As an engineer who has been engaged in hardware design for many years, I often need to use various EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools to assist my design process. EDA tools can help me quickly draw schematic diagrams, perform circuit simulations, optimize PCB layout, and other tasks, greatly improving my efficiency and quality. Today I will share some of the most commonly used EDA tools in hardware design.

Protel

Protel is the first EDA tool I came into contact with and am most familiar with. Protel is software that integrates functions such as schematic design, PCB drawing, digital circuit simulation, and programmable logic device design. It has a rich component library and a friendly graphical interface. It is one of the most popular CAD software in the electronics industry. one.

I use Protel to draw my circuit schematic, then generate the PCB file, and then use the automatic or manual routing function to optimize my PCB layout. Protel can also perform digital circuit simulations to check whether my logic design is correct. If I need to use programmable logic devices such as FPGA or CPLD, Protel can also help me design with a schematic diagram or CUPL language, and generate JED download files.

The advantage of Protel is that it is powerful and easy to operate, and it can meet most of my hardware design needs. It also has many shortcut keys and global editing functions, so that I can complete my design tasks more efficiently. Protel also supports data exchange and output in multiple formats, which is convenient for me to collaborate with other software or manufacturers.

The disadvantage of Protel is that it is mainly aimed at PCB design and does not support complex and multi-level system-level design. It is also not very suitable for the simulation of analog circuits and mixed-signal circuits, because it does not have strong mathematical calculation and signal processing capabilities. In addition, Protel does not update its component library and process parameters too much, which may cause some compatibility or reliability issues.

EWB

EWB is a software specially used for the mixed simulation of analog circuits and digital circuits. It simulates a real laboratory workbench on the screen, provides various virtual instruments to display measurement results, and can intuitively observe circuit operation.

I use EWB to verify and optimize my circuit designs, especially those involving analog signal processing and feedback control. EWB has many commonly used electronic components and integrated circuits for me to choose from, and I can also import external modules or custom components. EWB can also perform different types of analysis such as AC, DC, transient, noise, etc., and can display multiple waveforms in the same window.

The advantage of EWB is that its simulation speed is fast and accurate, and it can simulate the results of real circuits almost 100%. It also has many convenient functions, such as adjusting component parameters, changing signal sources, adding faults, etc., to simulate different working conditions and scenarios. EWB can also exchange data with other EDA software, which is convenient for me to carry out subsequent design work.

The disadvantage of EWB is that it is mainly aimed at circuit simulation and does not support schematic drawing and PCB design. It is also not very suitable for complex and multi-level system-level design, because it does not have very powerful system modeling and co-simulation capabilities. In addition, EWB does not update its component library and simulation algorithm very much, which may cause some performance or compatibility problems.

Altium Designer

Altium Designer is an integrated electronic product development system, which integrates schematic design, printed circuit board design, FPGA development, embedded development, 3D PCB design, and other technologies to meet complex and multi-level system-level design requirements.

I use Altium Designer for some high-end hardware design projects, especially those involving FPGAs and embedded systems. Altium Designer allows me to carry out schematic design, PCB design, and FPGA development in the same environment, realizing the seamless integration of hardware and software. Altium Designer also allows me to view and modify my PCB layout in 3D, taking into account mechanical dimensions and thermal issues.

The advantage of Altium Designer is that it is powerful and flexible, it can support a variety of different design methods and processes, and adapt to different project needs and scales. It also has many advanced techniques and tools, such as signal integrity analysis, differential pair routing, high-speed routing, etc., which have improved my design quality and performance. Altium Designer can also exchange data with other EDA software, which is convenient for me to collaborate with other teams or manufacturers.

The disadvantage of Altium Designer is that its learning cost is high and its operation is complicated. It has many modules and functions to master, and sometimes there will be some bugs or compatibility problems. It is also not very suitable for some simple or low-end hardware design projects, because it may lead to a waste of resources or over-engineering. In addition, Altium Designer does not update its component library and process parameters too often, which may cause some reliability or security issues.

OrCAD

OrCAD is a software suite that includes multiple modules such as schematic diagram drawing, analog and digital circuit mixed simulation, PCB layout and routing, etc. It supports data exchange and standard specifications in multiple formats and is compatible with other products of Cadence.

I use OrCAD for some medium-complexity hardware design projects, especially those involving analog signal processing and mixed-signal circuits. OrCAD allows me to perform schematic design and circuit simulation in the same environment to verify whether my design is correct. OrCAD also allows me to do PCB layout and routing, optimizing my PCB performance and cost.

The advantage of OrCAD is that it is fully functional and stable, it can support many different analysis methods and output formats, and adapt to different design requirements and standards. It also has many practical functions and tools, such as automatic wiring, cascading views, rule-driven, etc., which have improved my design efficiency and quality. OrCAD can also exchange data with other EDA software, which is convenient for me to collaborate with other teams or manufacturers.

The disadvantage of OrCAD is that its interface is not very friendly and the operation is cumbersome. It has a lot of menus and commands to memorize, and sometimes some error or warning messages will appear. It is also not very suitable for some high-end or low-end hardware design projects, because it may cause insufficient performance or waste resources. In addition, OrCAD does not update its component libraries and simulation algorithms very much, which may cause some performance or compatibility issues.

MATLAB

MATLAB is a mathematical software widely used in scientific computing and engineering fields. It can perform tasks such as matrix operations, data analysis, signal processing, and image processing, and provides a wealth of function libraries and visualization tools.

I use MATLAB for some hardware design projects involving complex mathematical calculations and signal processing, especially some projects involving digital signal processors (DSP) and communication systems. MATLAB allows me to write my algorithms and programs in a high-level language for rapid prototyping and verification. MATLAB also allows me to display my calculation results with various graphics and animations, which is convenient for me to analyze and optimize.

The advantage of MATLAB is that it is powerful and flexible, it can support many different programming languages and data formats, and adapt to different computing needs and scenarios. It also has many advanced technologies and tools, such as neural networks, fuzzy logic, waveform analysis, etc., which improved my design performance and innovation. MATLAB can also exchange data with other EDA software, which is convenient for me to carry out subsequent design work.

The disadvantage of MATLAB is that its learning cost is high and its operation is complicated. It has many functions and commands to master, and sometimes some error or warning messages will appear. It is also not very suitable for some simple or low-end hardware design projects, because it may lead to a waste of resources or over-engineering. In addition, MATLAB does not update its function library and algorithms very much, which may cause some performance or compatibility problems.

The above are the EDA tools I most commonly use in hardware design. Of course, these tools are not the only options, there are many other excellent EDA tools that can meet different design needs. I suggest that you choose the appropriate EDA tool according to your own project characteristics and preferences, and keep learning and exploring new technologies.

Hope this article helps you!