accomplish the full spectrum of design tasks.

2


Introduction

A Complete SolutionThe PADS ES Suite is a complete design solution that lets today’s creative engineers design and produce quality board designs—faster, more easily, and more affordably than ever. The PADS ES Suite combines the full versions of DxDesigner, DxDataBook, Variant Manager, PADS Layout, PADS Router, HyperLynx Analog, HyperLynx LineSim and BoardSim, HyperLynx Thermal, PADS PDF and the PADS 3D Viewer to deliver a feature rich, truly integrated solution. In addition, the PADS ES Suite features a tightly-integrated workflow, world-class support, and a compre-hensive collection of training resources to help you work more efficiently. In short, the PADS ES Suite offers time-saving integra-tion, simplified workflows, and an unprecedented value.

Purpose of This GuideThis Evaluation Guide will introduce you to the major features and capabilities of the applications and help you to understand how they work together to unify and simplify your design process. We walk through the entire workflow from symbol creation to design capture, to layout, placement of components, routing, rules and constraints entry, interactive routing, auto-routing, design verification to final output. The focus through-out is on using the entire PADS ES Suite, with special attention paid not only to those areas where the applications function similarly, but also to the transition spots, providing tips on how to get the job done more efficiently.

Working TogetherThis attention to workflow means that we will also show you how to use the applications together with real-world design examples. Along the way, we also introduce you to many of the great new features in each application, highlighting some of the more interesting techniques with steps and lots of illustrations. To see which applications and features a section covers, scan the “In this section” list at the beginning of each section.

Further ExplorationFinally, remember that this document is an evaluation guide, not a comprehensive user guide. Your most complete source of detailed feature information is the Help in each application. In addition, take time to examine the resource information accessible through the InfoHub link within each application. There you’ll find information on a variety of PADS resources that will help you get started, get informed, and get inspired while using the PADS ES Suite.We hope this evaluation guide helps you see some of the exciting possibilities available to you with the PADS ES Suite. Enjoy!

3

Introduction

Design Process OverviewTaking a new design from concept to completion requires a designer to pay attention to many details. We all know that de-signing a printed circuit board is a continuous process of making design decisions and tradeoffs. Throughout the design process, you must weigh a number of conflicting factors and make calcu-lated design choices in order to obtain the best possible design outputs.Knowing that your design tools have the ability to provide and manage the required content gives you a strong foundation on which to build your design. The PADS ES Suite offers a fully featured front-to-back design flow that allows you to balance rules and constraints in an intelligent and predictable manner to create quality designs that can be easily produced.

Creating a Design Project

Performing Design Capture

Performing Layout Design

Creating Documentation and Manufacturing Outputs

Steps In the Design ProcessThough there are hundreds of operations you must perform to produce a final design, we can distill the process down to a few basic steps:1. Creating a Design Project2. Performing Design Capture

� Creating the Top Level Schematic � Adding Components to the Schematic � Connecting the Components � Verifying the Design � Defining Constraints � Performing Design Analysis (pre-layout) � Packaging and Forward Annotating the Logical Design for

Physical Design3. Performing Layout Design

� Importing Schematic Design Data to Layout � Configuring for Physical Design � Placing Parts � Adding Physical Constraints � Creating Fanouts � Routing Critical Nets � Auto Routing Nets � Generating Plane Structures � Checking Design Rules (DRC) � Post Layout Verification

4. Creating Documentation and Manufacturing Outputs � Creating Schematic Release Documentation � Creating Manufacturing Outputs � Performing Engineering Change Orders (ECO)

Partitioning your workflow to align with these steps will help you establish a structured approach to organizing your design tasks. It will also provide you with a number of checkpoints for reviewing your design data.

The Design Process

4


The PADS Design Flow

Introduction 5

SymbolEditor

DecalEditor

DxDataBook BOMBOM

BOMBOM

Variant Manager

PADSLayout

PADSRouter

DxDesigner Link

LineSimLink

DxDesigner

PADS ES Suite

Design Flow

PADS ES Suite

Design Flow

HyperLynxAnalog

HyperLynxLineSim BoardSim

SchematicSchematic

Schematic

HyperLynxThermal

3D Viewer

Layout PDF

Introduction

PADS ES Suite HighlightsMentor Graphics, the world’s number one provider of PCB design solutions, has combined the expansive capabilities of the PADS® product line into a series of affordable PADS Suites. These suites have just the right mix of technology necessary for complex PCB design, yet they can be supplemented with a variety of add-on capabilities should your needs change.PADS Suites are a complete family of integrated solutions that improve personal productivity and speed time to market. Avail-able in three configurations of increasing functionality, the PADS Suites provide low-risk entry points to the PADS flow.

A PADS Suite for EveryoneEach PADS suite is designed to meet the specialized needs and job requirements of individual engineers and PCB designers:

� PADS Design Station (the PADS DS Suite) is ideal for the Electrical Design Engineer looking for rapid product defini-tion.

� PADS Layout Station Suite (the PADS LS Suite) is designed for the Layout Designer who wants to quickly define and complete PCB designs.

� PADS Engineering Station (the PADS ES Suite) is created for Engineers who want complete product definition within a single solution and Layout Designers who need high-speed routing capabilities.

This PADS ES Suite Evaluation Guide will let you explore the en-tire depth and breadth of the PADS design flow and experience the incredible power and integration available to accelerate your product development cycle.

Design Without CompromiseWith PADS, your tools won’t limit your ability to design. Unlike other systems that advertise “price conscious” tools, the PADS flow is infused with vibrant, dynamic technology for a complete and comprehensive solution. Because PADS is based on industry standards such as Windows automation, Visual Basic scripting, and an ASCII database, you can work the way you want and customize the capabilities you need – such as creating special function keys or outputs formatted to your standards.

Design DefinitionThe PADS flow delivers the most robust system design capture and definition functionality available, including intuitive project and design navigation, unlimited hierarchical support, design reuse, advanced design attribute, property and rules manage-ment, full forward/back annotation including design rules, cross-probing with layout and routing, and a direct schematic-to-signal-integrity analysis link. Component management is also available.

6


Introduction

Analog AnalysisHyperLynx® Analog with EZwaveTM is a board-level simulation analysis and verification environment that is integrated into Mentor Graphics’ DxDesignerTM board design environment. Using a single schematic to drive both the simulation and PCB applications, it effectively eliminates costly and error-prone schematic re-entry, therefore significantly shortening the overall development cycle.

Signal Integrity AnalysisSignal integrity (SI) analysis is an essential part of modern electronic design. Increasingly fast edge rates in today’s inte-grated circuits (ICs) cause detrimental high-speed effects, even in PCB designs running at low operating frequencies. As driver ICs switch faster, a growing number of boards suffer from issues such as crosstalk, over/undershoot, ringing, glitching, and tim-ing problems. PADS design solutions offer powerful and easy-to-use signal integrity capabilities on the engineer’s desktop. With pre-layout analysis capabilities for defining routing constraints, to verification of the routed board to ensure your design goals are met, PADS design solutions offer a complete environment for all your signal integrity analysis needs.

Thermal AnalysisHyperLynx Thermal allows engineers and PCB designers to ana-lyze board-level thermal problems on placed, partially routed, or fully routed PCB designs from all popular PCB layout environ-ments. Temperature profiles, gradients, and excess tempera-ture maps enable designers to resolve board and component overheating early in the design process.

PCB LayoutAs the standard in desktop PCB layout tools, PADS offers unpar-alleled price-performance for the layout and design of complex circuit boards, including high-speed applications and RF circuits. PADS offers advanced design rules with real-time design rule checking, bi-directional crossprobing, RF design functionality, split-plane generation, auto-dimensioning, direct DXF import into both the board and part library editors, physical design reuse, advanced fabrication verification tools, and 3D viewing. Also available are assembly variant functions, test coverage auditing, chip-on-board / advanced packaging, and an IDF link to third party CAD/CAM tools.

Interactive & Automatic RoutingMany designers of high-speed and/or dense designs require exacting manual control of critical signal traces, but could also benefit from the speed and built-in intelligence of an auto-router. The router provides both advanced interactive and sophisticated autorouting for all applications. Whether interac-tively routing with orthogonal, diagonal, or any-angle styles, or differential pair routing with unique rule assignment or trace length requirements, the router provides exacting control.Intuitive graphical monitoring tools provide real-time feedback for correct-by-construction methodology. Proven routing algo-rithms enable robust design rules and advanced design con-straints to be applied between objects or groups of objects such as components, layers, nets, and vias.The advanced autorouter simplifies routing operations most suited for an autorouter, including fanout and routing, by indi-vidual components or groups of components.

7

Introduction8

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Design Capture with DxDesigner

In this section:

� Installation and Setup � DxDesigner Environment and Workspace � Setting up a New Project � Symbol Creation � Creating a New Schematic � Placing Parts � Wiring the Schematic � Rules and Constraints � Variant Manager � DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim � DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog � Generating the BOM (Bill of Materials) � DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration

9

DxDesigner Environment and Workspace

About This EvaluationThis Evaluation Guide and the accompanying lesson files will al-low someone with limited experience with the PADS DxDesigner workflow, the opportunity to review several of its new features and capabilities. Keep in mind this presentation is a snapshot of the full range of features DxDesigner provides.The Evaluation files should be copied into the C:\PADS_ES_Eval-uation directory. This is necessary since the software has spe-cific parameters that are setup within the lesson files enclosed.The content of the evaluation material should include this PDF file of the Evaluation Guide (located in the C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Document directory), Schematic, Simulation and PCB Lesson files (located in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation directory), Datasheets (located in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Datasheet directory) and Libraries (located in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs directory).This Evaluation Guide is intended to be used with the PADS PCB software. This particular evaluation has Lessons dedicated to interfacing with PADS Layout pcb software. Customers wishing to run through DxDesigner in an Expedition flow should request a different DxDesigner evaluation from their local Mentor Sales and Technical representatives.

Lesson 1: DxDesigner WorkspaceDxDesigner follows Windows navigation standards. It supports pulldown menus, hot keys, toolbars, toolboxes and tooltips. The software is object aware so the Right Mouse Button (RMB) menu selections will change automatically based on the object selected when the RMB is used. It is these standard windows features which make DxDesigner an easy and productive environment for schematic generation.

10


Introduction to the User Interface (Main Window)

Menus Toolbars Workspace Properties

PADS Decal Preview

Symbol Viewer

Navigator Pane

Status BarDxDataBook

Search Window

DxDesigner Environment and Workspace 11

Toolbars

The Main Toolbar

The View Toolbar

New Cut

Print Copy File Viewer

Undo

Paste

Verify

Find Redo PackageExpedition

PCBPCB

Extraction

CES PCB Interface

Library Manager

Export Foreign

Database

Import Foreign

DatabaseIO

Designer

Push Schematic

Pop

Route ModeDxDataBook

Properties Selection Filter

Zoom Out

Fit Selected

Restore Zoom

Zoom In

Zoom Area

Save Zoom

Navigator ICT Viewer

OutputFit AllPush ICT

eExp View

Add Properties

Mode

DxDesigner Environment and Workspace12

GRC Run Graphical Rule Checker


Toolbars (Continued)

The Add Toolbar

The Transform Toolbar

Net Special ComponentsSelect Circle Text

Arc

Bus ArrayBlock Line Cut Nets

Box

Mirror StretchRotate

90Align

CenterSnap to

GridAlign Top

Align Bottom

Grid On/Off

Align Left

Flip ScaleDisconnect

Add Missing

Ports

Delete


Grid Spacing

The Grid Toolbar

PADS Decal Preview

Align Center

Align Right

Bring Forward

Send Backward

Bring to Front

Send to Back

Backup Sheet

Distribute Horizontally

Distribute Vertically


Navigator Tree PaneThe Navigator Tree pane, as with all of DxDesigner panes, is dockable and can be moved anywhere you wish on the screen. The software will also remember heights and widths of any pane modified during a working session. This is particularly

The Navigator Tree Pane

❶ Select File > Open > Project and browse to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson1\Lesson1.prj.

❷ If a previous lesson was open then select the Yes but-ton acknowledging the software closing the previous documents.

❸ Open the Navigator Tree by selecting the icon if it is not already open.

❹ Double click the LMB over the name Corporate and notice the main window displays the sheet Corporate.1 (The sheet name is shown on the tab at the top of the design window).

❺ Next select the [+] icon located to the left of the Corpo-rate schematic name. Note: The tree should be expanded to look similar to this example.

beneficial in a dual monitor configuration.The advantage of this window is the ability to view all of the de-sign files and to jump to various pages or nets quickly and easily.

❷

❸

❹

❺

❹



The Navigator Tree Pane (continued)

❻ Double click over Sheet 4 and watch the main screen update to show page 4. Note: Notice the schematic sheet tabs located at the top display both Corporate.1 and Corporate.4.

❼ Select the [+] item to expand one of the sheets in the Navigator tree.

❽ Notice there are 2 categories that appear in the dialog for each schematic sheet. (Symbols and Nets).

❾ Select the item again to expand the Symbols and Nets section of the dialog.

❿ Select any symbol listed and notice the software auto-matically cross probes to that item.Note: You may need to zoom out to see items selected dur-ing crossprobing.

❻

❼❽

❾


TooltipsDxDesigner supports Tool Tips for Components and Nets. The visible properties are configurable. Let’s take a closer look.

❶ Open the Project Settings by using the pulldown menu Setup > Settings or select the CTRL-ALT-G hotkey.

❷ Click on Display and notice the options for controlling various display options including Show Tooltips. Com-ponents and Nets should be checked.

❸ Select Apply and then OK.❹ Enable the Navigator Tree dialog if not already open.

To do so select the Navigator Tree icon.❺ Using the cursor, double click the LMB over the sche-

matic name Corporate to open sheet 1 of the sche-matic.

❻ Place your cursor over any component to see the tool tip. Note: Make sure the All selection filter is enabled.

❼ Place your cursor over any net to view the netname tool tip.Note: This is a very convenient way to get information with-out having to zoom in and out to view and identify an object on the schematic.

❶

❷

❹

❺

❻❼

❻

❸



Help System

❶ Notice that there is a Help menu at the top of the tool. From here you can access documentation, support, SupportNet and tips. Take a moment to view the resources available from this menu.

❷ View all available shortcuts and system strokes by se-lecting Help > Show Bindings and Help > Show Strokes.Note: Navigational controls can also be configured in Setup > Settings > Schematic Editor > Strokes, Pan and Zoom.

Zooming

❶ Using the LMB click on any open area in the workspace.❷ Using the F7 (Zoom In) and F8 (Zoom Out) keyboard

keys. Zoom in and out for practice.❸ Hit Home (Zoom to the Full) to restore the view to the

entire Schematic.❹ Try hitting F9 and begin framing the area you wish to

zoom in on. This is accomplished by holding the LMB down and dragging a box around the area you wish to zoom in on.

❺ This same procedure can be done by hitting the z key, then dragging a box around the area you wish to zoom in on.

Navigation (Pan and Zoom)

The Find FunctionCross probing using the design hierarchy in the navigator is one way to work your way through a design. In addition you can use the Find function.

Using the Find Function

❶ Select Edit > Find/Replace or click the Find icon. ❷ Click the More button to open all options.❸ Take time to read through the options available.❹ Use the drop-down Within: to define which part of

the design you would like to search. In this case select Board: Corporate (Corporate).

❺ In Find what: type C2 and click Find All.Note: The results of the search appear in the Find dialog.Note: When you search, the results will also show in the Output window. See item # 7 below.

❻ Notice that several pages are now open. Each page containing a reference to C2 has been opened.

❼ In the Output window select the first hyperlink to quickly jump to the capacitor with reference designator C2.

❷

❸

❹

❺

❼❻



Using the Find Function (continued)

Notice the section of the schematic that C2 resides within.

❽ In the Find and Replace dialog search for 698k across the Corporate Schematic.

❾ Notice all parts meeting this criterion are listed in the output window

❿ Close all of the schematic pages using the small x to close each sheet.

⓫ This method can also be used to find nets. ⓬ Now enter the net name BSYNC- (make sure to include

the “-“character) in the Find and Replace dialog to search across the Corporate schematic.

⓭ Select the Find All button to search the entire sche-matic.

⓮ There are four instances of BSYNC- across three sche-matic sheets.Note: When selecting the net, the appropriate schematic sheet is opened and that portion of the BSYNC- net is selected. This functionality allows you to check connectivity throughout your design very efficiently.

⓯ Select File> Close Project when you are finished to close the current project.

❿

❾

⓮

❼



Review Questions

1 What is the purpose of the Navigator?2 What information can I get from the tooltips?3 How many different ways are there to zoom in and out?4 When would I use the Find function instead of the Navigator?

Review Answers

1 The Navigator presents you with a central viewport into your design. Components and nets are available for browsing and querying from this common window.

2 Tooltips provide you with a quick and easy way to examine the properties of design objects (components, nets and pins). Depending on how you have set up the vis-ibility of properties, you can view information about these objects by simply holding the cursor over the item for a few seconds.

3 The DxDesigner user interface provides multiple ways to perform most common design tasks. You can zoom in and out using the keyboard keys (F7 and F8), press F9 and drag a zoom window, press the z key and drag a zoom window, or use the mouse scroll wheel forward and backward to zoom in and out. Both Expedition and PADS Pan and Zoom styles are supported.

4 Though the Navigator gives you the opportunity to browse the major elements of your design, use the Find command to build complex searches and quickly find very specific details such as all instances of a specific component value.


Lesson 2: Setting Up a New Project

Project OverviewA project (.prj) contains pointers to all DxDesigner files associ-ated with the open project. The project database is stored in binary format in the /database directory. This is a change from the use of /sym, /sch and /wir directories previously. This database structure provides a framework for dynamic updates. When using DxDesigner you never have to stop and remember to save your work. Every-thing you do is always being stored. If you want to return to a previous state you can use Undo to remove your edits. Ev-erything you do between backups will be stored in the Undo queue. In addition, you have the option to create Backup points to roll-back your design. You may choose to File > Backup at anytime to create a backup of the active sheet. The Roll Back function in DxDesigner allows you to bring the schematic sheet back to the last Backup version. Upon invoking DxDesigner, the File > Backup Sheet function is grayed out. Once a schematic page is opened, the Backup Sheet function becomes enabled. Each time you perform a File > Backup Sheet, it is preserved and can be recalled for the session using File > Rollback Sheet. Each backup in the session is saved using a "date-timestamp" format. You can use this menu to return the active sheet to desired backup state preserved. The tool also creates incremental auto-matic backups for you.The \wir (wire) directory contains files used to generate the actual netlist going forward to the circuit board layout software. These files represent the electrical version of the schematic. When using DxDesigner in a netlist flow, these files will be generated from the binary database at the time you choose to forward annotate your work. They have an incrementing exten-sion for each sheet of schematic data.

Directory Structure

Setting Up a New Project 21

Creating a ProjectIf it is not already running, start DxDesigner.

Creating a Project

❶ Select the Windows Start > Program > Mentor Graph-ics SDD > Design Entry > DxDesigner

❷ Click File > New > Project❸ Another option is to select the New icon and then

select Project.❹ Enter the name of your project in the Name prompt of

the Project dialog.Note: For this exercise enter your (first name) and (last name) for your project name (i.e., JohnSmith).

❺ Confirm the project Location is pointing to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Yourname (i.e., JohnSmith).

❻ Select the appropriate Layout Tool from the list. In this case select PADS9.XX.

❼ Select the OK button to create the project.❽ Notice your project name now appears in the Project

Navigator Tree.

❸ ❹

❺❻ ❼

❽

Setting Up a New Project22

Opening a ProjectThere are many ways to open a project. We will learn two ways here:


Using the .prj File Method

❶ Close down DxDesigner by selecting File > Exit.❷ On the desktop double click on My Computer to

open Microsoft Explorer.❸ Select the C: Drive.❹ Go to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson2 directory.❺ Double click on the Lesson2.prj.

Note: This will launch DxDesigner and open the Lesson2 project. If you get an error then try double clicking the icon rather than the file name. If you still get an error then open DxDesigner and move to the next step.

Using the File Menu

❶ From DxDesigner, open a project using the menu File > Open > Project.

❷ Browse to the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson2\ location.

❸ Either select Open or double click the Lesson2.prj file.

When you open the project for the first time you may see this message “This project was created on an earlier version of DxDesigner (see sample message below). If this message does appear simply select the Yes button to update and continue.

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Adding LibrariesAfter you create a project, you need to add the libraries for your design. If you have libraries from previous versions of DxDesigner you can easily add them for use in this newer version. You can also use libraries which were created for

other schematics tools if you are new to DxDesigner. Refer to www.suppportnet.mentor.com for schematic and library trans-lators if you are coming from a different schematic tool.

Adding Libraries with Setup > Settings

❶ To open the settings dialog pick Setup > Settings.❷ Using the cursor, select the Symbol Libraries selection lo-

cated within the Project section of the settings hierarchy.❸ In the Library dialog box, you can add a new library, re-

move an existing library or modify the order of the librar-ies. To add a library, click the New icon and then browse to the correct Path. In this case just note the options available but don’t add a library. The available library types can be Megafile, Read Only, or Writable.

• A Megafile is a library that contains all symbols but in a condensed format.

• A Read Only library is a library that has not been condensed and lists each symbol uniquely within the library directory. The content of this type of library cannot be edited or changed.

• A Writable library is a library that lists each symbol uniquely in a directory with the ability to read and write to it.

❹ Click Cancel to leave the New Library window and return to the Settings dialog.

❺ When adding a part to the schematic, the libraries are searched in the order they are defined within the project. The library structure is maintained from within the Set-tings Dialog. Use the arrows to control the order of the library list.

Note: The only real advantage to a Megafile library is that it contains a reduced set of files associated with the library so archiving is much easier with fewer data files being saved.

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Creating New LibrariesSometimes you may need to create an entirely new library. This is also done within the Settings dialog.


Creating New Libraries

❶ Open the Settings dialog using Setup > Settings and then return to the Symbol Libraries section.

❷ To add a library, click the New Library icon.

❸ In the Library window you will browse to create a new library location. Modify the existing Path so it appears as shown below.

❹ Notice as you add \new_lib to the path, the software adds new_lib to the Alias.

❺ Try to change the Type and notice that Readonly is the only option right now.

❻ Click OK and you will see a message asking you to con-firm the creation of the new directory.

❼ Click Yes to create this new directory.❽ A new directory was created at C:\PADS_ES_Evalua-

tion\Libs\new_lib and new_lib is a library in our list. NOTE: Keep in mind that this new directory called \new_lib is still an empty directory. It will continue to remain empty until we decide to create new symbols that we wish to place in this location.

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Creating New Libraries (continued)

❾ Now that we have a directory created we can modify the type to Writeable. Double click on new_lib to open the configuration and change the type to Writeable as shown.Note: At this time you have a red X through the W symbol because you still can’t write to it. Before this step you are missing the appropriate directory structure within new_lib.

❿ Click OK to close this window and then click Apply in the Settings dialog. At this time a new directory struc-ture is generated within the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\ Libs\new_lib directory.

⓫ Using Windows Explorer, browse to C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Libs\new_lib to observe this new directory.

⓬ Now that the appropriate directory structure exists within the library directory you can open the configura-tion for new_lib again and see the red X is gone.

⓭ At this time you still don’t have any symbols available in the library. Saving symbols in libraries is covered in Lesson 3.Note: You will not see the library in your Symbol View list until after you have saved a symbol in the library. Once you have done so you will also need to re-invoke DxDesigner (close the tool and then open it again).

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PADS Layout Decal Preview PaneThe PADS Layout Decal Preview pane allows you to graphically verify the correct PCB Package will be used in Layout. The preview window will update when a symbol is selected on a schematic. The pane requires PADS Layout to be installed on the system with the proper links to the PCB library located on the network or the local computer. This pane does not require a PADS Layout license.

Enabling the PADS Decal Preview Pane

❶ Select PADS Decal Preview icon or hit the CTRL-ALT-J hotkey.Note: If you don’t see this icon then you may need to enable the toolbar in View > Toolbars > Addins. You can also enable the PADS Decal Preview by selecting View> Other Windows> PADS Decal Preview.

❷ Open PADS Layout and pick File > Library > Manage Lib List… Then click Add and browse to add the following two libraries:C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\Corporate.pt09C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\fpga.pt09Note: If the libraries already exist in the Lib List, then you will not need to add them.

❸ Double click the LMB over the name Corporate to open the first sheet of the schematic.

❹ Next select the [+] icon located to the left of the Cor-porate schematic name and double click Sheet 3 to display it in the workspace.

❺ Select one of the symbols on schematic sheet 3. The PCB decal appears in the PADS Decal Previewer.

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Review Questions

1 What is a DxDesigner Project (*.prj) file?2 What is the quickest way to open a project?3 Is there a preferred location for storing new company-specific symbols?4 How do I verify which package is assigned to a particular symbol?

Review Answers

1 A DxDesigner project (.prj) contains pointers to all DxDesigner files associated with the open project.

2 To quickly open a design, browse to the .prj file and double click it. This will launch DxDesigner and open the design file.

3 Though DxDesigner has a number of libraries that are shipped with the application, you may find it convenient to use the Setup > Settings > Symbols Libraries dialog to create a new library for your company-specific symbols. This lets you keep them sep-arate from the other content and make them easy to locate when you need them.

4 To determine which package type (PKG_TYPE) is associated with a component in your design, use the PADS Decal Browser to view a graphical image of the decal.

The symbol editor allows you to generate new symbols very quickly. You can use a spreadsheet to copy and paste pin infor-mation into the symbol or you can enter the data manually. The

Open the Symbol Editor and Set the Grid

❶ Select File > Open > Project then picking C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson3\Lesson3.prj.

❷ Open the Symbol Editor using File > New > Local Symbol❸ Prior to adding pins, open the Symbol Editor Preferences

using File > Preferences to review the settings.❹ Set Grid step: 0.050, Show grid every: 1 grid points, Large

dot every: 4 displayed grid, Default length: 4 grid points, Default Spacing: 4 grid points and Pin property position: Above Pin and click OK.

editor will provide a basic symbol automatically and allow you to modify the symbol in any way you desire.

Adding Pins to a Symbol

❶ To add pins select the Add-Pin & Edit icon.❷ Place the pin on the upper left corner of the symbol

body as shown below. Then type the Pin Name CLK and press Enter. Use the ESC key to exit pin placement mode after placed.

❸ Now define this pin to be pin 1. Select View > Win-dows > Properties if the Properties window is not visible. Select the pin and then click <new_property> in the PCB Properties section Properties window.Note: If you have difficulty selecting the pin, make sure that the Select Pins button on the toolbar is selected.

❹ Now click in the drop-down to select the property #.❺ Enter a value of 1 in the Value field.❻ Position the pin number above the pin.

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Lesson 3: Creating a Symbol with the Symbol Editor

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Symbol Creation 29


Add an Array of Pins

❶ Add an array of both input and output pins using Add Pin Array.

❷ Use the following settings for the input pin array:1. Pin Name = IN2. Range 7 to 03. Step = 1.4. Pin type = IN5. Pin location = Left6. Pin spacing = 4

❸ Select the OK button to create the array of pins.❹ Place on left side approximately 4 grids down from

the CLK pin.Note: You can use View > Show Port Type to toggle the port type graphical indicators On and Off.

❺ Add another array for the output pins using the fol-lowing settings:1. Pin Name = OUT2. Range 7 to 03. Step = 1.4. Pin type = OUT5. Pin location = Right6. Pin spacing = 4

❻ Place the array on the right side of the symbol so that the output pins align with the input pins as shown..

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Symbol Creation30

Adding Pin Numbers

❶ The next step is to select the IN pins (other than CLK) from the Pins window.Note: The pins highlight in all windows even the working area.

❷ To update the Pin Numbers select the Add Properties icon.

❸ Set the values as shown below. Make sure Type = Pin Property, Name = #, Prefix is Empty, Value = 2, Delta = 1, Suffix is Empty and Position and Visibility are set to Above Pin and Value.

❹ This will automatically add and increment the Pin Num-bers. Reposition them as shown.

❺ Repeat this step for the OUT pins. Use a start Value = 18 and Delta = -1 to decrement the Pin Numbers down to 11. Reposition them as shown.

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Adjusting the Symbol Outline

❶ To shrink the outline first make sure the Select Graph-ics icon is selected.

❷ Select the symbol shape and notice pick points appear on the shape.Note: Use View > Symbol Outline if you don't see the outline.

❸ Select the Middle pick point using the LMB. Hold the LMB down and drag which will allow you to reposition the bottom of the symbol so it’s closer to the lowest pins. Place it four grid points below the lowest pins.

❹ Now manually move the symbol outline in a similar fashion as the symbol shape.

❺ The bounding box can also be moved automatically by selecting the Symbol > Update Symbol Outline menu pick. Note: The symbol outline helps with avoidance rules when connecting nets in the schematic.Note: The symbol outline may be set to update automati-cally as you adjust the symbol shape. If it is and you wish to manually adjust it you may need to turn off the automatic adjustment mode first. This can be done by selecting the File > Preferences > General > Symbol and unchecking the “Auto-matic Outline Update” check box.

Note: We need to shrink to symbol shape and the symbol outline to create a symbol that is complete.

Moving the Symbol Origin

❶ To complete the graphical modifications we should move the origin to the appropriate location.

❷ This can be done by selecting the origin marker with the LMB. Then while holding the LMB down, drag the marker to the lowest left pin on the new symbol. Re-lease the LMB once you have it placed as desired.

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Associating a Part Decal

❶ Now we will associate a physical part decal with our new symbol. Select Tools > PADS Decal Browser.Note: If this dialog does not appear for you then you will need to setup your PADS libraries. In PADS, use File > Library > Manage Lib List > Add and browse to add the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\Corporate.pt09 and C:\PADS_ES_Evalua-tion\Libs\fpga.pt09 libraries.

❷ The PADS Decal Browser reads all of your PADS librar-ies pointed to in your PADS list. You can search for the appropriate decal By Name or By Pin Count. With the search path Library: set to (All Libraries), filter on Pin Count = 20 and click Apply Filter.

❸ Select a DIP20 and click the Assign button to move it to Assigned Decals.

❹ Click Apply to Symbol and then Close. Notice in the properties window the symbol now has a new Property PKG_TYPE = DIP20.Note: If PKG_TYPE is not added automatically, you can add it manually by selecting PKG_TYPE from the drop down menu. You can then select the appropriate decal value (DIP20 in this case).

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Saving the Symbol

❶ The last step is to save the symbol. To save this as a local symbol use File > Save As… name the symbol SymbolTest.1.Note: You may want to add a symbol to an existing symbol library. To do this you will use File > Export Symbol. Now you can see the file will be saved as SymbolTest.1 and you can place it in the C:PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\CorporateDemo\SYM directory.

