CADSTAR is a
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
-based
electronic design automation
Electronic design automation (EDA), also referred to as electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is a category of software tools for designing Electronics, electronic systems such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The tools wo ...
(EDA)
software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
tool for designing and creating
schematic diagrams and
printed circuit board
A printed circuit board (PCB), also called printed wiring board (PWB), is a Lamination, laminated sandwich structure of electrical conduction, conductive and Insulator (electricity), insulating layers, each with a pattern of traces, planes ...
s (PCBs). It provides engineers with a tool for designing simple or complex, multilayer PCBs. CADSTAR spans
schematic capture
Schematic capture or schematic entry is a step in the design cycle of electronic design automation (EDA) at which the electronic diagram, or electronic schematic of the designed electronic circuit, is created by a designer. This is done interac ...
, variant management, placement, automatic and high-speed routing,
signal integrity
Signal integrity or SI is a set of measures of the quality of an electrical signal. In digital electronics, a stream of binary values is represented by a voltage (or current) waveform. However, digital signals are fundamentally analog signal, anal ...
, power integrity, EMC analysis, design rule checks and production of manufacturing data.
Originally developed by U.K. PCB vendor Racal-Redac, CADSTAR has been part of the
Zuken
is a Japanese multinational corporation, specializing in software and consulting services for end-to-end electrical and electronic engineering. Zuken came into existence as a pioneer in the development of computer-aided design (CAD) systems in J ...
product portfolio since its acquisition in 1994. The software is developed at
Zuken
is a Japanese multinational corporation, specializing in software and consulting services for end-to-end electrical and electronic engineering. Zuken came into existence as a pioneer in the development of computer-aided design (CAD) systems in J ...
's Technology Centre, ZTC in
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
The basic features of CADSTAR can be tested with the free version of CADSTAR Express
Zuken Releases CADSTAR Express with Free Sample Download
/ref> or Schematic and PCB files produced by CADSTAR can be reviewed using the free CADSTAR Design Viewer.
History
The first version of CADSTAR was released in 1988 running under DOS. CADSTAR for Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
1.0 was released in March 1994. Since then, there has been about one major release per year. Zuken
is a Japanese multinational corporation, specializing in software and consulting services for end-to-end electrical and electronic engineering. Zuken came into existence as a pioneer in the development of computer-aided design (CAD) systems in J ...
subsequently released eCADSTAR in 2019.
Modules
CADSTAR contains many modules for specific uses such as:
*Design Editor This enables the engineer to draw schematic circuits, define the PCB layout and produce the manufacturing data from the completed PCB.
*Library Editor Used for the creation of Symbols, Component and Parts. Supports ODBC compliant databases.
*Embedded Router Used to create the tracks (layout) and other copper features of the board within the Design Editor environment.
*P.R.Editor Used to create the tracks and other copper features of the board in an external environment to the Design Editor with many more features than the Embedded Router.
*High-Speed P.R.Editor Allows the user to define a wide range of circuit rules and routing constraints to control the layout process.
*Signal Integrity Verify Post-layout signal integrity simulation toolset and what-if analysis.
*Power Integrity Fast analysis methodology including what-if analysis for concurrent power integrity.
*EMC Adviser Helps designers predict, analyse and control EMC design issues.
*Design Migration Tool Used to migrate designs and libraries from other EDA-tools into CADSTAR.
*Variant Manager Allows support of variant assemblies for different part values or not fitted components on the same PCB.
See also
* Comparison of EDA software
This page is a comparison of electronic design automation (EDA) software which is used today to design the near totality of electronic devices. Modern electronic devices are too complex to be designed without the help of a computer. Electronic dev ...
* List of free electronics circuit simulators
References
External links
*
Electronic design automation software
Windows-only proprietary software
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