EDWin - Electronic Design for Windows

EDWin - Electronic Design for Windows is one of our first, and the best (we like to think), system, running completely under Windows 3.1, or higher (no problems noted under Windows95 or Windows NT) It,like the EE Designer III/The Professional (running under MS-DOS), features almost everything you´ll ever need to get your design jobs done in the most efficient way.

EDWin is a CAD/CAE software package providing an electronic engineer with computerized tools to capture an electronic circuit in the form of schematic diagram and/or PCB layout. The final result of work with EDWin is documentation for manufacturing of printed circuit boards. EDWin features seamless integration between all its modules namely Schematic Capture, Layout Design, Postprocessing and Simulation, which is possible, thanks to a totally integrated design database structure facilitating automatic front and back annotation.

EDWin can be visualized  as a package comprising of mainly 5 task-oriented modules namely Schematic Capture, Layout Design, Postprocessing, Simulation and Library Editor.The user may start creating the integrated design database either by capturing the circuit in the form of schematic diagram or by designing  its PCB layout. It will be front annotated to Layout  Design in case of the former and back annotated to Schematic in case of the latter. This concept allows building both parts of the circuit design simultaneously.

With version 1.5X a new copper pour is included. There are new search engines and list programs for the libraries. A new Auto-Help will assist you to cut down the learning curve. Arizona router now includes Fan-Out and a possibility to define your own strategies. All the modules contain not only the basic tools needed, but also work-easing extras, like the Schematic Capture's autoplacer, and also the possibility to customize your own toolboxes to make your work even smoother and more efficient.

Thanks to the Open Database concept implemented in EDWin, you also have the extra option of being able to "plug in" and interface with your favourite 3rd party applications or begin your work at any given point - schematics or layout, it doesn't matter as netlists and device descriptions are shared between the system's modules.

Schematic Capture

Schematic Capture provides editing tools to create a schematic representation of the circuit. The Capture process starts with the placement of schematic components for which outline, gating and pinout data may either be created new or fetched from Part Libraries. Interactive routing of wires (electrical connections) creates connectivity between the components of the circuit (netlist).

Layout Design

Layout Design module provides tools for creation of layout components (silk-screens and footprints), netlist and routing of traces. Normally, all necessary components and netlist information is automatically transferred from schematic diagram to the layout (front annotation). Other features included are automatic placing of components, automatic clearance and connectivity checking and autorouting of traces. All changes concerning netlist and circuit components, introduced during PCB layout design process, are automatically updated in the Schematic Diagram (back annotation).

Postprocessing

Postprocessing involves converting the design data (layout) into manufacturing and validation outputs. Postprocessing module includes features for generation of PCB manufacturing documentation like artwork and documentation printouts, outputs for photoplotting and Numerically Controlled (NC) drilling.

Simulation

Simulation module allows validating the circuit behavior during the process of Schematic Capture and/or Layout design i.e. before actually manufacturing the PCB. This module includes a Diagram Generator for graphical presentation of the simulated results, Mixed Mode Simulator for combined AC and DC analysis, EDSpice Simulator for SPICE simulation and a Thermal Analyzer for analyzing the effect of temperature parameters on the working of the circuit.

Library Editor

Library Editor module allows to create new elements as well as edit elements already existing in Part Libraries - comprising of Device description, Schematic symbols, Layout symbols and Padstacks. A Library Viewer is also included which allows visualizing the contents of the Part Libraries as well as cross-references between Device descriptions, Schematic Symbols and Layout Symbols.

Auto Help

Auto Help feature provided in the options menu item of EDWin Main Menu allows to toggle on/off the automatic help topic display facility. Auto Help feature helps the user to navigate through the System with automatic help popping up whenever the user does an event in the system.

Ctrl + F1 invokes Context Sensitive help for the currently active topic.