❷ In the Properties window you will notice that the Sym-bol Name has been updated to match the name you used.

❸ The symbol is now complete and ready for use.

Verifying the Symbol Availability

❶ Select File > Close then File > Exit to exit the Symbol editor.

❷ Back in DxDesigner select DxDataBook icon to open the DxDataBook pane.

❸ Select the [+] symbol to expand the Local Symbol parti-tion.

❹ Notice the Symboltest.1 symbol has been saved and is ready for use.

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Creating a Symbol from a SpreadsheetEntering all of the pins manually can be tedious and error prone. If you have all of your pins entered into a spreadsheet then you can quickly and easily import them into the Symbol Editor for placement on a symbol.

Start a New Symbol and Load the Pin Data

❶ Start a new symbol in the Symbol Editor (Select File>New>Local Symbol from the main pulldown menu.)

❷ If the Pins Window is not open, then open it using View > Windows > Pins List.

❸ Place the cursor in the Pins List pane, select RMB and pick Import Pins.

❹ Browse to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson3 and select SerialIO.csv to import all of the pins in this file.

❺ All unplaced pins are marked with an *. You can add pins to the symbol by selecting them from this list.

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Symbol Creation 35


Adding Pins to the Symbol

❶ Select pins from the pins list by left clicking and drag them into the Symbol window to place them on the symbol body. As you place each pin the * is removed.

❷ Place ~RST_N on the Symbol body. Using the LMB, select the ~RST_N pin name in the pins list.

❸ Select and hold the LMB so that you can drag the pin into the Symbol view.Notice the pin attaches itself to the cursor so that it can be placed in the Symbols working pane.

❹ Release the mouse button when the pin is in the de-sired location on the symbol body.

❺ Notice there is in invert bubble on the pin and a strike over the name. If you open the .csv file you will see why. This is because the pin was set as inverted which resulted in the bubble. The Pin Label began with ~ which results in the strike over.

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Symbol Creation36

Adding Multiple Pins to the Symbol

❶ You can also add multiple pins simultaneously from the pins list. Click on the Pin Type column in the pins list to sort the pins by IN versus OUT.

❷ Now left click on the first OUT pin. Hold the shift key and select using the LMB on the last OUT pin further down the list. Now you should have all the OUT pins selected.

❸ Using the LMB, select and hold anywhere within the highlighted pins (blue area) dragging the list of pins to a desired destination on the right side of the symbol body.

❹ Experiment with adding other pins and modifying the symbol graphics. Notice that as you place pins the * is removed so that it’s easy to sort and/or visually scan for unplaced pins.

❺ When you are done, exit Symbol Editor without saving.

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Review Questions

1 Is there a right or wrong way to create a symbol?2 What is the purpose of the symbol origin?3 Why do I need to assign a PKG_TYPE?4 What are the advantages of creating a symbol from a spreadsheet?5 Can’t I just download a symbol from the component manufacturer?

Review Answers

1 There is no right or wrong way to create a symbol as long as the symbol accurately represents the signals and connectivity of the device. There are formal design specifications for symbols (such as ANSI/IEEE Standard 91-1984 Graphic Symbols for Logic Functions), but each company tends to formulate their own internal standards that meet their design requirements.

2 The symbol origin represents a predictable reference point for anchoring and placing a symbol into the design environment. It is usually placed at the end of the lowest pin on the lower left of the symbol.

3 The symbol in DxDesigner represents the electrical connectivity of the component. In order to pass the design to PADS Layout for physical design, each component symbol needs to have a cor-responding physical package assignment so that the layout tool can properly represent the physi-cal parts on the printed circuit board. The PKG_TYPE property specifies the name of the part (land pattern/decal) in PADS Layout that is intended to represent the symbol in the physical design.

4 As the complexity of components increases, it is not uncommon to have symbols with hundreds of pins. Entering the data for each of these pins into the Symbol Editor can be a very time-con-suming and error-prone task. Using a spreadsheet, signal data can be copied and pasted from PDF data sheets into a spreadsheet and then imported directly into the Symbol Editor. This saves time and improves accuracy.

5 Unfortunately, except for the PDF of the datasheet, very few manufacturers offer any symbols that can be directly imported into an EDA application. Due to the multitude of different compo-nents and systems, this would be very difficult for the manufacturers to support. Most designers prefer to create (and check) their own symbols prior to use.

Symbol Creation38


Lesson 4: Selecting and Verifying Parts with DxDataBookDxDataBook is a component information system that allows companies to benefit from a centralized component database system. The DxDataBook utility allows customers to manage their library data more efficiently than ever before. It increases efficiency by decreasing the number of symbols required to support the parts in their design environment. DxDataBook con-nects to any ODBC compliant database and makes the necessary content available to aid in the part selection process.

When the part is added to the schematic, the property data is also added so the part is complete when it is released onto the schematic. DxDataBook also provides component verification checks to ensure the property data contained on the symbol in the schematic matches the content contained within the data source. This prevents incomplete or inaccurate data from being passed into the PCB design phase.

Selecting and Verifying Parts in DxDataBook 39

Configure DxDataBookThe system allows for easy searching and selecting of compo-nents. It can tie into a company’s purchasing database so that Engineering can make more intelligent part selections based on lead time, cost, stock availability, etc.

Configuring DxDataBook

❶ Select File > Open > Project and select C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson4\Lesson4.prj.

❷ In the Navigator Pane, double click the LMB on Corpo-rate to enable Sheet 1.

❸ Select the Navigator icon, DxDataBook icon and the PADS Decal Preview icon to open the window panes. The PADS Decal Previewer pane can also be enabled through the View > Other Windows > PADS Decal Preview pull down menu selection. You can also use CTRL+Alt+J to open the PADS Decal Previewer.

❹ If the Output pane is open, select the Output pane icon to close it.

❺ Using the RMB, Place the cursor anywhere within the DxDataBook pane, select Configure > Open pop-up menu.

❻ Using the Browse button, navigate to the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs directory.

❼ Once there, select the Corporate.dbc file and click Open to activate the DxDataBook configuration set-tings.

NOTE: To use DxDataBook, an ODBC data source must be created to point to the database, then DxDataBook must be attached to this data source. If Configuration: None is displayed in the lower section of the DxDataBook application window, this indicates that no database is attached. See the Appendix at the end of this lesson (Pg. 46) for details on performing the setup if steps 1-7 in this exercise don’t work.

Selecting and Verifying Parts in DxDataBook

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Libraries with DxDataBook

❶ The Library pulldown section contains a list of all avail-able libraries as described in the database source. All of the libraries listed are those that are defined as Tables directly in the Access Database.

❷ Choose ICs from the Library pulldown. Note: The system now searches the access database and lists all the components in this library. If it cannot find the *.mdb file a dialog displays to allow you to browse for it manually.

❸ Select the scroll bar located at the bottom of the Dx-DataBook window and scroll the dialog window all the way to the right.

❹ You should see a column labeled Datasheet. These are links to Datasheets that describe more about the parts listed in DxDataBook.

❺ Using the LMB, select on one of the datasheet links.Note: Notice the Datasheet opens and displays the PDF content.Note: If you didn’t install the DxDesigner Evaluation in the default location under C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation, then these links will not work.

❻ If you opened the configuration (see note at right) click Cancel. Scroll the main DxDataBook window back fully to the left.

Note: Any field can be configured as an active link. For example, you may want to open a simulation model from the schematic. To modify the configuration right click in DxDataBook > Configure> Edit Configu-ration. Then select the desired library and find the Property Name you’d like to turn into an active link. Select the cell until the icon is the same as shown for DATASHEET.


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Component Selection with DxDataBookWhen using a standard library configuration without DxData-Book you must take the time to enter properties for every existence of a part. This can be very time consuming and error prone. This process may also force the creation of hundreds

Building a Component Query

❶ From the Library pull down menu select the Resistors library.

❷ Select the Query Builder button to start setting the query criteria.

❸ With the Query Builder dialog open, select the Condi-tion button.

❹ Select the pulldown arrows in each setting in the dialog so it matches the example below. (VALUE, =, 10K). Select the Add button to set the criteria.

❺ This will place the search criteria into the dialog so it can be applied.

❻ Select the OK button to activate the search based on the criteria.Note: Notice the resulting data is based on value equaling 10K.

of extra schematic symbols. In this exercise you will see how DxDataBook reduces the need for extra symbols. You will also see how easy it is to search and select specific parts from a list of potentially thousands of parts.


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Narrowing the Search

❶ Now narrow the search down further to Resistors with 10K Values and CC1206 PKG_TYPE. Select the Query Builder again, select the AND button, select the Condi-tion button, set the 1st field to PKG_TYPE, set the 2nd to =, set the 3rd to CC1206 then select Add button.

❷ Select the OK button to apply the additional search based on the new criteria.Note: Notice the quantity of available parts has been reduced significantly based on the search criteria just set.


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Search and Place

❶ Now let’s search for a part with a value of 10K, Pkg_Type of CC1206 and a Cost of less than .040 (cents).

❷ Select the Query button once more, select the AND button, select the Condition button, set the 1st field to Cost, set the 2nd field to <, set the 3rd field to 0.04.

❸ Select the Add button to include this additional search criteria.

❹ Select the OK button to apply the new search require-ments.

❺ The column headers can also be used to sort the results ascending or descending. In this case we have already filtered to only four results but we could have used fewer filters and then sorted the value column to find the desired part.

❻ Using the LMB select the Part 103-RES. Notice the entire line is highlighted and both the symbol and decal preview are shown for the part.

❼ While the LMB is still pressed, drag that symbol onto the schematic and release your mouse button where you would like the resistor to be placed. You can also drag the symbol directly from the Symbol Preview win-dow into the schematic.


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View and Edit Properties

❶ Click on the Properties icon to open the Properties window. All the properties are on the symbol. These properties were added to the generic symbol by the Access Database when the part was added to the sche-matic. The user does not have to worry about making manual errors when adding the properties.

❷ While in the Properties Editor, change the Value prop-erty field from 10K to 100K by entering the new value in the Value column.

❸ With DxDataBook still active and still listing available resistors, select and drag another schematic symbol onto the schematic sheet so there are two new ones displayed. (Follow the instructions in Step 7 in the pre-vious topic: Search and Place.)

❹ Change the Libraries: setting from Resistors to Capaci-tors.

❺ Now assume you need a decoupling capacitor but have not decided on what value of decoupling cap to use. Select on any available capacitor listed in the DxData-Book pane, then click on the Add New Component with only Common Properties icon to add a generic component to the schematic.

❻ With the new part active on your cursor, move both the cursor and the symbol over the working area and select the LMB to complete the part placement. Note: If you look at the Properties Editor, you will notice the capacitor has no Value property not to mention many other missing properties. DxDataBook can run a complete verifica-tion to ensure all parts are compliant with the database.

Note: We made a unique change to a part so the part number no longer matches the defined power rating. This condition could lead to a very expensive problem due to the way parts are ordered through a company’s purchasing department. Part numbers that do not match corresponding properties generally lead to overstocks and delays in schedule. Both are costly to correct and can be avoided if a DxData-Book configuration is in place. Let’s look at how DxDataBook can find these inconsistencies and resolve them quickly.


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Verification

❶ Select the Filter icon located on the toolbar. Enable only the Symbol check box.

❷ While using the LMB (or CTRL+LMB) drag a select box around the three symbols we just added via DxDataBook.

❸ Click on the New Live Verification Window icon located in the DxDataBook dialog. Note: This icon is also used for verifying an entire page if no items are selected when it is activated.

❹ A new window will open showing the three parts color-coded. If we click on any of the parts, that part is highlighted in the schematic. (Yellow) Indicates a component has multiple matches. This is the generic we added. (Green) Indicates the properties on the schematic match the data-base and only one part matches. (Red) Indicates that there is a conflict between the database and the schematic and no parts match. This is the part where we changed the Value so it no longer matches the Part Number.

❺ Fix the problem with the capacitor which is not correctly specified. Using the LMB, double click on the Yellow Circle.

❻ On the right hand side a search window opens up with the common properties automatically applied as filters.

❼ Using the LMB, select any part listed in the DxDataBook dialog.

❽ Using the LMB select the Annotate Component with all Prop-erties to add the correct part information. Notice the circle changes from yellow to green and the Properties Editor now shows the capacitor as a completely defined symbol/part.

Verification in DxDataBookDxDataBook has the ability to run verification on a group of se-lected items, a single page, or an entire design. The functionality

is similar but for this exercise you will do a verification of the parts we just placed.


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Correcting Database ConflictsNow we will correct the part that we created the problem on when we changed the Value to 100K.

Correcting a Database Conflict

❶ Double-click on the part that contains the last remain-ing red circle.

❷ On the right hand side a window is displayed, scroll through it and notice the properties in red. Notice the Value is in red because it does not match the database.

❸ Using the LMB, scroll over to Value property name, select the RMB then Remove Condition.

❹ The system will search the database and find the part that matches the previously defined conditions. Notice that the verify routine has locked onto a single part.

❺ Using the LMB, click on the new part number.❻ Using the LMB, select the Annotate Component with

Common Properties icon to change to the new part.❼ We have now corrected the problem of the properties

and the part number not being equal. Note: The Properties window now shows the resistor has all the properties of the part you selected.

❽ Select all three parts you placed using the CTRL + LMB keys.

❾ Hit the DEL keyboard key to delete the added parts.


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Appendix - ODBC SetupThe acronym ODBC stands for Open Database Connectivity. Most databases developed or upgraded since the 1980s will support this standard. This standard is the technology DxDataBook uses to connect to databases. DxDataBook can also support a web sever con-nection utilizing ODBC. In this example, you will set up the ODBC connection for using a Microsoft Access Database format.Note: Instructions differ for Windows 7, 64 bit.

Establishing ODBC Connectivity - Windows 7, 32bit

❶ Select the Start Menu and then select Settings > Control Panel.❷ Select System and Security > Administrative Tools, click

Administrative Tools.❸ Using the LMB, double click on Data Sources (ODBC).❹ Under the User DSN tab click Add.❺ Select the Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) item from the list.❻ Click Finish.❼ Type CORPORATE (all capitalized) in the field called Data Source

Name. Type Database for PADS ES Evaluation for the description.

❽ Click Select (located under Database:)❾ When prompted, browse to the access database called

Corporate.mdb which will be located in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\ directory.

❿ Select the Corporate.MDB file and then click OK to accept the selection. You have now successfully set up an ODBC connec-tion to the Access Database.


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Establishing ODBC Connectivity - Windows 7, 64bit

❶ From Windows Explorer, browse to the directory C:\Windows\SysWOW64.

❷ Double-click odbcad32.exe.❸ Follow the previous steps 4 through 10 to complete the setup.

Review Questions

1 What is the advantage of using DxDataBook?2 Will DxDataBook work with my existing component database?3 How complex can I make my search parameters?4 The component I need isn’t in the database. Can I select a similar component; change a few of its

Properties and save it as the new component?5 Why use Verification in DxDataBook?

Review Answers

1 Sorting through a library of a couple of hundred parts might be tedious, but not impossible. Doing the same for a library (or libraries) of thousands of parts would be extremely time-consuming and difficult to manage. Fortunately, DxDataBook allows you the ability to perform very complex filtering and searches on large databases of components and presents you with a selection of candidate parts.

2 DxDataBook will work with most ODBC-compliant databases allowing you to access the wealth of purchasing and engineering data that may already exist within your company. This connectivity also extends the capability to populate the properties of components in your design directly from the information in your company database(s).

3 DxDataBook allows you to build very complex searches so that you can quickly narrow a search of thousands of components down to a select few for consideration in your design. These searches are cumulative, so you can start out with a broad range of parameters and then add additional qualifiers until you have found the desired part.

4 Yes, you can select a similar component and place it in your design. Then you can edit the proper-ties of the part and save it as a new symbol using the Symbol Editor. This saves you time and promotes uniformity across your libraries.

5 When creating a schematic with a large number of symbols, it is sometimes necessary to edit values and properties as the design evolves. These changes can sometimes elude updating until later in the design process. Verification allows you to periodically compare your design database against your component database to resolve any changes or conflicts.


Selecting and Verifying Parts in DxDataBook 49

Lesson 5: Creating a New SchematicDxDesigner is a comprehensive schematic entry tool which combines a feature-rich environment with an easy-to-use GUI. DxDesigner is simple to navigate; whether you are adding parts, connections, busses or text

Creating a New Design

❶ Open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson5\Lesson5.prj and then the select File > New pull down selection or select the New icon and then Schematic.

❷ Right click (RMB) on the Schematic sheet name (Sche-matic1) in the Navigator and rename it to Logic_Your-Name (ie Logic_JohnSmith)

Note: The schematic shown will be constructed during the following exercises.

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Creating a New Schematic50

Adding a Border

❶ A border may be added automatically based on Setup > Settings > Project > Borders and Zones. The border mapping should be in your company’s template project so that you don’t have to change this.

❷ You can also add a border manually by placing the cur-sor in the working area, select the RMB the selecting the Insert Border menu selection. Note: When adding a border using this method it is taking the symbol defined in Setup > Settings > Project > Borders

❸ Change the sheet size of this new sheet to a C size sheet. This is done using the Drawing Size drop-down in the Properties window.

❹ RMB and pick Change Border from the pop-up menu. Select mentorpageother.1 from the CorporateDemo library.

❺ Press F8 a few times to Zoom Out or hit the Home button on your to change the view so it centers on the format.

Adding and Placing a BorderAdding borders into a schematic can be done several ways. The process can be automatic or manual. You can change borders at any time to reflect a sheet size modification. We will cover a few ways to add borders in some of the exercises that follow.

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Creating a New Schematic 51


Placing PartsPlacing Parts into the Schematic (Manually)

❶ Within the Symbol View (Symbols tab) dialog, enter the symbol filter RES in the filter field directly above the Symbol column header. Only symbols starting with RES are shown. Select resistor from the library Corporat-eDemo.

❷ In the Symbol Viewer, place the cursor over the resis-tor.1 shape, hold the LMB down and drag the symbol into the schematic working area. Release the LMB to drop the part.

❸ Let’s add a second symbol. First select Clear Filters. Then enter capn in the Symbol Filter entry. The program will automatically display capnonpol.

❹ Place the cursor over the symbol displayed, hold the LMB and drag the shape into the working area. Release the LMB to drop the part.

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Placing Parts52

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Placing Parts into the Schematic (continued)

❺ Click Clear Filters and then expand the library Corpo-rateDemo by selecting the [+] item. Find and place 145421 using the same method define in step #4.

❻ Find and place symbol 74192 again using same method as above.

❼ You should now have 4 symbols on your schematic.

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Placing Parts 53

Adding Power and Ground Connections

❶ Open the Settings dialog using Setup > Settings.❷ Navigate to Project > Special Components. Then,

select Power from the dropdown menu and verify that the PWR.1 symbol is available from the builtin library. (If available, go to Step 4.)

❸ If not, click the New icon. A new dialog will open and allow you to browse the libraries for a power symbol. Select the PWR.1 symbol from the builtin library. Click OK.

❹ Follow the same process but this time select Ground in the Special Components dialog. If the symbol GND.1 is available from the builtin library, go to Step 5. If not, click the New icon and from the builtin library select GND.1 and select OK.

❺ Select the OK button to exit the Settings dialog.❻ Now, on your toolbar for DxDesigner you will have the

Power and Ground symbols available from the Special Components icon. When you place symbols from this icon, they will default based on your settings from steps 3 and 4.

❼ Click on the Special Components icon. Select the POWER:builtin:PWR.1 symbol for the available choices.Note: Notice a Power pin should be on your cursor.

❽ Select the LMB to place the power symbol in the work-ing area. When you have placed it click RMB to release the command.

❾ Follow the same steps to add a Ground symbol to the schematic.

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Placing Parts54

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Copying Symbols

❶ You are going to need two resistors in this schematic example. Hold the CTRL key. With the key pressed use the LMB to select and drag away from the first resistor. As you drag your mouse, a copy of the resistor will be on your cursor and ready for placement.

❷ Make sure there is plenty of room next to the capacitor for 2 copies. If not, move it by selecting the part and holding down the LMB to drag it to a new location.

❸ Using the previous method (CTRL + LMB drag) add two more caps.

❹ Using the LMB, hold and drag a select box around the Power pin completely enclosing it so the entire section is selected.

❺ With the items still selected, hold down the LMB and the CTRL key to create another copy. Place the new power pin next to the original.

❻ Using the same process as the power pin, create a second GND symbol.

❼ Place it next to the original GND symbol.❽ Using the LMB, draw a box around the second GND

symbol.❾ Select the CTRL + C keys to create a new copy and place

it into the Paste Buffer.❿ Select the CTRL + V keyboard keys to paste the symbol.⓫ Select the LMB to place the new GND pin under the

other two.

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Placing Parts 55


ArraysThe Array feature can be used to add components and to add net labels. It can also be used to add multiple objects.

Using Arrays

❶ Using the LMB, click on a capacitor so it is selected.❷ Select the Array icon to begin the arraying process.❸ Fill in the dialogue as seen below: Rows = 3, Columns

= 1.❹ Select the OK button to complete the action. The parts

are automatically added and as you drag the cursor, you can expand the array until the parts are spaced as shown (3 rows and 1 column).

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Placing Parts56

Rotating SymbolsThere are three ways within DxDesigner to rotate objects. The first is to use the Rotate icon. The second way uses the F9 key on your keyboard during a move. The third way is through the RMB pulldown menu. Let’s review a few examples.

Rotate a Symbol

❶ Using the LMB, select one of the resistors. Select the Rotate icon and notice the part rotates 90 degrees.Note: The Rotate icon is located on the Transform toolbar.

If the toolbar is not active, go to View > Toolbars and select the Transform toolbar.

❷ Using the LMB, select one of the resistors. Hold the LMB down and move the cursor. Note: Notice the symbol moves with the cursor.

❸ While the part is moving, hit the F9 key and notice the part rotates.

❹ Release the LMB to place the rotated resistor.❺ Using the RMB, select one of the capacitors.❻ From the RMB pulldown menu, select Rotate

Note: Notice the part rotates at the cursor.

❼ Use the CTRL + Z key combination to undo this rotation.

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Placing Parts 57

Moving Components

❶ Arrange the components as seen in the figure shown.❷ To move components, select and hold the LMB down

while the cursor is over the part you wish to move. Drag the cursor to the desired location.

❸ Release the LMB to drop the part.NOTE: The two capacitors located in the lower right can be deleted by selecting them and hitting the Delete key located on the keyboard.

❹ You can select and move multiple components simul-taneously using the CTRL key + LMB (to execute a mul-tiple select). Hold down the CTRL key while selecting all desired parts with the LMB.

❺ Release the CTRL key and continue to hold the LMB to drag the cursor and any selected parts to a new loca-tion.

❻ Release the LMB to place the parts.❼ Close the project when you are done.

Placing Parts58

Review Questions

1 Can I change the size of a border after I have started creating my schematic?2 Can I mirror a symbol such as a transistor or logic gate?3 Am I limited to the PWR and GND symbols that are supplied in the libraries with DxDesigner?4 When would I want to create an array of components?5 Do Properties rotate with a symbol?

Review Answers

1 Sometimes it is difficult to predict in advance just how much room your design might consume on a sheet (or sheets). You can start a design with a specific border size, and at any time during the design process, change the border to a size that more closely fits the design requirement.

2 You can easily mirror a symbol during placement by using the Mirror icon on the Transform Tool-bar, or click the RMB and select the Mirror command from the menu.

3 Though the DxDesigner libraries contain a selection of PWR and GND symbols, you are free to add any custom symbols to the library that you require in your design.

4 Many designs contain groups of identical components such as switches, LEDs or decoupling ca-pacitors. For example, some designers put all of the decoupling capacitors for a design in a group arrangement on the last page of the schematic. Using the Array command, you can place large grouping of these components with a few mouse clicks.

5 Properties do rotate with a symbol, however you must be careful when doing this if you want the visible properties to maintain a specific visual relationship to the component. In some cases, such as discrete components (capacitors, resistors, diodes), it is preferable to create a separate symbol for a horizontal orientation and the vertical orientation. This alleviates the need to make any fine tuning adjustments to the visible properties after the symbols have been placed.


Placing Parts 59

Lesson 6: Wiring the Schematic

Connecting the Components with NetsThere are a few ways to add nets to components. This section will experiment with a few different options.

Connecting by Abutment

❶ Open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson6\Lesson6.prj and then in the Blocks section, double click the sche-matic Logic_YourName to open the sheet.

❷ Let’s zoom in closer to the ICs. To do this select the Zoom Area icon and create a frame around those two symbols. Select one of the two IC’s located in the schematic. Select and hold the LMB, to drag the first IC over toward the second IC placing the pin edges directly over each other.

❸ Release the part by releasing the LMB.❹ Reselect the part again and drag it away from the first

IC. The pins are automatically connected as we drag the second IC away from the first.

Creating Nets Using Net Mode

❶ Select the Net icon (or enter n using the keyboard) to put the software in Add Net mode.

❷ Add a connection to Pin 4 of the IC located on the left hand side. Using the LMB, select the pin and hold the button down as you drag the connection to the left. When the net is long enough release the LMB to drop the connection.

❸ Do the same thing for pins 5, 9, and 6 on the IC located on the left hand side.

❹ Hit ESC or select the Select icon to exit net mode.

Wiring the Schematic

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Creating Nets Outside of Net Mode

❶ For the IC on the left hand side, select the RMB on the left side of pin 7.

❷ Move the cursor to the resistor located next to it on its lower left hand side.Note: As you move the cursor, a net is added and follows the cursor location.

❸ Using the RMB, select the resistor’s upper pin to con-nect the net to it.

❹ Create the connections as shown on the schematic. Do not worry about assigning signal names at this point. You will do that next.


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Naming Nets and Placing LabelsNaming Nets

❶ Double click on the Net in the lower left hand corner from pin 13 (bottom of device).Note: If you have difficulty selecting a net, set the Selection Filter to Net and Bus

❷ The Properties window will open and wait for you to enter a name. Enter C/BE3.

❸ Using the LMB, select and drag the net name you just created.

❹ Place it to the left of the net.NOTE: If you move the net when attempting to move the label, then you have the net selected in addition to the label. Try zooming in closer or using the Selection Filter to limit selection to the name.

❺ Using the LMB, double click on the connection end of the signal just above the one we assigned our fist signal name to. Name this one C/BE2.

❻ Select the LMB to release the signal name and the selected connection.

❼ Now select the signal name again, hold the LMB and drag the signal name to its desired location.


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Adding Names Using the Navigator

❶ In the design view select the net connected to pin 4 of the IC on the left and it will cross-probe to the Naviga-tor.

❷ In the Navigator use the RMB menu to select Rename. Then enter the desired name and click Enter. Rename the net connected to pin 4 to ~CE. Using a ~ will create an inverted pin name.

❸ Another way to control if the pin name is inverted or not is using True/False in the Properties window.

Adding Symbols with Named Net StubsAnother option would have been to add the nets when we placed the symbols in the schematic.

❶ From the Symbol viewer open the CorporateDemo library and find 74192.

❷ Before placing the symbol on the schematic check Add Nets and Add Net Names on the right side of the Symbol viewer.

❸ Now, place the symbol into the schematic.❹ Notice that all pins have net stubs connected and they

are all named according to the corresponding to the pin.

❺ Remove this symbol and its connected net stubs.


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Setting Properties for PartsProperty Visibility

❶ If it’s not already open, then open the Properties pane by selecting the Properties icon or by selecting the modeless command CTRL-ALT-A.

❷ Using the LMB, select the IC on the left side.Note: The properties for that component are displayed in the Property Editor

❸ To make a property type visible you can check the box next to the Property. Check the box next to PKG_TYPE. Notice PKG_TYPE is now shown below the symbol.

❹ To make only the value visible check the box next to SO24L and uncheck the box next to PKG_TYPE. Now only the value SO24 is visible.


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Adding New Properties

❶ To add a new property on the schematic the property must be defined in the Property Definition Editor (Tools > Property Definition Editor). This helps users stan-dardize on required properties within the company and also prevents typing mistakes.Note: After making a change you will have to exit and re-invoke DxDesigner before the properties are available for assignment.

❷ If the Property window is still open and the IC on the left is still selected then we will add a property. In the Property window click in the blank cell at the bottom of the list and select PART_NUMBER from the list.

❸ Enter 510_5V_IC for Value.❹ Using the LMB select the IC on the right side of the

schematic.❺ Enter the following property information:

PART_NUMBER = 506_5V_ICDATASHEET = C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Datasheets\ CD54HC192.PDFNote: This last step links the part to a datasheet. A link can be made to any type of document or website. The document can be launched directly from the schematic.

❻ Select the symbol and then use the RMB menu and select Open Hyperlink > DATASHEET.Note: This process launches Adobe Acrobat with the appro-priate datasheet.

❼ Select the Close Window button in the upper right, to close down Adobe Acrobat.


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Change/Edit Properties

❶ Select the resistor on the bottom left.❷ Add or change the following properties:

DEVICE RESISTOR1206PART_NUMBER 107-RESPKG_TYPE CC1206VALUE 5.1KTOLERANCE 1%POWER 250mW

❸ Select the resistor on the top left.❹ Add or change the following properties:

DEVICE RESISTOR1206PART_NUMBER 101-RESPKG_TYPE CC1206VALUE 10KTOLERANCE 1%POWER 250mW


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Adding Properties to Parts Simultaneously

❶ Using the LMB, select one of the capacitors.❷ Holding the CTRL key and using LMB, click on each of

the other two capacitors.Note: All three of the capacitors are selected and their prop-erties are listed in the Property Editor.

❸ In the Properties window click in the blank cell at the bottom of the list to add a new property.

❹ In the Property field select PART_NUMBER.❺ In the Value field enter 12301-CAP.❻ Select Enter to complete the property assignment.

Now if you select each capacitor individually you will notice they all have the same PART_NUMBER property.

❼ Add the following properties to all three capacitors.DEVICE CAPNONPOLPKG_TYPE CC1206VALUE 10UTOLERANCE 5%VOLTAGE 16V

❽ When you have finished adding the properties, review the assignment on each individual part, then close the schematic sheet.


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Working with the Bus ModelCreating a Bus

❶ Begin by starting a new schematic: File > New > Sche-matic.

❷ The new schematic is now found in the Blocks section on the Project Navigator and it is called Schematic1.

