Zuken Releases CADSTAR 10 with Improved Intelligent Functionalities for both the PCB Designer and Electronic Engineer

November 27, 2007 – Munich, Germany and Westford, MA, USA; Zuken announces the latest version of the desktop PCB design solution, CADSTAR 10.0, which includes the addition of a large number of intelligent functionalities for schematic, library and PCB design, tighter integration with FPGA design tools, and the introduction of an alternative schematic front-end solution E³.logic.

There has been an increased focus on supporting both the engineer and designer to create “right-first-time” designs in shorter time frames. CADSTAR offers users the ability to perform version control at the parts and component level, store parts information in the PCB design, set-up detailed layer stacks for buried and blind via technologies and carry-out impedance controlled routing. CADSTAR 10.0 also includes extended ODB++ output for manufacturing, the ability to highlight nets using multiple colors, plus FPGA design integration and a fully integrated parts library manager in ‘Design Editor’.

Ease-of-use with the well-known intuitive workflow has been further improved, to include integration of additional features for assigning any combination of function keys, enhanced layers settings GUI, support of custom colors using the standard Microsoft color dialog, smart update of new software releases and automatic parts index creation. All interactive operations are available while working in a mirrored view in the intelligent place & routing tool, P.R.Editor, for intelligent interactive lengthening or re-lengthening.

Zuken’s E³.series module, E3.logic, can now be offered as an add-on solution for CADSTAR to further boost users’ productivity. Used as a front-end solution for CADSTAR PCB design it will allow support of multilingual diagrams, multilingual text and Unicode. The use of the E³.Logic database as a back-end solution for CADSTAR PCB design reduces the time spent searching for existing parts, integrates easily with specific MRP, ERP or PDM systems and works with databases that comply with Microsoft's ODBC standard. The CADSTAR E3.logic integration also provides opportunities to directly integrate with other E3.series modules such as E3.cable for complete system level integrated electronics and electrical design.

The recently introduced add-on module, CADSTAR FPGA, supports one universal project manager that controls all the design files for simulation, synthesis, place and route and pin assignment to the PCB board, as well as the I/O synchronization between the FPGA device and the PCB board. This will allow the FPGA designer to forward and backward annotate pin swaps with the PCB layout.

CADSTAR 10 will be available from December 2007, with modules starting from $/€ 1000.

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About Zuken

Zuken is trusted globally by leading companies to optimize their electrical and electronic engineering design and related manufacturing processes. Our unique combination of proven experience, technological expertise and agility, creates electronic design automation (EDA) solutions as well as computer aided engineering (CAE) solutions that are innovative, dynamic and powerful.

With over 30 years experience, Zuken has grown to become the world’s leading provider of EDA software and electronic product lifecycle management (e-PLM). Our solutions optimize the efficiency of electronics and electrical R&D, engineering, manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), component purchasing and component engineering in the PCB/MCM/HIC market. Listed on Level 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Zuken improves product quality and profitability for electrical and electronics manufacturers globally, from automotive to aerospace, communications to consumer electronics, power to heavy machinery and medical to military markets. With headquarters in Japan, we have development and support centers in 10 countries – including the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, China and Taiwan – and are a trusted partner of more than 4,800 organizations, with over 45,000 individual licenses, worldwide.