CADSTAR 8.0 Includes Advanced Features for Signal Integrity, Routing, Lead Free Compliance and Variant Management

Munich, Germany and Westford, MA, USA – Zuken, the engineering consulting company announces CADSTAR 8.0, the latest version of the company’s desktop PCB design solution. This features improvements in schematic design and library management, support for variants, lead free component technology and jumpers. There are also major enhancements to placement, routing, and advanced signal integrity analysis tools.

The CADSTAR Schematic Manager features significant usability enhancements for engineers. Pin names and numbers can now be rotated in the schematic symbol, pin labels can be assigned in the library, multi-line text can be justified, and text can be aligned and rotated while supporting readability, plus much more.

Component management is now a simple process; users can search components within multiple libraries while maintaining data integrity required for carrying out necessary design processes such as ECO updates, checks and post process procedures.

CADSTAR 8.0 includes the latest in functionality for dealing with new technology that has evolved from the introduction of new legislation such as the European WEEE and RoHS Directives and continued innovation in design processes and fabrication such as lead free soldering, soon to be mandatory in most electronics equipment in the European Union. Electrical connections using jumper technology is now supported. Users can add jumpers on the fly (like a normal via) in the P.R.Editor XR 2000 L4 (or higher version). Rounded rectangle pads are also supported, improving the process of lead free soldering. The Variant Manager now includes the support of text per variant, eliminating the requirement for separate supporting documentation for manufacturing. Hyperlinks and documentation in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF can also be added to the variant text.

The hard work has been taken out of complex routing with major enhancements to the P.R.Editor. The introduction of revolutionary technology, ‘trunking’, means that designers can now perform auto-interactive routing much more efficiently. Trunks address issues associated with handling different routes, busses, or differential pairs collectively as one entity, enabling users to quickly sketch routes, facilitating fast up-front planning and manipulation of a collection of signals as a group. All interconnects can be concurrently considered when routing at the ends of a trunk using the trunk end router function, combating design complexity as the board density increases; which can be performed in combination with an improved 45 degree angled pusher. Length and skew control is a quick and easy process using a new interactive lengthening tool that maximizes exploitation of available real estate.

Improvements in CADSTAR SI Verify go a long way toward simplifying the process of designing with increased data rates. Version 8.0 includes a highly accurate FEM field solver for considering frequency dependent losses and the proximity effects on strong couplings. Eye diagrams can be generated for performing eye-mask verification and for providing analysis based on multi-bit sequence stimuli. This version also includes RF models for passive devices and accurate timing, and waveform verification can be performed at die level.

The latest version of CADSTAR has been driven by customer demands, with most of the new functionality featuring in the top ten enhancement requests of current CADSTAR customers. Maintaining a high quality continues to be the core principle driving dynamic responsive product development.

CADSTAR 8.0 will be available from the middle of November 2005 with modules starting from $/€1,000.
For more information visit:

• CADSTAR 8 release information
• View key features / benefits matrix for CADSTAR 8
• CADSTAR Maintenance Customers - Download CADSTAR 8 via LinkZ

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About Zuken:
Established in 1976, Zuken has evolved into a provider of solutions that maximize the efficiency of the design and manufacturing processes of electronics companies around the world. Zuken holds a leading global share of the PCB/MCM/HIC software market in the field of electronic design automation (EDA). In addition to its longstanding experience as a provider of innovative solutions for PCB design, Zuken’s expanded portfolio encompasses proven solutions for the development of information technology (IT) infrastructures. Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company is headquartered in Japan and has development, sales and support centers in 10 countries including the US, Germany, UK and France. Zuken's customers include the world's top 30 electronics manufacturers from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, and medical to military.
www.zuken.com