Mentor Graphics Pads Version History Today

Title: Evolution of the Standard: A History of Mentor Graphics PADS Subject: Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software Lineage Date: October 2023

Why This History Matters for Users

If you need a specific version’s release notes or bug fix details (e.g., PADS 9.5 vs. VX.2.7), let me know and I can provide deeper technical comparisons.

PADS (Personal Automated Design System) is a long-standing PCB design software suite that has evolved through several corporate ownerships, including PADS Software, Innoveda, Mentor Graphics, and currently Siemens EDA. Ownership History & Major Milestones

The software’s journey is marked by key acquisitions that integrated advanced simulation and layout technologies: 1986: Founded by Gene Marsh as PADS Software.

1990s: Expanded capabilities by acquiring HyperLynx (1997) for signal integrity and ACT (1998).

2000: Acquired by Innoveda, a joint venture between Viewlogic and Kyoden.

2002: Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda, bringing PADS into its high-end EDA portfolio.

2017: Siemens completed its acquisition of Mentor Graphics, rebranding the division as Siemens EDA. Key Version Releases

Versions of PADS generally fall into three distinct eras of numbering and architecture: History of PADS - PCB Libraries Forum

PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has evolved over more than 30 years from a desktop-focused PCB design tool into a high-end platform integrated into the Siemens EDA ecosystem. Originally created by Gene Marsh, it underwent significant shifts in ownership—moving from Innoveda to Mentor Graphics in 2001, and eventually to Siemens in 2017. Early Era & Expansion (1980s – 2000s)

Foundation: Developed as a lower-cost alternative to enterprise-level software, PADS quickly became a staple for independent engineers.

Key Transitions: The product's stability fluctuated during the Innoveda years before Mentor Graphics' acquisition provided a more robust corporate backing.

PADS 2007: Introduced high-speed analysis, RF/microwave circuitry implementation, and early Design for Fabrication (DFF) checking. The PADS 9.x Series

This era focused on modernizing the user interface (DxDesigner) and enhancing integration with analysis tools.

PADS 9.4 (2012): Added support for new 2D line styles in drafting and routing. mentor graphics pads version history

PADS 9.5 (2012): A major update that introduced virtual pins for branch point definition, full DDRx routing support, and a simplified Chinese interface. It also integrated the HyperLynx 8.2 suite for 3D field solving and thermal analysis. The VX Era & Rebranding (2015 – Present)

In 2015, Mentor Graphics restructured the brand into three distinct tiers based on complexity:

The Evolution of PADS: A Comprehensive Version History For nearly four decades, PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has been a mainstay in the PCB design world. From its humble beginnings as a DOS-based tool to its current status as a cloud-connected powerhouse under Siemens, the software has undergone significant transformations. This post explores the major milestones in the PADS journey. The Early Years (1985–2000) PADS was founded by Gene Marsh and first released in

for the DOS operating system. At just $495 per seat, it democratized PCB design for individual engineers. Late 1980s – 1990s

: The software gained traction among small-to-medium teams as CAD transitioned from hand-drawn stencils to computer-aided layout. Acquisitions & Shifts : In 2000, Kyoden sold PADS to

, a period some long-time users remember for its developmental challenges. The Mentor Graphics Era (2001–2016) Mentor Graphics

acquired Innoveda, bringing PADS into one of the industry's broadest EDA portfolios. PADS 2005 & 2007

: These releases focused on improving board-level simulation and introduced tools like DxDesigner and HyperLynx Analog integration. PADS 9.0 (June 2009)

: A landmark "next-generation" release that introduced significantly enhanced scalability and integration with Mentor’s high-end technologies for analysis and manufacturing. PADS 9.4 (March 2012)

: This version added unique features like DFM (Design for Manufacturing) analysis and ODB++ support. The VX Revolution & Siemens Integration (2014–Present) The launch of

in 2014 marked a major architecture shift, transitioning the software to a more modern platform. Following Siemens' $4.5 billion acquisition of Mentor Graphics in 2017, the software was rebranded as part of Siemens EDA SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE INC - Dassault Systèmes

In 2017, Mentor Graphics was acquired by Siemens, and PADS has since become part of the Siemens EDA (Electronic Design Automation) portfolio.

Today, PADS continues to evolve with new features and capabilities, including:

The current version of PADS is PADS Professional 2022, which includes various enhancements and new features, such as improved collaboration, enhanced design automation, and support for latest industry standards. Title: Evolution of the Standard: A History of

The history of PADS (Personal Automated Design System) is a decades-long journey that mirrors the evolution of the entire electronic design automation (EDA) industry. From its origins as a budget-friendly DOS application to its current status as a sophisticated suite under Siemens, PADS has remained a staple for independent engineers and small-to-medium design teams. 1. The Early Era: PADS-PCB and the DOS Roots (1985–1990s)

PADS was originally created by Gene Marsh and his son in the mid-1980s.

