Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 1 6/1/2006

Whats New in P-CAD 2006

Welcome to Altiums P-CAD 2006 release, a complete PCB design system for capture, layout,
simulation, verification and implementation of electronic designs. As part of Altium's commitment to
bringing you the best and latest technology, we are pleased to offer this exciting new release for board
layout specialists.
Whether you are migrating to P-CAD for the first time or upgrading from a prior release, the new
features of P-CAD 2006 will keep you up to date with a range of enhancements and productivity
improvements designed to help professional PCB designers develop real-world electronic products. The
release includes powerful new features such as differential pair and multi-route capabilities that are fully
integrated within the industry-proven, rules driven PCB design environment and let you multiply your
productivity by routing collections of traces in one operation. Other productivity enhancements include
orthogonal trace dragging and updated Bonus Technologies that further strengthen P-CAD's
performance and give you the power to tackle the most demanding designs.
P-CADs intuitive schematic editor retains its familiar environment, which has been designed especially
for layout specialists and allows you to create detailed multi-sheet schematics. This combines with
extensive error checking and proven mixed-signal circuit simulation capabilities to ensure your circuit will
work the way you expect.
Whether its developing high-speed board solutions, integrating large BGA devices into your design
flows or dealing with complex signal integrity issues and high density PCB layouts, P-CAD 2006
continues the tradition of proven power and stability and keeps you in control from design capture
through to output generation.
P-CAD specialized design tools for PCB layout professionals.
1 Differential pair interactive routing
A differential signaling system is one where a signal is transmitted down a pair of tightly coupled carriers,
one of these carrying the signal, the other carrying an equal but opposite image of the signal. Differential
signaling was developed to cater for situations where the logic reference ground of the signal source
could not be well connected to the logic reference ground of the load.
Differential signaling is inherently immune to common-mode electrical noise, the most prevalent
interference artifact in an electronic product. Another major advantage of differential signaling is that it
minimizes electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated from the signal pair.
Differential pair routing is a design technique employed to create a balanced transmission system able
to carry differential (equal and opposite) signals across a printed circuit board. Typically this differential
routing will interface to an external differential transmission system, such as a connector and cable.
Differential signaling is being increasingly used in mainstream board design particularly where
programmable devices are used, such as FPGAs. FPGA vendors are including extensive LVDS (Low
Voltage Differential Signaling) capabilities in even their lower-cost device ranges, delivering reductions
in reflection noise, electromagnetic interference and power consumption. P-CAD 2006 provides support
for differential signaling, and lets you take full advantage offered by the LVDS capabilities of todays
electronic components.
In P-CAD 2006 you can define differential signal pairs as part of your board design. P-CAD 2006 PCB
editor also includes interactive routing support for differential signals, allowing you to simultaneously
route both nets of a pair, under full design rule compliance.
Defining a differential pair
Differential pairs are defined in the PCB editor through Options Net Classes. In this dialog, you
define a net class as a differential pair by selecting the net class and enabling the Differential Pair
checkbox.
Differential pairs, by their definition, dictate that there must be two nets assigned as a differential pair to
create a balanced transmission system able to carry differential (equal and opposite) signals across the
Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 2 6/1/2006
printed circuit board. This means that if you have not assigned exactly two nets to your differential pair
net class the Options Net Classes dialog will not allow you to exit until you do so.
Special attributes are automatically added to the differential pairs once they are created. DiffPairGap
attribute defines the desired gap (clearance) between the two nets in the differential pair. A specific
DiffPairGap can be set for individual layers in the PCB if a different value is desired on specific layers.
Another added attribute, IsDifferentialPair, is used to identify the net class as differential pair.
Routing a differential pair
Differential pairs are routed as a pair that is you route the two nets simultaneously. To start routing a
differential pair, select Diff Pair Tool from either Route Differential Pair or the Route toolbar to make
it active. Select either a start pad, connection line, via, or line of one net of the differential pair to start
routing. The other net of the differential pair will automatically be selected and the routes of the pair will
come together.
Generally the starting location for each net in the differential pair is close together. If it is not, you can
use Advanced Route to route each net individually to bring them together for use with the Diff Pair tool.
Differential pair routing has built-in intelligence. For example, if the DiffPairGap is not a multiple of the
current grid, one of the routes in the pair will most likely be off-grid to maintain the desired DiffPairGap
value. Moveable obstacles can be pushed with the Diff Pair tool, and fixed obstacles are avoided by
hugging around them.
The same commands that are used in Advanced Route are also applicable during Diff Pair route.
Standard P-CAD shortcuts remain, such as pressing the L key to switch to the next routing layer.

Figure 1 Routing a differential pair in compliance with the specified DiffPairGap.

Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 3 6/1/2006
2 Routing multiple nets simultaneously
A large portion of the board design effort is spent on routing multiple-net connections, that is, sets of
nets that start and end in similar locations. As board real estate shrinks and component and pin
densities increase, the routing challenges become tougher. You need to be able to squeeze the most
from every square millimeter of routing space. P-CAD 2006 offers more versatile routing modes to allow
you to tackle any board routing challenge.
The new Multi-Route tool in P-CAD 2006 allows you to simultaneously route two or more nets at a time.
The trace widths and the clearance between them will be in accordance to the applicable design rules.
After choosing Multi-Route from the Route menu or toolbar, the nets to route are chosen by selecting
any net objects (pads, vias, connection lines, etc) using the mouse. As you select the objects they are
highlighted. Once all the required net objects are highlighted, press Enter (or right-click popup menu,
Start Route) and the chosen nets to route will converge together for routing, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Multiple nets gathering together automatically as you route, and hugging obstacles.
As you move the cursor to route the set of nets, the
sophisticated multi-route algorithm will automatically
seek out the best path between the starting point and
the current cursor location, avoiding existing obstacles
and flowing around them where possible.
There are a number of options that influence the multi-
route behavior, configure these in the Options
Configure dialog. These include Glossing, which
instructs the software as to how much effort you want
applied to the neatness of the routing.
The new Multi-route tool replaces the Bus-Route tool.



Figure 3. Configure the routing behavior in the
Options Configure dialog
Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 4 6/1/2006
3 Orthogonal dragging of routes
A common task during the board design process is adjusting exiting routing and component positioning
to make more room. You might want to slide a number of traces to free up another routing channel, or
perhaps you need to move a component and its routing to cater for an extra component. This process
has been greatly enhanced in P-CAD 2006 with the introduction of orthogonal dragging no more odd-
angled traces when you move an existing trace, or ratsnests appearing when you move a routed
component.
Orthogonal dragging has been added to the PCB editor, making it much easier to move routing, or a
routed component. Previously, moving such an object would cause connecting traces to stretch like
rubber bands between the moving object and the attached non-moving objects, giving an undesirable
result. With orthogonal dragging, traces will maintain 90 or 45 angles to connected segments.
Orthogonal dragging supports multiple segments, ideal when you need to slightly reposition a
component and want to maintain the connected routing.

Figure 4. Here we see a group of traces before and after orthogonal dragging, with the route angles preserved.
Configure for the orthogonal mode that you desire in Options Configure Route. You can also cycle
through the modes while dragging an object by pressing the O and the T keys (the O key cycles through
the modes, and the T key reverses the vertical/horizontal and 45/90 segments). Note that the 90/90 Arc-
Line and Tangent Arc mode are not used during moving and dragging.
4 Improved selection capability
PCB selection of sub-objects is now
much easier. Under Options
Selection Mask there is a new set
of Component Sub Object Selection
options:
Exclude Sub Objects this
prevents the selection of
component pads, attributes,
lines, etc, selecting only the
parent component(s).
Include Sub Objects allows
selection of component sub-
objects as well as the
component(s)
Sub Objects Only only allow
selection of sub-objects,
components cannot be selected.
With these three options, used in conjunction with the Items list from Options Selection Mask dialog, you
can now select a wide variety of objects to sub-select that was previously not possible to do, such as
selecting only the reference designators of all the components in a design. Its worth noting that
component sub-object selection controls are available for both block and single selection.
Figure 5. Improved selection of sub-objects being used to select
component reference designators.
Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 5 6/1/2006
5 New Board Outline object with Board Cutouts
A board outline defines the physical boundary or outline of the board in the PCB editor while board
cutouts are used to define physical holes in the board. P-CAD 2006 PCB has been improved by the
addition of a board object that is a closed poly-line and can include arcs. Instead of placing a collection
of separate lines and arcs to create a board outline with the chance of not lining up the endpoints
correctly, a Board Outline object can be placed that properly maintains the outline connectivity.
There are two new commands to support this: Place Place Board Outline and Place Place Board
Cutout. These commands work exactly the same way for placing either object: select the command and
click in the workspace at the first vertex for the outline/cutout. There is no need to hold down the mouse
button to drag, simply click, release and move to the next vertex, just click, release, and move to the
next vertex.

