CIE Components in Electronics
Global electronics distributor Digi-Key Corporation, has collaborated with Mentor Graphics, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design solutions specialist, to create what it describes as a unique concept-to-prototype design tool targeted at green-field projects before transition to production.
Available from Digi-Key, the Designer Schematic product from Mentor Graphics looks to address the escalating demand from professional engineers for Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software at an affordable price point for new R&D projects, while facilitating access to the latest parts.
“Innovators around the world need to have access to professional-class PCB design tools to easily capture their design concepts. Mentor Graphics’ partnership with Digi-Key provides an opportunity to deliver our proven design technologies to individual engineers at very attractive price points,” said Henry Potts, vice president and general manager of Mentor Graphics Systems Design Division. “We are pleased to be working with Digi-Key, their suppliers, and interested design service and PCB manufacturing suppliers to accelerate designs from concept to prototype. With Designer Schematic, Mentor Graphics is extending its range of PCB development solutions, now serving individual engineers working on conceptual projects, the desktop market with PADS, and the extended enterprise with our flagship Xpedition flow.”
The designer Schematic tool is scheduled to launch early this summer, at an unprecedented sub-$300 price point. Engineers will gain the benefit of first-class design tools, as well as increased freedom to use new components with error-free EDA representation, as they are released, providing direct paths to quick-turn PCB layout and manufacturing services. The web-based software is designed to give engineers real-time access to the latest design components along with easy, error-free access to Design Service Providers and PCB Fabrication and Manufacturing Services.
