Pulsonix PCBAdvanced Schematic/PCB Design Environment

The complete design suite

Pulsonix is an advanced electronics designsuite of tools developed to meet thechanging needs for modern Schematiccapture and PCB layout.

Developed in 2001, it's the firstcompletely new, high-level combinedSchematics Capture & PCB layoutproduct for many years.This excitingsoftware tool has been developed fromthe ground up by PCB design industryprofessionals using the very latesttechniques in graphics and data handling.

Easy to learn and logical to use

Pulsonix was been conceived with aneasy to understand user interface usingMicrosoft standards, look and feel.

The menu system is logical and intuitiveavoiding unnecessary mouse clicks ormovement as you create your designs.The whole design process is wellstructured and thought-through, withminimum use of menus and in-contextcommands right there when needed.Thetoolbars and keyboard keys are fullyconfigurable so that at all times you haveshortcut keys and tools to hand, makingthe design process much more efficient.

Training needs kept to a minimum

A key principle in the design of Pulsonixwas to create a product where the needfor structured user training could beminimised.With this implementation andyou will find that you are productive in avery short time. Pulsonix is delivered withan informative Users Guide and up todate, context sensitive on-line HTML help.

“

Pulsonix - setting the technology standard

Pulsonix has been designed based on key criteriaEasy to use – by way of an intuitive user interface

Designed for the casual user and the professional

Import design and library data from other EDA products ”

Peace of mind in superior quality

The Pulsonix team throughout thecompany is highly customer focused;every activity is centred on you, thecustomer. Our support and service is 5-star and totally unparalleled with anyother EDA vendor, this is in addition to aleading quality product.

The Pulsonix brand is synonymous withquality and service. Once you purchasethe product you'll be buying into thereassurance that you will be well lookedafter throughout every stage of theprocess.

Designed with the future in mind

Pulsonix is built on the latest concepts insoftware design, hence it has many yearsof life and potential expansion ahead.

With the need for constant growth of aproduct through customer feedback andmarket demands, Pulsonix is wellpositioned to grow with any technologyor trends that are being developed, andeven some that are years ahead!

Dynamic product range

With the Pulsonix product, you only payfor what you need.The product range isscalable and modular. Start off with theproduct you need now and upgrade asyour needs grow with your growingdesigns and technology challenges.

Flexible licensing

Whether you require node-locked orfloating network licenses broadcast byyour company server, Pulsonix has alicensing scheme for you.

Our floating network licensing is one ofthe most adaptive around; with apowerful administration interface for theserver, licenses can be allowed orrestricted around the network or workgroups.

Tightly integrated package

Integrated SCM and PCB design editors -uses the same libraries for all design andSpice simulation

Import Filters

Pulsonix boasts the industry's largestrange of import filters.Tried and tested,these are high-quality reliable importfilters that have been proven time andtime again. Import filters are available for :

5-Star Service

Pulsonix is widely known for its highquality features and efficient after-salescare. Our service has been given a 5-starrating by our customers, proving thatyour service and support are a highpriority to us.

Low cost of ownership

As well as being an affordable solution,Pulsonix has one of the lowest annualmaintenance pricing structures in themarket today.The price is reflective ofwhat we believe it should be; not theover-inflated costs of some of the legacyproducts about.This all means that thecost of your Pulsonix ownership andreturn on your investment makes sense.

Scalable solutions

All Pulsonix products have the same corestructure and are ready to use out of thebox. Each is supplied with SchematicCapture, PCB Layout and our Autorouter.An 80,000 part library and tools tomanage and create them are alsosupplied. Once your needs grow, Pulsonixcan be further enhanced with ourspeciality range of add-on options;options such as interactive high speeddesign or the database connectionmodules for example. Our options arestandalone so they don't rely on anotherother option being available.

Educational incentives

We believe that the educationalestablishments deserve to teach andmanage projects using one of the easiestsystems available today, Pulsonix is idealwithin a classroom environment and allproject and research work within it.Thereare very generous discounts and schemesavailable if you fall within our educationalboundaries.

Pay for what you need, Pulsonix grows with you

Altium

Protel

Accel

P-CAD

CadStar

Visula PCB

PADS

DxDesigner

ViewLogic

Eagle

Integra

OrCAD

Cadence Allegro

Zuken CR5000

System Designer

Ultiboard

EdWin

Plus more

Import Filters are available for:

Pulsonix is our new ECAD standard tool forSchematics, simulation and PCB design. It hasbeen chosen for its modern easy-to-useinterface and its perfect price/performance ratio.