❸ Place 2 instances of the symbol SymbolTest. To accom-plish this, select the DxDataBook icon, then select the Show Library Symbols View icon. Once this is com-plete expand the CorporateDemo library using the [+]character and highlight the SymbolTest symbol. At this point you can click the Place Symbol button to place them on the schematic.Note: You could also enter SymbolTest into the search field above the results display area and let DxDatabook find any matches in the list of libraries.

❹ Next, zoom in to the left side of the symbols.❺ Using the Bus icon place a vertical bus labeled

“A[15:0]” to the left of the symbols.Note: Label the bus by assigning the A[15:0] value to the Name property for the bus.


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Connecting a Bus to Component NetsThere are 2 ways to connect these symbols to this bus. The first method connects the nets from the bus to the compo-nent.

❶ The first step is selecting the bus and using the RMB > Rip Nets menu pick. Click with the RMB where you would like the first net to connect (directly across from the second pin on the left…below CLK). This will display a dialog box allowing the user to select the nets that are to be used. In this example, we are going to use A[15:8] from the Rip Nets dialog to connect to the top symbol. NOTE: If you do not see the Rip Nets menu pick then you may need to click into the design view to unselect the bus and then try again.

❷ Clicking the OK button will place the nets on the bus starting where you last clicked. When the net lines are in-line and touching the symbol pins, click the LMB to connect them.

❸ When you release your mouse the nets will be con-nected.NOTE: The yellow properties are the “ripped bit indicator.” These indicate which bit of the bus is attached to a particular net.


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Connecting Component Nets to a BusThis is the second way to connect these symbols to this bus. This method connects the nets from the component to the bus..

❶ Connect unnamed nets to the component using the Add Nets icon. Once all nets are added be sure they are all selected.

❷ Next use the Add Properties Mode icon to invoke the Add Properties dialog box, and set the following.

• Type = Net• Property = Name• Prefix = A• Value Dec= 7 and Delta = -1

This will name all of the nets and allow you to use the cursor to drag them to connect up to the bus.

❸ When the nets are over the bus, click the LMB to con-nect them.


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Review Questions

1 Do I need to connect every net at all points?2 Why add names to nets?3 Which properties should I make visible in my designs?4 When would I add properties to parts simultaneously?5 Why would I use a bus to represent connectivity of multiple connections?

Review Answers

1 As long as the schematic accurately represents the desired connectivity, it is not necessary to connect every net to all points. Connectivity can be established by naming the nets, and as long as all net stubs are identically named, connectivity will exist.

2 In addition to establishing connectivity, net names also help identify signals in very complex designs. Some designers will name their nets with a convention that represents the source and destination of the net (such as FPGA_A\S3_A_MEM_A_ADDR0). This makes it easy to identify the purpose and connectivity of a net just by examining the name.

3 Which properties you choose to make visible is primarily a decision based upon the intent of the docu-ment. Most designers choose to have reference designators (REFDES) visible along with component values, tolerances, wattages and component names. This is a very individual decision and each company may find it necessary to set their own standard. DxDesigner allows you to set visibility of properties down to the individual component level.

4 If your design contains a quantity of identical components, it may save a lot of time if you select the group of components (either in the workspace or through the Navigator) and then assign/change the proper-ties for all of the components simultaneously. This helps to promote uniformity and continuity across the design. Remember to verify the components with DxDataBook when you have finished the design.

5 Connectivity can be accomplished by using individual nets to connect each point, or by naming each of the nets. Showing all of the connections on a schematic can make the schematic difficult to read and add unnecessary visual clutter. An alternative is to use a bus to represent a group of nets (such as an address or data bus) that connect to a number of points (or sheets). This allows you to show the connections at the components but represent the group across the design with a single (wide) net line. The bus is identified with a label that shows all of the signals represented by the bus (such as ADDR_BUS_0:15).


Wiring the Schematic 71

Lesson 7: Rules and ConstraintsDxDesigner has a built-in constraint system. This constraint management system allows PCB physical constraints to be passed with netlist/partlist data into a compatible CAD tool (PADS Layout). The constraint information can consist of routing clearance constraints, routing constraints, and high speed con-straints. Advanced rules like differential pairs, component and

class rules can also be defined and managed directly from DxDe-signer. When you select an object in the schematic, it appears with currently assigned constraints in the editor. In this edi-tor, constraint modifications are as easy as changing attribute/properties. Constraint passing is controlled either during netlist generation or through direct integration with PADS Layout.

Entering ConstraintsSwitching Projects

❶ Open the Navigator window by selecting the Navigator icon or by using the CTRL-ALT-T hotkey.

❷ Using the RMB click on Lesson7 (or the active project) to activate the pop-up menu.

❸ Select Open Project.❹ Browse back to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson7❺ Select the Lesson7.prj file.❻ Select the Open button to complete the process.❼ If any files were open, a dialog like the one shown will

pop up. Select Yes. ❽ Click the [+] next to Boards to expand it.❾ Double Click LMB on Corporate to open the first sheet

of the schematic. ❿ Select the [+] next to Corporate to see all the schematic

sheets.

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Rules and Constraints72

Review the Constraints Definition

❶ Place the cursor in a vacant part of the schematic work-ing area.

❷ Select the Zoom Area icon and generate a zoom box around the upper left hand corner of the screen.

❸ To open the Constraint Definition dialog select View > Other Windows > Constraints.Note: The Constraints file is part of your project settings in Setup > Settings > Project dialog.

❹ If you reviewed the Constraint setup dialog in the previous step, select Cancel button to exit the Setup > Settings dialog.

❺ Using the LMB click on the CLK_IN net from within the working area of the schematic.Note: If you are not able to select the net you may need to modify your Selection Filter settings. You can do this with the Selection Filter button.

❻ With the net selected the Constraint Editor now shows the constraints associated with this net. We can change constraints just like we changed properties.

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Rules and Constraints 73

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Changing Constraints

❶ With the CLK_IN net still selected, we will edit the constraints.

❷ Using the LMB, double click on the constraint value for Length Min and change it to 1000. Then change Length Max to 2000.

❸ On the bottom of the Constraints dialog, notice the Route tab.

❹ Select the Route tab and change the Autoroute setting to False.

❺ On the bottom of the Constraints window, select the Clearance tab and change the Trace-to-Trace clearance from 6 to 4.

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Creating a Constraints Class

❶ While CLK_IN is still selected click Create New Class from Settings in the bottom of the Constraints win-dow.

❷ At the prompt enter the new class name CLOCK2.❸ Select the OK button to add the new class name. If you

see a pop-up asking for permission to overwrite the existing class pick Yes. Notice the net CLK_IN automati-cally gets assigned that class name.

❹ Let’s reset CLK_IN back to default by selecting the down arrow to the right of the PCBCLASS property. Select CLOCKS from the list.

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Applying a Constraints Class

❶ Use the Home key to zoom full and then using the Zoom icon, create a box over the upper right hand corner of the page.

❷ Select the net CLK_3584MEG.❸ From within the Constraint dialog, select pull down ar-

row inside the value box next to PCBCLASS.❹ Select the class called CLOCKS. This will add

CLK_3584MEG net to the class along with other nets assigned to that class.

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Creating a Differential Pair

❶ Use the Home key to zoom full and then using the Zoom icon, create a scroll box over the upper left hand corner of the page.

❷ Using the LMB double click the signal called BSYNC-.❸ Open the Properties window if it’s not open already.

Note: If it was not open already, then it will open near the Constraints window.

❹ Where Diff Pair is located assign BSYNC+.❺ While holding down the CTRL key, use the LMB key to

select the BSYNC+ signal. Note: At this point both BSYNC+ and BSYNC- should be se-lected and seen in the Constraints window.

❻ Select the Make Differential Pair icon (if not already selected) in the Constraints window, a new tab named “Differential Pair” will appear. Select the Differential Pair tab to view the constraint options.

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Creating a Differential Pair (Continued)

❼ Select the Constraint name Gap in the Differential Pair tab to first select the entire row.

❽ Then select the cell for BSYNC+ (the left-most net cell) in the Gap Constraint row.

❾ At the prompt “Are you sure you want to edit this cell? The value will be applied to all 2 selected cells.”, select the Yes box.

❿ Set the Gap to 4.0 mils and press Enter. Both values are changed to the 4.0 mil gap setting.Note: You may need to adjust the column sizes so you can see the property values for both nets. To do so, simply place the cursor over the column edge, hold the LMB and drag to the appropriate direction.

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Review Questions

1 Why would I want to use rules and constraints?2 If constraints are added in the schematic, can they be edited during the layout process?3 When would I want to use a Constraints Class?4 Can I assign different constraints to individual differential pairs in my design?

Review Answers

1 Rules and constraints help establish structure in the design. Not all signals in a design can be routed together without introducing interference and/or crosstalk. Rules and constraints allow you to cre-ate specific routing conditions for each signal (or signal type) in the design, each with its own set of spacing and layer assignment rules. The more complex the design, the more helpful these rules and constraints will be.

2 Constraints created in the schematic are passed to the Layout environment. Once the design is in Lay-out, any changes made to the constraints can be back annotated to the schematic to keep the design data in synchronization.

3 Sometimes you will want to assign the same constraint (spacing, net length, etc.) to a group of similar nets. Rather than do this individually, you can group these nets into a class and then any constraints assigned to the class will be automatically assigned to all of the nets in that class. This also simplifies the process of making edits or changes.

4 The Constraint system in DxDesigner is extremely flexible and will allow the designer to assign rules and constraints to a large variety of design elements including groups of nets, individual nets, differ-ential pairs (including at the individual pair level) and even down to individual pin pairs. Being able to exercise this level of control over the design helps the designer to meet the most demanding require-ments.

Lesson 8: Variant ManagerThe Variant Manager is a utility that helps manage PCB sub-assemblies from the schematic level. The bill of materials is typically generated here and can represent the entire schematic or any variant defined in the Variant Manager dialog.Variant modifications can include Populated Components, Sub-stituted Components and Depopulated Components. Multiple variants can exist in a single design with the ability to automati-cally generate schematics and BOMs representing each listed variant.

Variants defined in DxDesigner can be exported to PADS Layout so the Assembly Variant utility inside PADS Layout can generate the necessary assembly drawings based on each variant passed from DxDesigner. This capability accommodates the passing of variants from the front end tool all of the way through to the backend tools so that required documentation can be processed quickly and easily with accuracy.

Launching Variant Manager

❶ Start DxDesigner, select File > Open> Project and select C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson8\Lesson8.prj.

❷ Launch Variant Manager using View > Other Windows > Variants

❸ A new window will open for Variant Manager. If it shows “No Project Loaded” then you simply need to Click on Corporate in the Navigator to open a sche-matic sheet.

Creating New VariantsVariant Manager is used to create a unique BOM for variants of schematics. For example, you may need to produce designs which are basically the same except one has an extra bank of memory installed. Variant Manager will allow you to create a unique BOM, schematic for documentation, and reports of the variant differences.

Variant Manager

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The General Tab

❶ First review the Settings for the Variants you are about to create by clicking the Settings icon .

❷ There are four tabs in this dialog. First, look at the General tab. The General Tab will have settings for the naming of unplaced parts as well as several report options. The Unplaced keyword will show in the ap-propriate cell for parts that you choose to Unplace. You can control the keyword used in this tab of the Settings dialog.

Reviewing the Variant Manager SettingsBefore creating new variants, review the current settings and familiarize yourself with the available options.

The CAE Interaction Tab

❶ The CAE Interaction tab provides display options for variant schematics. You can Delete, Markup or Color the unplaced symbols in each variant.

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The Library Query Setup Tab

❶ The Library Query Setup tab will allow you to define and edit how the project will interact with the Library database. In the first section you will point to the cor-rect .dbc file using the browse icon. The Define Libraries icon will allow you to edit your DxDataBook configuration. For this lesson the setup is done for you but you can refer to the Appendix at the end of this lesson if you are using your own database.

❷ The Query settings section allows you to control the database search when using the Replace function. You want to allow enough results to be returned from each library by setting the Results/library value large enough. You can use replacement parts from many libraries but to do so you need to make the Results to-tal number larger than the number of results returned from each individual library. The Part number property should be set to DEVICE.

❸ The Output format will also control your database query results. The Part number feedback line will al-low you to display more information about a particular part. This will be shown later.

❹ The Query results format will control the results shown for the Replace function. This will control the columns displayed and filter options to help you choose a re-placement part. Note: Because we have Part Number Property tied to DEVICE we also want to be sure DEVICE is included in the Query results format.

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The PADS Tab

❶ The last tab is PADS. This allows you to define the correct property to associate with Part Number for the output files. In this case use DEVICE.

Creating Variants

❶ As you can see nothing has been defined yet. Start by selecting the Variant Definition Icon .

❷ From the Variant Definition dialog create two variants by clicking on the Create New Variant icon twice.

❸ Rename the two variants Variant1 and Variant2 respec-tively. Note: Using the LMB, double click the cell to edit.

❹ Fill in the Number and Descriptions as shown.❺ The Variant Groups Tab in the dialog above is helpful

for sorting or filtering specific variants when there are many in a single project. The groups you setup here will be available from the drop-down shown below in the main window.

❻ Click OK to exit this dialog.

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Defining VariantsNow that you have configured Variant Manager and created two variants you will define the specific variant parameters.

Unplacing Parts

❶ Using the LMB, select in the cell under the Variant1 column, next to C35. Variant Manager allows the cross-probing from the schematic into a variant and vise-versa.

❷ Be sure the Transmit and Receive mode icons are both selected to enable cross-probing.

❸ Select the [-] next to the schematic sheet Analog_Switch to compress the view.Note: If you don't see the Analog_Switch [+] icon, make sure that Flat Design View is unchecked.

❹ Find IOPort1 and Unplace all of the components in that block. This can be done by selecting the LMB to select cell next to the IO_Port definition in Variant1, followed by selecting the RMB to open the pop-up menu. Select the Unplaced option from this menu to unplace all parts on this Hier sheet.

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Change Multiple Parts Simultaneously

❶ To change a few select parts simultaneously, using the LMB select C32 first within the Variant1 column. Using the LMB and holding the CTRL key, select C33 and C34. Select the RMB while over one of those Ref Des and select Reset. Notice only those 3 reset and contain no variant instructions within Variant1 column.

Replacing (Substituting) Parts

❶ Now, instead of unplacing all parts, we will substitute new parts. For Variant2 select the cell for C16, select the RMB popup and select Replace.

❷ After selecting Replace you will see a new window of possible parts for replacement.Note: The columns come from the settings in a previous les-son. All of the replacement parts have the same PKG_TYPE as the original part because we set the VM Match to PKG_TYPE = in our .dbc configuration as shown in the Appendix at the end of this lesson document.

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Sorting Parts

❶ The columns in this window not only provide additional information but they also act as filters. Select one of the column headers and notice you can either sort (ascending or descending) or filter (on available values) based upon the part you are looking for.

❷ Replace C16 with the smallest value available for a capacitor. This can be done by selecting the VALUE column and then sort ascending and double click the first part available.

Flatten the Design View

❶ Select the check box next to Flat Design View to flatten the schematic Ref Des list.

❷ Now use the design view to find Sheet 1 and select R8 in the upper right corner. When you select the part in the design view it will also select in the Variant Man-ager.

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Replacing Parts Across Libraries

❶ We are going to swap this resistor with a capacitor in Variant2. With R8 highlighted, select the RMB over the cell contained within the Variant2 column and select Replace.Notice that you also have the option to replace parts across libraries.Note: Don’t forget that you can also filter on Library if you know what Library your replacement part is in.

❷ Using the LMB, double click the first capacitor in the list to apply it.

❸ Save your work by clicking the Save icon but do not Exit.

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Generating Variant OutputsNow that you have created two variants we will need to gener-ate schematics, pass the information to PADS for layout and create BOMs.

Create Variant/Function Schematics

❶ Close all open schematic sheets but one so that the Variant Manager will remain active. Note: Use File > Close or the [X] in the top right of the work-space to close any additional active sheet.

❷ To create the variant schematics simply click to select the Variant1 column and then click the Create Variant/Function Schematics icon.

❸ After doing so you will notice a prompt opens in the de-sign view informing you that “DxDesigner is in Variant Manager Mode (All schematics are read only). Variant name: Variant1”

❹ Use the navigator to find Sheet 5 and select IO_port1. Select the RMB while over IO_Port1 and select Push. Note: The parts represented in blue are the ones we un-placed in Variant1.Note: We set a particular color for all unplaced variant parts (teal). This was setup in a previous lesson.

Note: We also had the option to Markup rather than color unplaced parts which would have resulted as shown above.

Or, we could have configured the Variant Man-ager to delete unplaced parts as shown.

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Generating the Variant BOM Reports

❶ To generate the BOMs you can click the RMB in the Variant window and select Report > BOM Reports from the pop-up menu.

❷ A new dialog opens and you can choose the desired output file type. Select Microsoft Excel.

❸ Select Variant1 and 2. Define an output location. In this case we will output to C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Les-son8 and name it Variant_BOM.xls.

❹ Generate a BOM report for the Master and both Vari-ants using the settings shown above.

❺ After clicking OK all three reports are generated in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson8 directory as shown.

❻ Open each report in Excel and observe the differences. In this graphic notice the file names at the top show master on the left, then Variant1 middle and Variant2 on the right. A few differences have been highlighted so you can see that Variant Manager has generated the BOMs correctly.

❼ From the Report menu you can also generate spread-sheet views of your variants for documentation. Experiment by creating a report for your variant and then view the output file. For example, select HTML Document.

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Appendix: Configuring Variant ManagerThis appendix contains some of the errors you might see if your session of Variant Manager is not configured properly.

Configuration

❶ Before creating a variant you will need to set the Vari-ant Match condition in your Databook .dbc file.Note: This VM Match condition column is only visible from the configuration within Variant Manager. If you try to edit the configuration from DxDataBook then you will not see this column.

Be sure you have the VM Match column in each library set so PKG_TYPE is =.

❷ If you fail to configure the VM Match condition correct-ly then you will see multiple package types available for replacement as shown.

❸ Be sure DEVICE is added to the Query results.❹ If you fail to do this then you may see an error message

when choosing a replacement part.❺ Be sure the PADS tab links Part Number to DEVICE. If

you haven’t done this then the replace menu will be grayed out and you will not have parts listed in the Part Number column.

❻ The properties are case sensitive. Check your data-base configuration for property cases. For example, a configuration might show the value Device rather than DEVICE.

❼ If you have a case sensitivity problem then you may see an error message when replacing a part.

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Variant Manager 91


Review Questions

1 When would I want to use variants?2 Is PADS Layout aware of variants to the BOM that are created in DxDesigner?3 Can I have more than two variants in a design?4 How do I get the variant data to Manufacturing and Purchasing?

Review Answers

1 Many products are built around the concept of a core product design and a number of optional features. DxDesigner supports this type of design through the use of variants. Each variant design can have specific components installed, uninstalled or substituted. Using the Variant Manager, separate BOMs can be specified and tracked.

2 The variant data is also forwarded to PADS Layout so that individualized Assembly Drawings can be created for each design variant.

3 Variant Manager allows you to create as many variants of the design as you need.4 Variant Manager supports a wide variety of output formats so that you can deliver the information to

downstream users in a suitable configuration. Data can be output in HTML, text, Excel spreadsheet, CSV files, and other formats so that Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing and others can all share the same design data.

Lesson 9: Generating the BOM (Bill of Materials)

Opening the Partlister

❶ Select File > Open> Project to Open C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Lesson9\Lesson9.prj.

❷ From the pull down menu, select Tools > Part Lister.❸ If a Prompt appears “One or more documents are

modified. Save before Running Command?” appears, select the Yes button to save the edits.

❹ A new Part Lister dialog will appear. These options af-fect the partlist content.

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This exercise will show you how to export BOMs from DxDe-signer. There are several optional output formats available but for this exercise we will focus on creating an HTML output file format.

Generating the BOM (Bill of Materials)92

Partlister Property Selection

❶ Select the Columns tab.❷ The list on the left side of the dialog will contain all of

the properties currently in the design. By using the four icons above the list, you will be able to add, remove and modify the order of the property columns included in the output.

Adding An Property

❶ With nothing in the list selected, click the New icon to add a new property at the end of the list.Note: To add an property in the middle of the list, click on the list item directly above the location where you wish to add the new property. You can also use the Up and Down Arrow icons to reposition the order of the properties in the list.

❷ Enter the Column Label Name DESCRIPTION.Note: This dialog is context sensitive. Be sure to use upper case for Names.

❸ Verify that Property is selected for the Type and for the Property Name, select DESCRIPTION from the drop down list to specify the content of the column.

❹ Enter a Column Width of 50.❺ Enter 0 for the decimal places.❻ The new attrubute is now complete.

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Generating the BOM (Bill of Material) 93

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Editing An Property

❶ Double-click the cursor over the Column Label Name COST. This will allow you to edit the name.

❷ Change the Column Label Name from C0ST to COST. Note: COST is spelled with a Zero (0) and it should be an O.

❸ You can rename any of the Column Label Names as your reporting needs change.

Increasing the Page Size

❶ Keep in mind if you add additional properties you may have to increase the page size. To do this, select the Advanced tab, check Split into pages and enter the appropriate values for the numer of lines each. For this lesson set it to 150.

Specifying the Output Type

❶ Select the General tab.❷ You can setup the desired output type (Text File, HTML

or EXCEL) by selecting the pull-down located next to the “Output Format” parameter. Set this output to Text File.


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Run the Partlister

❶ Using the LMB click OK at the bottom of the Part Lister. This will initiate the generation of the report.

❷ Expand the view of the BOM to fit the full screen.Note: This is just one example of a BOM. Many different formats can be created including an HTML version that can be opened inside a web browser or an Excel version that can be viewed and edited within Microsoft Excel.

❸ Select File/Exit to close the Notepad file.❹ Select File/Exit to exit to close DxDesigner.


Generating the BOM (Bill of Material) 95

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Review Questions

1 Is a BOM a printed report or a data file?2 How much detail can be contained in a BOM?3 Will a BOM show detail for each part or condense the list of identical parts?4 Can I save a BOM setup for use in a future design?

Review Answers

1 The BOM can be output in a number of different formats to suit the needs of the target audience, including Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, text files, CSV files and others.

2 A BOM can contain as much or as little detail as you require. During the setup of the BOM, you will be offered a number of options allowing you to fully customize the report.

3 The BOM can be configured to show both. Typically, you would show a condensed listing that would have one entry for each different component and a field that indicates all of the REDESs that use that particular component. Alternately, you can also include a listing that includes one entry for each com-ponent in the design.

4 You can save specific BOM configurations in the Reports dialog. These will be stored with the PADS Layout application configuration and available in future Layout sessions.


This exercise will walk you through the process of selecting a net for simulation, reviewing Simulation Models assigned in DxDe-signer, importing a net into HyperLynx, performing an analysis and saving the results for future use.

Lesson 10: DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim Using LineSim Link and Simulation

DxDesigner LineSim LinkDxDesigner LineSim Link can export a net to HyperLynx LineSim for pre-layout simulation.

❶ In DxDesigner Select File > Open > Project and select C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson10\Lesson10.prj.

❷ Using the LMB, double click the schematic called CORPORATE in the Project Navigator.

❸ Using the LMB, double click memory in the project tree.

❹ Using the MMB zoom around the upper left IC shown on the ‘memory’ page.

❺ Using the LMB select the IC U14. and review the SIM_MODEL property associated with the IC that appears in the Properties window. Note: You may need to scroll the Properties window to see this property.

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DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim 97

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DxDesigner LineSim Link (continued)

❻ Using the LMB select the net DATA_BUS0 starting from U14.13. When the net highlights, click the RMB and select LineSim Link from the menu.

❼ In the LineSim Link dialog, select Load Data from DxDesigner and check the radio button Complete Schematic (export including interconnections) in the Schematic Contents section. Note: In the LineSim dialog the user can change parameters to the Transmission Line Properties. We will not make any changes and use the default settings.

❽ In the LineSim Link dialog, select the Schematic Topol-ogy tab where we will review the drivers and receivers for this net. Expand both Electrical Net 1 and DATA-BUS0 by selecting the [+] next to each of them. Note: U11 is set as a driver and U14 and U28 as receivers.

❾ In the LineSim Link dialog, switch back to the Options tab and select Export to HyperLynx. This will create the HyperLynx LineSim schematic and launch HyperLynxSelect File > Open Schematic and select the DATA_BUS0.fff file. This net then loads for simulation and two models are assigned from DxDesigner.

DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim98

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❿ In HyperLynx, select the Edit Stackup icon. The cross section of the future board is defined as a 6 layer board and we will use it as is.

⓫ You will now assign a missing model to U11. Select U11 and RBM to select Assign Models from the menu. In the Assign Models dialog, click the Select button.

⓬ In the Select IC Model dialog that displays, the xc9500.ibs Library highlights. Scroll down the Devices column until you can see and select XC95216_BGA352[SLW=0;VIO=0] and select OK.

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⓭ In the Assign Models dialog, the U11.io now highlights.Select Output in the Buffer settings area and click OK to apply the assignment and close the dialog. All models are now assigned and ready for simulation.

⓮ In HyperLynx, select the Run Interactive Simulation ----- button and select the Rising Edge radio button.Make sure different colors are assigned to the probes, and select Start Simulation. Using the LMB, click two points in the Oscilloscope window as shown at the top and bottom of the overshoot of the waveform to re-view the span of the voltage overshoot. Receivers have a lot of voltage overshoot (about 2.1V).

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⓯ We want to save the results of the simulation for future use with the routed board. In the Digital Oscilloscope window, select the Save/Load button, select the HyperLynx .LIS radio button and then click the Save As button. Save the file with name DATA_BUS0_no_termination.lis.

⓰ To fix the Signal Integrity problems, we will add RC Termination to the U28.13 receiver. Select the Add RC Termination button and position the top of the resistor so that it touches the left blue dot at the output of TL2 .

DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx LineSim

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⓱ To assign values to the terminators, select the Run Terminator Wizard ___ _ button. Select the Apply Tolerance pull down and use the 5% setting. Select the Apply Values button to assign the value to the terminators and select the OK button.

⓲ Rerun the simulation with RC Termination and the values assigned. You will notice that we cut down the overshoot by more than double (about 935mV). We can continue to refine it to make it better but we will leave it as is.

⓳ Save the results as we did in Step 12 with file name: DATA_BUS0_terminated.lis.

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Review Questions

1 When would I want to use HyperLynx LineSim?2 How does HyperLynx LineSim know how the signal will perform on the printed circuit board?3 How does HyperLynx LineSim fix signals that don’t perform as expected?4 Does HyperLynx LineSim select the actual components for terminators?

Review Answers

1 HyperLynx LineSim lets you model critical signals in your design and attempts to predict their expected behavior in the final board design. You can model a signal, use the tool to experiment with corrective measures and save the simulations for future results comparisons.

2 HyperLynx LineSim uses industry standard component models to predict signal behaviors along with sophisticated internal algorithms and proprietary technologies.

3 HyperLynx LineSim features Wizards that can suggest possible modifications to your signal chain to correct aberrations and performance issues. Simply run the Wizard and the system will present you with suggestions to correct signal integrity issues.

4 HyperLynx LineSim offers suggested values for terminators, not specific part numbers. It is up to the user to determine which manufacturer’s part number will meet the required specifications for the design.

This exercise will walk you through the process of simulating with HyperLynx Analog. Assigning simulation models to compo-nents, and running DC, transient, and AC simulations.Simulating circuits prior to or concurrently with pcb design en-sures the circuit works right the first time by eliminating wiring

Lesson 11: DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analogand polarity errors. HyperLynx Analog is easy to use, fast to setup and no longer requires library preparation.For a video demo, using a similar circuit for the features in this lesson and more, see: http://www.mentor.com/products/pcb-system-design/multimedia/better-pcb-analog-design-webinar

HyperLynx Analog SetupThis section will demonstrate how to use the simulation capabili-ties of HyperLynx Analog.

❶ In DxDesigner, select File > Open > Project and select C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson11\Lesson11.prj.

❷ Using the DxDesigner menu, turn on the licensing for Hy-perLynx Analog:a. Setup > Settings> Licensing, select the check box for HyperLynx Analog and Press OK.b. The HyperLynx Analog toolbar should appear. If not use the DxDesigner Menu, View > Toolbars > HLA Simulation.

❸ Using the LMB, double click on ‘Inst_Amp’ in the Navigator Block section.

❹ Click the Testbench Options icon, the leftmost icon on the HyperLynx Analog toolbar.In the Testbench Options: Inst_Amp dialog, select the HyperLynx Analog radio button and OK.

❺ This step is optional for a demo, if you have time constraints, it has been completed.The passive components have had SPICE properties added, but if the properties are not in a library, it is easy to add the SPICE properties to the capacitors C12 and C9. Select C12, RMB on the symbol and select Simulation Model Properties to view that a model is assigned as Built In (SPICE).While C12 is still selected, select the Capacitors and verify in the Properties Window that Order=VALUE$ and VALUE=0.22u.

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DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog104

Adding SPICE PropertiesThis step is optional for the evaluation, if you have time con-straints, it has been completed.

❶ Add the SPICE properties to the Op Amp. Go to www.ana-log.com, search for ad8638 spice and download the SPICE model (a copy AD8638.cir is in the project directory)

❷ Select the DxDesigner menu, Tools > Convert PSPICE librar-ies, and select the downloaded file. The file AD8638.cir has been saved in the project directory.This converts the file to one with an HLA prefix, and .lib suffix.

❸ Select the first OPAMP and click Right Mouse Button to launch the Simulation Model Properties Dialog and select ADD.

❹ Continue adding the SPICE properties to the op amp...• Select SPICE from the dropdown• Select the Model File radio button• Browse to the converted model file, HLA_AD8638.lib• Select AD8638

❺ Press OK, to close Model Properties, but stay in the Simula-tion Model Properties dialog.

❻ Continue on adding the SPICE properties to the op amp…Select the Pin Mapping tab, and then View Model button, and arrange it to see the pin numbers.Press OK when finished.

❼ For the remaining 3 OPAMPS, make assignments for each in the Spice Model Properties. The pin assignment changes made for the first opamp will be cached. Simply RMB on the opamp symbol, select Spice Model Properties and press OK to attach the model to the symbol.

❽ Select all 4 opamps, and verify the Properties, especially the Order property . Verify this property: Order=Model$

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1. Unselect incorrect items to create a list

2. Select the correct pinout from the list


105DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog

http://www.analog.com

http://www.analog.com

Setting Up the Signal SourcesThis step is optional for the evaluation, if you have time con-straints, it has been completed. Simply open the source dialog to show how sources can be prepared.

❶ Here we will setup the signal sources; this is done by activating the Sources icon.

