Mentor Graphics Pads Version History Link

In 2017, Mentor Graphics was acquired by Siemens, and PADS has since become part of the Siemens EDA (Electronic Design Automation) portfolio.

Today, PADS continues to evolve with new features and capabilities, including:

The current version of PADS is PADS Professional 2022, which includes various enhancements and new features, such as improved collaboration, enhanced design automation, and support for latest industry standards.

The history of PADS (Personal Automated Design System) is a decades-long journey that mirrors the evolution of the entire electronic design automation (EDA) industry. From its origins as a budget-friendly DOS application to its current status as a sophisticated suite under Siemens, PADS has remained a staple for independent engineers and small-to-medium design teams. 1. The Early Era: PADS-PCB and the DOS Roots (1985–1990s)

PADS was originally created by Gene Marsh and his son in the mid-1980s.

1985 Release: The first version, PADS-PCB, debuted for DOS. At just $495 per seat, it democratized PCB design, which was previously locked behind expensive, proprietary Unix workstations.

Market Growth: Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, the company grew rapidly, becoming a primary competitor to early leaders like PCAD and Calay Systems.

2. Corporate Transitions: Innoveda and Acquisition (1990s–2002)

The late 90s saw PADS bolster its technical capabilities through strategic acquisitions before undergoing significant corporate changes.

Expansion (1997–1998): PADS acquired HyperLynx in 1997, integrating what would become the industry-standard tool for signal integrity. In 1998, they added ACT (Advanced CAM Technologies) to improve manufacturing output.

Ownership Shifts: In 2000, the company was sold to Innoveda, a joint venture involving ViewLogic. This period is often remembered by longtime users for a perceived stall in product innovation. 3. The Mentor Graphics Era (2002–2017)

In 2002, Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda for $160 million, officially bringing PADS into its portfolio.

PADS 2005 & 2007: Mentor introduced "Flow" bundles, integrating Logic, Layout, and Router into a cohesive Windows-based environment.

The "9.x" Series: Versions like PADS 9.3 and 9.5 were major milestones, widely used for years. These versions solidified the classic workflow of using PADS Logic for schematics and PADS Layout for the board.

PADS Professional (2015): To compete with high-end tools like Altium, Mentor launched PADS Professional. This was a radical shift, as it was built on the high-end Xpedition technology rather than the legacy PADS code. 4. Siemens and the VX Series (2017–Present)

Following Siemens' $4.5 billion acquisition of Mentor Graphics in 2017, the software was rebranded under Siemens EDA. History of PADS - PCB Libraries Forum

Mentor Graphics PADS Version History: A Comprehensive Overview

Mentor Graphics PADS is a popular printed circuit board (PCB) design software used by engineers and designers to create and manufacture PCBs. The software has a rich history dating back to the 1980s, with numerous versions released over the years. In this post, we'll take a journey through the major milestones in the version history of Mentor Graphics PADS.

Early Years (1980s)

The first version of PADS, version 1.0, was released in 1985 by PADS, a company founded by John Davis and others. At that time, the software was a simple, text-based PCB design tool.

Acquisition by Mentor Graphics (1997)

In 1997, Mentor Graphics acquired PADS, and the software became a part of the Mentor Graphics portfolio. This marked a significant turning point for PADS, as it gained access to Mentor Graphics' resources and expertise.

Major Releases (1998-2005)

The following are some of the notable releases of PADS during this period:

Xtreme and PADS Plus (2005-2010)

In 2005, Mentor Graphics released PADS Xtreme, a major upgrade that introduced a new architecture and user interface. PADS Xtreme was followed by PADS Plus, which added advanced features such as:

PADS VX (2011-2015)

The PADS VX series was a major milestone in the evolution of PADS. The following are some of the notable releases:

PADS Professional (2016-Present)

In 2016, Mentor Graphics released PADS Professional, a comprehensive PCB design solution that combined the best features of PADS and Mentor Graphics' other design tools.

Conclusion

The version history of Mentor Graphics PADS is a testament to the software's evolution and growth over the years. From its humble beginnings as a simple text-based tool to its current status as a comprehensive PCB design solution, PADS has remained a popular choice among engineers and designers. Today, PADS Professional continues to be a leading PCB design software, used by companies around the world to create innovative products.

References

PADS (Printed Automated Design System) has evolved from a simple DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite of electronic design automation (EDA) software. Now part of Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), its version history reflects the shift from manual board layout to high-speed, multi-layer, and AI-driven design. The Early Era: 1985–1997

Originally created by Gene Marsh, PADS launched in 1985 as a DOS-based software priced at $495 per seat.

PADS-PCB (1985–1990s): Early versions focused on basic 2D layout for double-sided or 4-layer boards.

Transition to Windows: As operating systems evolved, PADS moved away from its DOS roots to support the graphical user interfaces of Windows, becoming a staple for small design bureaus. Acquisition and the Innoveda Years: 1997–2001 mentor graphics pads version history

This period was marked by rapid corporate shifts and significant technology acquisitions.

1997–1998: PADS acquired HyperLynx for signal integrity and ACT for simulation.

2000: The company was sold to Innoveda, a joint venture between Kyoden and Viewlogic.

PADS 5.0 (1998): This version consolidated many of the newly acquired tools into a more cohesive layout and routing environment. The Mentor Graphics Era: 2001–2017

Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda in 2001, bringing PADS into one of the "big three" EDA portfolios.

