Version History | Mentor Graphics Pads

The company was sold to Innoveda , a joint venture between Kyoden and Viewlogic.

| | 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. |

The VX.2 stream received continuous updates (from VX.2.1 up to VX.2.8) over several years. Significant features introduced during this window included: and advanced glossing routines.

PADS is a suite of PCB design tools typically comprising three core components: (Schematic Capture), PADS Layout (Board Design), and PADS Router (Interactive/Automatic Routing). Known for its intuitive user interface and "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" approach, PADS became the industry standard for mid-market design. mentor graphics pads version history

The Evolution of Mentor Graphics PADS: A Complete Version History

: Launched as a high-tier offering, this version utilized Xpedition's layout engine rather than the classic PADS code base. The Siemens Era (2017–Present)

Renamed to reflect its parent company, modern releases drop the legacy "Mentor Graphics" branding in favor of . PADS Professional VX.2.10 to VX.2.14+ The company was sold to Innoveda , a

During this time, Mentor released major versions like PADS 2005 , 2007 , and 9.x . These versions introduced tools like PADS Logic and PADS Router .

: PADS was briefly owned by the Japanese manufacturer Kyoden before being acquired by in early 2000. PCB Libraries Mentor Graphics Era (2002–2016)

The late 1990s and early 2000s marked a period of massive architectural changes, shifting to the Windows GUI and transitioning ownership to Mentor Graphics. PADS PowerPCB (Versions 2.0 to 5.0) | | PADS 9

Mentor began pushing DxDesigner (now Xpedition Designer) as a scalable, high-end alternative to PADS Logic for schematic capture, enabling hierarchical design management. PADS 9.3 & 9.4 (2011–2012)

The Evolution of PADS: A Complete Version History For over three decades, PADS (originally developed by CADAM, later acquired by Mentor Graphics, and now part of Siemens EDA) has been a cornerstone of the printed circuit board (PCB) design industry. Known for its balance of power and usability, PADS evolved from a desktop tool into a enterprise-ready design ecosystem.