Product Customization and Independence Cited as Key Decision Factors
Marlborough, Mass – December 18, 2009 – DownStream Technologies, LLC has announced that Qualcomm Inc., a recognized leader in the worldwide wireless technology and services provider, has adopted BluePrint-PCB® as the global documentation solution for both the PCB and IC Packaging groups. BluePrint will be deployed across the Qualcomm enterprise and will help both groups increase productivity by providing an automated, ECAD vendor independent solution for creating comprehensive documentation. With this initial installation, Qualcomm becomes DownStream’s largest user of BluePrint in the world.
The process of choosing BluePrint-PCB began when Qualcomm undertook an ECAD Layout Tool evaluation. Prior to selecting Cadence Allegro® as the new layout tool, Qualcomm used a self-developed documentation system that had been modified over the years to work with their old PCB layout tools. This system provided “push button” documentation but since it would no longer be compatible with the newly selected Allegro product line, Qualcomm needed to replace that system. Qualcomm’s requirements for the new documentation solution included:.
- ECAD vendor independence
- Support for multiple ECAD layout systems
- Robust API so as to reproduce their prior system
- Able to provide “push-button” documentation creation
“During the process of searching for a new documentation solution, we discovered that BluePrint was the only product on the market that met all of our requirements,” said Stephen LoCicero, Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm.
At the same time the PCB Layout Group was evaluating BluePrint-PCB, Qualcomm’s IC Packaging Group began an evaluation to address their specific documentation needs. As existing users of DownStream’s CAM350® design analysis tool, they wanted to take advantage of the integration between BluePrint-PCB and CAM350 in their design flow to not only automate the documentation process, but also ensure the design integrity.
The two groups put BluePrint through an extensive evaluation, and in the process identified advanced functionality they would need in order to implement BluePrint as the standard tool for documentation. DownStream R&D worked closely with Qualcomm's Corporate EDA team to develop and incorporate their specific functional needs into BluePrint. “DownStream was not only able to provide the base functionality we needed, but they also were able to understand our needs and incorporate custom solutions into the product,” continued LoCicero.
Qualcomm’s goal of minimizing the time and effort spent on creating the most comprehensive PCB documentation possible is a goal shared by many electronics companies. Out of the box, BluePrint delivers a very efficient and easy-to-use solution that drastically reduces the amount of time needed to create very detailed fabrication and assembly documents. This underlying capability, coupled with BluePrint’s Application Program Interface (API) technology, which allows for full customization to fit any process, enables companies to reduce what typically accounts for 20% of the PCB layout process to a process that takes mere minutes or even seconds, as Qualcomm has done.
“We are very proud to have been chosen by Qualcomm as it validates our commitment to the post-processing phase of the new product development process, which to date, really has been ignored by the mainstream EDA vendors,” said Joe Clark, one of the Founders of DownStream. “The selection by Qualcomm justifies our continued commitment to developing this important technology,” he added.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative
digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced
technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2009 FORTUNE 500® company.
For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.
About DownStream Technologies
DownStream Technologies, LLC is a software and services company focused on helping engineering organizations
optimize and automate the PCB Release Process. Our tools redefine how engineering professionals post-process PCB designs to
create and distribute all the deliverables required for a complete PCB assembly release package. CAM350® provides verification,
optimization and output generation to efficiently drive PCB fabrication. BluePrint for Printed Circuit Boards® works with CAM350
and PCB CAD systems to help users quickly produce comprehensive electronic drawings to drive PCB fabrication, assembly, and
inspection processes. More information
about DownStream can be found at www.downstreamtech.com.
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© 2009 DownStream Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. CAM350® and BluePrint for Printed Circuit Boards® are
registered trademark of DownStream Technologies, LLC. All other registered trademarks and trademarks contained within
this document are the property of their respective owners.