O. Hollinger, Carl Zeiss AG.“ ”

text box

Scalable design solutions

Build your Pulsonix product from four base levels: Schematic Only, 1000Component Pins, 2000 Component Pins and Unlimited Component Pin licenses.

Create clear and concise schematics

Create clear and concise schematicdrawings in this easy-to-use designenvironment. No tedious menus orcommands to navigate with modelessoperation and intuitive fast usage.

Electrical Rules Checking

Electrical rules checking (ERC) bothOnline as you design and as aninteractive batch mode are readilyavailable to ensure your connectivedesign rules are adhered to at all timesduring the circuit creation. All ERCviolations are instantly notified to you soyou can take corrective action.

Flat Sheet and Multi-level HierarchicalDesign

Pulsonix provides 'top down' design:breaking blocks into functional elementsallowing you to define the detail of eachelement, and bottom-up' design:facilitating the re-use of commonly usedcircuit elements using pre-defined blocksto build a solution.

Instant Cross Probing

Cross probe bi-directionally betweenyour Schematic and PCB designs. Click on the component or connection in theSchematic and see the correspondingcomponent instantly highlighted in thePCB, or click on a footprint or track inPCB and see it highlighted in theSchematic.

Sketch Connections

Interactive Schematic Routing enables youto guide the routing path for electricalconnections within your schematic design.With point-to-point routing and 'sketch'path mode, schematic connection routinghas never been so easy and fast.

User configurable ERC Rules -essential for right first time design

The graphical Symbol Wizard enables you to quickly create new Symbols

Fast, intelligent schematic creation

Forwards and Backwards DesignAnnotation

Send design changes and ECO's to thePCB or make changes in the PCB andback-annotate them to the Schematichowever your design process dictates.

Intelligent Busses

Intelligent buses can be added to yourdesign in one movement. 'Open' and'Closed' busses are flexible and powerful.Bus nets can be drawn with connectivenets to lower-level hierarchy or leftnamed for full implied (invisible)connectivity.

Intelligent PDF Export

Export your designs to an intelligent PDFile. Drawings and design can beinterrogated using the PDF file withoutthe need to send the actual design file orload Pulsonix. Every design item can bequeried and critical properties displayed.

Multiple Netlist Export

Export netlists from Pulsonix to otherindustry standard vendor formats such asViewLogic, EDIF, OrCAD etc. Use thePulsonix Schematic design editor as yourchoice for quick and reliable circuitcapture.

Schematic Symbol Wizard

Takes you through creation of the symbolin a step-by-step sequence to easilyproduce regular symbols.The pin sizes,positions and numbering is selected tomake symbol creation so simple anderror free.

Design Variants

Define any number of Part and Assemblyvariants in your Schematic design andautomatically transfer these through tothe PCB.

Attribute Editor

The attribute editor enables editing ofproperties and critical information in thedesign using the powerful spreadsheetstyle editor. Quickly Copy/Paste attributesand parameters into the cells forcomponents, nets and pins.

Feature SummaryIntegrated Schematics and PCB80,000 Part library as standardTrue instanced Schematic hierarchyDrag & drop design methodologyFast menu-less operationSketch connection modeSingle-shot printing & plottingExport netlist to other PCB systemsIntelligent BussesInstant cross probingForwards & backwards annotationStyle sheet templatesCustomisable drawing & title blocksDefine constraint rules at SCM stageSchematic symbol wizardIntelligent Component & Net namingStar Point & Testpoint definition

Spice Mixed-mode A/D Simulator

The integrated Pulsonix Spice Simulatoroption enables designs to be tried andtested at the very earliest stages of design.

Database Connection

Add components from your corporateParts database directly to your designusing the Database Connection option.

View and edit all design attributesin the spreadsheet style editor

Integrated Spice A/D mixed mode simulator

Integrated solution

The integrated Pulsonix Spice Simulatoroption enables designs to be tried andtested at the very earliest stages ofdesign; proofing the design concept up-front thus reducing the need for physicalprototypes.

Driven from the Schematic

Driven from within the PulsonixSchematic environment, our Spicesimulator uses the schematic design thatwill eventually create your PCB.Thesimulation menu provides advancedoptions from which to drive the analysis.

