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Most designers favor manual routing, but today's interactive autorouters may be changing designers' minds by allowing users more direct control. In this issue, our expert contributors discuss a variety of manual and autorouting strategies.
Creating the Ideal Data Package
Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal design data package for your design.
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Mentor Webinar May 26: Customizing DDR4 Designs for Cost and Performance
May 21, 2020 | Mentor, a Siemens businessEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
Designers often rely on guidelines provided by controller vendors to drive PCB layout, but following those rules isn’t always possible. DDR layout guidelines can also drive up a board’s manufacturing costs, because they tend to be conservative. Dedicated SI experts have long used pre-layout simulation to develop their own layout rules that optimize design margin and cost for their particular applications, but SI experts are a scarce resource in most organizations.
This webinar will discuss the different design variables that can affect DDR design margin, and show how board and system designers can use HyperLynx pre-layout simulation to develop layout rules that will optimize design margins and minimize cost.
What Attendees Will Learn
- Designing a stackup to meet impedance requirements
- Balancing inter-trace spacing against impedance and crosstalk
- Balancing drive strength and inter-trace spacing against crosstalk
- Using simulation to derive board-level layout rules
- Predicting design operating margins before layout
- Optimizing drive strength and receiver ODT settings
Date/Time
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
2 PM US/Eastern
2 PM Europe/London
10 AM Asia/Singapore
To register, click here.
Suggested Items
DownStream Acquisition Fits Siemens’ ‘Left-Shift’ Model
06/26/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007I recently spoke to DownStream Technologies founder Joe Clark about the company’s acquisition by Siemens. We were later joined by A.J. Incorvaia, Siemens’ senior VP of electronic board systems. Joe discussed how he, Rick Almeida, and Ken Tepper launched the company in the months after 9/11 and how the acquisition came about. A.J. provides some background on the acquisition and explains why the companies’ tools are complementary.
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
06/26/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonThere's a story about a young woman preparing a holiday ham. Before putting it in the pan, she cuts off the ends. When asked why, she shrugs and says, "That's how my mom always did it." She asks her mother, who gives the same answer. Eventually, the question reaches Grandma, who laughs and says, "Oh, I only cut the ends off because my pan was too small." This story is a powerful analogy for how many PCB designers approach routing today.
Connect the Dots: The Future of PCB Design and Manufacturing
07/02/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsFor some time, I have been discussing the increasing complexity of PCBs and how designers can address the constantly evolving design requirements associated with them. My book, "The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to… Designing for Reality," details best practices for creating manufacturable boards in a modern production environment.
Siemens Turbocharges Semiconductor and PCB Design Portfolio with Generative and Agentic AI
06/24/2025 | SiemensAt the 2025 Design Automation Conference, Siemens Digital Industries Software today unveiled its AI-enhanced toolset for the EDA design flow.
Cadence AI Autorouter May Transform the Landscape
06/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazinePatrick Davis, product management director with Cadence Design Systems, discusses advancements in autorouting technology, including AI. He emphasizes a holistic approach that enhances placement and power distribution before routing. He points out that younger engineers seem more likely to embrace autorouting, while the veteran designers are still wary of giving up too much control. Will AI help autorouters finally gain industry-wide acceptance?