Figure 6. New Board Outline and Board Cutout buttons on the Placement Toolbar.
Right-clicking while in either command mode will display a menu with the following commands:
Complete select this to complete a board
outline. The Complete option will be enabled
only when the resulting outline is considered
valid as complex or degenerate polygons are
not allowed.
Cancel halts placement and removes the
partially-placed outline.
Unwind removes the last segment (line or
arc) that was placed.
Add Arc specifies the next segment to be an
arc. When selecting this command, a dialog
will appear prompting you for the angle of the
new arc. Valid angles are considered 1
through 359.
Reverse Arc similar to the Unwind
command, this command allows you to
reverse the angle of an arc while placing it.
Create Circle allows you to place a circle for
the board outline, this command is only
available before placing any portion of the
outline. From the right-click menu, select
Create Circle, now click where you wish to place the center point of the board outline. Start moving
the cursor then until a circle of the desired radius is formed. You can complete the outline by using
the right-mouse menu to choose Complete or you can cancel out of it by selecting Cancel.
Both the Board Outline and Board Cutouts can be resized or redefined after placement. If you select an
outline/cutout and the cursor is over an edge, the right-mouse menu will display some additional
commands (in addition to Properties, Copy, Cut, Delete, Highlight, Unhighlight, Fix and Unfix).
Add Vertex splits the line segment into two.
Delete Edge removes an edge from the outline. The command will fail if removing the edge will
cause the outline to become degenerate or complex.
Change Edge to Arc and Change Edge to Line will be available depending on the edge type the
cursor is over. They allow you to change an edge from one to the other.
Delete Vertex when the selection is done over a vertex the right-mouse menu will display this
command. You should note that Delete Vertex will correctly fail if the removal of the vertex causes
the outline to become degenerate or complex.
Figure 7. Board Outline and Board Cutouts allow you to
more accurately define the board shape and cutouts, and
include arcs if required.
Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 6 6/1/2006
6 Increased control over drawing and printing
You have increased control over
the order of drawing and printing
objects in the P-CAD PCB editor.
Launch the command Options
Display Drawing Order where
you can configure the Custom
Draw Order option to specify the
order of layers and the order of
objects within each layer of the
current design. The Default Draw
Order option will otherwise display
the traditional drawing order of
previous versions of P-CAD PCB.
Additionally you have increased
control over printing as well. Launch
File Print and note that this
dialog has been expanded with tabs
to accommodate new drawing order
options. Using the new Print Job
Drawing Order tab, you can use the
Custom Draw Order option to
explicitly specify the order of layers
and the order of objects within each design layer for printing. The Default Draw Order option provides
legacy printing draw order behavior. Each defined print job has its own independent draw order, allowing
you to specify the default order or to customize the order of each print job individually.
7 Enhanced copper pour capabilities
A standard design technique on todays
dense, high-speed boards is to use all spare
board space as reference planes, filling them
with regions of solid copper. These regions
of copper are created by placing copper
pours, and it is not uncommon for a complex
multilayer board to have 30 or more pours
on it.
P-CAD 2006 includes a completely new
copper pour algorithm, able to cater for the
most complex pour shape and conditions.
The new pour algorithm is invoked
automatically when you select the Copper
Pour command. The old pour algorithm has
been retained, to ensure that older designs
can be maintained without impact on their
pours. If you need the older pour algorithm it
can be enabled in the Options Configure
Manufacturing dialog. This setting is
stored with the design, ensuring that you will
always get the correct pour for that design.
Figure 9. Support for the older copper pour algorithm is
available, if required.
Figure 8. Control the drawing order in the Options Display dialog.
Whats New in P-CAD 2006 Page 7 6/1/2006
8 Enhanced P-CAD 2006 Bonus Technologies
P-CAD 2006 Bonus Technologies include:
Situs topological autorouter Situs uses topological mapping to provide greater flexibility in route
path determination and unrestricted routing direction, as it routes in compliance with specified design
rules and via requirements, including blind and buried vias. The router also includes powerful
component-oriented fanout and escape routing algorithms as well, supporting all current packaging
technologies.
CAMtastic the CAMtastic editor is fully featured for CAM file review and editing. As well as the
traditional Gerber support it includes full ODB++import and export, ideal for interfacing to your
preferred board fabricator. It also has powerful panelization support, use this to create a panel that
includes test coupons, or a panel of different boards. CAMtastic also includes a broad range of
Numerically Controlled (NC) rout capabilities, including autorouting, rout tabs and automatic mill path
definition. NC rout paths can be defined manually or automatically (by edge tracing existing objects),
with full control over tool parameters, plunge/retraction points and rout direction.
Mixed-signal circuit simulation the mixed-signal circuit simulator offers true Spice 3f5 analog
and XSpice digital simulation. Updated for the P-CAD 2006 release, the bonus technology circuit
simulator now supports PSpicemodels and functions, giving you maximum flexibility when
sourcing simulation models.
Improved circuit simulation, with PSpice support
The circuit simulator has direct support for PSpice models, attach them to the schematic component in
the same way that Spice 3f5 models are associated. Your circuit can even include a mix of PSpice and
Spice 3f5 models.
The circuit simulator also has support for global parameters ideal when you want to tune component
values as you run the simulator, or control a variable in an equation that is determining a component
value. Figure 10 shows the Analyses Setup dialog for an example circuit that uses global parameters,
here you can quickly adjust these values between simulation runs.

Figure 10. Include global parameters in your design, and tune them during simulation.
The simulation waveform viewer has also been enhanced. You can now create user-defined equations
based on the X-axis, giving you complete flexibility in interpreting your simulation results.