Integrated SCM/PCB libraryenvironment

With one library environment, and thesame one as your Schematic and PCBdesigns, all your Parts can be managedusing the library manager tools provided.All Spice model details and pin mappingsare handled for both homogenous andheterogeneous Parts, thus human errorsare minimalised.

Comprehensive models

With over 30,000 Spice model librarydefinitions and 6,500 actual modelssupplied, our default base set is ready touse.

The Parts library interface allows directmodel access. During this important Spicephase, essential parameter data can alsobe assigned to Parts and symbols (in thecase of heterogeneous parts).

High rate of convergence

Pulsonix Spice is based on a substantiallyenhanced version of SPICE 3 andXSPICE.The underlying algorithms havebeen reworked to provide new analysismodes to improve convergence andspeed. In the case of convergence, intrials, Pulsonix Spice out performed 3well known Spice based productsincluding the market leader.

Random Probing

Pulsonix Spice includes post simulationrandom-probing. Following simulation,graphs of circuit voltages, currents anddevice powers can be created simply byclicking on a point on the schematic.Thisavoids the need to re-simulate the circuiteach time an additional measurement isrequired. Alternatively, probes can bepermanently fixed to a schematic so thata graph is created and incrementallyupdated during the simulation.

The Pulsonix SpiceMonte Carlo feature

is built into thesimulator core

Integrated library management allows models tobe defined and essential parameters added Following simulation, graphs of circuit voltages,

currents and device powers can be createdsimply by clicking on a point on the schematic.

Feature SummaryIntegrated into the Pulsonix SchematicCapture design environment

Dialog driven user interface

Convergence performance in benchmarktrials exceeds results from industry leaders

True mixed-mode simulation: closelycoupled direct matrix (SPICE 3) analogue

Event driven digital simulator

Post simulation random probing

Monte-Carlo and Multi-Step analysis

Noise analysis

Transient restart

Transient Safe Operating Area testing

Non-linear magnetics with air gaps

Automatic pseudo transient analysisalgorithm for operating point solution

Variable step GMIN and source stepping

Dynamic Bias annotation markers

30,000 Spice model library definitions and6,500 actual models supplied

Drag & drop model addition to the library

Pulsonix Spice is compatible with 99% ofavailable SPICE models

Import standard SPICE models fromoutside suppliers - many of which can bedownloaded from the Internet

HSpice model file compatibility

Analyses: operating point, DC sweep,transient,AC small signal, transfer function,sensitivity, pole-zero

Comprehensive waveform analysis

User definable scripting language

Comprehensive user reference guide

Design Variants

Using the Variant Manager, easily createany number of variants may be defined ateither the Schematic or the PCB designstage. If using the Schematic as themaster, the variant information will beautomatically transferred to the PCBdesign. Detailed part variants can beeasily created. Pulsonix allows Fitted/NotFitted, different Part, Footprint,Attributes/Values, and even a differentnumber of footprint pins perComponent.

Custom Pads

Where standard pad shapes don't exist,Pulsonix allows you to create complexpad shapes; even unorthodox shapessuch a touch switches where the drill isexposed. Custom pads can be created forany layer or stack.

Constraint Rules

Define and manage your constraint rulesusing the constraint manager. All rulespreviously defined in the Schematic editorare seamlessly passed through into the

PCB design ready foruse. Net Class andClass to Classparameters can bedefined for netswhere length andspacing rules need tobe restricted.

DFM/DFT

Powerful design rules for manufacturingand test can be defined in addition toPulsonix' comprehensive set of DRCrules. Following definition, checking isquickly made with all errors and warningdisplayed in the Errors Rules Panel. Eachviolation can be easily identified from thesorted list and dynamically reviewed inthe design by simply clicking the ruleerror.

Thermal Rules

Using the Technology manager, addthermal rules for nets, net classes, areasand individual objects. Control overthermal relief on pads is provided forshape, spoke direction, number of spokesand connect/no connect status.

Construction Lines

Unique to Pulsonix, construction linesprovide user-definable lines within yourdesign from which to guide your designitems. Use construction lines to createcomplex board outlines or align irregularshapes or design items.

Curved/Filleted tracks

All track shape styles can be changed on-the-fly using the context menu. Changebetween orthogonal, Angled, Any angleand Curved tracks. Angled tracks can befilleted, blending them between eachother. Further blending can be achievedusing the teardrop function.

