Looking for reasons to upgrade to the latest hotfix of SPB17.4??

The latest hotfix of SPB17.4-2019, which is SPB17.40.028, is now available for download. If you are looking for a list of new features, enhancements, and product changes in the tool, you landed up in correct space.

Multiple domains in Allegro PCB Editor and Allegro Package Designer Plus are being addressed in this release. Let us look at some of the features here:

Differential Pair High-Speed Structures

In this release, an automatic method is provided to replace existing differential pair transition vias with differential pair structures by window selection on canvas. This replacement routine requires a vertical differential pair structure, which is rotated and adjusted appropriately while maintaining connections. Also included is an option to convert a differential pair structure to standalone differential pair transition vias when major rework is required.

Package Design Integrity Checks

With this release, new Package Design Integrity checks are added to identify the potential opens or shorts for padstacks that have the value of drill diameter set to zero. These checks are specifically for using geometries, instead of drill, on named dielectric layers to define connectivity.

Dynamic Backdrill

A new option is added in the Backdrill Setup and Analysis dialog box that automatically updates pad sizes, generates backdrill, and adds keepouts in the backdrill path when backdrill is run. To see the new option to switch on the dynamic mode, set backdrill_enable_dynamic in User Preferences Editor under the Manufacture – Drilling category.

The new option Enable dynamic backdrill appears under the Settings tab of the Backdrill Setup and Analysis dialog.

Expanded Spacing Hole-to-Hole Checks

In this release, Hole-to-Hole checks are expanded to enable using separate values for through via holes, blind/buried holes, micro via holes, and pin holes in both the Spacing and Same Net Spacing domains. Constraint Manager worksheets appear to be the same, but clicking one of the Hole To values opens new dialog boxes with expanded hole spacing.

There are multiple other enhanced features in Design True DFM, Padstack Editor, 3D Canvas, and Allegro Constraint Compiler. To know more about the complete list of new features, visit the Cadence Online Support site.

Team PCBTech

Cadence Design Systems