PADS 8.x – 9.x (late 2000s – early 2010s)
PADS started as a low-cost, PC-based PCB design tool in the 1980s, competing with high-end Unix workstations. Over 40+ years, it evolved from a simple layout tool into a scalable suite (PADS Professional, PADS Standard, PADS Standard Plus) under Mentor Graphics (now Siemens EDA). Its version history reflects the shift from DOS to Windows, the integration of simulation, and the move toward cloud/collaboration. mentor graphics pads version history
: Introduced major GUI enhancements and integrated HyperLynx Analog . PADS 8
During the early 1990s, PADS expanded its capabilities with PADS Logic (for schematic capture) and PADS Layout. By 1991, the software had become a standard for service bureaus. : Introduced major GUI enhancements and integrated HyperLynx
release platform. This was a major shift that split PADS into three distinct tiers: PADS Standard: For basic PCB design. PADS Standard Plus: Added advanced analysis like HyperLynx. PADS Professional: Powered by Mentor's high-end technology, intended for complex hardware designs. Siemens Acquisition and Modern Era (2017–Present)
acquired Innoveda, bringing PADS into one of the industry's broadest EDA portfolios. PADS 2005 & 2007