Powerful Report Writer

The powerful Report Maker featureenables complex reports and netlists tobe created using the easy-to-use dialog.ASCII-based Pick and Place reports,interfaces to assembly and manufacturingtools can be created with ease.

Powerful PCB that’s easy to setup and use

Complex assembly variants to match your global customer base

The browser displays the errors by layerand type for easy identification

Standard Manufacturing Outputs

Extensive manufacturing outputs areexported - Gerber, Excellon, ODB++,Windows, HPGL, IPC-2581, IPC-356, PDFplus a fully customisable Report Makerinterface to create company reports,BOMs, netlists and assembly placementoutputs as you require.

ECAD-MCAD Co-Design

Bridge your MCAD-ECAD flows anddesign environments with support forIPC-2581, STEP, DXF and IDF.Where amechanical interface is required, the bi-directional STEP interface can utilise STEPmodels and import critical board outlinesand positional changes.The STEP exporterwill write the board outline out ready toadd mechanical data.The built-in STEPpreviewer allows you to examine andverify the design data before you send itto the MCAD system.

FPGA Integration

As standard, Pulsonix is supplied with abuilt-in FPGA interface to integrate withthe Altera Quartus II or Xilinx ISEdevelopment systems.

BGA and FPGA design is facilitated in Pulsonixusing the powerful tools available as standard

On Pulsonix, high density boards with 8 layers and0.3mm micro-vias are being designed as well as powerelectronics.With an interface to our MCAD system,this has helped us a lot in shortening our developmentlead-times and is saving the company money.

P. Goerlich, Durr Dental GmbH ”Advanced auto-place and auto-routingalgorithms' accelerate your design flow

Intricate copper pouring is appliedusing Technology rules

“

Constraint Driven Design Rules

Pulsonix delivers a powerful set ofconstraint rules-driven interactive HighSpeed design features. Conceived fromthe Schematic, the design is defined bythe engineer during the early logicalcapture phase. All constraint rules arepassed to the PCB design automaticallywhere they are implemented usinggraphical guidance to ensure the layout iscorrect.

Interactive Length Indicators

During track routing, the interactivedisplay shows an 'oval' around the areato be routed indicating whether the trackis within the minimum or maximum rulelimits you have defined. A colour codedand text-based head-up display showswhether you are working within theconstraint rules.The exact rule defined isalso shown in the head-up display for pin-to-pin and track length rules as well asthe actual track path being routed and anestimate of the final track length.

Pin-to-Pin & Daisy Chain Routing

By editing Net Classes you can createspecific track sequences using pin-to-pinrules; rules for min/max pin-to-pin lengthand the overall track length.Where theexact net path required is critical daisy-chain routing gives you precise control todetermine the sequence. Once defined,these rules are used during routing andcan be further checked using the DRCManufacturing feature.

Differential Pair Routing

The advanced constraint rules allowDifferential Pairs to be created easily andquickly.The two net pairs are routedinteractively from their source using adual path for both tracks and utilising anoptional spacing rule between them tokeep separation exact.The DifferentialPairs may have rules that define howmuch they are allowed to differ in lengthonce completed and what the minimumpercentage of the overall length isallowed to deviate away from being

'paired'.When layer swaps are required,you can choose the via pattern to use.The interactive editor displays the legalvia pattern available and the new trackexit paths. Used in combination with theother Net Length rules, precise control ofthe length of the Differential Pairs canalso be defined. Once routed, inherentDifferential Pair knowledge is retained sothat track 'pair' still acts as one unit,making modification less error prone.These rules also form part of the post-layout Design Rule Checking.

Interactive High Speed design

Coloured graphical and head-up displaysshow you progress of track routingColoured

graphical and head-up displays show youprogress of track routing

Pin to pin and Daisy Chain rules enablecritical net paths to be defined

Differential Pairs are easily created for trackpairs and serpentine route paths

Serpentine Routing

Serpentine Routing enables you toincrease the length of high speed netsfollowing your constraint rules withoutintroducing spacing errors and withoutmanual intervention. Using the SerpentineRouting command you can defineadditional constraint parameters, such asthe amplitude and separation of eachloop, the number of loop cycles to insert,and the amount of additional lengthrequired.

