CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

24 May 2004

Product News

Cadence and EMA to Provide Free ActiveParts Online Database for OrCAD Customers

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. ( http://www.cadence.com ) and EMA Design AutomationT, a full-service solutions provider dedicated to the EDA marketplace, announced that they will provide the ActiveParts Online Database free to all existing OrCAD® Capture® CIS customers. ActiveParts includes access to over 2 million parts, most of which include OrCAD Capture symbols for a faster path to board layout. This expanded access to parts provides users with a whole new level of design flexibility by allowing them to search online with ActiveParts rather than being limited to a local database for new parts.

"ActiveParts will be a huge time saver for us," said Bonneville Minott, circuit design/quality assurance manager, Regional Technology Support Center at Epson Canada Limited. "We typically spend many hours searching manufacturers' Web sites and databooks for new parts for a design. With ActiveParts, not only can we search in one place, but the parts are immediately ready for placement into our design. Many of the parts even have OrCAD Layout® footprints, allowing these parts to go straight to board layout."

The inclusion of ActiveParts is an example of Cadence® and EMA's ongoing commitment to the OrCAD product line. OrCAD Capture CIS is a proven schematic capture tool and front end for a number of design flows. With ActiveParts as part of the design flow, engineers can find the parts they need, along with critical information about these parts, in much less time. Unlike typical static databases, ActiveParts is an online resource with over 100,000 new parts just recently added to the library, allowing users to see the most current information available.

"Customers from our early adopter program have found ActiveParts to be easy to learn and use," said Manny Marcano, president and CEO of EMA. "ActiveParts is built right into the Capture CIS environment and allows searching, browsing and parts selection. Many of the parts contain links to the manufacturers' datasheets, providing immediate access to complete part information, all within the CIS environment. Part selection for designs is fast and seamless."

"Engineers can often spend a lot of time searching for the appropriate parts for their design," said Charlie Giorgetti, corporate vice president and general manager of the silicon-package-board business unit at Cadence. "And after they find the right part, they still need to create the symbols and get them onto the schematic. With ActiveParts, searching is simple, datasheets are just a click away, and getting the parts onto their schematic is as easy as drag and drop."

ActiveParts offers several methods for part searches, and many of the parts also include parametric data, allowing more complex searches based on specific needs. ActiveParts is fully integrated into the OrCAD Capture CIS system, and the ActiveParts window is completely HTML based, making basic operation easy for all users. OrCAD Capture CIS works with a local parts database that can tie into a company's material requirements planning system, allowing customers to maintain company part numbers, availability, pricing and other company-specific information. Engineers can then select parts from the extensive online database and automatically bring them into their local database. If they work off of a company approved parts list, these parts can be automatically added to a queue for approval. OrCAD Capture CIS will flag any parts that have not yet been approved, ensuring that parts only come from an approved parts list.

ActiveParts is available now and is free to anyone with an OrCAD Capture CIS maintenance contract.

EMA Design Automation, Inc. ( http://www.ema-eda.com ) is a full-service EDA solutions provider offering software tools, design services, product training, and technical support for the entire PCB design process. Founded in 1989 and a Cadence® distributor since 1998, EMA is staffed with experienced engineers and offers EDA design solutions tailored to the needs of each individual customer.

 

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