❷ We will add 2 DC sources.❸ Add VDD as a DC source at 10V with input nodes of

PWR and 0, 0 is the GND node.❹ Add Offset as a DC source at 5V with input nodes of

NEG_INPUT and 0.❺ The results appear as shown in the Sources dialog.❻ Add a third source, this will be a combination source

with DC, AC and Transient properties❼ The completed Sources dialog should appear as shown.

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106 DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog

Editing the Simulation Dialog

❶ The final setup step is to edit the Simulation dialog by pressing the Simulate Design icon.

❷ Review the Simulations information.❸ Review the DC Analysis information.❹ Review the Time Domain Analysis information.❺ Review the Frequency Analysis information.❻ Review the Operating Point Values information.❼ Press the Simulate button.❽ Review the results in the output window

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107DxDesigner Integration with HyperLynx Analog

Viewing the Results in EZwave

❶ When simulation completes, EZWave opens automati-cally. It can also be opened with the toolbar.

❷ Select AC to show the waveform names in the lower left window pane and drag V(amp_out) onto the work-space to view the AC results.

❸ Select TRAN to show the transient waveform results and drag (Vamp_out) next to Workspace1 to create a new Transient waveform window.

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Using the Measurement Tool

❶ Use the Measurement tool, Tools > Measurement to find the Peak to Peak voltage and the frequency.

❷ Select the Measurement type.Hint: Select desired waveform and press this icon to assign.

❸ The measurement annotation can be selected and moved to view.For more power, EzWave has a tutorial, see Help >Tutorial!

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Review Questions

1 What models can be used for HyperLynx Analog simulation?2 Can HyperLynx Analog simulation results be back annotated to Schematic?3 Can measurements be performed in ezWave window?

Review Answers

1 Spice models can be used for HyperLynx Analog simulation.2 Yes, by selecting the 'Show Back Annotation' button, Schematic will be updated.3 Yes, in ezWave window you can measure different parameters of the wave form. For Example Pick to

Pick voltage or Frequency.

This exercise will walk you through the process of connecting DxDesigner to PADS Layout to exchange design data. In addi-tion, you will see how to save yourself time and effort using a

Software IntegrationThis lesson will highlight the basic tasks utilized in Forward An-notation to PADS Layout, dispersing components, cross-probing, placement and moving components.

powerful feature known as cross-probing. This allows you to easily select parts in DxDesigner and then see those parts ready for placement in PADS.

Lesson 12: DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration

DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration 111


PCB Forward Annotation Automated Process The easiest way to pass data into PADS Layout is through DxDe-signer Link. This is available within PADS Layout from the menu Tools > DxDesigner.

Connecting Applications with DxDesigner Link

❶ If DxDesigner is open, close it. Open PADS Layout by clicking on the PADS Layout icon on the Desktop (or by selecting it from the Windows Start icon > All Pro-grams > Mentor Graphics SDD > PADS 9.XX > Design Layout & Routing > PADS Layout).Note: This location may vary depending on the install direc-tory and version of PADS Layout software. Make the appro-priate adjustments based on the installation.

❷ From the PADS Layout pull down menu, select File > Open.

❸ Browse for C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson12\Les-son12.pcb and select the Open button.

❹ From the PADS Layout pull down menu, select Tools > DxDesigner…

❺ The DxDesigner Link dialog will pop up.❻ In the “DxDesigner Project File” field, select the

Browse button and search for the C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Lesson12\Lesson12.prj file. Select the Connect button to establish the link.

❼ A DxDesigner session will be launched with the speci-fied project loaded. You have now established a bi-directional link between the applications.

❽ Split the screen so you have half the screen with DxDe-signer and half the screen with PADS Layout.Note: Do not close the DxDesigner Link dialog.

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Forward Annotating the Design to PADS Layout

❶ Select the Browse button in the “Forward/Backward configuration file” portion of the dialog. Select the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\padsNetlist.cfg configura-tion file.Note: From this window, you can Forward Annotate a netlist file to create a new PCB or forward an ECO to update an existing pcb file. You can also Backward Annotate changes from the PCB Layout to the Schematic. The last option is to Compare a schematic with a PCB layout and report the differ-ences.

❷ Select the Forward to PCB button from the DxDesigner Link dialog.

❸ Set the parameters in the Forward Annotation dialog as shown.

❹ Select OK to start the netlist passing activity.Note: The next window should indicate that the events were successful by placing a check next to each item. If there was a problem, an X would appear instead of the check. Then, you could select Show PCB.err or Show Report to see the details of the problem.

Note: During the Forward Annotation process, PADS Layout may remove single pin nets from the connectivity list as they are not candidates for routing. If an error report appears, read the contents to familiarize yourself with the types of reports that PADS Layout provides, and then close it

❺ Select Close to exit the Process Indicator window.❻ Now minimize the DxDesigner Link window by selecting

the Minimize button located in the upper right corner of the DxDesigner Link dialog.


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Dispersing Components

❶ From the PADS Layout pull down menu, select Tools > Disperse Components

❷ At the prompt, select Yes to start dispersing compo-nents.

❸ At the prompt, select Yes to allow undo.Notice the parts disperse around the board outline.


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Cross ProbingExperiment selecting components and nets in either the sche-matic or the PCB layout and watch the other program automati-cally highlight the corresponding item.Note: The cross probing functionality is supported in the DxDesigner pane windows as well as the PADS Layout window.



Selecting and Placing a Single Part

❶ In DxDesigner, enable the Navigator dialog (if not already visible). Select the memory sheet in the list of sheets.Note: You can use the PGDN keyboard key as well to switch sheets.

❷ In PADS Layout, select the Design icon located on the main toolbar, to open the Design Toolbar.

❸ From the Design Toolbar that just opened, select the Move icon.

❹ From within the DxDesigner memory sheet, select the component shown.

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116 DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration

Note: If the workspace zooms in on the part when it is brought into PADS Layout, you can go to the Selection tab in the DxDesigner Link dialog and select None in the Selec-tion Passing area. This will allow you to keep the view of the entire board so that you can more easily see where you are placing the component.


Selecting and Placing a Single Part (continued)

❺ Move your cursor over to PADS Layout and watch the part come to your cursor. It is ready for placement.

❻ Select the LMB to place the part anywhere within the board outline. Go back to DxDesigner and select a dif-ferent component on this page.

❼ Move your cursor over to PADS Layout a second time and watch the part come to your cursor again. This interactive feature improves your placement efficiency dramatically.

❽ Again, using the LMB, place the second part some-where on the board.

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Selecting a Different Schematic Page

❶ From within PADS Layout, select the Select Mode icon from the Design Toolbar. (It is located next to the move icon you selected previously.)

❷ Go back to DxDesigner. Using the LMB select an empty area on the screen.

❸ Hit the PAGE DN keyboard key to jump to the next page.

Selecting and Placing Multiple PartsYou can use the following procedure to quickly select and place all components related to each other on a single page.

Setting the Selection Filter

❶ Pick the Selection Filter icon found on the DxDesigner View toolbar.

❷ Uncheck the All selection.❸ Check only the Symbol filter.❹ Select the Close button in the upper right to close the

Selection Filter dialog.


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Group Selection in DxDesigner

❶ While on the schematic sheet control_buffers, select all the components associated with the CLK CONTROL SYSTEM circuit (as shown). Note: This can be accomplished by pressing and holding the LMB while dragging to create a selection box which can be used to surround the entire circuit.

❷ This will select all the equivalent parts inside the PADS layout via the OLE object linking capability.

❸ Move the cursor into the PADS Layout window

Move Sequential

❶ Select the RMB and select Move Sequential from the pop-up menu.

❷ At the prompt to "Proceed with next object?", select Yes to All.Note: One of the components selected in the schematic will now warp to your cursor, ready to be placed. Notice the equivalent part is also selected in DxDesigner.

❸ With the part located at the cursor, and the cursor over PADS Layout, select the RMB followed by Rotate 90 from the pop-up menu.

❹ Using the mouse, place the component somewhere on the board. The part can be release from the cursor by clicking the LMB in the desired placement location.


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Move Sequential (continued)

❺ Watch as the next component comes to your cursor. Place this component somewhere on the board near the other one.Note: The order of the parts moving to the cursor may vary based on selection order in the schematic. You also have the option to place parts in alphabetical order (this is the default).

❻ The next part snaps to your cursor and is highlighted in DxDesigner. Select the RMB followed by Flip Side to move the part to the bottom side of the design.

❼ To complete the placement process on any remaining parts simply move the cursor to the desired location followed by selecting the LMB.

❽ From within the PADS Layout application, select File > Exit to close PADS Layout.

❾ At the prompt “Save before quitting”, select No.❿ From within DxDesigner, select the File > Exit to close

out DxDesigner.


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Review Questions

1 Why use DxDesigner Link?2 Why would I want to disperse the components?3 Why is cross probing bidirectional?4 When would I want to select multiple components in the schematic?5 What is the advantage of Move Sequential?

Review Answers

1 When you have finished your schematic, you need to forward the design to PADS Layout for physical design. Instead of manually sending files back and forth, DxDesigner Link lets you establish a seamless bidirectional link between the applica-tions and automatically pass design data from one application to the other. This simplifies the process and eliminates any possible problems that might be encountered in a manual data exchange.

2 When you send the design data to PADS Layout, the system places all of the components at the origin of the design. As you pick parts in DxDesigner and place them in PADS Layout, the components are moved from the origin to the board. Having all of the components in that one location makes it difficult to visualize how many unplaced components you have left. It also makes it difficult to manually select a component from the stack. Dispersing the components separates them and places them in an orderly arrangement around the perimeter of the board. This lets you see each individual component and visual-ize the unplaced component quantity.

3 Cross probing lets you select a symbol in the schematic and then have it snap to your cursor in PADS Layout ready to place. Conversely, you can also select a component in PADS Layout and DxDesigner will automatically show you a view of the sheet that contains the symbol associated with the component. This bidirectional capability allows you to probe individual compo-nents as well as groups of components to aid in placement operations.

4 Selecting multiple components in the schematic is a common way of placing a related group of parts. For example, you could select all of the components in a power supply circuit and then bring your cursor into PADS Layout where all of the compo-nents in the group would be attached to the cursor. You could then drag the group to an isolated area of the workspace and arrange the components into a cluster. Once you have the placement of the components in the cluster optimized, you can then select the cluster in PADS Layout and move all of the components as a group to the desired area of the board.

5 Move sequential allows you to select a group of components and then move them one at a time as needed. You could select all of the components in a power supply circuit and then move your cursor into PADS Layout and select the Move Sequential command. Now the components will appear one at a time at your cursor, and as you place each one, the next one will attach to the cursor. This allows you to place the components in Layout one at a time until you have completed the placement of the power supply.



DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration122


Placement & Routing with PADS Layout

In this section:

� Environment � Setting Up a New Design � Creating a New Component � Placement � Rules and Constraints � Interactive Routing � Creating Plane Layers � RF Related Options � Verification

123

Lesson 13: The PADS Layout Environment

Welcome ScreenThe PADS Welcome screen is a collection of helpful links that will help you to become a PADS expert very quickly. This screen contains tutorial information, videos, help features and a concepts guide to help minimize the learning curve. This content will help you to become productive in a very short time.

❶ Open the PADS Layout software by either clicking on the PADS Layout icon located on the desktop or by selecting it from the Start > All Programs > Mentor Graphics SDD > PADS9.XX > Design Layout & Routing > PADS Layout pull-down.

❷ Now that PADS Layout is open we can make ourselves familiar with the working environment. Let’s take a look at the Welcome screen.NOTE: Do not select “Start a New Design” or “Open a De-sign” item at this time. Just review the content. If you select either of these items you will need to close and restart PADS Layout to gain access to this welcome screen again.

❸ Select Help and take note of all of the resources avail-able. From the Help menu select Documentation and open the InfoHub to see additional documents for all products in the flow and links to customer support on SupportNet.

❹ Select Help > Modeless Commands to gain access to all the modeless keyboard commands available to PADS Layout. These are quick access tool functions available from your keyboard.

This section will walk you through the PADS Layout user inter-face. You will become familiar with PADS Layout’s legendary “Ease of Use” design environment. Topics covered include: the

Welcome screen, the use of toolbars, mouse functions, mode-less commands and hot-keys. There are many ways to accom-plish your design tasks with minimal effort.

Explore the Welcome Screen• You can start a new design by selecting the “Start a New

Design” folder shown at the top of the window. • There is a listing of recently opened designs located in the

“Open a Design” section of the Welcome screen. This will provide quick access to designs you have worked on.

• You have access to Quick Start Guides and Tutorials from within this main screen.

• PADS Layout and Router Help documents will help answer any questions you may have on the PADS products.

• There is a Concepts Guide to help with advanced questions.

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Placement and Routing with PADS Layout


PADS Layout Environment 125

Menus Toolbars WorkspaceProject

Explorer

Status Bar Output Window

Toolbars

PADS Layout Environment

The Standard Toolbar

The Drafting Toolbar

Open Layer CycleDesign Toolbar

ECO Toolbar

Undo

RedrawZoom

Save Properties Drafting Toolbar

Dimensioning Toolbar

BGA Toolbar

Redo

Board

Import DXF FileHatchText

From Library

Plane Area Cut OutCopper

Copper Pour

Board Outline & Cut Out

Select Mode

2D Line Copper Cut Out

Copper Pour

Cut Out

Keepout Flood Plane Area

Add New Label

Drafting Options

Auto Plane

Separate

Output Window

Project Explorer Window

Route

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Bottom View


Toolbars (continued)

PADS Layout Environment

The Design Toolbar

The Dimensioning Toolbar

AlignedAngularHorizontal Leader

Select Mode

ArcVertical RotatedAuto- dimension

Radial Move

Move Reference

DesignatorsSelect Mode

Add Corner

Add RouteSpin

Sketch Route

Rotate Swap Part

Move Split Dynamic Route

View Clusters

Make Like Reuse

Auto Route

Bus Route

Add Jumper

Add Test Point

Design Options

Dimension Options

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Navigation

Keyboard KeysThere are several keyboard keys that act as shortcuts. Let’s review just a few.

❶ Select and hold down the Arrow Keys to move the cur-sor in grid increments.

❷ Click the Page Up and Page Down keys to change the zoom level.

❸ Click the Home key to zoom around the entire board.

Modeless CommandsModeless Commands are a more efficient alternative to menus. Modeless commands are activated by selecting a key on the keyboard prior to or during an activity. The Modeless command dialog can be deactivated by selecting the ESC key.

❶ Select the W key and notice the Width modeless com-mand dialog appears.

❷ Select the L key and notice the Layer modeless com-mand dialog appears.

❸ Full lists of Modeless Commands are available. Experi-ment with the modeless commands available in the Help > Modeless Commands pull-down.

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Open a Design File for Reviewing Commands

❶ Select the Windows Start > All Programs > Mentor Graphics SDD > PADS 9.XX > Design Layout and Rout-ing > PADS Layout or double-click the PADS Layout icon on your desktop.

❷ Select File > Open. Browse to the C:\PADS_ES_Evalua-tion\Lesson13\Lesson13.pcb. This will open a design file so that you can experiment with some of the PADS Layout navigation commands.


Mouse Usage This topic will explain the various ways the mouse can be used to manipulate PADS. The mouse buttons will activate different menus depending upon the selection.

❶ The LMB (Left Mouse Button) can be used to select things by clicking on them. Select the BGA as show below using the LMB.

❷ The RMB (Right Mouse Button) is used to activate pop-up menus containing lists of functions available for the selected object. The content of these menus will change based on the selected object.

❸ With the BGA selected click the RMB to view the op-tions in the pop-up menu.Note: When the RMB is activated (without anything selected) it brings up a selection filter that can be used to filter your selection criteria.

❹ The MMB (Middle Mouse Button) is used to either zoom in or zoom out. Click and hold the MMB while dragging toward the upper left. This creates zoom-in box around the area which will now be visible.

❺ Click the MMB and hold it to drag the cursor toward the lower right. This will initiate a zoom out box. The amount you zoom out is based on the relational size of the outer box to the inner box that is created during the zoom out process.

❻ Select the Alt key + Scroll wheel forward/backward to move the display window in the vertical plane.

❼ Select the Shift key + Scroll wheel forward/ backward to move the display along the horizontal plane.

❽ When you have finished experimenting with the naviga-tion features and commands, close the design file.

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Review Questions

1 Is PADS Layout a Placement or a Routing tool?2 How many shortcut and/or modeless commands are available in PADS Layout?3 How many ways are there to pan and zoom in PADS Layout?

Review Answers

1 PADS Layout is both a placement and a routing tool. You can use its advanced placement features to arrange your components as required and then utilize the powerful interactive routing features to interconnect the components.

2 The PADS Layout environment features a broad array of keyboard shortcuts and modeless command to perform many of the most common operations. Using these commands will allow you to quickly execute commands directly from the keyboard and saving you many mouse clicks and panning opera-tions. Take time to familiarize yourself with the power of these commands. A complete list is available from the Help menu as well as in the documentation on the InfoHub.

3 Like most operations in PADS Layout, there are many ways to perform the same task. PADS Layout sup-ports multiple pan and zoom operations using the function keys, arrow keys, PageUp/PageDn keys, the mouse scroll wheel and modeless commands. You will find different times in your design methodology where one method is more appropriate than another. Take the time to review the product documen-tation and try a variety of the methods to find the ones that work best for you.

DxDesigner and PADS Layout Integration130

Lesson 14: Setting Up a New Design

Drawing the Board Outline

❶ Select File > New to open a new PCB instance. ❷ At the Prompt to Set Start-up File select the System De-

fault Start-up file, followed by the OK button.❸ Select the Drafting Toolbar icon❹ Select the Board Outline and Cutout icon❺ Click the RMB and select the shape you wish to draw

with. For this exercise select Polygon.❻ Type G <space> 1❼ Type S <space> 0 <space> 0

(Note: <space> indicates to push the spacebar. This will place the cursor at the origin of the design.)

❽ Click the Spacebar to drop the first corner at the origin location.

❾ Type S <space> 0 <space> 3300 for the second corner location.

❿ Click the Spacebar again to drop the second corner.⓫ Follow the same steps for the remaining corners shown in

the table (you have already entered the first two):

⓬ Click the RMB followed by Complete to finish the board outline. The end result should appear as shown.Note: To save time, the completed outline can be opened at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson14\Lesson14(Board Outline).

Creating a board outline for your PCB Layout is critical. PADS Layout will allow you to create board outlines of any shape including round, rectangular and irregular polygons.Cutouts and keep-outs can also be added to help manage more complex board requirements. Cutouts create void areas in the board outline while keep-outs are utilized to for placement and routing requirements.

All shapes (including board outlines) can be generated using coordinates entered manually as well as with the mouse identify-ing each coordinate.

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Board Outline Coordinates

X Coordinate Y Coordinate

0 00 3300

6133 3300

6133 324

4720 324

4720 0

2248 0

2248 324

2175 324

2175 0

1606 0

1606 324

590 324

590 0

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Setting Up a New Design 131

Modifying the Board OutlineBoard outlines can be edited, but in order to do so, the proper selection filter must be enabled. Once the selection filter is set for Board Outline, you can then select the board outline and make the desired modifications.You can add corners to a board outline, you can add arcs to a board outline and you can change the width of a board out-line all at the snap of a finger.

❶ Click the RMB (with nothing selected).❷ Select the Select Board Outline entry from the pop-up

menu.❸ Select any board outline edge and notice it highlights.❹ Once the edge is select, click the RMB and notice the

editing choices available.❺ Select Add Corner and notice you can add corners to

the side you edited❻ Select the ESC key to abort the last command.❼ Click the RMB again and select Pull Arc. Notice you are

now stretching an arc on one side of the board outline.❽ Select the ESC key to abort the command.

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Setting Up a New Design132

Review Questions

1 Why do I want to create a board outline?2 Does the board outline need to be a single continuous polygon?3 Can I add cutouts to the board outline?4 Can I add cutouts or slots to the board interior?5 Can I save a board outline and use it in another future design?

Review Answers

1 The board outline acts as the design boundary. It is an intelligent design object and is a reference point for many design operations and objects. Components and routing can be setup to maintain a specific clearance from the board outline. It is used as a reference point for offsetting plane edges. It also represents the routing (milling) path for producing the final board shape extents.

2 The board outline should always be constructed as a single continuous polygon line so that it main-tains its integrity as a design object.

3 Yes, there are icons on the Drafting Toolbar for adding cutouts to the board outline. This will allow you to edit the board outline to accommodate specific mechanical requirements.

4 PADS Layout supports cutouts and slots in the interior of the board. This allows you to meet any re-quirements for specific types of voids/openings in the board.

5 Once you have created a specific board outline, you can save the design as a startup file and use it for future designs. You can also just save a copy of the design and name it appropriately so you can find it again when you need it for another design.


Setting Up a New Design 133

Lesson 15: Creating Component Information

Creating a New ComponentCreating components in PADS Layout is quick and easy. Components can either be created with wizards or manually depending on the complexity of the device. Devices are made up of two pieces: the electrical information (Part Type) and the physical information (Decal). In this exercise we will build components using the decal wizard and then show how easily they can be modified.

❶ Select the File > Library pull-down menu.❷ From the Library dialog select the Decals button.❸ Click the Pull-down arrow in the Library list (located at

the top of the dialog).❹ Select the Usr Library.❺ Click the New button to begin creating a new decal.

Click Close.Notice the PADS Layout background changes to an empty view.

This lesson will walk you through creating a PCB Layout decal and the associated electrical information that will represent the part when it is added to the circuit board. It will cover us-ing wizards to create both the physical representation as well as the electrical part information.

Creating Component Information134

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Creating a Decal with the Decal WizardThere are two types of wizards available in PADS Layout. The first wizard is for creating PADS Decals. A decal is a part footprint or the physical description of the part. The following steps show how easy it is to make a PADS decal.

❶ Select the Drafting icon.❷ Select the Wizard icon.❸ Select the Quad tab. Notice the required parameters

are specific to the definition of a Quad Flat Pack device.❹ Set the parameters to match the settings shown. Use

the Zoom command in your PDF reader if you have hav-ing trouble seeing the settings in this graphic.

❺ Select the Wizard Options button.❻ Use the Decal Wizard Options Global tab to enable or

disable supplemental documentation layers and set-tings.

❼ Use the Decal Wizard Options Package Types tab to set the defaults for each of the package types used by the Decal Calculator.

❽ Select the OK button after all the edits have been made. Select the OK button to start the Wizard.

❾ Read the Soldermask dialog notification and question related to the solder mask and select Yes.

❿ Notice how quickly you have created a 400 pin quad flat pack.

Creating Component Information 135

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Creating a Decal with the Decal Wizard (continued)

❾ Select File > Save Decal.❿ Enter QuadFlatpack+<your initials>.

Note: Do not use any spaces in the filename.

⓫ At the prompt "Would you like to create a new Part Type", click Yes.

⓬ Click OK to accept the defaults.⓭ At the prompt to "Save Part Type to Library", select OK

to accept the defaults. (Name the Part Type the same as the decal.)

⓮ Select File > Exit Decal Editor to close the decal.

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Modifying Decals and Part Types

❶ Select File > Library to open the Library Manager again.❷ Click the Decals icon.❸ Enter Quad* in the Filter section followed by selecting

Apply.❹ Select the Part type called Quadflatpack<your initials>

followed by clicking the Edit button.❺ Click Edit Part.❻ Notice the Electrical information appears for your part

type.❼ This is where you can set the PCB Decal you would like

to assign using the PCB Decal tab. You can also define the gate swapping capabilities (GATES Tab), the pin swapping capabilities (PINS Tab), custom attributes (ATTRIBUTES Tab) and Alpha numeric pin definitions (PIN MAPPING Tab). Open each tab and review the content.

❽ Click OK once you have reviewed each tab and its con-tent. Change information if you like but do not save the modifications.


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137Creating Component Information

Review Questions

1 What is the Library Manager?2 What types of components can be created with the Decal Wizard?3 Where do I get the data to input into the Decal Wizard?4 How does the Decal Wizard assign the decal to the component in my design?

Review Answers

1 The Library Manager is a utility within the PADS applications that allows you to view and manage all of your library content. From the Library Manager you can add, delete, edit and move your libraries.

2 The PADS Decal Wizard supports the creation of decals for a large number of component families including SMT and thru-hole styles. The Wizard can create 2-sided and 4-sided decals including DIPs, SOICs, Quad Flat Packs, BGAs and polar configurations.

3 You can create a decal in the Wizard by entering the physical dimensions of the recommended land pattern from the manufacturer’s component data sheet. You can also use the IPC Land Pattern Calcu-lator to determine the appropriate decal dimensions and then enter that data directly into the Wizard.

4 PADS Layout uses a Part Type as a container for the decal. When this Part Type is referenced by the symbol in the schematic, PADS Layout will load it into the design and assign the connections specified in the design database.


Lesson 16: Placement

Open a Design File for Placement

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to the C:\PADS_ES_Evalua-tion\Lesson16\Lesson16A.pcb.

❷ Go to File > Library… > Manage Lib List and make sure C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs\Corporate is at the top of the list. If it is not then you can add it by clicking Add… and browsing C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Libs and select Corporate. Then use the UP button to move it to the top of the list.

❸ Select File > Import to import C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson16\Corporate.asc. Select the Open button to complete the process of importing the project netlist.Note: You have imported your netlist into PADS Layout. Do-ing so required the parts libraries to be available and now you can see the decals are at the board origin location (0,0) as shown in the graphic.

This is not the typical import method used with DxDe-signer. For DxDesigner you would use Tools > DxDe-signer Link to import your schematic design into PADS.

This lesson will show you how to place parts in PADS Layout. Placement can be driven from the schematic or directly within PADS Layout. Cross-probing from the schematic is one way to quickly and eas-ily target specific parts for placement. You will select the part in the schematic and it will automatically snap to the cursor in PADS Layout allowing you to quickly place parts based on the their locations defined in the schematic. This is available from either PADS Logic or DxDesigner.When placing parts within PADS Layout you may chose a stan-dard select-and-drag method or you may use the Verb mode. The select-and-drag method allows you to select the desired

part and use the cursor to drag it to a new location. If using the Verb mode you can select the part and it will automatically snap to the cursor for placement. Modeless commands are also available to drive placement in conjunction with Verb mode. If you enter the Verb mode and then initiate the modeless command, the specified part will snap to the cursor ready for placement.Parts can be rotated, spun, flipped and glued on an individual basis or as a group. Parts can also be placed at specific coor-dinates using either a Properties dialog box or via a modeless command (SS).


Placement 139

Manually Place a ComponentManually placing parts can be a lengthy process. Using the features in PADS Layout to reduce placement time will also help reduce the overall design time. This exercise will review many of the options available to help improve placement ef-ficiency.

❶ Select Edit > Find.❷ Select the Ref Des prefix U followed by the Ref Des U1.❸ Click the Apply button and notice the part highlights.❹ Click the RMB and select the Move command from the

pop-up menu. Notice the part snaps to the cursor.

❺ Click the ESC key to abort the Move command.❻ Select the CTRL + E hotkey and notice the part again

snaps to the cursor.❼ With a part moving with the cursor, enter the mode-

less command S <space> 3000 <space> 3000 <enter> (where <space>=spacebar and <enter> is the Enter keyboard key). Notice the part moves to the X=3000 Y=3000 location.

❽ Click the Spacebar to place the part at that location. Press ESC to deselect the part. Now you are free to move the cursor and to place another part.

❾ Select the Cancel button on the Find dialog to close that dialog.

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Placement140

Disperse the Components

❶ Select Tools > Disperse Components from the menu.❷ At the prompt “OK to start dispersion?” click the Yes

button.❸ At the prompt “Do you want to be able to undo this

action” click the Yes button.Note: This will automatically distribute all components in a uniform pattern outside the board outline making them read-ily accessible.. ❶

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Placement 141

Select and Move a Component

❶ Click the Design button from the main toolbar.❷ Click the Move button to enable the Verb mode com-

mand.❸ Enter SS <space> U1. Notice the part snaps to the cur-

sor and is ready for placement.❹ Click the LMB to place the part in the desired location.

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Placement142

Group Selection and Placement

❶ Click the Select button.❷ Group-select the components in the middle right side

by dragging a selection box around them. To do so click and hold the LMB and drag.

❸ Use CTRL + E and notice they all move with the cursor.❹ Use the ESC key to abort the move command.❺ Click the RMB and select Flip Side from the pop-up

menu.Note: All the parts flip to the bottom side.

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Placement 143

Radial PlacementPADS Layout has the ability to place parts in a radial array. The array can be defined and refined as needed for optimal placement and routing. The radial array routine has auto calculators available for Angle Ranges, Delta Angles, required Start Angles as well as a Maximum number of sites. Any of these categories can be locked to allow for auto-calculation of the remaining parameters.

❶ Select File > Open. Open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Les-son16\Lesson16B.pcb.

❷ RMB and set the filter Select Components.❸ Area select the components to the right of the board

outline.❹ RMB > Radial Move.

Notice a radial grid appears and the components snap to it.

❺ RMB > Radial Move Setup…❻ Configure the Radial Move Setup to match the settings

shown.❼ Stretch the components so they form 3 rows toward

the board outline.❽ Using the MMB, zoom into a section of the pads while

you are placing. You will notice a finer grid appears when you zoom in.

❾ Click the LMB when you are ready to set the compo-nents down.

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Placement144

Placement 145

Review Questions

1 Can I place components directly in PADS Layout?2 Can I rotate a component while moving it?3 How would I utilize group placement?4 When would I use radial placement?

Review Answers

1 Though cross probing is the most powerful method for selecting components for placement, you can select the components directly in PADS Layout. Some designers like to begin their placement with the largest components first. Others prefer to place the connectors and other fixed components first. To do this, you can disperse the components around the edge of the board and then visually select the components that you want to manually place. You can still use cross probing to confirm your selec-tions as you place the parts.

2 During placement and move operations, there are many options available that will allow you to rotate, spin and flip a component. This can be accomplished through the use of toolbar icons, RMB menu selections and modeless commands.

3 One method used by many designers during placement is to partition a design into functional blocks before final placement. Rather than placing each component individually directly onto the board, you can group select all of the parts in a particular circuit and then move them to a clear area in the work-space for placement tweaking. Once you have the group optimally arranged, you can move the entire group to the desired location on the board. As the layout matures, you can also use the group selec-tion capability to move clusters of components around the design as required. You can even rotate and flip the group during move operations.

4 Radial placement is useful when you have components that you want to place on an arc or in a radial array. A IC test fixture board is a common example of a design requiring radial placement. There are also many modern products that have form-fitting smooth curves in their design that would require you to place parts in a radial pattern.