Interactive Spiral Tracks and Shapes

The High Speed option also contains RFdesign features. Advanced Spiral creationis supported for copper, tracks andshapes.These can be used on electricaland non-electrical layers as required.When created as tracks or copper, theycan also be connected to as part of a net.Full DRC checking to these items is alsopermitted. Spirals can be associated withpads and vias within a footprint andreused on multiple designs. Complexspirals can also be used to createcomponents such as planar transformersfor use through multi-layer and EmbeddedComponent technologies.

RF Design features

As part of the RF design suite, Pulsonixprovides essential features to facilitate this;square-ended tracks and chamfered trackcorners. Both features are enabled on aNet Class basis to allow control of thesefeatures. Square-ended tracks provideprecise track ends when an 'open-ended'square end is required without the use ofa square landing pad to achieve this.Chamfered corners allow a traditional 45-degree inside and outside mitre tocontain a 90-degree inner corner and 45-degree outer corner, ideal for RF designs.

Complex serpentine routing can beeasily defined and constructed

Spirals for your design and footprintsare created using dialog driven rules

Feature SummaryDifferential pair definition and routing

Interactive routing of track pairs

Pattern control for vias

Track length rules

Pin-to-Pin rules

Maximum Length deviation rule

Net length rules during routing

Dynamic display of Min/Max rules

Head-up of rules in text and updating

Graphical net length indicators

Min/Max Track length rules

Min/Max Pin-to-Pin Track length rules

Net Track length differences rule

Conditional Track length Min/Max rules

Daisy chain Pin-to-Pin topology rules

90 and 45 degree serpentine routing

Spiral creation using intelligent rules

Circular/square spiral shapes

Square-ended tracks

Chamfered track corners for true RF mitres

Industry Standard ODBC Connection

PDC connects to manufacturing,engineering and corporate databasesusing any ODBC connection. It allowsaccess to many databases and otherstorage formats such as MS Access, MSExcel, CSV,TXT, DBase, Fox, Sage, MySQLand SQLServer for example.

Configuration

A graphical interface provided is used toconfigure the system with easy mappingbetween the 'host' data fields andPulsonix attribute fields. Configurationallows critical fields to be defined andchecked. Critical fields are those whichwhen checked, must be the same as thedatabase and not 'local' values. A tool tomigrate Pulsonix Part data to thedatabase format is also supplied.

Parametric Searching

Within Pulsonix, up-to-date Parts can beidentified from the central database usingpowerful SQL parametric search criteriafrom drop-down list selections. Searching

using a number of search parameters willquickly locate suitable Part candidatesfrom the database which you can thenfurther refine to identify the exact Partyou require.

Supply of Database

Where you wish to use this excitingproduct but an existing companydatabase does not exist, the purchase ofa 'ready-made' template database ispossible.The database is supplied inconfigured and populated format readyto use and make your own additions to.

Management Tools

PDC is run from a centralised databaseresource.The system administrator is ableto manage database access andread/write permissions for each userusing standard server admin rights.Additional library management controlfacilities are available when using the PDCwith floating Pulsonix licenses.

Consultancy

We, at Pulsonix, understand the power ofconsultancy and are therefore able tooffer a consultancy service for variousaspects of the database integration,including data migration, setup, Partcreation and system administrationservices.

Corporate Database Access for Pulsonix

Connect to your manufacturing/engineering/corporatedatabase and choose key tables and critical fields to use

Feature SummaryConnects to corporate database

Uses an industry standard ODBC

Allows access to many databases andother storage formats such as MS Access,MS Excel, CSV,TXT, Dbase, Fox, Sage,MySQL and SQLServer

Integrated environment within Pulsonix

Centralised database resource

Configuration mapping of data fields

Migration tool available for Parts libraries

Add Parts from SCM and PCB designs

Powerful parametric searching

Refine searching from 'rough' searches

Preview windows shows both SCMSymbol and PCB Footprint

Part analysis of design items to database

Report 'local' Parts not in the database

Check selected Parts or whole design

Update design based on critical fields

Option update design based onmismatched non-critical fields

Check Parts in your design againstcritical key fields in your database

The Pulsonix Database Connection (PDC) optionprovides instant access to database driven Parts

Pulsonix20 Miller Court, Severn Drive,Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 8DN United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1684 296 551E-mail: sales@pulsonix.comWeb: pulsonix.com

Copyright © WestDev Ltd 2015All rights reserved. Pulsonix is aregistered Trademark of WestDev Ltd.All other trademarks are acknowledgedto their rightful owners. E&OE.

PSX270215