The Allegro 17.2-2016 release introduces 12 new layers and 19 new surface finishes, and allows users to enable checks against these layers using user-defined clearances or user-specified overlaps. Once enabled, the checks provide feedback during the layout process to avoid design-verify-redesign iterations.
In the Allegro PCB Designer 17.2-2016 release, the Cross-Section Editor has been redesigned leveraging the underlying spreadsheet technology found in Constraint Manager. It offers a one-stop shop for features that require the cross section for their setup, such as dynamic unused pad suppression and embedded component design.
The Cross-Section Editor has been enhanced to support multiple stackups for rigid-flex design, each capable of supporting conductor and non-conductor layers such as Soldermask and Coverlay. The Cross-Section Editor provides total thicknesses for each stackup in terms of accumulated conductor layers, as well as an option with mask-layer thicknesses included.
Other enhancements of the Cross-Section Editor include a graphical image of the stackup construct that is available in a dockable window. The stackup image includes functionality to reverse drill direction. Grid editing enhancements include functions to add layer pairs or a user-defined number of layers.
For dense PCB designs that have many constraints on critical signals—designs with high-speed interfaces or designs that have a limited area to route signals on—many designers can spend up to 70% of the overall design cycle on routing, tuning, and optimization of signals. The new Allegro dynamic concurrent team design capability focuses on shortening the largest portion of the PCB layout design cycle. It provides interactive etch-editing capabilities as well as unique Allegro TimingVision™, auto-interactive delay, and phase-tuning capabilities that have been proven to shorten the time needed to route advanced high-speed interfaces such as DDRx and PCI Express® (PCIe®) by up to 80 percent.
The new Allegro PCB Team Design Option provides dynamic concurrent PCB team design for multiple PCB designers to work on the same design at the same time without any set-up requirements. The new dynamic concurrent-team-design capability provides two use models—the informal mode and the structured mode. In the informal mode, any user can start editing the design using the dynamic concurrent mode, and other users can join or leave the session in progress as needed. A structured mode is set up on a server and all users that want to concurrently work on the same design can do so by connecting to that session, with the ability to join or leave the session at any time.
In the Allegro 17.2-2016 release, a new Padstack Editor has been introduced to ease padstack creation through a new modern user interface. In addition to supporting new pad geometries, drill types, additional attributes, additional mask layers ability to define keep-outs within the padstack with complex geometries for all objects, the new capabilities allow PCB librarians to help PCB designers streamline the design process for complex padstacks, backdrill padstacks, and also the commonly used padstacks.
With the Allegro 17.2-2016 release, many improvements have been made to the backdrill process to assist the PCB designer in managing the backdrill vias/padstacks, route around the backdrill vias/padstacks with accurate DRCs, and real-time feedback. Backdrill data is now stored in the library padstacks and utilized at the design level during the analysis and backdrill-generation process. Padstacks that do not have pre-defined backdrill information can be automatically updated at the design level by entering the backdrill criteria prior to running backdrill. All backdrill data is available on the individual pin/via objects displayed on the canvas or by simply querying the object using Show Element, and generating the Backdrill Legends and detailed Backdrill Report. In addition, the setup time for backdrill can now be improved as a result of algorithms designed to create intelligent layer pairs.
Shrinking pin pitches are forcing narrower than usual trace widths. Coupled with an increasing number of pins on BGAs, single-ended and differential pair signals have to meander through the pin fields, often with arcs. Pin fields on large-pin-count devices are by nature full of voids on the reference plane, making it harder to control impedance on critical signals. The result is a higher impedance than desired on critical signals. Tabbed routing is a new routing strategy in which trapezoidal shapes called tabs are added to parallel traces to control impedance in the pin-field/breakout region and crosstalk in the open-field region. This method enables longer trace lengths and use of smaller trace spacing. Tabbed routing is used for impedance control and to manage crosstalk in critical signals, enhancing signal quality and improving route channel utilization. The Allegro PCB Designer High-Speed Option enables tabbed Route Generation, Tab Count Validation, Tab Pitch Validation, Manage/Delete Tabs when traces are edited.
Allegro PCB High-Speed Option introduced six via structures for managing return path for critical differential signals during Add Connect in the Allegro 16.6-2015 release.
The Allegro 17.2-2016 release enhances the ability to add return path via structures during Add Connect by allowing users to use custom return path via structures. These via structures can be fine-tuned and verified using Sigrity technology, ensuring that right return path via structures are used in the design and shortening the time to verify that a design meets performance criteria for critical high-speed signals.
The Create Via Structure feature allows you to create two types of via structures: standard and high speed. There is also an option available to automatically export an XML file, which can be used to import/export via structure definition in other PCB/SiP database and Sigrity technology.
In the Allegro 17.2-2016 release, several features have been enhanced to improve the ease of use of the Allegro PCB Editor. New enhancements include:
Get the most out of your investment in Cadence technologies through a wide range of training offerings. We offer instructor-led classes at our training centers or at your site. We also offer self-paced online courses. Overview