Lesson 17: Rules and Constraints

Define Default Design RulesDefining design rules is an essential part of design prepara-tion. Default design rules are used to set proper clearances that apply to all items in a design. You can also define the permitted routing layers and vias for the design.

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson17\Lesson17.pcb.

❷ Select Setup > Design Rules.❸ Select the Default icon.❹ Select the Clearance icon.❺ Select the All button and set the new design rule clear-

ance to 5 mils.Notice that all of the items in the Clearance section of the dialog change to the new setting.

❻ Set the Recommended Trace width to 5 mils as well❼ Click OK once the design rule changes have been made.

Design Rules are the heart of a design. Without design rules Designers might waste time on component placement and trace routing only to have the design not function properly. Design rules can be net rules, pin-pair rules, class rules, group rules, dif-

ferential pair rules and Item-to-Item or Conditional Rules. Rules can include clearance rules, special layer rules, trace length and more. Design rules can be unique for each application. In this lesson we will investigate how to assign design rules.

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Define Default Design Rules (continued)

❽ Select the Routing button to specify layers for routing.❾ Select Component Side Layer 1, Routing Layer 2, Rout-

ing Layer 5 and Solder Side Layer 6 followed by clicking the Add button. Doing so will enable these layers for routing.

❿ Repeat the same steps to enable the STANDARDVIA and DFTVIA (Testpoint/Design For Test) vias as avail-able vias.

⓫ Click OK once you are done.⓬ Close the Default Rules dialog.

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Creating a Class RuleCreating class rules is an easy way to apply a common rule to multiple nets without having to redefine the same design rules over and over again for each net.

❶ Click the Class icon.❷ Enter in the Name CLASS1 followed by clicking the Add

button.❸ From the Nets Available column, select the net called

IMP_D0.❹ Scroll down until you can see the net IMP_D0. Hold

the Shift key and LMB when you select IMP_D7. Notice it selects all the nets in a range.

❺ Click the Add button to move them over into the Se-lected column.

❻ Click the Clearance icon so you can assign custom spac-ing between CLASS1 and all other items in the design.

❼ Click the All button and assign a custom clearance requirement of 10 mils.

❽ Set a custom Trace Width of 10 mils to the class as well.

❾ Click OK on both dialog boxes to exit the Class defini-tion.


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Setting Differential Pair RulesSetting differential pair rules is one of the most common design constraints being used today. They are becoming more common due to the popularity of SERDES interfaces for high-speed design.

❶ Select the Differential Pairs icon.❷ Select the net BSYNC+. Click the Select button in the

upper middle area of the dialog to assign the first net of the differential pair.

❸ Select the net called BSYNC-. Click the lower Select button to assign the second net of the differential pair.

❹ Click the ADD button to create the differential pair.❺ Set the GAP to 5 mils.❻ Set the Length Min = 5000 and Max = 15000 and click

OK to complete the assignment.


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Defining Conditional RulesConditional Rules take basic rules to the next level. These rules allow you to assign an item-to-item design rule. That is you can set rules Net-to-Net, Net-to-Class, Class-to-Class, Net per Layer, Class per Layer and more. Utilizing this type of constraint provides a higher level of flexibility often required for more complex designs.

❶ Select the Conditional Rules icon.❷ Click the Nets radio button in the Source Rule Object

section and select the CLK_IN signal.❸ Click the Classes radio button on the Against Rule Ob-

jects section and select the Class1 name.❹ Click the Create button and the rule appears in the

Existing Rule Set section.❺ Select the rule in the Existing Rule Set section and

enter a value of 15 in the Current Rule Set section of the dialog.

❻ When you are done, exit out to complete the lesson by clicking Close.


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Review Questions

1 Why use rules and constraints?2 What are default rules?3 How would I utilize class rules?4 How would I apply a conditional rule to a design?

Review Answers

1 Unless you are designing a simple indicator board or connector interface, your design probably contains a lot of complex circuitry. You must be able to separate your different power supply voltages, keep analog signals away from digital signals, isolate your high-speed I/O signals and in general, provide adequate spacing between different signal types to prevent cross-talk and improve immunity to interference. Rules and constraints allow you to manage and control how these signals will behave when being manually routed and/or autorouted. These rules let you specify specific clearances between traces and design objects as well as set target lengths for critical nets. During routing operations, these rules and constraints are strictly enforced by the application so that your finished design will perform as expected.

2 Default rules are the baseline rules applied to all signals in the design. As you fine tune your requirements, you will edit and modify these rules with your own specific requirements. Any edits or new rules that you apply take precedence over the default rules. During routing, the system uses a rules hierarchy to determine which rules should be enforced; your new or edited rules will have a higher priority. If no higher level rules are specified, the system will use the default rules.

3 Repetitively assigning rules to individual nets can be time-consuming and difficult to maintain in large designs. By grouping like signals into classes, you can define your rules at a higher level and assign them to the entire class. This means you only have to create the rule or constraint once and it is assigned to all of the nets in the class at the same time. Likewise, when you edit the rule, the changes are instantly applied to all of the nets in the class making management of complex rules sets much easier to implement.

4 A typical design might have a large number of nets that use a default rule set. You may also have a group of nets (e.g., a data bus) that has a different set of spacing requirements. Your default rule might state that all nets should maintain a clearance of 6 mils from each other. The data bus might also have a spacing requirement of 6 mils between each net in the bus, but you also want to keep all data bus signals 10 mils away from any other signals that are not part of the data bus. This is where you would use Conditional Rules to add the condition that the data bus signals will maintain the 6 mil spacing from each other and 10 mils from everything else.


Lesson 18: Interactive Routing

Manually Routing Traces (DRC OFF)Adding traces to a design is one of the most time consuming elements in printed circuit board layout. Being able to route efficiently can make-or-break meeting your project deadline. This exercise will take you through the routing options avail-able in PADS Layout.


❷ Using the MMB, zoom into the middle right side of the design where the 4 SOICs are located.Notice that the connections are offset so that overlap-ping connections are visible and considered during the route planning process.

❸ Select the Design Toolbar icon.❹ Select the Add Route icon.❺ Using the Modeless command, type S <space> U10.15.

Notice the cursor moves to this location (second pin on top).

PADS Layout offers a number of options for adding trace data to a PCB. There are manual modes that do not error check during the routing process, there are manual modes that will error check and prevent DRC (Design Rule Check) errors, there are interactive auto modes without DRC and there are fully interac-tive auto modes that will not allow errors. You can add traces using an automated method as well as by copying and pasting.

Batch verification is available for checking your work at the end regardless of whether DRC was on during routing or not. It is always a good idea to run these checks prior to generating films.

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Interactive Routing152

Manually Routing Traces (DRC OFF) (continued)

❻ Select pin U10.15 and notice the connection converts to a trace. Notice the connection stays at the end of the trace.

❼ Drag the trace over the bottom row of pads and notice the trace routes right over the pad. Do not add any cor-ners at this point.Note: This is due to the online DRC being turned off.

❽ Move the cursor back toward U10.15. Click the LMB, to define vertices. Add several corners in the trace.

❾ Click the ESC key to abort the routing process.

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Interactive Routing 153

Manually Adding Traces with DRC ONThis topic will review the benefits provided by online DRC checks.

❶ Type the modeless command DRP to turn on online DRC (Design Rule Prevent mode).

❷ Select the Dynamic Route icon.❸ Select U10.15 again and notice the trace starts routing

again.Notice the corners are added automatically.

❹ Hold the Shift key + LMB to add a via.❺ Press the Backspace key to remove the via.❻ Drag the trace toward the lower row of pads on U10.

Drag the trace through the pads. Notice that the trace automatically goes between the pads effortlessly.

❼ Drag the trace around and through the pads of U10 in a serpentine pattern.Again, notice how easily the trace flows through the pads. Keep in mind that the trace is being added into the design, maintaining all the design rules that were set.

❽ Click the RMB, select End Via Mode and End No Via.❾ Drag the trace back through the pads until your route

looks like the one shown.❿ Click CTRL + LMB simultaneously and notice the trace is

released without adding any vias.

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Routing BussesThis exercise will show you how quickly multiple traces can be routed while manipulating just a single trace.

❶ Make sure that DRC is on by using the modeless com-mand DRP.

❷ Use the MMB to zoom in on U14 in the middle center of the board.

❸ Using the modeless command, type S<space>U14.27.Note the cursor will move to pin 27 making it easy to visually locate it.

❹ Click the Bus Route icon.❺ Select U14 pins 27, 28, 29 and 30 by holding down the

LMB while drawing a selection box around them.❻ Begin adding traces up and toward the left as shown.

❼ Move the first trace toward the left adding a corner us-ing the LMB, as shown below.Notice as you add the first corner the other selected traces catch up.

❽ Drag the first trace a bit further toward the left. Click the LMB to add another corner.Notice the other traces catch up again.

❾ Press the Tab key and notice that the lead trace toggles to the next available trace.

❿ Stop toggling at the top trace so it becomes the leading trace.

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Routing Busses (continued)

⓫ Move the cursor around the SMD pads just above the new lead trace.

⓬ Click the LMB to add a corner so the following traces can go around the corner and catch up.

⓭ Continue routing the traces vertically, adding corners with the LMB, as you go.

⓮ Move the lead trace toward the right as shown.⓯ Click the LMB + Shift key to add vias to the buss route.⓰ Use the CTRL+Tab key to toggle between different via

patterns.⓱ Press the Backspace key to remove any previously

routed undesired traces.⓲ Use the CTRL key + LMB combination to end the buss

route.

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Review Questions

1 What is DRC?2 Will routing with DRC ON keep me from creating routing errors?3 When would I want to route with DRC OFF?4 What is the advantage of using bus routing?

Review Answers

1 DRC is an acronym for Design Rule Checking. When DRC is ON, it is in the background constantly monitoring and enforcing your design rules. This is powerful technology that helps you to maintain the integrity of your design during placement and routing operations.

2 There are three modes of operation: Prevent, Warn and Ignore Clearance. If you attempt to create a routing or placement violation in Prevent mode, the system will not allow you to complete the opera-tion. Similarly, in Warn mode, the system will present a message warning you of the potential violation and asking permission to complete the task. If Ignore Clearance mode is in effect, you will be allowed to purposely create clearance violations, but other rules will be enforced.

3 During routing, you may have a rule that specifies a particular clearance for your traces as they transi-tion across the board. When you near the end of the route, the signal must attach to a high density component such as a connector or BGA and there is not quite enough room to get the trace to its des-tination pin without creating a spacing violation. You can set up a component rule to allow the trace through at a smaller spacing, or you can turn off DRC temporarily so that you can complete the traces now and then edit the required rules later during the verification process.

4 When you have a group of signals that share common traits and are going to follow a similar routing path, you can route them as a group (or bus). You can select a group of nets and set one of them as the guide trace. As you route the guide trace from one point to the next, the other traces will follow along as a group, maintaining proper clearances and hugging the guide trace in a uniform pattern. This is a quick and easy way to route multiple traces such as address and data lines or a set of communica-tions interface signals.

Lesson 19: Creating Plane Layers

Negative Image Planes

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson19\Lesson19A.pcb.

❷ Select Setup >, then Layer Definition from the menu.❸ With the LMB, select the layer called GND Plane Layer

3 from the list that appears in the Layers Setup dialog.Notice this layer is defined as a CAM Plane layer. (This represents a Negative Image Plane Layer.)

❹ Click the Assign Nets icon and review the net name as-signed to this plane layer.Notice the GND net is assigned. This automatically attaches all through hole pads assigned to this net to the “GND Plane Layer 3” layer. All surface mount pads need to be fanned out to a via so the via can attach to the inner plane layer.

❺ Using the MMB, zoom in to the row of components located in the bottom left portion of the design.

❻ Type N <space> GND (or n <space> gnd) followed by the Enter key.Notice the GND net highlights showing you which pads are going to get connected to the GND Layer.

PADS Layout supports multiple plane types including: positive image (WYSIWYG) planes, negative image (CAM) planes and standard pour type planes. Negative image planes were com-mon for many years due to display and memory limitations. Positive image and poured planes are standard now but PADS Layout continues to support all three.

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Creating Plane Layers158

Negative Image Planes (continued)

❼ Click the RMB, and set the filter mode to Select Any-thing.

❽ Using the LMB, select any of the highlighted vias, click the RMB and select Properties.

❾ Notice the check box for Plane Thermal. When this is checked the pad will get a thermal connection on the negative image plane.

❿ Select OK to close this dialog.⓫ Select the File > CAM pull-down menu.⓬ Select the Neg Plane Layer 3 (Gnd) entry from the list.⓭ Click the Preview button.

⓮ Using the LMB, create a zoom box around the area where the previously viewed components are located.The pads that will get thermals when the Gerber data is generated.

⓯ Select the Close button to close the Preview window.⓰ Select the Close button to close the CAM window.

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Creating Plane Layers 159

Creating a Copper Poured PlanePositive image plane layers provide a user with the ability to see plane data prior to generating Gerber files. Positive planes are known as “What You See Is What You Get“ (WYSY-WIG) planes.The main difference is that you pour the area you wish to fill with copper so that anything that appears is copper. With negative planes the blank areas will become copper. You can turn on and off the pour area visibility by entering the modeless command PO. This command acts as an On/Off toggle switch.

❶ Select the modeless command n followed by the Enter key. This will turn off highlight mode.

❷ Press the Home key to zoom out around the whole board.

❸ From the keyboard type L <space> 1 to change the ac-tive layer to Layer 1.

❹ Click the Drafting icon.❺ Click the Copper Pour icon.❻ Click the RMB and select the Rectangle shape type.❼ Draw a copper pour shape around an area on Layer 1 as

shown in white.Note: Draw the rectangle by clicking the LMB at the location of the first corner, releasing the button, and then clicking again with the LMB at the location of the opposite corner of the rectangle. (Dragging a rectangle with the LMB will not work for this operation as the system interprets it as a selec-tion box.)

❽ Scroll down the popup dialog list until you see VDD. You may type V to jump to nets starting with the letter V. Select VDD followed by the OK button.

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Copper Poured Planes (continued)

❾ Select the Tools > Pour Manager to bring up the Pour Manager dialog.

❿ Once the Pour Manager is open, select the Flood tab.⓫ Select the Flood All option followed by the Start but-

ton.⓬ At the Prompt to “Proceed with flood?” Click Yes.

Notice the copper pour polygon fills.⓭ If thermals are not generated for specific pads an error

report will appear. Review the content.⓮ If an error report was displayed, select File > Close to

exit the dialog.⓯ Click the Close button to exit the Pour Manager and

view the flooded area.⓰ Type the modeless command PO to see how to turn off

the pour visibility.⓱ Type PO again to turn it back on and notice the pour

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Creating Split/Mixed Planes (Solid)Split/mixed plane layers are positive and resemble the copper pour planes we just created. This layer type also uses the Line Width and the Hatch Grid to determine how the polygon will be filled. If you use a hatch grid value larger than the line width value then you will see the polygon appears hatched rather than filled. By making the Hatch Grid equal to the Line Width you will see the polygon as solid.To control the visibility of the fill data, you will use the mode-less command SPO to turn it off and SPD to turn it on. To show thermal indicators on pads and vias you can use SPI modeless command to control their visibility.

❶ File > Open to browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Lesson19\Lesson19A.pcb.

❷ Type L <space> 4 to change layers so the VDD Split/Mixed Plane layer is active or select the pull-down ar-row shown on the current Layer selection, followed by selecting the (H) VDD Mixed Plane Layer 4 layer.

❸ Press the HOME key to see the whole board.

❹ With nothing selected RMB and set the selection filter to Select Board Outline.

❺ Select any side of the board outline and click the RMB and select Select Shape.Notice the entire board outline highlights.

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Creating Split/Mixed Planes (Solid) (continued)

❻ Click the RMB followed by selecting Create Plane Area.Notice an inner outline appears around the inside edge of the board outline (this represents the plane offset).

❼ Select the VDD net at the prompt followed by clicking OK.

❽ Select the Tools > Pour Manager pull-down.❾ Select the Plane Connect Tab.❿ Click the Start button. Click Yes to "OK to connect?".⓫ Click the Close button to close the Pour Manager

dialog.⓬ Using the MMB, zoom in to the area shown below.

Notice the plane area is solid or filled completely.⓭ Select the Home keyboard key to zoom out around the

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Creating Split/Mixed Planes (Split)This topic will show you how to create a positive image plane that is split into multiple voltages. We will place a new volt-age plane in the middle of the main plane VDDQ3.3V.

❶ File > Open to browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Lesson19\Lesson19B.pcb.

❷ From the keyboard activate the modeless command by typing: SPONote: This will change the plane visibility so it is easier to determine where to create the split.

❸ Press the Home key to see the entire board.❹ Type L <space> 4 to change layers so the VDD Split/

Mixed Plane layer is active or select the pull-down ar-row shown on the current Layer selection, followed by selecting the (H) VDD Mixed Plane Layer 4 layer.

❺ We are going to create a plane area that will define the connections to the VDDQ3.3V net.Note: To save time, the outline of this shape has been pre-defined in the design.

❻ From the Project Explorer, expand the Nets object and select the net VDDQ3.3V from the list.Notice that the pads associated with the net are highlighted in the workspace view and the system zooms in to show all of the connections. You will also notice that a polygon line sur-rounds all of these connections.

❼ Click the LMB button in a blank area to unselect the net.

❽ With nothing selected RMB and set the selection filter to Select Shapes.

❾ Using the LMB, click on the outline of the VDDQ3.3V polygon to select it.

❿ Click the RMB and select Flood from the pop-up menu.

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Creating Split/Mixed Planes (Split) (continued)

⓫ At the prompt “OK to Connect Plane(s)?” click the Yes button.The polygon will fill with the VDDQ3.3V net color.

⓬ With nothing selected RMB and set the selection filter to Select Board Outline.

⓭ Select any side of the board outline and click the RMB and select Select Shape.Notice the entire board outline highlights.

⓮ Click the RMB followed by selecting Create Plane Area.⓯ Select the VDD net in theNet Assignment area of the

Add Drafting dialog followed by clicking OK.Notice an inner outline appears around the inside edge of the board outline.

⓰ With the plane area still selected, click the RMB and select Flood from the pop-up menu.

⓱ At the prompt “OK to Connect Plane(s)?” Click the Yes button.Notice the plane area is solid or filled completely.

⓲ Select the Home keyboard key to zoom out and view the entire board.

⓳ When you are finished, close the design.

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Review Questions

1 What are the different types of planes that PADS Layout supports?2 How does PADS Layout connect PWR and GND nets to a plane?3 How do I determine if I should use a solid or hatched fill for a plane?4 How many different voltages/areas can I have on a split/mixed plane?

Review Answers

1 PADS Layout support three different types of planes: negative image (CAM) planes, copper poured planes and split/mixed planes. Negative image planes show their data as a negative image and have certain limitations that must be considered when using them. Copper pour planes and split/mixed planes a positive images that accurately represent the plane areas as solid objects.

2 PADS Layout allows you to assign a net to each plane or plane area. When you flood or pour the plane, the system uses either a solid or thermal pad on the plane to attach the signal to the plane. You can specify the parameters of the attachment pad to control the number of thermal spokes or you can choose a solid connection.

3 PADS Layout has flexible options available for the fill styles used for plane areas. Typically, you would use a solid fill to represent a plane area; however there are exceptions you might want to consider. If your design is going to be flow soldered, it is sometimes useful to use a hatch pattern for the plane areas on the outside layers of the board to avoid rippling of the plane areas that might be caused by thermal expansion during the soldering operation.

4 PADS Layout does not impose any set limit on the number of voltages/areas that you can create on a split/mixed plane. If you have a design that needs to distribute a number of different power supply voltages on a plane, you can subdivide a plane into dozens of separate areas if required.


Lesson 20: RF Options

Configuring Stitching ViasThis topic will walk you through the process of adding stitch-ing vias to a copper plane.

❶ File > Open to browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evalu-ation\Lesson20\Lesson20.pcb.

❷ Configure the via options using Tools > Options > Via Patterns. Review the “When stitching shapes” portion of the dialog to better understand the options avail-able.

❸ Click the Add button located in the When stitching shapes section of the dialog. This will allow you to con-trol which vias are used for various shapes by assigning a via type to a net.

❹ In the Nets section select GND. Remember you can also use the “G” key to jump to nets starting with G.

❺ Change the via from STANDARDVIA to STITCHVIA.❻ Notice the default Pattern is set to Fill mode with the

vias set to Aligned.❼ Set the Via to shape value to 1 to allow vias up to the

edge of the copper area.❽ Set the Via Spacing to 25 (center to center distance

between vias)Notice: There are options for locking down (Glue) stitch vias as well as ignoring via grids.

❾ Click the OK button to complete the assignment.

RF design requires specialized features for layout. This lab will introduce you to some of the key features available in PADS to assist with RF design.

RF Options 167

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Adding Stitching Vias

❶ Using the MMB, zoom into the lower right section of the board.

❷ Enable the Drafting Toolbar if it is not already open.❸ Select the Copper icon.❹ Draw a copper polygon as shown in white.❺ In the Add Drafting dialog use the following settings:

• Width = 10• Layer = Component Side Layer 1• Net = GND

❻ Click the OK button to complete the shape.❼ Select the Select Mode icon (if not already enabled).❽ Use ESC to exit the Create Copper mode.❾ RMB, and enable the Select Shapes filter mode.❿ Select the copper shape you just created in the lower

right part of the board.⓫ RMB and select the Via Stitch option from the pop-up

menu.Note: If a DRC error message appears, click Yes to continue.

⓬ Vias are placed within the copper polygon maintaining the 25 mil center to center setting from the Via Pat-terns tab.Note: If plane thermals are visible and make it difficult to see the details of the via pattern, select Tools > Options > Ther-mals and uncheck Show general plane indicators.

RF Options168

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Adding Via ShieldsThis topic will show you how to add a via shield around key traces in your delicate high speed designs. Via shields can be created based on pin pairs as well as entire nets. The stitch mode is determined by what is selected in the design. Via shields can be placed around copper paths or geometries as well as trace data. If your design includes metal objects requir-ing shielding, you can add via shields quickly and accurately.

❶ Click the Home keyboard key to view the entire design.❷ Select Tools > Options > Via Pattern.❸ In the When shielding section of the dialog, set the Add

via from net to Gnd. ❹ Set the Via type to STITCHVIA.❺ The Via Spacing option controls the spacing between the

vias placed as a shield. Change the value to 30.❻ Click OK to complete the setup.❼ Using the MMB, zoom in to the area located in the center

left portion of the board, more specifically U13.❽ Notice the yellow vertical trace.❾ Using the RMB menu, set the filter to Select Pin Pairs.❿ Select the yellow vertical trace; it highlights in white.⓫ Click the RMB followed by Add Via Shield.

Note: If a DRC error message appears, click Yes to continue.

⓬ Vias are now placed on each side of the trace. Note: If plane thermals are visible, select Tools > Options > Thermals and uncheck Show general plane indicators.

⓭ Press the ESC key to release the trace.⓮ Click the RMB, set the filter mode to Select Anything.⓯ Select one of the newly added stitch vias and notice it is

tied to the net assigned per the Via Patterns dialog (GND signal) and that the via type is STITCHVIA.

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Review Questions

1 What are RF Options?2 How would I use stitching vias?3 How would I use via shields?

Review Answers

1 Designing RF boards presents an entire set of unique requirements to the designer. In addition to the requirement for highly-specialized component shapes, RF designs incorporate extensive shielding techniques to isolate, steer and control signals in various sections of a design. The RF Options in PADS Layout offers the designer an array of specialized features to help you achieve your RF design goals.

2 Stitching vias are used to connect plane areas and guard traces that act as shields for RF signals. It is a common practice to connect copper poured areas and planes on an RF design with large arrays of vias to stitch these areas together through various layers of a design. This allows the designer to create individually shielded “cages” around critical signals. PADS Layout offers a comprehensive selection of features to aid the designer in creating these design elements. The designer has complete control of the size, spacing and fill patterns used for stitching vias.

3 Via shields are similar in effect to stitching vias; however they are typically used to shield an individual trace in a design. The via shield options allows the designer to place a linear grouping of shielding vias along the edges of a trace to shield it from other nearby signals. The user is given complete control over the size, spacing and distance of these shielding vias from the target signal trace.

Lesson 21: Verification

Clearance VerificationThis topic will show you how to validate your design rule constraints. The verify routine will review class rules, default rules, conditional rules, Pin-Pair rules and Group Rules to ensure compliance within the design.


❷ Select Tools > Verify Design…❸ In the dialog select the Clearance radio button.❹ Click the Setup button and review the verification op-

tions available.❺ In this example you will only enable the Net to All

check. Then select the OK button to close the dialog.❻ Uncheck the Disable Panning check box.❼ Click the Start button to begin the verification.

Note: Unless otherwise selected, verification is run on all objects visible in the workspace view. Before running verifica-tion, size the workspace to allow just the board to be visible (not the text labels below the board). This will prevent the system from reporting unexpected errors related to text and other off-board objects.

This section will show how to verify clearance requirements, connectivity requirements and CAM Plane requirements. The verification routine will allow you to search for any violations and identify their locations for resolution

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Verification 171

Clearance Verification (continued)

❽ The verification routine returns with 4 errors.❾ Click the OK button to continue with the verification

process.❿ The 4 errors are updated in the verify design dialog.⓫ Select one of the errors in the dialog and notice the

screen adjusts automatically to center the selected er-ror location in the working area.

⓬ If you are unable to see the error, place the cursor over the error dialog and while holding the LMB drag the Verify dialog off to the side. Also, the MMB zoom fea-ture will allow you to zoom into any area of the design (working area) to better see the violations.

⓭ Select one of the errors located in the verify dialog and you will notice the screen will bring the error to the middle of the display so you can view it, hence making resolving the issue much easier.

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Verification172

Continuity ChecksThis exercise will show you how to ensure all design connec-tions are routed or interconnected with some type of copper data. The Verify > Connectivity option will ensure you have either trace data, copper data or copper pour data connecting all pads that have a net assigned to it. If there are any con-nections missing they will be reported so you can make the appropriate modifications.

❶ Make sure that the planes nets are connected by select-ing Tools > Pour Manager > Plane Connect > Start.

❷ Keep the Verify Design dialog open.❸ Select the Connectivity radio button.❹ Click the Start button to begin the verification.❺ At the prompt Number of Errors Found click the OK

button.❻ The continuity errors found in the design are listed.❼ If the Disable Panning checkbox is checked uncheck it.❽ Using the MMB, zoom in several times so when you

select an error it will be easy to see.Note: If the planes are solid filled, use the SPO modeless command to turn them so that the errors are more visible.

❾ Select one of the errors from the Verify Design dialog.❿ The view changes and centers the error in the working

area. Note: If you do not see any errors you may need to move the verify design dialog to the far right, far left, top or bottom since the error will move to the center of the screen.

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Review Questions

1 What is Verification?2 What types of clearance violations does Verification check?3 What types of continuity checks does Verification perform?4 What other types of verification checks are available?

Review Answers

1 When you have completed your routing, you will want to check your design for any possible rules and constraints violations. The Verification capabilities in PADS Layout allow you to check your design for clearance violations, continuity and many other fabrication-related issues prior to generating your final outputs.

2 PADS Layout Verification can check your design against all of your clearance rules and present you with a report showing any violations found. Clicking on any violation in the report will give you specific details about the violation and highlight it in the workspace so that you can easily examine it.

3 The PADS Layout Verification continuity checks will verify that all signal and plane nets are properly connected and that there are no unconnected signals in the design.

4 In addition to clearance and continuity checks, PADS Layout Verification checks your design for a vari-ety of fabrication issues such as acid traps, slivers, starved thermals, drill spacing and other manufac-turing issues.

High Speed Routing & Autorouting with PADS RouterIn this section:

� Environment � Component Placement � Rules and Constraints � Interactive Routing � High Speed Interactive Routing � Setting up a Design for Autorouting � Verification (in Router)

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Lesson 22: The PADS Router

PADS Router Environment176

Welcome ScreenThe PADS Welcome screen is a collection of helpful links that will help you to become a PADS expert very quickly. This screen contains tutorial information, videos, help features and a concepts guide to help minimize the learning curve. This content will help you to become productive in a very short time.

❶ Open the PADS Router software by either clicking on the PADS Router icon located on the desktop or by selecting it from the Start > All Programs > Mentor Graphics SDD > PADS9.XX > Design Layout & Routing > PADS Router pull-down.

❷ Now that PADS Router is open we can make ourselves familiar with the working environment. Let’s take a look at the Welcome screen.NOTE: Do not select “Start a New Design” or “Open a De-sign” item at this time. Just review the content. If you select either of these items you will need to close and restart PADS Router to gain access to this welcome screen again.

❸ Select Help and take note of all of the resources avail-able. From the Help menu select Documentation and open the InfoHub to see additional documents for all products in the flow and links to customer support on SupportNet.

❹ Modeless keyboard commands are also available within the PADS Router. These are quick access tool functions available from your keyboard. See the product Help for available shortcut keys and modeless commands.

This section will walk you through the PADS Router user inter-face. You will become familiar with PADS Router’s exceptional “Ease of Use” design environment. Topics covered include: the

Welcome screen, the use of toolbars, mouse functions, mode-less commands and hot-keys. There are many ways to accom-plish your design tasks with minimal effort.

Explore the Welcome Screen• You can start a new design by selecting the “Start a New

Design” folder shown at the top of the window. • There is a listing of recently opened designs located in the

“Open a Design” section of the Welcome screen. This will provide quick access to designs you have worked on.

• You have access to Quick Start Guides and Tutorials from within this main screen.

• PADS Layout and Router Help documents will help answer any questions you may have on the PADS products.

• There is a Concepts Guide to help with advanced questions.

High Speed Routing and Autorouting with PADS Router

PADS Router Environment 177


Menus Toolbars WorkspaceProject

Explorer

Status Bar Output Window Spreadsheet Window Navigation Window


Toolbars

The Standard Toolbar

The Selection Filter Toolbar The Placement Toolbar

Undo

Save Properties In-Place Query

Selection Filter

Redo Zoom Output Window

Shortcut Dialog

Open Layer CycleDRC Filter Cycle

View Board

Project Explorer

PathErrorsUnroutes Coppers KeepoutsAnything PinsPin

PairsSelect

All

Nothing Components Nets Traces Vias Pours Segments and Corners

CycleText

Print Options

Suspend

Placement

Design Verification

Routing

Route Editing

Navigation Window

SpreadsheetLayout

LayersSelect Mode

Rotate 90 Flip

SpinMove Component



Toolbars (continued)

The Route Editing Toolbar

The DRC Filter Toolbar The Design Verification Toolbar The Suspend Toolbar

The Routing Toolbar

Quick Route

Select Mode Protect

Add Test PointStretch Reschedule

Start Autorouting

Pause Autorouting

Select Mode

Move Add Corner

Interactive Route

UnprotectSmooth RouteResume Autorouting

Stop Autorouting

Trace Width Placement

Select None DRC

DRC Settings

DRC On/Off

LengthClearance Same Net

Enable All DRC

Verify Design

Split

Unroute

Fanout Tune

Optimize Center

Design Verification Scheme

Clear Errors

Display Ignored Errors

Go Back

Continue With Errors

Explain


The PADS Router WorkspaceThe PADS Router is a true Windows-compliant tool. It supports pulldown menus, hot keys, drag-rights, toolbars, tool boxes, as well as toolbar tooltips.We have maintained many of these Microsoft-supported user interface features across the entire PADS ES Suite environment. Things like similar icons, similar hot keys and similar pulldown names are all supported and help to minimize the transition time between the products.