The history of PADS PCB design software spans over four decades, evolving from a DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite now under the Siemens EDA PCB Libraries Origins and Early Years (1980s–1990s)

: PADS was first released by Gene Marsh and his son as a DOS-based operating system tool, originally priced at approximately $495 per seat.

: The software's headquarters were established in Marlborough, MA, eventually growing to a staff of 120 with widespread distribution in the USA. Acquisitions

: PADS was briefly owned by the Japanese manufacturer Kyoden before being acquired by in early 2000. PCB Libraries Mentor Graphics Era (2002–2016)

Mentor Graphics acquired Innoveda in 2002, integrating PADS into its broad Electronic Design Automation (EDA) portfolio. : Introduced GUI standardization, the Project Explorer

for Logic and Layout, and integrated OrCAD schematic/library import. : Added features for Design Variants and integrated HyperLynx Analog simulation as a DxDesigner add-in. PADS 9.x Series 9.4 (2012) : Added support for new 2D line styles and enhanced library support 9.5 (2012)

: Modernized the installation process and updated database/ASCII formats for Layout and Router The VX Release and Siemens Acquisition (2014–Present) What’s new in PADS VX.2.12 - Siemens

PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has evolved over more than 30 years from a desktop-focused PCB design tool into a high-end platform integrated into the Siemens EDA ecosystem. Originally created by Gene Marsh, it underwent significant shifts in ownership—moving from Innoveda to Mentor Graphics in 2001, and eventually to Siemens in 2017. Early Era & Expansion (1980s – 2000s)

Foundation: Developed as a lower-cost alternative to enterprise-level software, PADS quickly became a staple for independent engineers.

Key Transitions: The product's stability fluctuated during the Innoveda years before Mentor Graphics' acquisition provided a more robust corporate backing.

PADS 2007: Introduced high-speed analysis, RF/microwave circuitry implementation, and early Design for Fabrication (DFF) checking. The PADS 9.x Series

This era focused on modernizing the user interface (DxDesigner) and enhancing integration with analysis tools.

PADS 9.4 (2012): Added support for new 2D line styles in drafting and routing. PADS 1

PADS 9.5 (2012): A major update that introduced virtual pins for branch point definition, full DDRx routing support, and a simplified Chinese interface. It also integrated the HyperLynx 8.2 suite for 3D field solving and thermal analysis. The VX Era & Rebranding (2015 – Present)

In 2015, Mentor Graphics restructured the brand into three distinct tiers based on complexity:

The version history of PADS, developed by Mentor Graphics Siemens EDA

), spans over 30 years and transitions from a standalone desktop PCB design tool to a sophisticated suite integrated with high-end enterprise technology. Siemens Blog Network Origins and Early Acquisitions Early 1990s

: Originally a popular tool for independent engineers and small service bureaus like 1997–2000

: The PADS organization underwent major corporate shifts, acquiring in 1997 and in 1998, before being sold to Mentor Graphics , bringing PADS into its flagship portfolio. PCB Libraries The PADS 2000 Series (2004–2009)

During this era, Mentor Graphics standardized the GUI and improved intra-tool integration.

: Introduced a new Project Explorer for PADS Logic and Layout, GUI standardization, and the Mentor Standard Installer (MSI).

: Added features for RF design, such as via matrixing and DXF-in import. It also improved high-speed routing and introduced Design for Fabrication (DFF) analysis. PADS 9.x (approx. 2009–2013)

: Continued the "classic" PADS flow, widely used by small teams for its ease of use on Windows environments. PCB Libraries The VX Era and Tiered Solutions (2014–Present)

In 2015, Mentor revamped the PADS brand into three distinct tiers to cater to different engineering needs: Siemens Blog Network Mentor Graphics PADS2007

The Future: What Happens Next?

Siemens has been clear: "PADS Professional" is the future. The legacy "PADS Standard" (the old Mentor codebase) is in maintenance mode. Expect version VX.3.0 in 2025 to focus on:

4. Siemens EDA Era (2021–present)

Verdict

The version history of PADS shows a tool that successfully transitioned from a DOS-era workhorse to a modern, professional PCB design suite. Best versions to remember:

If you are learning PCB design, start with PADS Standard (simpler). If you need high-speed, RF, or simulation, PADS Professional is worth the upgrade. Avoid very old versions (pre-9.0) unless supporting legacy products.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) – Powerful, historically significant, but licensing and edition complexity hold it back from a perfect score.

4. The Standardization Era (2006–2013)

Around 2007, Mentor Graphics rebranded the suite, dropping the "Power" prefix to simplify the product identity and align it with other Mentor flows. The tool became known simply as PADS Logic, PADS Layout, and PADS Router.

Abstract

For decades, Mentor Graphics PADS (Personal Automated Design System) has served as a cornerstone tool for PCB designers, bridging the gap between complex enterprise-level solutions and entry-level hobbyist tools. This paper explores the version history of PADS, tracing its origins as an independent DOS-based solution through its acquisition by Mentor Graphics, the pivotal transition to Windows, and its modern incarnation under Siemens Digital Industries Software. The history of PADS is not merely a list of version numbers; it represents the broader evolution of the PCB design industry from flat, two-dimensional schematics to complex, multi-layer high-speed digital design.

Key Eras & Notable Versions

Version 9.0 – 9.5: The Modern Toolset

This period solidified PADS as the dominant mid-market tool. In 2017, Mentor Graphics was acquired by Siemens,