PADS began as a startup focused on bringing professional-grade PCB layout tools to the desktop.

In 2014, Mentor Graphics overhauled the product line, introducing the "VX" (Vertical Experience) platform and tiering the software into Standard, Standard Plus, and Professional.

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.

For nearly four decades, PADS has remained a cornerstone of printed circuit board (PCB) design, evolving from a simple DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions. Now part of Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), the PADS version history reflects the industry's shift from manual drafting to high-speed, automated, and cloud-integrated design. The Early Era: 1985 – 1997

The transition to Mentor Graphics marked the integration of high-end analysis tools into the PADS ecosystem.

Founded by Gene Marsh, the first version of PADS was released for the DOS operating system, priced affordably at approximately $495 per seat to target individual engineers.

In the mid-1990s, the company was secretly acquired by Kyoden, a Japanese PCB manufacturer, which preceded a period of aggressive expansion in the US. The Mentor Graphics Era: 1997 – 2017

Mentor Graphics Pads Version History May 2026

PADS began as a startup focused on bringing professional-grade PCB layout tools to the desktop.

In 2014, Mentor Graphics overhauled the product line, introducing the "VX" (Vertical Experience) platform and tiering the software into Standard, Standard Plus, and Professional. mentor graphics pads version history

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. PADS began as a startup focused on bringing

For nearly four decades, PADS has remained a cornerstone of printed circuit board (PCB) design, evolving from a simple DOS-based tool into a sophisticated suite of electronic design automation (EDA) solutions. Now part of Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics), the PADS version history reflects the industry's shift from manual drafting to high-speed, automated, and cloud-integrated design. The Early Era: 1985 – 1997 By 1991, the software had become a standard

The transition to Mentor Graphics marked the integration of high-end analysis tools into the PADS ecosystem.

Founded by Gene Marsh, the first version of PADS was released for the DOS operating system, priced affordably at approximately $495 per seat to target individual engineers.

In the mid-1990s, the company was secretly acquired by Kyoden, a Japanese PCB manufacturer, which preceded a period of aggressive expansion in the US. The Mentor Graphics Era: 1997 – 2017