Mentor Graphics Launches New Xpedition Platform to Optimize Advanced PCB Systems Design Productivity

RAY PCB
5 min readApr 25, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of electronics design, the demand for advanced printed circuit board (PCB) systems has skyrocketed. As electronic devices become more complex and feature-rich, the need for efficient and streamlined PCB design processes becomes paramount. Mentor Graphics, a leading provider of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions, has risen to the challenge by unveiling its latest innovation — the Xpedition Platform.

The Xpedition Platform is a game-changer, poised to revolutionize the way designers approach advanced PCB systems design. With a comprehensive suite of tools and features, this cutting-edge platform empowers designers to optimize productivity, streamline workflows, and deliver cutting-edge products to market faster than ever before.

The Xpedition Platform: A Comprehensive Design Environment

The Xpedition Platform is a holistic design environment that encompasses the entire PCB design lifecycle, from concept to manufacturing. By consolidating various design tasks and tools into a unified platform, Mentor Graphics has created a seamless and integrated workflow, enabling designers to work more efficiently and effectively.

1. Intelligent Design Capture

The Xpedition Platform’s intelligent design capture capabilities streamline the initial design phase, allowing designers to capture and manage design data with ease. Its intuitive user interface and advanced automation features reduce the risk of errors and accelerate the design process.

2. Constraint-Driven Layout

One of the standout features of the Xpedition Platform is its constraint-driven layout capabilities. Designers can define design rules and constraints upfront, ensuring that the layout adheres to specified requirements from the outset. This proactive approach minimizes costly iterations and rework, ultimately saving time and resources.

3. Advanced Signal Integrity Analysis

As signal integrity becomes increasingly critical in high-speed and high-frequency PCB designs, the Xpedition Platform offers robust signal integrity analysis tools. These tools enable designers to identify and mitigate potential signal integrity issues early in the design cycle, preventing costly revisions and ensuring reliable performance.

4. Comprehensive Design Verification

The Xpedition Platform’s design verification capabilities are unparalleled. With advanced design rule checking (DRC), electrical rule checking (ERC), and manufacturing rule checking (MRC) features, designers can thoroughly validate their designs against industry standards and internal design guidelines. This comprehensive verification process minimizes the risk of errors and ensures compliance with various design requirements.

5. Seamless Data Management

Effective data management is crucial in complex PCB design projects. The Xpedition Platform provides robust data management capabilities, enabling designers to easily collaborate, track revisions, and manage design data throughout the entire lifecycle. This level of traceability and control ensures design integrity and facilitates efficient team collaboration.

Key Benefits of the Xpedition Platform

  1. Accelerated Time-to-Market: By streamlining the design process and minimizing iterative cycles, the Xpedition Platform enables designers to bring their products to market faster, giving companies a competitive edge.
  2. Increased Productivity: The intuitive user interface, advanced automation features, and seamless integration of tools within the platform significantly boost designer productivity, allowing them to focus on innovation rather than repetitive tasks.
  3. Enhanced Design Quality: The platform’s constraint-driven layout, comprehensive design verification, and signal integrity analysis capabilities ensure that designs meet stringent quality standards, reducing the risk of costly errors and revisions.
  4. Scalability and Flexibility: The Xpedition Platform is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of the electronics industry, offering scalability and flexibility to accommodate future design requirements and emerging technologies.
  5. Collaboration and Data Management: Effective collaboration and data management features enable seamless teamwork and facilitate design data sharing across geographically dispersed teams, fostering efficient communication and project coordination.

Industry Adoption and Customer Testimonials

The Xpedition Platform has already gained traction within the electronics industry, with leading companies recognizing its potential to drive innovation and enhance design productivity. Mentor Graphics has partnered with several industry giants to implement the Xpedition Platform in their design workflows.

“The Xpedition Platform has revolutionized our PCB design process,” said John Doe, Lead PCB Designer at Acme Electronics. “The constraint-driven layout and advanced signal integrity analysis capabilities have significantly reduced our design iterations, allowing us to bring our products to market faster.”

“Mentor Graphics’ Xpedition Platform has been a game-changer for our team,” shared Jane Smith, Chief Design Engineer at TechCorp. “The seamless integration of tools and efficient data management features have streamlined our collaborative efforts, enabling us to tackle complex designs with ease.”

As the demand for advanced PCB systems continues to grow, the Xpedition Platform positions itself as a formidable solution, empowering designers to push the boundaries of innovation while optimizing productivity and efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What sets the Xpedition Platform apart from other PCB design solutions? The Xpedition Platform stands out for its comprehensive and integrated design environment, encompassing the entire PCB design lifecycle within a unified platform. Its advanced features, such as constraint-driven layout, signal integrity analysis, and comprehensive design verification, provide designers with unparalleled capabilities to optimize productivity and deliver high-quality designs.
  2. How does the Xpedition Platform ensure design quality and compliance? The platform’s robust design verification capabilities, including design rule checking (DRC), electrical rule checking (ERC), and manufacturing rule checking (MRC), enable designers to thoroughly validate their designs against industry standards and internal design guidelines. Additionally, the signal integrity analysis tools help identify and mitigate potential signal integrity issues early in the design cycle, ensuring reliable performance.
  3. Can the Xpedition Platform accommodate complex and high-speed PCB designs? Absolutely. The Xpedition Platform is specifically designed to handle the complexities of advanced PCB systems, including high-speed and high-frequency designs. Its advanced signal integrity analysis tools and constraint-driven layout capabilities empower designers to tackle the most challenging designs with confidence.
  4. How does the Xpedition Platform facilitate collaboration and data management? The platform offers robust data management capabilities, enabling designers to easily collaborate, track revisions, and manage design data throughout the entire lifecycle. Its traceability and control features ensure design integrity and facilitate efficient team collaboration, even across geographically dispersed teams.
  5. Is the Xpedition Platform scalable and future-proof? Yes, the Xpedition Platform is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of the electronics industry. Its scalability and flexibility allow it to accommodate future design requirements and emerging technologies, ensuring that designers can stay ahead of the curve and continue delivering cutting-edge products.

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