-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAll About That Route
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.
Designing Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Ultra Librarian, TDK Partner to Provide Multi-Power Module Reference Design
March 25, 2021 | Ultra LibrarianEstimated reading time: 1 minute

Ultra Librarian, the world's largest free cloud-based CAD library provider, has announced its partnership with TDK to bring design engineers a 5W to 40W DC-DC multi-module reference design, from TDK's µPOL™ Embedded DC-DC Converters product line, that enables design engineers to go from concept to design in under 15 minutes.
“This reference design is available in eight CAD formats and its accuracy has been thoroughly tested and verified by the TDK engineering team,” said Manny Marcano, president and CEO of EMA. “Therefore, our customers can be confident in the quality of their starting point—in the CAD tool of their choice—rather than spending numerous hours recreating a design from a PDF and sourcing relevant parts.”
Reference designs are a key tool to help engineers understand, qualify, and successfully implement new components into their designs. To save time and reduce risk, engineers often end up using portions of the reference design circuitry in their design as these have already been tested and qualified by the component vendor. Unfortunately, most reference designs are only available in PDF or other static formats, requiring engineers to re-create the designs in their CAD tools, wasting time and creating opportunities for error during transcription. Reference designs from Ultra Librarian can be downloaded as native CAD files by design engineers, eliminating the risk and inefficiencies caused by downloading PDF's. This TDK reference design is available in OrCAD, Allegro PCB, Altium, Design Spark, Eagle, KiCAD, Mentor DX Designer, and Mentor PADS Logic formats, allowing designers to hit the ground running.
“The starter reference design features TDK's Chip Embedded µPOL DC-DC power modules, maximizing power delivery for high density, small form factor, and low-profile designs, which will ultimately enable higher PCB board density and better system level integration,” said Tony Ochoa, Director of Marketing, µPOL, TDK. “These power modules are ideal for crafting DC-DC power solutions in the nooks and crannies between and around the FPGAs, ASICs, memory, and under the hoods of heat sinks on the top or bottom of PCB boards or daughter cards, for design flexibility. These designs emphasize proper component placement, power and ground design, and thermal considerations for quick turnkey design in our customers' favorite CAD tool.”
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?