Opening the Project ExplorerThis dialog allows you real-time access to database informa-tion found inside the design with a single mouse click. You can quickly realize the power that the PADS Router environ-ment brings just by utilizing this single feature.

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to the C:\PADS_ES_Evalua-tion\Lesson22 directory and select Lesson22A.pcb.

❷ The Project Explorer pane can be activated and deactivated by selecting the icon located on the tools Standard Toolbar.

❸ The Navigation Window, Spreadsheet and Output Window can also be activated and deactivated by tog-gling the corresponding icons.

❹ You can select any of these windows to view their con-tents. Feel free to investigate.

Project ExplorerThe Project Explorer pane allows you to leverage typical Micro-soft Explorer style technology for an added increase in ease of use. Since most Windows users work with Windows Explorer everyday, it becomes very natural to use the similar features integral to the PADS Router environment.

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Output Window

Navigation Window

Spread-sheet

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Resizing the Project Explorer

❶ If the Output Window pane is not enabled, enable it by selecting the Output Window icon located on the main toolbar.

❷ With the LMB, select and drag the right edge of the Project Explorer window and move it toward the right making the pane wider. Once at the desired width simply let go of the LMB.

❸ Select the bottom edge of the Project Explorer (or top of the Output Window pane) while holding the LMB. Drag the Explorer pane toward the bottom side of the PADS Router window. Release the LMB to drop the pane. This will make the Explorer Window larger and the Output Window smaller.

❹ Now that you have experienced how to modify a win-dow pane, follow the same steps defined above, in the reverse direction, to restore the Project Explorer back to its original settings.

Project Explorer Interface Behaviors

The Project Explorer window is dockable or undockable, like all other windows within PADS Router. This provides you with the ability to further customize your working environment. It allows you to pick up the dialog box and move it to a more desirable location. You can resize and reshape the dialog box as you like thereby providing you complete flexibility. The windows can even be placed on a second monitor if you are using a dual monitor environment. Once the panes are arranged, you can

view layer information, net information, design rule informa-tion, and intricate details of the design such as pin pair data. You can use the Expandable/Collapsible topics to view addition-al information defined in the database. You can create design rules constraints by simply dragging and dropping data into the appropriate areas. The design rule creation will be covered in a future lesson.

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Output Window


Selecting and Moving a Component

❶ Expand Components by selecting the plus [+]on its left.❷ Now select different components with a single click

and notice that they become highlighted in the working area.

❸ Select the Placement Toolbar to provide access to the placement icon group.

❹ Select the Move icon to enable the Move verb mode.❺ With the LMB, single click on a component from the

Project Explorer pane and then move your cursor over to the working area. Notice the component will snap to your cursor so it can be precisely placed.

❻ To complete the placement, click the LMB when the component is in its final destination.

Concurrent Database SelectionThe Interaction with design view is also in real time. As you select data in the Project Explorer pane, the data updates in the design. This process also works in the reverse direction, hence giving you a type of bi-directional communication capability bet-ter knows as Concurrent Database Selection capabilities. Scroll through the design database viewing each part of the de-sign via this single pane. Notice that you can select key pieces

of the database allowing quick identification and modification of the design. The Project Explorer can be expanded to view content down to an individual pin-pair for greater detail. A key feature of PADS Router is its ability to edit multiple data types from within same dialog. It is features like these that contribute to the overall ease of use of the product.

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Selecting Pin Pairs in the Project Explorer

❶ Select the Select icon.❷ From within the Project Explorer dialog, select the

scroll bar, sliding it down until U1 is within sight.Note: On some 3-button mice, you can use the middle scroll wheel to also scroll down through the dialog.

❸ Select the plus [+] located to the left of U1 to expand the data associated with that device. (Notice the nets attached to U1 are displayed)

❹ Try selecting several Pin Pairs and notice that they high-light in the working area.

❺ Close the Components database section by selecting the minus [-] located to the left of the word Components.

Selecting Nets in the Project Explorer

❶ Select and expand the Net Objects database section by select the plus [+] to the left of the word Net Objects.

❷ Next select the [+] beside the Nets selection as well from the list.

❸ While the nets are displayed, net cross probing can be activated from within the dialog as well. Let’s try select-ing several nets now from within the Project Explorer pane and notice they highlight in the working area.

❹ Using the scroll wheel again, let’s scroll until the net ADDR_BUS1 is visible in the Project Explorer pane.

❺ To expand the content of bus ADDR_BUS1, select the plus [+] on its left. All the pin pairs will be displayed. (Note: Cross probing to pin pairs is also available from this pane by simply selecting them).

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Viewing Classes in the Project Explorer

❶ To view the content of the classes in our design and to re-view their constraints, select the plus [+] located to the left of the database category called Net Classes.

❷ With the cursor placed over the class called MATCHTRACK, select the RMB followed by selecting Properties from the pulldown menu.

❸ Select the Length Tab to view the Length Constraints as-signed to this class. The “hand /paper/red circle” graphic to the left of any tab indicates the assignment of a constraint unique from the default constraints.Notice that the restricted length min, and max are in yellow. The yellow tells the user that those particular items have been modi-fied making them different from the defaults level constraints.

❹ Select the Cancel button after reviewing the content, to close the dialog.

❺ Select the [+] located to the left of the net MATCHTRACK to expand the class and view the nets assigned to this class.

❻ You can expand the pin pairs associated with each net by simply selecting the [+] symbol to the left of any net.

Creating a Class in the Project Explorer

❶ To create a class from multiple nets, go back to the Nets category, select the net ADDR_BUS1 as your starting net. Hold the SHIFT key down and move the cursor over to ADDR_BUS19. Select it and notice all nets in between are selected include the first and last nets selected. Notice the nets are highlighted in the working area.

❷ Select the RMB (from within the working area) and notice there is a Make Class item on the pulldown menu. Click to create a new class called Class1. Select the new class name, RMB and Rename to change the name to ADDR_BUS.

❸ Click on the Project Explorer icon to close the Explorer.

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Modeless Keyboard Commands & Shortcut KeysPADS Router has both Modeless commands and Shortcut Keys similar to PADS Layout. Some of the most commonly used commands are shown in the table to the right.We will try a few of the Modeless Commands to get familiar with how some of these commands function.

❶ Within the working area, type SS <space> U1 and select Enter. This will search and select U1.

❷ Hold down CTRL + E at the same time. This will put U1 in move mode.

❸ Type S <space> 400 <space> 3350 and select Enter. This will move U1 to the coordinate 400, 3350.

❹ Click the LMB to place the part at the designated x/y location.

❺ Feel free to try some of the other commands listed in the table.

Command Modeless Command DescriptionsG <x> {<y>} All grids set, except the display grid.

GD <x> {<y>} Display grid setting.

H {<net>} Net highlighting on or off.

L <n> Layer, set current layer to the number or name

S <x> <y> Search absolute. Moves pointer to the specified X and Y coordinates.

S <s> Search string. Moves pointer to the named object

SR <x> <y> Search relative. Moves pointer by the specified X and Y offset

SS <s> Search and select. Moves the pointer to the named object

W<n> Trace width

Backspace Unroute or backup.

Delete Unroute selected object.

Home Zooms to board.

PageDown Zooms out at pointer.

PageUp Zooms in at pointer.

Command Shortcut Key DescriptionsI Distinguish protected objects on and off.

CTRL+B Zoom to board. Fits the board outline into the workspace.

CTRL+E Move component

CTRL+I Spins component

CTRL+N New file.

CTRL+O Open file.

CTRL+P Print file.

CTRL+R Rotates component 90 degrees.

CTRL+S Save file

Shift+A Accordion beginning, interactive routing mode.

Shift+F Flips component.

Shift+click Adds via, interactive routing.

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Reviewing the Toolbars

❶ Select the Placement icon to enable the Placement toolbar. The Placement toolbar allows you to move, spin, flip, or rotate components. Select the Placement icon again to close the Placement toolbar.

❷ Select the Selection Filter icon to enable the Selection Filter toolbar. This toolbar allows the user to specify what objects can be selected. Select the Selection Filter icon again to close the Selection Filter toolbar.

❸ Select the DRC Filter icon to enable the DRC Filter tool-bar. The DRC Filter toolbar allows the user to specify which DRC settings are enabled or disabled. Select the DRC Filter icon again close the toolbar.

❹ Select the Design Verification icon to enable the Design Verification toolbar. The Design Verification Toolbar allows the user to run different design verification schemes. When finished, close the toolbar.

❺ Select the Routing icon to enable the Routing toolbar. The Routing toolbar allows the user to run full auto-routing or a single autorouting pass. Select the Routing icon again to disable the Routing toolbar.

❻ Select the Route Editing icon to enable the Route Editing toolbar. The Route Editing toolbar contains the different manual and interactive routing options. Close the Route Editing toolbar when finished.

ToolbarsYou can dock and undock toolbars allowing you to customize your work environment. You can display descriptive text and/or icons on toolbars to help learn the interface quicker. You can view Tooltips to help identify interface items as you use the tool. You can utilize large icons to make it easier to determine functionality. You create new toolbars with drag and drop to help optimize your working environment. Most of the items in

the toolbars can also be accessed by keyboard commands, pull downs, and the right click menus.We will practice using some of the toolbar features to get famil-iar with the working environment. Notice the icon groups that appear when you go into each main toolbar utility. Remember to place your cursor over each icon to see the individual func-tions.

Note: Place the cursor to the extreme left of the toolbar. Hold the LMB down and drag the toolbar to the right hand side of the working area. Release the mouse to release the entire toolbar. This is how a toolbar can be moved. All of the toolbars can be moved in a similar fashion. The tool remembers where the toolbar was last.

Selection Filter

DRC Filter

Suspend

Placement

Design Verification

Routing

Route Editing

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Viewing the Design in the Navigation Window

❶ Select File > Open. Select the Lesson22B.pcb located at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson22 directory.

❷ Click on the Navigation Window icon located on the main toolbar at the top.

❸ Move the cursor around the main window. The Naviga-tion Window will show another view of the window.

❹ Place the cursor in the working area and select F5 (Zoom In) and F6 (Zoom Out) a few times. Notice the Navigation Window zooms in where the cursor is located in the main window.

❺ You can zoom in to an area in the working pane by holding down the MMB and dragging toward the up-per left, or zoom out by holding down the MMB and dragging toward the lower right. As you do so, notice the changes in the Navigation Window. The amount dragged determines the amount to zoom in or out for the Navigation Window as well.

The Navigation WindowPADS Router allows you to view specific PCB data without dis-turbing the main display. To utilize this feature you simply need to enable the Navigation Window, then move the mouse over areas you wish to view. You can zoom in and zoom out depending on the information you are trying to evaluate. This window will also display feed-back when routing such as showing color feedback for matched length pairs. This functionality will be demonstrated in a future lesson.

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Viewing Design Objects in the Navigation Window

❶ To clear any previous selections move the cursor into an open area and select the LMB.

❷ Select the RMB in an empty area and from the pull-down menu select the filter item Select Components.

❸ Use the LMB to manually select different single com-ponents. Notice how the Navigation Window adjusts based on the part selected. Notice it zooms as well so the part can be inspected.

❹ There is a special Navigation Window Toolbar available that allows the user to decide what elements are view-able in the Navigation Window area.

❺ To view the choices, place your cursor above each icon and the tool tip will appear illustrating the use for each available icon.

❻ Experiment with these icons. For example, the Show All Layers icon allows all layers or only the active layer to be viewed. The active layer can be changed by switch-ing the layer in the Layers pulldown located on the Main menu toolbar. Try enabling/disabling each of the icons to see the differences in the views contained in the Navigation Window pane.

❼ Select the Navigation Window icon again to close the Navigation Window.

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Viewing Design Data In the Spreadsheet WindowThe Spreadsheet pane is a fully customizable dialog that al-lows users to modify the display of columns of design informa-tion. This allows the user to quickly view, edit, delete or save the data. Most relevant data can be edited directly from the Spreadsheet and copied/pasted to and from Microsoft Excel. The following example illustrates some of these capabilities:


❷ Click on the Spreadsheet icon located on the main tool-bar to open the pane and view the toolbars.

❸ From within the Spreadsheet view, select Net on the right pull down, and then select Net Length Monitor on the left pull down, as shown.

❹ The results display all the nets in the PCB file with restricted length. Since the nets are already routed, Unrouted Lengths are all listed as zeros. The Estimated Length displays "rats nest" length, and displays a color based on whether it is below the defined constraint (yellow), within the defined constraint (green), or above the defined constraint (red).Note: This is very useful to check initial placement. When the nets are unrouted, the visual feedback is very useful for determining optimal placement locations.

❺ There are many other categories of data we can view in this Spreadsheet Window pane (see the dropdown list).

❻ Click on the Spreadsheet icon close the window.

The Spreadsheet WindowThe PADS Router Spreadsheet pane allows component informa-tion, net information, constraint information and error informa-tion to be viewed quickly in a spreadsheet format that can be sorted by columns and exported to a report file (HTML). (Note: The error features will be reviewed in a future lesson.)

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Viewing Net Properties

❶ Select File > Open or the Open icon. Select the Les-son22C.pcb located at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Les-son22 directory.

❷ If not already opened, click on the Project Explorer icon to open the Project Explorer.

❸ Expand Net Objects > Nets and note the net CLK_IN. The red star means that it has properties different from the defaults.

❹ Using the mouse, place the cursor over the net CLK_IN, select the RMB then Properties from the pull-down menu. A symbol notifies the user which tabs have the properties different from the defaults.

❺ Select the three tabs and notice that many items are in yellow. These are the items that are different from the defaults.

❻ Flip through the different tabs to see what properties nets have assigned.

❼ Select the Routing tab. Set the Minimum, Recom-mended and Maximum widths to 6.

❽ Select the Apply button and notice the white boxes turn yellow and the icon that appears on the routing tab has a red circle on it now.

PropertiesWith any object selected you can open and show rules to see what special properties were set. These properties can quickly be reviewed, edited, or set directly by just selecting the object. This allows you to be more efficient when working with data inside your design. The Properties dialog will also allow you to view graphical data as well. If you select a via, you can actu-ally view the layer breakdown of the pad stack. Along with

via graphics you can also see Component data. A Component preview dialog shows you a graphical representation of the part selected. It can be of the component itself or the pins of a component.You also can view Design Property information as graphical data as well as Parts and Vias data. The layer stack for the design can be displayed both graphically as well as numerically.

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Viewing Component Properties

❶ Using the cursor, drag the Net Properties dialog box to the left side of the screen so the Project Explorer pane is clearly in sight.

❷ Minimize the Nets list by selecting the minus next to Nets data type.

❸ Select the [+] to the left of Components and scroll down until you can see C1.

❹ Select C1 and notice the Property box changes to show C1 properties instead.

❺ Hold down the Shift key and select C10. The properties box now displays all the items that are similar between these 10 capacitors. If one wanted to, they could change something for all these items at once.

❻ Click on the Project Explorer icon to close the Project Explorer.

Viewing the Default Properties

❶ Press the "ESC" on your keyboard to ensure no items are selected. Place your cursor in the design window and use the RMB to choose Select Components from the selection filter.

❷ Now select any component. Notice how the proper-ties again change to accommodate the new selection without ever having to close the dialog.

❸ Place the cursor in an open area within the working area and hit the LMB to select. The Properties will now display the Default Properties. Note: Alternatively, press the "ESC" on your keyboard to en-sure no items are selected then RMB click on an empty area and select Properties to view the default properties.

❹ Select any object and use the RMB menu or the Prop-erties icon to view the Properties .

❺ Flip through the different tabs to view the default Prop-erties values.

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Exploring the Options Tabs

❶ Select the Options icon or go to the Tools > Options pulldown menu (or use the CTRL + Enter keyboard shortcut). All of these items will open the Options window pane.

❷ Flip through the different tree view options to see all the different options in PADS Router. Familiarize yourself with some of the important options so you will know which dialog to go to if a modification is required.

❸ The mostly commonly used tabs you will work with are:• General (basic usability settings), • Display (used to set up colors in the design), • Routing (sets software parameters that affect rout-

ing activities)• Strategy (sets up the routing sequence for auto-

routing a printed circuit board)❹ Spend a few minutes reviewing these dialogs making

yourself familiar with their contents. • Change colors.• Change Routing and Placement Options.• Turn on and off the Guard bands option setting.• Set different Highlight modes.

OptionsThere are numerous options within PADS Router. PADS Router has the option to set the design units from within the tool. You can set the Pick Radius and also the Backup Number and Instance. You can set the working directories as well.You have the ability to set custom colors for different informa-tion in the layout. You have a palette that will support up to 32

different colors. You can copy layer colors and apply them to other layers.You have a choice over some of the route biasing. As you change the settings you can preview what the results will be like. Along with setting the Routing Biasing, you also can set the Fanout patterns enabling and disabling various options.

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Review Questions

1 What is PADS Router?2 What types of information can I view in the Project Explorer?3 How extensive are the keyboard/modeless commands in PADS Router?4 What are the benefits offered by the Spreadsheet Window?5 How does the Properties Window show me rules that I have changed?6 What are some of the Options that I should be aware of?

Review Answers

1 PADS Router is a very powerful interactive routing and autorouting environment that allows you to accomplish your board routing tasks with ease and accuracy. It offers a large selection of capabilities that are complementary to those in PADS Lay-out, but also provides additional high speed routing technologies.

2 Project Explorer offers you the ability to examine all aspects of your design data including detailed information about your components, nets, net classes, groups, decals, vias and other design details. From this single window, you can select and examine just about any aspect of your design. Cross probing between the Project Explorer and the design workspace allows you to quickly query and examine data with just a few clicks.

3 PADS Router supports an extensive selection of keyboard shortcuts and modeless commands to assist the designer in ac-complishing many design tasks quickly and easily. There is a detailed list available from the Help menu as well as complete command descriptions accessible through the documentation on the InfoHub.

4 In addition to the information on design objects available through the Project Navigator, the Spreadsheet View presents you with a wealth of choices for examining specific design details such as net lengths, component positions, differential pair assignments, matched length group routing results, and countless other design details. The Spreadsheet View is a valuable resource for viewing and locating the most intricate details of your design.

5 The Properties window allows you to view the properties of all of your design objects. As an additional aid to understanding these parameters, the Properties window will add a special symbol on the tab of any item that is different from the default settings. If you select a tab in the Properties window that displays this symbol, any properties that differ from the defaults will be displayed with a yellow background making it easy to visually distinguish them.

6 PADS Router offers an extensive array of Options to allow you precise control over every aspect of the design process. In addition to being able to specify behaviors during placement and routing operations, there are Options available for setting your display colors, setting up your autorouting strategy, specifying your fabrication rules, adding test points and running comprehensive verification checks on your design. Consult the product documentation for complete descriptions.


Move Components with Drag and Drop Mode

❶ Select File > Open. Select the Lesson23A.pcb located at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson23 directory.

❷ Using the RMB, select on an empty area followed by selecting the Select Components filter.

❸ Place the cursor over any component. While over the component select the LMB.

❹ With the part highlighted, select and hold the LMB. Notice the part moves with the cursor. Place the part anywhere within the board outline. Release it by se-lecting the LMB a third time.

Lesson 23: Component PlacementUsers can easily move components within the routing environ-ment using the Windows move functionality know as “Select and Drag” or by using the traditional PADS Router format known as the “verb mode” method. Performing placement alterations in a routed area can auto-matically update existing traces and vias based on the design constraints set. PADS Router can be set to adjust traces and vias

in real-time during moving, after a component is released, or not at all. PADS Router can determine placement violations using visible real-time feedback through the use of errors markers or by cross-hatching violating parts. The autorouting environment makes it easy to spin, rotate, and flip components using stan-dard RMB selections or though the use of verb mode.

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Component Placement194

Moving a Component Using Verb Mode

❶ You can also move components using a Verb Mode process. Note: If the Placement Toolbar is not enabled, turn it on by selecting the Placement icon.

❷ Select the Move Component icon.❸ Select a component in the design and notice the com-

ponent warps directly to the cursor.❹ You can use the SS modeless command to call a part

out as well so it moves to the cursor, ready for final placement. Type SS <space> U1 to simulate this capa-bility.

❺ Select the LMB to place the part down (or hit the ESC key to release).

❻ Select any single part again, hit the RMB and notice you can Rotate, Spin and Flip parts as well. Hit ESC to release the parts as they were.

❼ Hold down the LMB down and drag a select box around a group of components. Notice they highlight and move with the cursor.

❽ Continue trying out all of the various placement op-tions. Use the mode that you prefer, whichever pro-vides the highest level of productivity.

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Component Placement 195

Rotating a Component in Verb Mode

❶ Select the Select Mode icon from the Placement tool-bar.

❷ Select multiple components (one at a time) by holding down the CTRL key while selecting.

❸ Select the Rotate 90 icon on the Placement toolbar. The selected components will automatically be rotated 90 degrees.

❹ While parts are selected, hit the RMB menu. Notice the options that are available.

❺ Using the LMB select Rotate 90.❻ You can also use the Flip command as well to flip a part

to the opposite side of the board.❼ Spin is another option available when you select a part

and hit the RMB. This command allows the user to spin the component to any angle. The Rotate, Flip, and Spin commands can also be used in verb mode using the ap-propriate icon located on the Placement Toolbar.

❽ There is also an option to use DRC (Design Rule Check-ing) during a move. This would perform a DRC check before allowing you to place the component. If there was a violation, the part would not be able to be placed. This option will automatically be enabled if you have Design Rule Checking already on. To turn DRC on/off, type the modeless command ‘DRC’ (Design Rule Checking) on your keyboard.

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Component Placement 197

Moving a Component with a Fanout


❷ Type the modeless command DRC followed by hitting the Enter key to turn on Design Rule Checking, then select the Enable All DRC icon on the DRC toolbar to activate full checking of all DRC rules.

❸ Select the Tools > Options pulldown. Select the Place-ment Tab.

❹ Enable the Move Component with Fanout check box (if not already selected).

❺ Select the OK button to complete and close the dialog.❻ Use keyboard command SS <space> U8 to search and

select U8.❼ Select the RMB followed by Move from the pulldown

menu.❽ Move the component around. Notice how the fanout

moves with the component. This is an option which can be disabled or enabled via the Tools >Options > Rout-ing Tab dialog as instructed in step #4.

❾ Try to place the part over another part. Yellow circles will appear over the overlap. This occurs because the Design Rule Checking Prevent mode was enabled.

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Review Questions

1 How do I place components without creating spacing violations?2 Why would I use verb mode for moving components?3 What additional types of manipulation can be performed while moving a component?4 When would I want to move a component with a fanout?

Review Answers

1 PADS Router offers extensive support for checking spacing violations during placement and routing operations using DRC (Design Rule Checking) mode. If you enable DRC while placing parts, the system will enforce all spacing rules for pads and traces, and not allow you to place a part if it violates any of the rules. This will prevent you from putting components too close together and help prevent manu-facturing issues later in the process.

2 In normal placement operations, you execute commands one at a time; when you finish the com-mand, you must select your next command. Verb mode allows you to select a command and repeat it. The system determines that upon completion of a command that you want to perform the same operation again. This will stay in effect until you cancel verb mode.

3 PADS Router offers you many choices during a move operation including the ability to rotate a part in 90 degree increments, spin a part to any desired angle, or flip a part to the opposite side of the board.

4 After you have placed all of your components, you would typically fanout all of the pins on the com-ponent so that signals have a way of making connections to the inner routing layers. Sometimes these fanout patterns are quite intricate and take considerable time to create. If later in the design process you need to move the component to make room for another, it would be helpful if you could move the component and the fanout pattern together as a group so that you would not have to recreate the fanout pattern at the new component location. PADS Router allows you to move a component with its fanout in a single operation, thus saving you time and effort. DRC can be enforced during this opera-tion to assure that you don’t create any violations during the move.



Design Rules and Constraints 199

Lesson 24: Design Rules and ConstraintsThe PADS Router Design Properties were reviewed in the previ-ous lesson. For review, when nothing is selected and the Proper-ties dialog is activated, the Design Properties window displays the global setting or defaults. When an object is selected and the Properties dialog enabled, the design properties for that object is queried and displayed. The Design Properties dialog box can also be used to display all the different rules that PADS Router allows as well. Some example tabs include:

• The Clearance tab is used to set minimum clearance rules for the design.

• The Routing tab is used to set minimum, recommended and maximum trace widths for the design.

• The Via Biasing tab is used to allow or disallow vias from being used during routing.

• The Test Points tab is used to set the minimum clearance between probes and objects.

• The Fanout tab is used to define how devices are intercon-nected to internal layers.

• The Pad Entry tab is used to set how traces can enter and exit a pad (side, corner, or any angle).

• The Topology tab is used to determine the order the pin-pairs will reconnect during the length minimization process.

• The Layers/Layer Biasing tabs are used to enable or disable layers from routing. Also, it is used to set layer directions for autorouting.

• The Same Net tab is used to help control the quality of routing both entering a pad/via and exiting a pad/via. Val-ues are constraints to help control routing.

Generally users will set up their design rules before they begin placement or routing. The design rules checking, verification routines, and autorouter can follow most of these rules.

Design Rules and Constraints200

Defining a Net Constraint

❶ Select File > Open. Select the Lesson24.pcb located at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson24 directory.

❷ Click the Project Explorer icon to open the window.❸ Select RMB over the Project Explorer window and

select Horizontal Split.Note: This will create a second version of the Project Explorer. These two windows can be utilized together.

❹ In the top pane, select the [+] located to the left of Net Objects. This will open up all the categories available for constraint assignment.

❺ Select [+] to the left of Nets to expand the list of nets contained in this design.

❻ While using the cursor, select the net called BACKDR, followed by hitting the RMB and selecting Properties. This will open the Properties dialog so a constraint can be assigned to this net.

❼ If not already viewable, select the Clearance Tab lo-cated at the top of the dialog.

❽ Select the All button to enable the capability of setting all clearances to a specific value.

❾ When the Clearance Value dialog appears, enter the value 10.Note: This will set all a 10 mil clearance for objects of the selected net against other objects in the design.

❿ Click OK to apply the new clearance value. Then click Apply in the Design Properties dialog.

⓫ Next, select the Routing tab.⓬ Set the Minimum Trace width to 10, set the Recom-

mended to 10 and the Maximum Trace width to 10.⓭ Click OK to complete the constraint assignment.

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201

Defining a Net ClassNet classes are created to set rules different from the default settings for a group of nets. They are one of the most efficient ways to apply a single constraint to multiple nets. You can set width requirements, clearance requirements and other important constraints.

❶ In the upper pane of the Project Explorer window, select the [+] to the left of Net Objects and Net Classes to expand those categories.

❷ Place the cursor over Net Classes and select the RMB, then New to create a new net class. Type in a name ADDR_BUS at the prompt for the new net class.

❸ In the lower pane of the Explorer window, select the [+] next to the Net Objects and Nets sections to expand this category.

❹ Using the LMB, select the net ADDR_BUS1. While hold down the SHIFT key, select ADDR_BUS19 as well.

❺ With the cursor over the highlighted nets, select and hold the LMB to drag the group of nets over to the Net Class called ADDR_BUS. Release the LMB once the nets are over the new class. This will add them to the class.

❻ Using the RMB, select the ADDR_BUS Net Class fol-lowed by selecting Properties. The Net Class Properties menu is used to enter the desired rules for each Net Class.

❼ Select the Routing tab and change the Minimum from 1 to 5, Recommended from 6 to 10 and Maximums to 50 to 15.

❽ Select the OK button to complete the definition.❾ Click the minus [-]next to the Net Classes on the top

Project Explorer to close the expanded view.

Design Rules and Constraints

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202

Defining a Differential PairDifferential pair rules assign length, gap parameters, layer assignment and obstacle handling to selected pairs of nets, associated nets or pin pairs. A user can pair two nets (two associated nets or or two pin pairs and define rules related to the pair to help guide them through the routing phase of the design.

❶ Place the cursor over the Project Explorer pane and select the RMB, followed by selecting Vertical Split.

❷ Select the [+] next to Net Objects (on both sides of the dialog) to expand the content. On the right side split, select the [+] next to the Nets category.

❸ On the left side of the Explorer pane, select the [+] Dif-ferential Pair category.

❹ On the right side Explorer pane, with the Net Objects > Nets expanded, scroll down to the nets DIFF3 and DIFF4.

❺ Using the LMB, select the DIFF3 net name.❻ Press the CTRL key and select the LMB over the net

DIFF4 so it adds to your previously selected items (DIFF3).

❼ Hold the LMB while over one of the selected nets.❽ Drag the pair of nets toward the left side Project Explor-

er dialog. Once over the Differential Pairs constraint category release the nets by releasing the LMB. This will deposit the two nets as a differential pair and cre-ate a new constraint called DIFF3<->DIFF4.

❾ Select the [+] next to the new diff pair to expand the list of nets in that diff pair.

❿ Place the cursor over the diff pair called DIFF3<->DIFF4.


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203

Defining a Differential Pair (continued)

⓫ Select the RMB followed by selecting the Properties menu selection from the pull down menu.

⓬ From within the Differential Pair Properties dialog, select the Add button twice to add 2 additional param-eter fields under the Set trace width and gap for the pair in the layer section of the dialog.

⓭ Enter the parameters shown followed by selecting the OK button. This will complete the constraint assign-ment for our differential pair.


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204

Creating a Matched Length GroupMatched length constraints are usually defined as two or more nets (or associated nets, or pin pairs) having equal total length. Matched length nets are typically specified with a tolerance to al-low the trace routing some flexibility while still being able to meet the desired timing requirements.

❶ Using the RMB, select the Matched Length Net Groups on the left Project Explorer. Select the New button on the Proj-ect Explorer toolbar or RMB > New to create a new group.

