Mentor Graphics Pads Version History

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.

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

The story of PADS (Personal Automated Design System) is a decades-long journey of evolution in the PCB design world, starting from a small family business to becoming a cornerstone of industrial giant Siemens Digital Industries Software The Origins: 1980s and 90s PADS was born in as a DOS-based tool created by Gene Marsh

and his son. At a time when high-end workstations were the norm, PADS offered an affordable entry point at $495 per seat

, catering to the growing market of independent engineers and smaller design teams. Throughout the 90s, it solidified its reputation as the "desktop PCB tool of choice," eventually being acquired by Mentor Graphics The Mentor Graphics Era: 2000s – 2016

Under Mentor Graphics, PADS expanded its technical capabilities to keep pace with modern electronics. Key milestones during this period included: PADS 2005 & 2007

: These versions focused on improving user interfaces and basic routing capabilities. The 9.x Series

: PADS 9.0 (released around 2008) and subsequent versions (9.5) integrated advanced features like thermal analysis and signal integrity tools. The VX Series , Mentor launched the VX platform mentor graphics pads version history

(starting with VX.0), which modernized the architecture and eventually introduced the flow still used today. Product Tiering (2015) : Mentor reorganized the lineup into Standard Plus Professional

, with "Professional" being a powerful hybrid based on the high-end Xpedition technology.

Mentor Graphics - PADS - Information Technology and Computing Support

Mentor Graphics' PADS is a CAD tool for designing PCB layouts and schematics. Oregon State University History of PADS - PCB Libraries Forum

Mentor Graphics PADS Version History: A Comprehensive Overview

Mentor Graphics PADS is a popular printed circuit board (PCB) design software used by engineers and designers to create and manufacture PCBs. The software has a rich history dating back to the 1980s, with numerous versions released over the years. In this post, we'll take a journey through the major milestones in the version history of Mentor Graphics PADS.

Early Years (1980s)

The first version of PADS, version 1.0, was released in 1985 by PADS, a company founded by John Davis and others. At that time, the software was a simple, text-based PCB design tool.

Acquisition by Mentor Graphics (1997)

In 1997, Mentor Graphics acquired PADS, and the software became a part of the Mentor Graphics portfolio. This marked a significant turning point for PADS, as it gained access to Mentor Graphics' resources and expertise.

Major Releases (1998-2005)

The following are some of the notable releases of PADS during this period:

Xtreme and PADS Plus (2005-2010)

In 2005, Mentor Graphics released PADS Xtreme, a major upgrade that introduced a new architecture and user interface. PADS Xtreme was followed by PADS Plus, which added advanced features such as:

PADS VX (2011-2015)

The PADS VX series was a major milestone in the evolution of PADS. The following are some of the notable releases:

PADS Professional (2016-Present)

In 2016, Mentor Graphics released PADS Professional, a comprehensive PCB design solution that combined the best features of PADS and Mentor Graphics' other design tools.

Conclusion

The version history of Mentor Graphics PADS is a testament to the software's evolution and growth over the years. From its humble beginnings as a simple text-based tool to its current status as a comprehensive PCB design solution, PADS has remained a popular choice among engineers and designers. Today, PADS Professional continues to be a leading PCB design software, used by companies around the world to create innovative products.

References

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.

Mentor Graphics PADS — Version History (selected highlights)

Below is a concise, chronological summary of notable PADS releases, major features, and platform changes from Mentor Graphics (now part of Siemens EDA). This is a high-level overview — for detailed patch notes or build numbers, consult official release documentation.

If you want a complete, version-by-version changelog or links to specific release notes (build numbers, exact dates, bug fixes), say which product variant and time range you need (e.g., "PADS Professional 9.5–2022"), and I will fetch more precise details. PADS 1

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

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

Key Eras & Notable Versions

3. The v9.x Era (2009–2015): Modern UI and 3D

The v9.x series marked the transition to a unified project‑based workflow and the integration of 3D visualization.

| Version | Year | Highlights | |-------------|----------|----------------| | PADS 9.0 | 2009 | Redesigned ribbon‑style interface. Added PADS AMS (analog/mixed‑signal simulation). | | PADS 9.2 | 2010 | Introduced xDX Designer (former DxDesigner) as an optional schematic editor. 3D STEP export/import for mechanical collaboration. | | PADS 9.3 | 2011 | Enhanced 3D PCB Viewer – rotate, zoom, check clearances. Multi‑core autorouting support. | | PADS 9.4 | 2012 | Added Advanced Design Rule Set (per‑net, per‑layer rules). First support for rigid‑flex design. | | PADS 9.5 | 2013 | OSP (Online Signal Path) analysis. HyperLynx DDR wizard integration for memory interface verification. |

Trivia: Version 9.5 became a long‑term stable release, still used by many legacy defense and industrial projects as late as 2020. In 2017, Mentor Graphics was acquired by Siemens,