Interface for design tools and analysissoftwareRichard
Ball
An interface between PCB design tools and manufacturing analysis
software has beendeveloped by Mentor Graphics and Valor
Computerized Systems.
The two-way link will give designers early knowledge of
manufacturing problems, wellbefore PCB design is complete, making
the whole process more efficient,.
Valor's ODB++ interface is used to link the two worlds, and allows
design formanufacturing (DFM) software data to be fed back to board
designers.
"Providing designers with direct feedback of DFM analysis results
eliminates theinevitable problems that occur when design and
manufacturing data are modifiedseparately," said Henry Potts, v-p
and general manager of Mentor's systemsdesign division.
Mentor's PCB tools will output data in ODB++ format for analysis by
Valor'sEnterprise 3000 software. The interface posts back rules,
warnings and errors to thedesigner.
"By creating a bi-directional ODB++ interface, we can help
customers avoidback-end design problems much earlier in the design
cycle," said Schmil Dolberg, CEOof Valor.