❷ Enter the name BUSBARS for the Matched Length Group.❸ Using the LMB, expand the Net Objects > Nets sections of

the right Explorer dialog (if not already done).❹ Scroll down to the net called BUSBAR0.❺ Select BUSBAR0 with the LMB so it highlighted.❻ Hold down the SHIFT key and select BUSBAR8.

Note: This will highlight all the nets in between Busbar0 and Busbar8.

❼ Holding the LMB over the nets, drag the group to the Matched Length Net Groups called BUSBARS.

❽ Let go of the LMB once over the constraint so the nets can be added to the new constraint.

❾ Select the RMB while over the BUSBARS Matched Length Net Groups. Select the Properties pulldown and notice the constraint information that can added as a design rule.

❿ Click Cancel to abort the constraint creation.⓫ Click the minus [-] next to the Match Length Group on the

left Project Explorer pane.⓬ In the right Project Explorer, click the minus [-] next to Nets.⓭ A matched length pin pair group contains pin pairs either

from the same net or from different nets. A matched length net group can contain associated nets or a mixture of nets and associated nets.


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205

Conditional RulesConditional rules provide more control over complex designs. For example, you can set a conditional rule for the width of a net on a particular layer.

❶ Select the [+] next to Layers to expand this entry. Do the same for Electrical Layers.

❷ Select Component Side Layer 1.❸ Select the [+] next to the Nets section to expand this

entry from within the same left side Explorer dialog. Scroll down until you see the net called BACKDR.

❹ With the Component Side Layer 1 still selected use the CTRL key plus the LMB to select the net called BACKDR.

❺ With both items still selected, use the LMB to drag the two objects over to Conditional Rules entry located in the right Project Explorer.Notice a [+] sign appears indicating an entry was added under the conditional rules.

❻ Select the [+] next to Condition Rules to see the new item that was added.

❼ To change the properties of the Conditional Rule, click RMB while the cursor is over the new conditional Rule and select Properties. Note the content.

❽ Select the OK button once you have had a chance to review the variety of constraints that can be set on an item on a given layer.

❾ Click on the Project Explorer icon to close.


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206 Design Rules and Constraints

Associate NetsYou can combine an array of nets joined by discrete compo-nents, creating an associated net, to which you can apply high speed rules as you would to a single net. The length of an as-sociated net is the combined lengths of the nets and discrete components of which it is composed.There are three ways to create and modify your associated nets:

� By Net - Select nets and associate them, either by settings in the Net Properties dialog box or by popup commands.

� Manually By Component - Select discrete components and associate their attached nets, either by settings in the Component Properties dialog box or by popup commands.

� Automatically by RefDes Prefix - Specify the refdes pre-fixes of the components whose nets you want to associate in the Associated Nets dialog box.

❶ Zoom on the lower left corner of the board in the area of LEDs.

❷ RMB and select Nets from the drop down menu. Click both nets coming from R24 component using the CTRL key on your keyboard to select both Nets. RMB and select Associate Nets.

❸ Expand Associated Nets in the Project Explorer by click-ing the [+]. You will see two nets combined into one Associated Net. Both net names are separated by ‘*’.

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207Design Rules and Constraints


Associate Nets (continued)

❹ Place your mouse over the Associated group. Select the group, RMB and select Properties from the drop down dialog. The Associate Net Properties dialog displays.

❺ Select the Length tab in the dialog. Check the Restricted length and specify Minimum/Maximum length to be 8500/10000.

❻ Click OK to apply the settings and close the dialog.Note: You can also create Matched length groups for Diff Pairs.

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Virtual PinVirtual Pin is an essential element for balanced topology routing. By adding the Virtual Pin (VP), the user can create Pin Pairs from the VP point and assign length for balancing multiple loads and ensure same length (propagation delay) for each load.

❶ Zoom on the P2 finger edge connector.❷ Search for P2 pin 27

(use modeless command ‘S P2.27).❸ RMB and then Select Nets from menu and select net

DIPSW4 starting from P2.27❹ RMB and then select Add Virtual Pin from the menu.

❺ Place the Virtual Pin in the center between the P2.27 pin and the C38 silkscreen as shown. Use the ESC key on your keyboard after placing the Virtual Pin.

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209Design Rules and Constraints

Virtual Pin (continued)

❻ In the right column of the Project Explorer under Nets, find the DIPSW4 net. It will have red marker next to it. Expand this net by clicking the [+]. You will see that this net has Pin Pairs created from the added Virtual Pin VP1.

❼ Select 3 Pin Pairs with VP1 excluding P2.27-VP1 and drag into left column of Project explorer and drop it on top of Matched Length Pin Pair Groups.

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Review Questions

1 Does PADS Router share Rules and Constraints with PADS Layout and DxDesigner?2 How easy is it to define a differential pair in PADS Router?3 What are Matched Length Groups?

Review Answers

1 The PADS design environment enforces rules and constraints throughout the entire process, from schematic design to placement, routing, autorouting and CAM.

2 Defining a differential pair in PADS Router can be as simple as selecting a pair of nets and then drag-ging and dropping them on the Differential Pairs object in the Project Explorer. As with most every-thing else in the PADS environment, there are other methods of performing the same task using the RMB menu commands while selecting a pair of nets in the workspace.

3 Matched Length Groups are a set of nets (or associated nets or pin pairs) that have a specific require-ment for a minimum length, maximum length or a target range. This means that all nets in the group should be routed to match the target length within a specified tolerance. You have the option to specify that all nets must be at least (x) long, no longer than (x), or fall within a defined min/max range of values. The Router will add length with accordions during routing if addition length is required.

Interactive and Manual Route

❶ Select File > Open. Select the Lesson25A.pcb located at C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson25 directory.Note: Make sure DRC is ON and Enable All before proceeding.

❷ Select the RMB and set the filter mode to Select Traces/Pins/Unroutes.

❸ Type S <space> P2.8. This command will automatically move the cursor to P2 and point out where the 8th pin of that device is located.

❹ Using the LMB, click on that pin. This will select the pin.❺ Using the MMB, zoom in on the area where the pin is

by holding down the middle mouse button and drag-ging the mouse toward the upper left.

❻ With the pin still selected, hit the RMB and select Inter-active Route.

❼ Start moving the cursor. Notice how the trace follows the cursor. This is called interactive routing.

Lesson 25: Interactive RoutingPCB Layout Engineers all have their own style when laying out their boards. The PADS Router environment allows designers to either manually route critical nets or use other options as well. PADS Router gives the designer full control over the route topology. The Automatic Interactive Routing modes provide the ability to Fanout, Autoroute, or Optimize right at the designer's fingertips. The Autoroute and Optimizing Nets/Components features can help to reduce the amount of manual work the designer has to complete. Many designers use the interactive routing capabili-ties to help complete traces through sensitive areas while using the autorouter to finish the remaining portions.

When using the PADS Router Autoroute routine, the software maintains design rules during routing that include setting trace widths, clearance rules, layer rules and via rules so the designer can concentrate on routing rather than monitoring the enforce-ment of the rules. The Route Monitor provides trace length information as rout-ing data is added. The Push and Shove capability allows trace segments to be pushed around obstacles while simultaneously preventing other traces from routing through specified areas, all the time maintaining design rules. This will allow quick additions to the design while still maintaining design constraints. All the options that will affect interactive routing can be set using the Routing tab of the Options window.

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Interactive and Manual Route (continued)

❽ Start moving the cursor up. Notice how the cursor reads RT=<some number> and ET=<some number>. The number next to RT stands for the actual current routed length. As you move the cursor, notice the routed length increases. ET stands for the estimated length if the route were completed from where it is to the ending pin on that pin pair using the shortest path.

❾ Continue moving the trace to the right. Make sure to move the trace toward the closest trace located on its right side. Notice how that trace forces the adjacent trace over. This push and shove technology will allow objects to be pushed as long as they are not protected or the movement will not cause some type of constraints violations (e.g., trace widths, clearance, layer constraints, or via violations).

❿ Move the cursor/trace back toward P2.8. If you have added corners use the Backspace keyboard key to remove any previously locked routing corners.

⓫ Place a via, toggling to the solder side layer by selecting the Shift key + LMB.Note: Before proceeding to the next step, make sure that the Check Clearance tab is checked. This tab can be accessed by click-ing the RMB while routing.

⓬ Using the LMB, click while routing to add a fixed corner. This creates a fixed route corner and keeps all the routing before it from changing. Hit the Backspace button again on the keyboard to remove this corner.

⓭ Drag the mouse following alongside the adjacent trace and up through the board.Notice how adjacent traces move away from trace being added. Traces are separated in real-time, based on the design constraints set in the design. Without this capability, a user would have to hand move every object to make room for the trace to get by.

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212 Interactive Routing

Routing OptionsWhen selecting an object for routing, the RMB pulldown provides many options available to help users place traces into a design with minimal effort. This topic will allow you to experiment with some of the options.

❶ There are several plowing options for the interactive router. The current setting is Plow with pointer.This means as the pointer moves the plowing occurs. On the right click menu there is the ability to use No plowing, Plow after click, and Rip up obstructing traces.Try out these different plowing techniques. To do so, simply select your preference from the pulldown menu and drag the trace through the design. Behavior of the different plow mechanisms will depend on which one has been enabled. Experiment freely.

❷ Select a connection you wish to route. Select the RMB while routing and deselect the Check Clearance option. Now drag the cursor around and notice how the system no longer prevents the trace from going into areas that would normally create a violation.

❸ Route a portion of the trace over another trace. Select the LMB to add a corner. Notice an error appears at the inter-sect point of the two traces.

❹ Select the Backspace keyboard key to remove the violating corner.

❺ While still routing a trace, hit the RMB, select the Check Clearance option from the pulldown to re-enable it.

❻ With the trace still moving with the cursor, select the RMB and deselect the Dynamic Route option. Now drag the cur-sor around.Notice that the system moves in only one direction at a time but still pushes and shoves traces out of the way. Each time the user clicks it places an anchor point and allows the users to change directions.

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213Interactive Routing

Routing Options (continued)

❼ While the trace is still being routed select the RMB and select the Dynamic Route check mark to re-enable it.

❽ To change the width of a trace you can select the RMB (while routing), select the Width pull-right arrow and select the desired width from a menu.You can also use a keyboard modeless command to ac-complish the same results. Type W <space> 8 and then hit Enter. The trace width will change to 8 mils from the last corner point.

❾ To change layers, click to add a corner where you would like to place a via and type the modeless command L <space> 2 (make sure you are currently not on Layer 2). Make sure you hit the OK button (or the Enter Key) to execute the modeless command. Notice: You are now routing on Layer 2 and a via was added at the location of the last corner prior to initiat-ing the modeless command.

❿ To complete the trace you can hit the RMB and select Complete, you can double click the LMB or you can place the cursor over the terminating pad and select it using the LMB. All of these styles are available for you to choose from.

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Route and Fanout


❷ Select the RMB and set your filter mode to Select Components.

❸ Using the LMB select U8. Select the RMB and select Fanout from the pulldown menu. Notice how the fanouts for the selected component automatically ap-pear.Note: The Fanout style can be set using the Default Proper-ties for global application (with nothing selected hit RMB then Properties/Fanout) or from Component Properties for individual fanout applications (select Component then hit RMB then Properties/Fanout).

❹ Using the LMB select U6.❺ Select the RMB followed by Route. Notice how the nets

connected to any of the component pins get routed automatically.

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215Interactive Routing


Review Questions

1 Must I have a clear routing path for a trace when routing interactively?2 What is the plower?3 Will the interactive router prevent me from placing a via in the wrong place?4 Can I temporarily end a trace without going all the way to its destination pin?5 What if I don’t like the fanout pattern that PADS Router puts on a particular component?

Review Answers

1 PADS Router incorporates sophisticated “push and shove” routing capabilities that allow you to move obstructing traces and vias in real time while you are routing. You have complete control over how the router responds to various obstacles.

2 The plower allows you to push obstructions out of the way as you interactively route traces. You can control the operation and intensity of the plower as well as specify when the plower will respond as you move your cursor in the design.

3 The Interactive Router fully supports DRC modes while routing. If you have specified detailed clear-ance rules for vias and a specific via grid, then the Router will only let you place vias on grid and with proper clearances. This allows you complete control over where vias can be placed in the design.

4 Using the End Via Mode options, you can elect to end a trace anywhere in the design without having to route it all the way to its destination. This is allows you to route escape traces on large components and temporarily end the traces at a convenient location outside the perimeter of the component. You can then come back at some later point in time to complete the traces. This is especially useful if you are experimenting with different routing patterns or fanout strategies in congested areas of a design.

5 PADS Router offers a large selection of fanout patterns that you can set with the Fanout tab in the Properties dialog. The pattern that you choose will remain as the default for a particular component type until you change it. If after fanning out a component, you don’t like the pattern, simply delete it and set another choice in Properties. This is one area of the application where you should spend some time experimenting and familiarizing yourself with the broad choice of fanout pattern options.


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Lesson 26: PADS Interactive High Speed Routing and AutoroutingThe PADS Interactive HSD manual routing features allow interac-tive routing of trace lengths based on constraints like Matched Length, Min/Max Length, and Differential Pair constraints sets. During interactive routing the system gives real-time feedback on length constraints assigned to those nets. Length-based Con-straints are recognized in real-time to allow accurate and timely routing of critical nets. The Length Monitor can identify when a trace is within the defined length constraint by changing the color of the monitor. The color coding on the monitor also helps users to determine when they are close, within or have exceeded the length con-straint defined on the net, while they are adding the trace data. The HSD option also allows for routing using accordions. Users can add accordions quickly based on default parameters or by re-defining the shape on the fly. The Spreadsheet window provides real-time feedback on trace lengths as they are routed in the design. You can also receive real-time color codes on nets that fall short, fall within and exceed length limits set via rules right from within the Spread-

sheet view. Differential Pair routing can be completed quickly and accurately by selecting one of the two nets defined. The second net auto-matically couples to the first maintaining the set spacing defined in the design rules. Accordion style routing can be applied to differential pair traces as well allowing you to maximize your trace length in minimum space. Tuning differential pair traces can also be done so the two lengths of the differential pair are identical in length.Traces that require special length considerations can be selected and routed prior to all others using interactive mode, saving time and increasing accuracy. Tune will adjust nets to their defined lengths. This can be done to individual nets selected in-teractively. These features further help designers to meet their design constraints with efficiency. Autorouting is also available for batch routing of all nets making it even easier to complete your routing requirements using an automated format.

Interactive High Speed Routing and Autorouting

218

Tuning Nets with Accordions


❷ Zoom In on the orange net on the bottom center of the board using the MMB.

❸ With nothing selected hit the RMB and set the select mode to Select Unroute/Pins.

❹ Now select the orange rats net with the LMB.❺ Open up the Navigation window by selecting Project

Navigator icon.❻ Press F3 on your keyboard (or right click on layout and

select Interactive Route) to start interactively routing.❼ Notice how the Navigation windows adjusts the color of

the net (Yellow, Green, Red) as you route with different lengths. The yellow stands for the fact that the route is under the rule minimum length, the green is within limits and the red means you have exceeded the limit. Look at the Status bar in the lower left hand corner and review the contents.This shows the user the routed length, estimated length if trace was completed, min and max length rule.

❽ Using the modeless command, type AO. This will put the interactive router in an orthogonal route angle mode forcing all corners into a 90 degree corner mode.

❾ Start routing to the right as shown.❿ Select the RMB (while routing), followed by selecting

Add Accordion (or hit the SHIFT + A at the same time). This will put you in Accordion mode so that you can add an accordion to add length to the net.


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Tuning Nets with Accordions (continued)

⓫ Drag the cursor to the right and notice an accordion starts drawing.

⓬ Move the cursor back to where the accordion started.⓭ Start moving the mouse down until it is close to the

connector pads. Once there select the LMB to set one side of the accordion amplitude.

⓮ Start moving the mouse up until it is close to row of component pads (on U26) and select the LMB a second time. This will reset the total accordion amplitude.

⓯ Now drag your cursor to the right and watch the pro-gram automatically add a new accordion using the new values.

⓰ Drag the cursor slowly and watch the Project Naviga-tion window change the trace color to green and then red. The green informs the user the length is within the design rule constraint range and the red tells the user it is longer than the maximum design rule.

⓱ Press the ESC key twice to exit the routing.⓲ Select the Navigation Window icon to close the naviga-

tor window.


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220

Routing Differential Pairs

❶ Select the HOME keyboard key or the Zoom to Board icon to zoom up around the entire board outline.

❷ Find the bright blue nets located on the left side of the edge connector

❸ Zoom in (using MMB) on the diff pair nets. Remember, you can use the PageUp key as well to zoom in.

❹ Change the angle mode again to diagonal using the modeless command AD.

❺ Select the Interactive Route icon from the Route Edit-ing Tool bar.

❻ Select one of the two blue nets with the LMB. Notice how the routing environment automatically recognizes that the net is part of a differential pair based on the rule and begins routing both nets as a Diff Pair.

❼ Notice how the program automatically brings the dif-ferential pair traces together matching the preset GAP distances. When the routing seems to neck out of the pads appropriately, select the LMB to lock down the traces exiting the pads.

❽ Select the Backspace key to remove previous corners whenever you wish to change the routing pattern.

❾ With the two traces still coupled together, continue routing the differential pair as you would a single net. Notice how the program maintains the gap even when moving at an angle.

❿ Move the differential pair past the pads from the com-ponent above it and watch the pair automatically split around the pad. NOTE: This will only occur if a corner has not been added prior to coming in contact with objects that will force the separation of the diff pair.


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Routing Differential Pairs (continued)

⓫ Move the cursor below the pad to remove the section of trace that separated due to the obstacles. Select the LMB to add a corner and route up toward the terminating pad.

⓬ The user also has the ability to route part of the differential pair separately. While still routing the diff pair, select the RMB and select Route Separately.

⓭ Route the first trace around one of the pads as shown. Click the LMB to add a corner to anchor the trace.

⓮ Select the RMB again and select Switch Trace (or Tab Key) to toggle to the second of the two diff pair traces. Route this one around an obstacle as well.

⓯ Once completed, select the LMB again followed by the Route Separately command (or Shift + Z) to rejoin the pair together.Note: This will only work if the vias and traces are unprotected. Go to Tools>Options>Routing Tab and under the Interactive Routing sec-tion, uncheck Protect Traces and Vias when creating segments.

⓰ Now hold down SHIFT and LMB. This will place vias on the differential pair.Note: Make sure that the Layer Pair is chosen correctly (choose one of the Routing Layers as the Second Layer) or else routing might not continue from the vias dropped to the VDD or GND planes due to restrictions on the particular differential pairs.

⓱ Select the CTRL + Tab key to toggle between the different available via patterns that can be added to the selected dif-ferential pair.

⓲ Select the Backspace key to remove the other corners just in case you need to change direction.

⓳ You can add accordions to the differential pair as well. While routing the diff pair select the RMB followed by selecting the Add Accordion entry from the pulldown menu (or select the Shift + A key).

⓴ Continue experimenting with routing differential pairs.


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Note: This section of this lesson presents advanced routing func-tionality that requires the (optional) HSD license to operate. If your installation doesn't have this license feature, you can still review the content to understand the capabilities of the functionality.

❶ Select the HOME key or the Zoom to Board icon to zoom full board.

❷ Open up the Project Explorer pane by selecting the Project Explorer icon.

❸ Select the [+] sign next to Net Objects to expand that design category.

❹ Select the [+] sign next to the Matched Length Net Groups to expand that as well.

❺ Select the [+] sign one more time expand the MLNet-Group1 design item.

❻ Select the [+] sign next to MatchTrack and notice there are two nets that lie beneath this group. Notice when you select the nets in the Explorer pane, the items are selected on the bottom of the board.

❼ With the nets highlighted, place the cursor in the work-ing area, hit the RMB and select Route.

❽ Select the Modeless command U to turn off connec-tions.Note: To enable the display of connections again just enable the modeless command U a second time.

❾ Click on MLNetGroup1 in the Project Explorer pane. Notice it highlights even when routed.

❿ Using the cursor from within the Explorer Pane, select ASYNC- net.


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Routing Matched Length Traces


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Routing Matched Length Traces (continued)

⓫ From the same pane, select ASYNC+ using the CTRL + LMB.

⓬ Close the Project Explorer window by selecting the Project Explorer icon.

⓭ Open up the Spreadsheet window by selecting the Spreadsheet icon.

⓮ Select the Object Type called Net.⓯ Select the Net Length Monitor from the right pull

down. Notice how the Routed Length of both traces is the same.Also notice how the value is equivalent to the minimum length rule. PADS Autorouter always tries to route to the minimum length. The accordions were added to create this length.


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224 Interactive High Speed Routing and Autorouting

Routing and Tuning Associated Nets

❶ In the Spreadsheet window, select the Associated Net Length Monitor tab.

❷ Select the Associated Net in the Name column called CLK_3584MEG*$4N138 (name appears in blue color).This Associated Net will get highlighted with white color and will fit into workspace window. Note: An asterisk (star) in the Associated Net name is a separator of two different nets that are combined. ❶

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Routing and Tuning Associated Nets (continued)

❸ Route the Associated Nets as you usually route traces. You can add accordions as you route. If you just route this net without paying attention to length, select it after routing as you did in Step 2 above. Move your mouse into the Workspace window and from the RMB menu select Tune.

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225Interactive High Speed Routing and Autorouting


Routing and Tuning with Virtual Pins

❶ Select the Project Explorer icon. The Project Explorer displays as shown.

❷ Expand Net Objects by clicking the [+] next to it.❸ Expand the Matched Length Pin Pair Groups by clicking

the [+} next to it and select MLPinPairGroup1. This highlights the pin Pairs from Virtual Pin 1 (VP1). Note: We turned off other nets for ease of viewing of VP1 Pin Pairs.

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227Interactive High Speed Routing and Autorouting

Routing and Tuning with Virtual Pins (continued)

❹ Route traces from VP1. You can add accordions as you route. If you just route these Pin Pairs without paying attention to length, select each Pin Pair starting from VP1 and select Tune from the RMB menu. Your routing may look different than our example. Note: Only 3 pin pairs belong to the matched length group. For the forth pin pair, which also starts from the virtual pin, Tune will not work as there is nothing to tune.

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Review Questions

1 What features does the Interactive HSD Router provide?2 Are accordions always symmetrical in construction?3 How do I know when the length of my accordion is long enough?4 When would I use “route separately” to route a differential pair?5 How do I determine that a Matched Length Group has been routed to the specified length?

Review Answers

1 The Interactive HSD Router provides you with a number of advanced routing features including the ability to interactively route differential pairs and length controlled nets. This includes that ability to tune nets interactively with accordions.

2 PADS Router HSD allows you to interactively create accordions. You have complete control of the shape, amplitude and length of the accordion in real time while you are routing. Flexible options allow you to control how the accordion is created and decide if you want to set the amplitude of each ele-ment of the accordion or make it symmetrical.

3 The Trace Length Monitor presents an easy to understand color-coded display that allows you to visu-ally see when a trace is routed to a required length. The display shows you when the trace is below, at, or above the desired length. The monitor does this in real time as you are routing the trace.

4 PADS Router allows you to easily route differential pairs together as though they were a single trace. However, there are situations where you might want to split the pair and route each pair member as a separate entity (such as when you need to connect them to pins of a component where only one trace is allowed between pins). Using the ‘route separately” command, you can temporarily split the pair and route each pair member as an individual trace, and then bring them back together as a pair when required.

5 In addition to the Trace Length Monitor, PADS Router will let you visually examine the routed lengths of a Matched Length Group by using the Spreadsheet View. This window will allow you to show the data for all of the nets in the group and view a color-coded report of their routed lengths in an easy-to-understand visual report. Select the matched length group in Project Explorer. It will be shown in the Navigation Window. If it is shown "all green", then it is routed to the specified length.

Autorouter Strategy Setup


❷ Select the Tools > Options pull down menu.❸ Select the Routing tab.❹ Toggle through the different Routing Angles (Orthogo-

nal, Diagonal, Any Angle). ❺ Notice the Preview image changes to present a visual

image of your selection.❻ Select the Strategy tab. Notice the Pass Names:

(Fanout, Patterns, Route, Optimize, Center, Test point, Tune and Miters).

❼ Notice the column options: (Pass, Protect, Pause, and Intensity).

❽ Using the cursor, double click on top of the word Components. Notice all the parts in the design become displayed.

❾ Select the [-] sign to minimize the Components.❿ Using the cursor, double click on top of Net Objects to

expand that portion of the dialog.⓫ Double click over the Nets item and notice a list of nets

that are contained in the design appears.⓬ Place the cursor directly over the Pass Type named

Route and select it with the LMB. Notice all the items associated with the pass highlight.

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Lesson 27: Setting Up a Design for Autorouting


229Setting Up a Design for Autorouting

Autorouter Strategy Setup (continued)

⓭ From the list of nets scroll down to the net called ADDR_BUS2. Select it so it is highlighted.

⓮ Click the Selected button so the net moves over to the Routing Order list. The routing order is the order that the Autorouter is going to follow when you start the autorouting routine. (Keep in mind the pass must be enabled of course.)

⓯ You should notice that as you select the parts and nets from this menu, they highlight in the working area. The same would hold true if you selected the parts from within the working area first. This is better know as Concurrent Database Selection. When utilizing this feature you can highlight a net in the working area which will then highlight in the Strat-egy dialog so you can immediately click the Selected button to add them to the Routing Order.

⓰ Use the Down Arrow button you can move the ADDR_BUS2 net up or down through the list. Setting up the Route Order for other passes works similarly.

⓱ Click the OK button to close the Options Dialog.⓲ Select Tools > Autoroute > Start (or F9) to begin the

autorouter. Note: PADS Autoroute pops up the Output Window and shows the pre-route analysis and the progress of the design.

⓳ Watch the board complete routing.⓴ Examine the results.

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230 Setting Up a Design for Autorouting


Review Questions

1 Why not autoroute every design?2 Can I autoroute only specific objects and nets in my design?3 Can I specify that PADS Autorouter route certain nets only on specific layers?4 Will PADS Autorouter route my design 100%?

Review Answers

1 Not every design is a candidate for autorouting. Though an autorouter is a powerful aid in quickly routing a large number of nets, it also requires careful setup and a good understanding of the underly-ing design rules and constraints. Sometimes it is a better choice to hand-route a design. It is often a good practice to manually route critical signals and then autoroute the balance of the nets when you are satisfied with routing of the critical traces.

2 Yes, a common strategy is to partition the autorouting in stages. Determine which nets you want to manually route, then divide the remaining components and/or nets into groups and autoroute each group sequentially, protecting the results at specific intervals. This allows you to incrementally route the design and review the results periodically during the process.

3 One of the advanced features of PADS Autorouter is the flexibility that it gives you during the routing strategy setup stage. You can easily assign certain nets (or classes) to specific routing layers. This helps you maintain crosstalk control and manage impedance requirements.

4 A lot of factors determine the success rate of any routing strategy; it is a delicate balance between rules definitions, component density, layer stackup and a myriad of other factors. Many times you will find that it is a good practice to run a series of test routes before running you final passes. This will allow you an opportunity to examine the results and modify your setting to optimize the autorouter behavior. With proper attention to the rules definitions and strategy settings, PADS Autorouter can provide exceptional performance and help you achieve maximum results.

231Setting Up a Design for Autorouting

Design Verification232

Verifying constraints, connectivity and high speed requirements is easily accomplished with complete accuracy. Activating all types of checks is available through one simple dialog that pro-vides custom reports that can be exported and reviewed. Clearance checking quickly ensures all spacing requirements have been made in the entire design. The Connectivity check ensures all interconnects are created with some type of conduc-tive data.In cases where traces were mistakenly forgotten, reports help to identify those quickly so additions can be made to account for those interconnects. High Speed checks verify all high speed constraints have been taken into consideration during routing. Fabrication checks verify that manufacturing considerations have been accounted for during routing. Testpoint checks en-sure proper clearances were maintained while testpoints were added or their locations modified.

Lesson 28: Verification


Design Verification 233

Verification Setup


❷ Select the Options icon.❸ Select the Fabrication tab to view the Fabrication Options

that can be set.❹ Select the Design Verification tab.❺ The Design Verification Scheme area allows you to select

pre-created verification checks.❻ Select the Clearance entry from the pulldown arrow.❼ Review the list of options that can be enabled that correlate

to items that can be clearance checked.❽ You can select different categories of items to check. For

example, select Fabrication as an entry available from the Check Design For section of the dialog.

❾ Design verification schemes can be saved by selecting the items you wish to enable, followed by selecting the Save As option. You can enter the name of the Manufacturer that has special clearance requirements to ensure you meet their manufacturing requirements.

❿ The Conduct checks area of the dialog allows a user to describe what data will be considered during the checking analysis. These settings can effectively disable or enable information from being checked when is not displayed. Select On visible objects and layers only as the mode for checking.

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Running Verification

❶ Select the object type Clearance in the Design Verifica-tion Scheme area.

❷ Click OK in the dialog box to close the Options dialog.❸ Select the Design Verification icon.❹ This will enable the Verification toolbar.❺ The Clearance verification scheme should be showing.❻ Select the Verify icon to enable the Verify Clearance

check.❼ Notice the violations that appear on the left side of the

design and on the edge connector located at the bot-tom as well.

❽ Enable the Spreadsheet pane by selecting the Spread-sheet icon.

❾ Select the Error category from the spreadsheet pane.

Design Verification

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235Design Verification

Running Verification (continued)

❿ Notice a list of errors appear in the spreadsheet win-dow. To expand the list hit the [+] sign next to the error of interest.

⓫ If you select on the error listed under the Type column the software will adjust the window to display the er-ror in the middle of the screen helping you to identify where the error is located.

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236 Design Verification

Understanding Verification Issues

❶ Select the Selection Filter icon to open up the Selection Filter toolbar.

❷ Disable all selection criteria by clicking on the Nothing icon.

❸ Enable the selection of errors by selecting the Error icon.

❹ Select the Selection Filter icon to close up the Selection Filter toolbar.

❺ Now select any one of the error markers in the working area.

❻ Select the RMB with the error selected followed by Properties.

❼ Notice how the error message explains what the prob-lem is and where it is located.

❽ You can also select the Ignore error during verification operations feature if you would prefer to disable an er-ror from being seen during any future verification.

❾ Select the OK button to close dialog box.Now that the clearance problems have been identified, resolving the issues should be much easier.

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Review Questions

1 When should I verify my design?2 Which verification checks should I run?3 Are there verification checks in PADS Router that are not available in PADS Layout?4 What are fabrication checks?5 How do I find the verification errors?