1985 Release: The first version, PADS-PCB, debuted for DOS. At just $495 per seat, it democratized PCB design, which was previously locked behind expensive, proprietary Unix workstations.

Market Growth: Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, the company grew rapidly, becoming a primary competitor to early leaders like PCAD and Calay Systems.

2. Corporate Transitions: Innoveda and Acquisition (1990s–2002)

The late 90s saw PADS bolster its technical capabilities through strategic acquisitions before undergoing significant corporate changes.

Expansion (1997–1998): PADS acquired HyperLynx in 1997, integrating what would become the industry-standard tool for signal integrity. In 1998, they added ACT (Advanced CAM Technologies) to improve manufacturing output.

Ownership Shifts: In 2000, the company was sold to Innoveda, a joint venture involving ViewLogic. This period is often remembered by longtime users for a perceived stall in product innovation. 3. The Mentor Graphics Era (2002–2017)

In 2002, Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda for $160 million, officially bringing PADS into its portfolio.

PADS 2005 & 2007: Mentor introduced "Flow" bundles, integrating Logic, Layout, and Router into a cohesive Windows-based environment.

The "9.x" Series: Versions like PADS 9.3 and 9.5 were major milestones, widely used for years. These versions solidified the classic workflow of using PADS Logic for schematics and PADS Layout for the board.

PADS Professional (2015): To compete with high-end tools like Altium, Mentor launched PADS Professional. This was a radical shift, as it was built on the high-end Xpedition technology rather than the legacy PADS code. 4. Siemens and the VX Series (2017–Present)

Following Siemens' $4.5 billion acquisition of Mentor Graphics in 2017, the software was rebranded under Siemens EDA. History of PADS - PCB Libraries Forum

For nearly four decades, PADS has remained a cornerstone of printed circuit board (PCB) design, evolving from a simple DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions. Now part of Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), the PADS version history reflects the industry's shift from manual drafting to high-speed, automated, and cloud-integrated design. The Early Era: 1985 – 1997 Legacy designs: Older

PADS began as a startup focused on bringing professional-grade PCB layout tools to the desktop.

PADS-PCB (1985): Founded by Gene Marsh, the first version of PADS was released for the DOS operating system, priced affordably at approximately $495 per seat to target individual engineers.

The Growth Years: During the early 1990s, PADS expanded its capabilities with PADS Logic (for schematic capture) and PADS Layout. By 1991, the software had become a standard for service bureaus.

Acquisition by Kyoden: In the mid-1990s, the company was secretly acquired by Kyoden, a Japanese PCB manufacturer, which preceded a period of aggressive expansion in the US. The Mentor Graphics Era: 1997 – 2017

The transition to Mentor Graphics marked the integration of high-end analysis tools into the PADS ecosystem.

Innoveda and Mentor Acquisition (2000–2001): Kyoden sold PADS to Innoveda, which was subsequently acquired by Mentor Graphics in 2001.

PADS 2005 / 2007: These versions focused on stability and the introduction of advanced simulation. PADS 2007.3 introduced HyperLynx Analog as an add-in for DxDesigner, significantly enhancing signal integrity capabilities.

PADS 9.x Series (2008–2012): Released to modernize the installation and database structure, PADS 9.4 updated ASCII formats for Layout and Router while maintaining library compatibility. The Modern VX Era: 2014 – Present

In 2014, Mentor Graphics overhauled the product line, introducing the "VX" (Vertical Experience) platform and tiering the software into Standard, Standard Plus, and Professional.

Version 4.0 (2000)

Why it matters: In 2001, Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda specifically to get PADS and its sister tool, Board Station. Mentor immediately began integrating its own backend technology (HyperLynx) into the PADS flow.

The Pre-Mentor Era: The Birth of PADS (1980s–1990)

Before it was "Mentor Graphics PADS," it was simply PADS PCB. The software was developed in the early 1980s by a company named CAD Software, Inc., based in Littleton, Massachusetts. At the time, PCB design was done on Unix workstations costing $50,000+. PADS was revolutionary because it ran on MS-DOS on a standard IBM PC.

By 1990, PADS was the most popular low-cost PCB tool in the world. The company rebranded to PADS Software, Inc. , but the interface remained purely text-based.

Version Feature Comparison Table (1996–2024)

| Version | Release Year | Key Innovation | Operating System | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | PowerPCB 1.0 | 1996 | First Windows GUI | Win 95/NT | | PADS 2005 | 2004 | Dedicated Shape-based Router | Win 2000/XP | | PADS 9.5 | 2012 | Legacy stable UI; Last 32-bit version | Win 7 (32/64) | | PADS VX.0 | 2015 | Ribbon UI; xDX Designer | Win 7/10 (64-bit only) | | PADS VX.2.10| 2021 | Rigid-flex design | Win 10 | | PADS Pro VX.2.15 | 2024 | Xpedition backend; Cloud/Teamcenter | Win 11 / Server 2022 |

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