Dayford Designs, a leading UK PCB design services company, has recently invested in new software and expanded its design engineering team to offer customers a complete simulation and signal analysis service.

Many of today's complex circuits contain Gigabit signals and picosecond edge rates that require constraint-driven PCB design and have a greater impact on signal integrity. To ensure appropriate PCB technology, layer stack up and optimum electrical performance for complex PCBs, Dayford implements pre- and post-simulation and analysis as part of the design flow, uisng Mentor Graphics’ Hyperlynx™ SI tools.

Circuits are simulated pre-layout and at various stages during layout and results viewed as waveforms, eye diagrams or as a list of net properties. The ability to accurately predict characteristics and design to specification with confidence results in less re-spins, saving cycle time and cost. Hyperlynx is an essential tool for engineers working with DSPs, Stratix, DDR/DDR2, 3GIO and other fast technologies and devices.

Commenting on the new software and expansion, Jim Hurford, managing director at Dayford, said, “Having recognised the need for such a tool, we evaluated a number of systems and chose Mentor’s Hyperlynx solution because it delivered all the functionality we required, has an excellent user interface, is intuitive and interfaces to all the ECAD systems we deploy in-house.”

Dayford has also recently appointed Iain Camley, a specialist in PCB design and signal integrity engineer, to manage all SI design projects within the company. Iain was previously with Philips Semiconductors in Southampton as principle PCB design engineer supporting the IC Test Group.

About Dayford Designs
Established in 1974 and now operating in four locations, Dayford Designs is the longest running Printed Circuit Design facility in the UK. The company specialise in advanced PCB interconnection technology partnering with major ECAD vendors and world class fabricators and assemblers to produce 'right first time' designs that are cost-effective to produce and reliable in the field.

Other Dayford services include:-
• Supply of contractors with ECAD system if required
• Fast turnaround design-to-assembly service
• Electronics and mechanical engineering support

For more information visit www.dayford.co.uk