Review Answers

1 A printed circuit board design can be a very complex project that brings together thousands of design details into the finished product. Managing all of these details can be a formidable task and it is always possible for unexpected things to occur. Verification allows you to examine the details of your design and presents an opportunity to correct errors and inconsistencies prior to generating your manufac-turing outputs.

2 Depending upon the design, you will probably want to run a clearance check and a continuity check to verify the integrity of your design. Additionally, you may choose to run fabrication checks, test point checks (if applicable to your design) and other verifications such as differential pair and net length checks. Because each design is different, PADS Router provides a full set of verification checks for you to choose from.

3 PADS Router includes a few verification checks (such as differential pairs) that are not available directly in PADS Layout. However, PADS Layout will run its verifications checks and then automatically pass the design to PADS Router for these additional checks. This allows you to run the full set of checks from a single environment.

4 In addition to clearance and continuity checks, fabrication checks look for issues that might affect your design at board manufacture such as acid traps, copper slivers, drill clearance violations and silkscreen on pads. It is good practice to run a fabrication check on your design each time you generate you manufacturing documents.

5 The verification routine produces an on-screen report that describes each error that is found. This report is displayed in the Spreadsheet view where you can examine all of the details of each error. When you click on an error, it is automatically highlighted and centered in the workspace so that you can further examine the details and take corrective action.

237Design Verification

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In this section:

� Simulation with HyperLynx BoardSim � Thermal Analysis with HyperLynx Thermal

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Simulation with HyperLynx BoardSim & HyperLynx Thermal

240 HyperLynx BoardSim Simulation

Lesson 29: HyperLynx BoardSim SimulationThis exercise will walk you through the process of sending a finished design from PADS Layout to HyperLynx BoardSim and selecting a net for simulation. We will also compare the simula-tion results with the pre-layout stage that we prepared earlier in LineSim.

HyperLynx BoardSim

❶ In PADS Layout, select File > Open and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson29\Lesson29.pcb.

❷ Select Tools > Analysis > Signal/Power Integrity …❸ In the BoardSim dialog, select the check box next to the

.REF IC Automapping file, then select the radio button next to Export pour and plane outlines and finally se-lect the OK button. This will extract all of the data and load the design into HyperLynx. In the Missing Height dialog, activate (check) the For All Parts checkbox and click OK.

❹ In HyperLynx BoardSim select the NET button.

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HyperLynx BoardSim (continued)

❺ In the Select Net by Name dialog, scroll down and se-lect DATA_BUS0 net and then click the OK button. This will only show that specific net routed on the board. The U11 model is not assigned and Error dialog is opened. Select OK to continue.

241HyperLynx BoardSim Simulation


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HyperLynx BoardSim Simulation (continued)

❻ Select the COMP icon.A warning for U11 pin M26 displays. Select OK. In the Assign Models dialog, click Select. In the Select IC Model dialog, the xc9500.ibs Library will be highlighted. Scroll down the In Devices column until you can see and select XC95216_BGA352[SLW=0;VIO=0] and select OK.

❼ In the Assign Models dialog for U11.io, select the Output (radio button) option in the Buffer settings area and select OK. In the Assign Models dialog for U11.M26, select the Output (radio button) option in the Buffer settings area and select OK. All models are now assigned and ready for simulation.

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❽ Select Run Interactive Simulation icon.❾ In the Digital Oscilloscope dialog, select the radio but-

ton next to Rising edge. Make sure you have a probe color assigned to pins and select the Start Simulation button. Using the LMB, click two points in the Oscil-loscope window as shown on the top and bottom of the overshoot of the waveform to review the span of the voltage overshoot. Receivers have a lot of voltage overshoot (about 2.042V, in LineSim we had 2.104V).

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243HyperLynx BoardSim Simulation

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❿ Now we want to compare the pre-layout simulation results from LineSim with the BoardSim results that we just observed. In the Digital Oscilloscope dialog, select the Save/Load button and then select the HyperLynx .LIS radio button. Select the Load button and browse to the location where you have saved the file DATA_BUS0_no_termination.lis (from Lesson 10).

⓫ You can toggle to see both the pre-layout and post lay-out simulation results by checking the Loaded results check box.Note: Differences between pre and post-layout simulation results for receiver propagation delay (Green and Carrot color wave forms) are due to topology and trace length differences. However, the overshoot is almost the same (2.042V versa 2.104V)

⓬ To fix the Signal Integrity problem, select the Termination Wizard icon.

⓭ The Termination Wizard dialog suggests using AC ter-mination at the U28.13 receiver pin. Select the Apply tolerance pull down and use the Exact value setting. Selecting the Apply Values button will assign the termi-nator and its value. Lastly, select the OK button.

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⓮ Rerun the simulation with the AC Termination in place. You will notice that we removed almost all of the Signal Integrity problems related to overshoot.

⓯ Now we want to compare pre-layout simulation results from LineSim with BoardSim results after termination. In the Digital Oscilloscope, dialog select the Save/Load button and then select the HyperLynx .LIS radio but-ton. Select the Load button and browse to the location where you have saved the file DATA_BUS0 _termination.lis. You can toggle to see both the pre-layout and post-layout results of the simulation by checking Loaded results.Note: Differences between pre and post-layout simulation results with Termination in place for receiver propagation delay are due to topology and trace length differences.

HyperLynx BoardSim Simulation


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Review Questions

1 When would I want to use HyperLynx BoardSim?2 Do I need a special license to run HyperLynx BoardSim?3 Can I compare HyperLynx BoardSim results with those from HyperLynx LineSim?4 What do I do with the results?

Review Answers

1 Early in the design process, you can use HyperLynx LineSim to model the behavior of specific signals and/or specify terminations that might be required. HyperLynx BoardSim then lets you model the actual physical trace on the board to see if the physical implementation of the signal performs as expected against the earlier simulation.

2 No additional licensing is required. HyperLynx BoardSim is a licensed feature included in the PADS Suite.

3 HyperLynx BoardSim lets you run simulations on specific signals and also lets you compare the simula-tion results with previous simulations created in HyperLynx LineSim. This capability lets you carefully examine the projected performance against the actual layout to determine if any tweaking is required.

4 The results provided by HyperLynx BoardSim help you determine if any additional components need to be added to the design or if values of current components need to be adjusted. Any changes can be incorporated into the design at the schematic level and forwarded to Layout.


HyperLynx Thermal AnalysisThis section will demonstrate how to perform a HyperLynx Thermal simulation.

❶ In PADS Layout, select File > Open and select C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson30\Lesson30.pcb.

❷ We need to pour Copper and Split/Mixed planes before we transfer the design to HyperLynx Thermal. Select Tools > Pour Manager and in the Flood tab, select Flood All. Then click the Start button. Now select the Plane Connect tab and click the Start button (if any warning messages about missing thermal connections come up, please ignore).

❸ Select Tools > Analysis > Thermal Analysis.❹ In the Missing Height dialog, enable the check box For

All Parts, then select the OK button. This will extract all of the data and load design into HyperLynx Thermal.

❺ In HyperLynx Thermal, select the Run Analysis icon.Note: Some components are running hot at 113degC. We will try to resolve two component problems.

Lesson 30: HyperLynx Thermal AnalysisThis exercise will walk you through the process of sending a finished design from PADS Layout to HyperLynx Thermal for evaluating any possible heat problems and possible solutions to eliminate excessive heat areas. This exercise does not cover all of the aspects of the HyperLynx Thermal software but highlights a few important features.

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247HyperLynx Thermal Analysis

HyperLynx Thermal Analysis (continued)

❻ First, we will create a screw component in the Mas-ter Library. Select Library\Master. In the Edit Master Library dialog highlight the first component and select the Copy Part button., Type in the name for the new part ‘Screw_#6’ and select the OK button.

❼ Scroll down in the Edit Master Library dialog, select the Screw_#6 part and select the Edit part button.

❽ In the Edit part dialog, change the parameters for this screw as shown and select the OK button.

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248 HyperLynx Thermal Analysis


❾ In the Edit Master Library dialog, select Save to disk and click the Close button.

❿ Now we will need to copy the ‘Screw_#6’ part from the Master Library to the Working Library to be used in this design. Select Library > Working.

⓫ In the Edit Working Library dialog (in the left-hand win-dow) Master library: scroll down and select Screw_#6, then select the >> button to copy it to Working Library: window and select the Close button.

⓬ Select Placement > Screw and the part will get at-tached to your cursor. Place it the layout approximately in the two locations as shown (see next page). For the Component properties dialog, select the OK button for both screws

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⓭ Rerun the analysis by selecting the Run Analysis icon.Note: After we added screws around the lower right components, the temperature decreased from 113degC to 66degC. Overall temperature for the board also lowered from 113degC to 102degC. One component in the upper left corner is still hot and we will try a different technique below

⓮ Select the Specify environment properties button and in the Environment Condition Definition dialog, change Incoming air velocity to 250 ft/m for Front and Back sides and select the OK button.

⓯ Rerun the analysis by selecting the Run Analysis icon after changing the airflow velocity.Note: After we changed the airflow velocity, the component and overall board temperature lowered to 93.3degC from 102degC.

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250 HyperLynx Thermal Analysis



Review Questions

1 When would I use HyperLynx Thermal?2 How does HyperLynx Thermal compute the temperature of areas of the board?3 Can I add my own custom heat sinks and mechanical components to HyperLynx Thermal?4 How do I utilize the results?

Review Answers

1 Many designs can be temperature sensitive depending upon their application. You can use HyperLynx Thermal to create a thermal model of your design and determine if you will need to add heat sinking components or adjust your system cooling and air flow specifications to guarantee proper perfor-mance.

2 HyperLynx Thermal uses an extensive library of thermally modeled components and air velocity statis-tics to create a sophisticated model of the thermal behavior of your design. Through careful monitor-ing and adjustment of these parameters, the system can show you what changes you need to consider in order to bring your design into an acceptable window of thermal performance.

3 You can add additional models to HyperLynx Thermal to represent specific components that you might add to your design to improve thermal performance. Careful attention must be given to the creation of these models so that the application can properly interpret their thermal characteristics.

4 Once you problem areas have been identified and you have been presented with possible solutions, you can incorporate the necessary changes into your design and rerun additional simulations to con-firm the adjusted behavior of your design.

252


Completing the Design

In this section:

� DFM Analysis � Generating Manufacturing Outputs (CAM) � 3D Layout View � Creating PDFs

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Lesson 31: DFM Analysis

Running DFM Analysis on a Design

❶ In PADS Layout, select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson31\ Lesson31.PCB.

❷ Select Tools > DFM Analysis > Start Analysis to begin the process. Note: Error displayed in "therm.err" report can be ignored for this lesson.

❸ Use the DFMA Constraints dialog to scroll through the list of DFMA Constraints defined in the design. Notice that there is an extensive array of checks that will be performed on the design. Note: It may take a few minutes for this display.

❹ When you have finished reviewing the Constraints, click the Continue button in the message box to begin the analysis.

❺ A series of messages and progress indicators will sequen-tially appear on the screen as the system performs exten-sive checks on each of the layers and design objects.

❻ When the analysis is completed, the system will open a new window called the Results Viewer.

Studies have shown that the design phase of a project can yield the largest overall cost savings if manufacturing problems are detected and corrected early. Undetected manufacturing issues can result in expensive rework, scrapped inventory, missed schedules, and even failed products, especially if the problems make it into the final product.The PADS ES Suite features a full array of design checking tools including (optional) extensive Design For Manufacturing (DFM) Analysis routines. This allows you to run advanced manufactur-ing analysis checks on your design prior to sending it out to your board vendor for fabrication. These are not just simple clear-ance and continuity checks, but an extensive analysis of all of the design objects including pads, vias, line widths, mounting

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and tooling holes, solder mask openings, internal layer registra-tions, coppers, drills, solder slivers, acid traps and much more. This gives you the power and flexibility to catch potential manu-facturing and design quality issues early in the process where you can realize the greatest gains in the product lifecycle.In this exercise, you will learn how to start the design analysis and then review the results in a very flexible and powerful graphical viewer.

Note: This lesson presents advanced design analysis functionality that requires the (optional) DFM license to operate. If your installation doesn't have this license feature, you can still review the content to understand the capabilities of the functionality.


DFM Analysis 255

Reviewing the Analysis ResultsAfter the analysis has been performed on the design, you can re-view the results sequentially to determine any corrective actions that you might want to take.

❶ The DFM Results Viewer contains various layer selection and navigation elements, a toolbar and a group of display areas that allow you to query and display the results data.

❷ From the Results area of the viewer, select Slivers. This will enable you to select and navigate through any solder slivers that might exist in the design.

❸ Click the Next Result icon on the toolbar to display the next instance of a sliver.

❹ The Display area will show the selected item and the category window will contain a detailed explanation of the violation.

❺ Each time you click the Next Result icon, the system will advance to the next item in the Results Tree. After step-ping through all of the solder slivers, the system will move to the next topic in succession. Using this technique, you can systematically step through all of the potential DFM violations in the design.

❻ Next, we will look at how to synchronize the Results View-er with PADS Layout so that you can cross probe directly to each violation in PADS Layout.

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DFM Analysis256

Using EDA Sync ModeThough you can view the DFM Analysis results in the Results Viewer, you may want to synchronize your session directly to PADS Layout so that you can view and/or correct the viola-tions directly in the Layout environment.

❶ From the Tools Menu in the Results Viewer, select EDA Sync Mode and make sure that Automatic is selected.

❷ Select the Next Result icon on the toolbar.❸ The DFM Results Viewer will display the next violation

and PADS Layout will automatically cross probe to the same area. This makes it easy to navigate to manufac-turing errors within PADS Layout so that you can then determine your course of action to correct them.

❹ Experiment with the various selections available in the viewer.

❺ When you are finished reviewing the DFM errors, close the viewer.

❻ Close the PADS Layout session.

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Review Questions

1 Why is it important to uncover manufacturing problems during the design process?2 Can I save and recall the DFM Constraints setup for use on another design?3 Is there an easy way to locate a DFMA error in PADS Layout?

4 When should I run the DFM Analysis checks?

Review Answers

1 Identifying and correcting manufacturing issues early in the design cycle saves time, money and helps to improve overall product quality. Improved manufacturing yields, less rework and fewer failures all result in measurable benefits to any project.

2 Yes, you can save your DFM setups and use them with other designs. You can also save unique ver-sions for design variants and for application with specific manufacturing lines and processes.

3 Use EDA Sync Mode to set up a direct link between the DFM Results Viewer and your PADS Layout session. This enables you to cross probe between DFM and Layout, increasing your productivity and allowing you to make edits directly in the design database.

4 Typically, you should run DFM Analysis prior to generating you output files. This gives you the oppor-tunity to edit and correct any errors prior to final output. You should also run DFM Analysis after you make any substantial changes to the design to make sure you have not introduced any new unknown issues.

DFM Analysis 257


Lesson 32: Generating Manufacturing Outputs

Creating Routing Layers (Gerbers or Laser Prints)

❶ In PADS Layout, select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson32\ Lesson32.PCB.Note: Prior to running this lesson you need to Hatch Copper for the plane areas. Go to Tools > Pour Manager and select the Hatch tab, select the Fast Hatch radio button and click Start.

❷ Use the menu File > CAM to open the dialog for defining output documents.

❸ From the dialog shown below scroll through the list of Gerber files that are pre-defined.

❹ You will review the outputs for the Top Routing layer, the Neg Plane Layer 3 (Gnd) and the Silkscreen Top layer.

❺ In the CAM Documents area, select Route Layer 1and then click the Edit button located on the main CAM dialog.

❻ This will bring up a second dialog where you can review the plot name, plot type, and set the Size/Scale and Offsets.

❼ Review the setting for Route Layer 1 and make sure they match the following:

• Document Name = Route Layer 1• Document Type = Routing/Split Plane• Layer Association = Component Side Layer 1

This section will step you through the process of creating Gerber outputs. Gerber outputs are usually required to fabricate a PCB. Gerber files contain design information for each layer. There are also other critical outputs such as Drill Files and Drill Drawings.In this exercise, you will learn how to generate several types of design output files using the powerful manufacturing documen-tation features in PADS Layout .

Creating CAM Outputs258

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Creating Routing Layers (continued)

❽ Notice the Summary includes default settings which can be edited.

❾ Select the Layers icon located in the Customize Docu-ment section of the dialog.

❿ Verify that the Board Outline check box is checked so it can be included in the output.Note: You will see the “Items on Primary” become selectable when you select a layer listed in the Selected section of this dialog.

⓫ Select the Preview button to see what the Gerber file would contain with the current settings.

⓬ To zoom in on the display, select and hold the LMB to drag a frame around the area you want to zoom into. You can also click the Board button to zoom around the board.

⓭ Click the Close button to close the Preview dialog.⓮ Click OK to close the Layer dialog which will place you

at the Edit Document dialog.

Creating CAM Outputs 259

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CAM Options and Setup Information

❶ Click the Options icon to review the available Plot Op-tions.Note: For this exercise you will not change anything. However, if you decide to make changes later you can see the effects in the Preview window on the right hand side.

❷ Click OK to close the Plot Options dialog.❸ The Device Setup button will allow you to choose your

desired output.❹ This option is used to set up laser printers, pen plotters,

and Gerber output settings. The following dialog will change based on the desired target device.

• PRINT (Print Manager)• PEN (Penplotter)• PHOTO (Gerber Output)

❺ Click the Print icon then Device Setup. Notice the con-tent. It works just like Print Manger.

❻ Click the OK button to close the dialog.❼ Click the Pen button then Device Setup. This allows you

to set your penplot options.❽ Click the OK button to close the dialog.❾ Click the Photo button then Device Setup. This allows

you to set the options for generating Gerber output for each layer.

❿ Click the Advanced button. Notice this sets many of your Gerber output preferences like RS-274X vs. RS-274D.

⓫ For this exercise we will leave this dialog as it is. Click OK to close this dialog.

⓬ Click OK to close the Photoplotter setup dialog.⓭ Leave the Output Device set to PHOTO and click OK to

complete the review of Route Layer 1.


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Creating Negative Image Plane LayersIn this exercise you learn what is required to create outputs for negative plane layers. Positive image plane layers use the Route/Split Mixed plot types while Negative Image planes require special handling.

❶ If you closed out then use File > CAM… , select Neg Plane Layer 3 (gnd) from the documents list and click the Edit button again. Verify that the Document Type = CAM Plane and Associated Fabrication Layer = Gnd Plane Layer 3.

❷ Click the Layers icon and verify that the settings are in agreement with those shown.

❸ Click the Preview button located on the right side of this dialog.

❹ Review the content of the negative image layer. When you are done close all windows until you return to the “Define CAM Documents” dialog.Note: Everywhere that is black will actually be void of con-ductive material. Anywhere within the board that is white will be conductive material. Think in reverse when viewing this area. Also note the thermal reliefs are clearly seen.



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Creating Silkscreen TopThis exercise will show you how to create documentation out-puts like Silkscreen top and bottom views, Soldermask top and bottom views, Pastemask top and bottom views and Assembly Drawing top and bottom views. In this lesson you will only review one but the methodology for creating the others is the same.

❶ In the Define CAM Documents dialog, select Silkscreen Component Side from the list and the Edit button again.

❷ Verify that the options are set to: Document Name = Silk-screen Component Side, Document Type = Silkscreen and Layer Association = Component Side Layer 1.

❸ If the Layer Association has not been defined, click Silk-screen in the Document type and then pick the Compo-nent Side Layer 1 selection.

❹ Click the OK button once the Layer is selected.❺ Click the Layers button.❻ Select the Board Outline check box.

Notice there are two layers listed in the Selected section of the dialog. More than one layer can be included in one output plot. By selecting each layer independently you can enable different items on each layer.

❼ Select Component Side Layer 1 in the Selected section. (Notice the items selected in the Items on Primary sec-tion of dialog).

❽ Select the Silkscreen Top layer in the Selected section. (Notice the items selected in the Items on Primary sec-tion of the dialog).

❾ Click the Preview button and review the contents.Notice the contents are not desirable. The silkscreen RefDes names are not present. This is one of the main benefits of pre-viewing the output prior to generating the Gerber output.

❿ Click the Close button to exit the preview window.


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Creating Silkscreen Top (continued)

⓫ Select the Component Side Layer 1 entry in the Se-lected section.

⓬ Uncheck Ref Des and Part Type from the Items on Primary section.

⓭ Select the Silkscreen Top item in the Selected section.⓮ Check the Ref Des entry to add it to the list of outputs.⓯ Click the Preview button and review the results.⓰ Select Close to close the Preview dialog.⓱ Select OK to close the Selected Items dialog.⓲ Select OK to close the Edit Document dialog.



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Executing OutputThis exercise will show you how to output the required Gerber files using the CAM routing. The same method for exporting multiple documents also works for single documents.

❶ Select the first document listed in the CAM dialog.❷ Scroll down through the list using the right side scroll

bar.❸ Hold the Shift key and select the last document in the

list using the LMB.Notice all documents are selected.

❹ Click the Run button.❺ At the Prompt: "Do you wish to generate the following

outputs?", click Yes.Note: If any other dialogs appear asking for permissions, click Yes to accept.

❻ The outputs will be generated and placed in the default directory (C:\PADS Projects\CAM\Default).Note: Most of the outputs are Gerber photoplot files, so you will need access to a Gerber viewing program (such as CAM350) to view them.


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Review Questions

1 What are CAM documents?2 Can I see my outputs before I send them to manufacturing?3 How many types of outputs does PADS Layout CAM support?4 Once I have defined all of my CAM documents, how easy is it to edit them?5 How difficult is it to generate the final CAM outputs?6 Can I save my CAM setup and use it on another design?

Review Answers

1 CAM (Computer Automated Manufacturing) documents are a set of manufacturing files and documents that are used to fabricate your design. They include Gerber files for manufacturing the bare board, silkscreen artworks, paste stencils, fabri-cation drawings, drill files, assembly drawings and other information that is passed on to your manufacturing and assembly personnel.

2 PADS Layout CAM offers you the ability to view all of your output files prior to generating the final outputs. This allows you to visually inspect the data before generating your final deliverables.

3 PADS Layout CAM supports a number of different output formats including laser prints, pen plots, photoplots, drill files and other data files types. This gives you a broad selection to choose from to meet the specific format requirements of your vendors and internal personnel.

4 Once you have defined all of your CAM documents, you can easily edit them. Just open the existing document definition, edit it and save it.

5 Setting up the CAM document definitions is where the time is spent. Generating the outputs is a simple as selecting the documents you want to generate from a list and then clicking the Run button. That’s it, one click and you’re done.

6 Once you have defined your CAM documents, you will probably want to reuse these setups on a future design. PADS Layout CAM provides an Export command that will let you save your CAM document definitions and import them into your future designs.

Lesson 33: Additional Views

3D Layout ViewThis exercise will demonstrate the 3D viewer available within PADS Layout. The 3-dimensional view will provide a realistic representation of what the board will look like after fabrica-tion. This is an easy way to visually analyze the extents of the board and its components to determine if you will need to be concerned about collisions.

❶ Close all windows and open Lesson33.pcb in the C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson33 directory.

❷ Select View > 3D View > Dynamic View.❸ Select File > Batch Import 3D Cells. Browse to the C:\

PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson33 directory and select the 3D Cells folder.

❹ The 3D Viewer will appear. Take time to review the vis-ibility options.

❺ If the board appears too small to view, simply click the “fit all” icon to bring it into better view.Note: Review the Toolbar icons to get an overview of the available functionality.

❻ LMB and hold the mouse on any part of the board and then drag and release in any direction to rotate the im-age. Using the mouse scroll wheel will allow for zoom-ing in and out of the display.Note: The display will stop moving if the mouse is removed from the display window, and it will continue once again when the mouse is placed back in the view.

There are two additional viewing options which may be useful for PCB designers and design reviewers. One option is the abil-ity to generate a 3D view of the board and any components on the board. The 3D view can be generated with 3D component

models or by simple part extrusion. The other option which can be helpful is a PDF view of the board. By creating a PDF the design is easy to email to other designers and can also be used as part of the documentation process.

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PADS 3D View266


PADS 3D View 267

Review Questions

1 What is 3D Layout View?2 What level of details can I view?3 How would I use the data in the 3D view?4 Can the 3D view be exported to a mechanical CAD application?

Review Answers

1 3D Layout View is an advanced 3D modeler that can display a realistic solid model view of your design. This is especially useful for visualizing design details and determining if the physical design meets the spatial design requirements.

2 Depending upon the setup of the application, you can display a simple view with extruded shapes of the components, or you can utilize a library of realistic component models to accurately represent your design details.

3 You can use the 3D view to convey design intent to reviewers, vendors, engineers or anyone else that might have an interest in the physical model of the board.

4 The 3D view can be exported to 3D mechanical solid modeling programs so that you can run interfer-ence checks against enclosure models or other related design elements.

Creating a PDF Document

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson34\ Lesson34.pcb.

❷ Select File > Create PDF❸ The PDF Configuration dialog box displays its controls

in two views--a “document” view and a “page” view. The document view appears when the root item (PDF Document) is selected in the page list at the top left of the dialog box. Settings made in the Document view affect all pages in the document.

The PADS PDF utility allows you to communicate very effectively through an advanced PDF document which can be opened and viewed by anyone using Adobe Acrobat. By generating an advanced PDF file, you can send single files to teammates, providing them with the ability to perform design reviews using a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader as the viewer. The PDF file created by PADS PDF not only contains the graphical data of the layout, but it also contains Components and Nets informa-tion. This functionality allows you to easily locate nets or parts

using search in the PDF file. These advanced features include the ability to jump automatically to a subsequent instance of the net by simply selecting the first instance. The PADS PDF file also contains net and part information including a complete list of property names and values assigned. Properties can be re-viewed by placing the cursor over a part, clicking the left mouse button and selecting the pop-up with a list of attributes for the part.

Lesson 34: Creating PDFs

Note: For detailed information about the functionality of the various controls on these dialogs, please refer to the Help system and the documentation in the InfoHub.

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Creating PDFs (continued)

❹ The Page view appears when a single page is selected in the page list. Now the settings will only affect the selected page.

❺ Click Create PDF❻ Save Lesson 34.pdf

When Adobe Acrobat Reader launches you should see the first “Component Side Layer 1” layer of the design on the right and a list of all the layers on the left.

❼ Try clicking different Layers on the left side and watch Adobe Acrobat jump to the corresponding layers.

❽ Select Component Side Layer 1 to jump to Layer 1.❾ Expand Component Side Layer 1 by clicking the plus [+]

next to the name in the navigator to expose Compo-nents and Nets.

❿ Expand Components and select C1. Notice how the screen zooms into C1.

⓫ Using the LMB select the component in the design area and you will see a list of attributes associated with C1.

Creating PDFs 269

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Creating PDFs270

Review Questions

1 Can I create PDFs of the PADS design data?2 What distinguishes the PADS PDFs from standard PDFs?3 How much flexibility is there in choosing what gets displayed in the PDF?4 Do I need a special viewer to see the advanced data in the PADS PDF files?

Review Answers

1 PADS Layout lets you create comprehensive PDF files of the design data. This allows you the ability to easily share your design with interested parties such as manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, as-sembly personnel and others without disclosing your proprietary source data.

2 The PADS PDF files contain detailed information related to your design. Reviewers can easily browse through multiple pages of design data that show each layer of the design. You can also click on design elements such as components and get detailed information about the object. This works for compo-nents and nets as well as other design objects.

3 The PDF generator lets you choose from a large selection of design elements on a layer by layer basis so that you can have full control over what appears in the final document. This level of specification lets you create targeted PDF files containing only the information that you want to convey.

4 You do not need a special viewer to work with these documents, only a copy of the standard Adobe Acrobat Reader. No special features or capabilities are needed to see all of the data within these PDF documents.


Archive Navigator 271

Lesson 35: Archive NavigatorThe Archive Navigator provides a quick and easy method of automatically creating and restoring archives of your PADS Proj-ects. Archives will be stored in a local vault and properties such as the archive name, when and who created the archive, along with a user-defined description will assist you in identifying and restoring the required archive.

Creating an Archive Navigator VaultTo begin using the Archive Navigator you must:

• Create one or more vaults• Optionally create one or more folders within the vault• Create empty projects

❶ Select File > Open. Browse to and open C:\PADS_ES_Evaluation\Lesson35\ Lesson35.pcb.

❷ From the Tools menu, select Archive Navigator.❸ In the Vault section of the Archive Navigator dialog, click

the Select Vault icon.❹ When the Select Vault dialog opens, click the Create New

Vault icon.❺ We must now select a location for our new vault. In the

directory view of your system, browse to the desired loca-tion on your system drive where you wish to place the archive, in this example: Computer > Local Disk (C:)

❻ Click the Make New Folder button to create a new folder at the selected location on your disk. Name the folder PADS-Design-Vault and click the OK button to confirm.

❼ A message box will appear confirming the creation of the vault and asking if you would like use it now. Click Yes.

❽ The Select Vault dialog will now show the path to the new vault. Click OK to accept the selection.

You can organize your archive navigator storage to suit your situ-ation. If you only have a few projects, you can store them at the top level of the vault. If you have a larger number of projects, you may want to create folders within your vault to organize them. If you have very many projects, you may want to create multiple vaults, each containing multiple folders containing multiple projects.

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Archive Navigator272

Adding a PCB Project to the VaultYou will now add a PCB project to the new vault that you just created.

❶ In the Vault view of the Archive Navigator, right-click on the name of the new vault and click Create Empty Project...

❷ In the Create Empty Project dialog box, type a name and description for the new project.

❸ Click the OK button to accept the settings.❹ A message will appear asking if you would like to set the

working folder to the current project folder. Click Yes to accept this assignment.

❺ The Working Folder view in the Archive Navigator will now display the location of the working folder and its contents.

❻ You have completed the creation of your new vault. Be-low are examples of more complex configurations.

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Conclusion


This Evaluation Guide has introduced you to some of the power and flexibility available in the PADS ES Suite, but that is just a beginning. Obviously, this evaluation has only scratched the surface and presented you with an abbreviated view into the full spectrum of the design capabilities of the products. If you would like to learn more about the many features and functions of these applications, there is a wealth of knowledge to experi-ence and discover in the extensive resources that are available.

Additional resources Include:• Tutorials • Concepts Guides• Extensive Help files• User Manuals• The InfoHub• On-line video presentations

For more information or to find your local sales representative, please visit:

http://www.mentor.com/products/pcb-system-design/design-flows/pads/

http://www.mentor.com/products/pcb-system-design/design-flows/pads/

Mentor Graphics Corporation8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777.

Telephone: 503.685.7000Toll-Free Telephone: 800.592.2210

Website: www.mentor.com

http://www.mentor.com

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