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This release integrated Mentor’s powerful HyperLynx simulation technology directly into the PADS environment. It gave mainstream desktop designers access to signal integrity (SI) and thermal analysis without leaving their primary design tool.
Mentor Graphics integration; added HyperLynx SI and 3D viewing. 2014 – 2021 Windows 7/10
Unified desktop environment and 64-bit computing.
With the (Variable X) branding, Mentor introduced a subscription‑style numbering scheme and a cloud‑connected component portal.
Introduced a tighter integration with third-party schematic capture tools and implemented the BlazeRouter engine, which significantly improved shape-based autorouting.
Modern updates continue to refine auto-routing and placement heuristics using machine learning principles to optimize dense layout patterns. Summary of Core Technology Evolution Era / Version Core Schematic Engine Core Layout Engine Major Technology Shift DOS Era PADS-Logic (DOS) PADS-PCB / Perform Shift from manual drawing to digital layout. PowerPCB Era PowerLogic PowerPCB (32-bit) Windows GUI migration and shape-based auto-routing. PADS 9.x PADS Logic / DxDesigner PADS Layout Integrated 3D viewing and HyperLynx analysis. PADS VX Standard PADS Logic PADS Layout (Classic) Maintenance track for legacy users requiring stability. PADS Pro / Premium Connect / Xpedition Designer Xpedition Layout Engine
Siemens has been clear: "PADS Professional" is the future. The legacy "PADS Standard" (the old Mentor codebase) is in maintenance mode. Expect version in 2025 to focus on:
Siemens acquired Mentor Graphics in 2017. The software was eventually rebranded as . Recent updates focus heavily on cloud integration and supply chain intelligence.
Do your designs include or complex layer stackups ?
This version brought massive improvements to the internal database structure. It introduced support for complex via structures (blind and buried vias) and expanded differential pair routing capabilities to accommodate high-speed digital designs. PADS 9.0 (2009)
The history of PADS begins not with Mentor Graphics, but with , founded in 1986. The original product, known simply as PADS-PC , was a DOS-based application.
Siemens acquired Mentor Graphics in 2017, eventually rebranding the division to Siemens EDA in 2021. Under Siemens, PADS has evolved into a deeply integrated cloud-connected desktop ecosystem. PADS Professional Premium (2021–Present)
