Cadence Ships OrCAD 10.0 Release, Increasing Productivity for Windows-Based PCB Designers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003

Improved Version of PCB Tools is Latest Advance in Ongoing

Cadence Support for Personal Productivity Solutions

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN) today announced the shipment of its OrCAD(R) 10.0 release, with new features, improved tool integration and enhanced technologies designed to boost productivity and reduce time to market for PCB designers. With a competitive base price of $1,355 and new solutions suites, the OrCAD 10.0 release demonstrates strong and continuing Cadence(R) support for its OrCAD product line and user community.

Following the success of OrCAD Unison suite, the OrCAD 10.0 release addresses specific design tasks of both PCB designers and electrical engineers with the introduction of three new Unison design suite configurations:

-- OrCAD Unison EE consists of OrCAD Capture(R) for design entry

and PSpice(R) A/D for analog and mixed-signal simulation;

-- OrCAD Unison PCB includes OrCAD Capture for schematic

referencing, OrCAD Layout(R) for PCB place and route, and

SPECCTRA(R) for OrCAD autorouter; and

-- OrCAD Unison Ultra guides designers through the entire design,

from schematic entry and simulation, to board layout and

routing.

The ease of use and intuitive capabilities of every application within these suites enable rapid utilization right out of the box.

"OrCAD Capture 10.0 is a big advancement over previous versions," said Roy Vandermolen, staff engineer, Moog Aircraft Group, Salt Lake City. "The new features infuse Capture with a higher level of sophistication and capability, and have added streamlining and ease of use that significantly improve an already great product."

Key features of OrCAD 10.0 release

-- OrCAD Capture / Capture CIS - the industry standard in schematic

entry and powerful component information system - several design

reuse enhancements that can further help to enhance the lead in

productivity and usability:

-- Support of the latest OrCAD Layout design reuse function,

enabling PCB designers to reuse placement and routing

information from one set of components on other identical sets

of components in OrCAD Layout.

-- OrCAD software allows users unlimited undo/redo to remove any

of their prior actions even after their schematic design has

been saved. A Label State command gives users flexibility to

try "what if" scenarios.

-- The part editor now enables users to move a logical pin name

independently from a physical pin number. Pins can also be

copied and pasted as a group or moved as a group.

-- PSpice A/D - advanced simulation for analog and mixed-signal

environments:

-- Simulator enhancements include support for BSIM3.2 models

expanding types of integrated circuits that can be used in a

design and Tabrizi Core models for leveraging datasheet

parameters directly with non-linear magnetic ferrite models.

-- Model support has been expanded to include BSIM3.2 models and

supplies parameterized models to be simulated with PSpice A/D.

These include models for BJTs, JFETs, MOSFETs, IGBTs, SCRs,

magnetic cores and toroids, power diodes, bridges, operational

amplifiers, opto-couplers, regulators, PWM controllers,

multipliers, timers, and sample-and-hold circuits.

-- A single dialog box enables users to create simulation

profiles or import existing simulation settings into a new

profile simplifies the creating, tracking and usage of model

libraries, stimulus files. It also includes files which can be

assigned to the global, design, or user level and stored as a

reusable, configurable profile.

-- Improved integration with Capture enables simpler schematic

design to simulation flow and use models.

-- OrCAD Layout - Complete rules-driven layout from simple to complex

PCBs:

-- New design reuse functionality in OrCAD Layout enables "cut

and paste"-type capabilities that retain the linkage between

OrCAD Capture schematic data and OrCAD Layout board data. It

enables quick and easy creation of reuse modules for circuit

replication.

-- OrCAD Layout now directly outputs Valor's ODB++ and thus

creates accurate and reliable manufacturing data for

high-quality, Gerber-less manufacturing.

-- An added Library Catalog Tool helps create and print catalog

files, enabling the editing and customizing of catalog files

before being printed. Hard copy documentation is now

simplified.

Cadence continuously enhances the OrCAD product line for PCB designers and engineers, offering them innovative solutions that help them increase their productivity. Four service packs for this release are scheduled until the OrCAD 10.5 version release, planned for the fourth quarter of 2004.

"Strategically, OrCAD perfectly complements our offerings in the personal productivity market. It enables us to offer tools for all levels -- from novice to expert -- and truly makes us a comprehensive provider," says Charlie Giorgetti, corporate vice president and general manager of the Cadence PCB Systems Division.

OrCAD Online

The OrCAD online community, launched in March 2002 and located at www.orcadpcb.com, has more than 60,000 monthly visitors and over 6,500 members. Its website serves as a valuable resource for designers and engineers to learn, discuss and collaborate on issues relevant to Windows-based PCB design. The open discussion boards are the most frequented and active section of the site.

A new www.orcad.com website was launched in June 2003 to support the personal engineering market. While www.orcadpcb.com addresses the community, www.orcad.com provides general OrCAD information, gives an overview of the design suite's underlying technologies, and offers a number of downloads.

Pricing and availability

OrCAD 10.0 is available now. Prices range from $1,355 for the introductory package to $7,996 for the high-end suite. For availability and pricing outside of North America, please contact your local Cadence office or distributor. A complete list of value-added resellers (VARs) can be found on www.orcad.com/contacts.

About Cadence

Cadence is the world's leader in electronic design technologies, methodology services, and design services. Cadence solutions are used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products. With approximately 5,000 employees and 2002 revenues of approximately $1.3 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More information about the company, its products and services is available at www.cadence.com.

Cadence, the Cadence logo, OrCAD, SPECCTRA, PSpice, OrCAD Layout, and OrCAD Capture are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective holders.