Suitable PCB Software for Reference Designs

Geoff Pickford

In order to use parts of some of TI's excellent PCB layouts in my own design, I have been trying to open various PCB files supplied by TI, and cannot do it using Protel, Eagle Light and PCB Wizard - also used Gerbmagic.

Cadstar does open the Inverted Antenna files, but not the CC85XXEM files.

A. CC85XXEM reference design at http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc85xxem-rd.html. Download CC85EVM (Download CC85XXEM_2.0.1 Hardware Reference Design (Rev. A) (ZIP 421 KB) for PCB files).

B. Inverted F antenna, (and Design Note DN007) at http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc2430db_refdes.html. (Download CC2430DB Reference Design (Rev. C) (ZIP 1097 KB) for PCB files)

Can you please guide me as to what programs can be used with these files, or what convertors can be used.

Thanks,

Geoff Pickford

over 14 years ago

0 Per H over 14 years ago

TI__Expert 6825 points

Geoff,

I have it in Cadstar format. I will update the ref design on the web to include the PCB and Schematics files in Cadstar format. I will post here once it is availabe on the web :-)

Cheers,

Per H

0 William Fleming over 14 years ago in reply to Per H

Intellectual 380 points

You guys wouldn't happen to have any sort of reference design drawn up in Eagle PCB format would you?

0 Geoff Pickford over 14 years ago in reply to William Fleming

Intellectual 670 points

Hi William,

A really good question that I would also like answered. I have tried a number of PCB Software packages including Protel, PCB Wizard, Eagle PCB and others, and cannot get any success. I have even sent the files to our CADSTAR agent to work on.

The files in question for me are the CC85XXEV Reference Design, and the Inverted F Antenna (TI doc swrr034c) Reference Design. Even though swrr034c are CADSTAR files, I cannot open them properly in my demo CADSTAR program, probably because the demo version is too limited.

TI did say that they would post a CADSTAR version of the CC85XXEV Reference Design and let us know - this has not been done yet.

Anyway, not many people I work with use CADSTAR, and my interest is in a program like Eagle PCB.

Geoff Pickford

0 Geoff Pickford over 14 years ago in reply to Geoff Pickford

Intellectual 670 points

Hi Per H,

Any estimate of the timing you will be posting a CADSTAR version of the CC85XXDK Reference Design that you referred to on 12 May 2011?

Am very much looking forward to working with it.

Regards,

Geoff Pickford

0 Per H over 14 years ago in reply to Geoff Pickford

TI__Expert 6825 points

Hi Geoff,

It is availble here now...

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc85xxem-rd.html

-Per

0 Geoff Pickford over 14 years ago in reply to Per H

Intellectual 670 points

Hello Per H,

Many thanks for this.

Can I suggest that because your 'reference designs' are intended for use by your customers, and because it is so useful to start with a proven layout (especially for RF areas), TI considers making the PCB files more accessible to other programs than CADSTAR. This program is very expensive and not widely used in Australia. Further, CADSTAR is intended mainly for high volume designers and producers.

Kind Regards

Geoff Pickford

0 Per H over 14 years ago in reply to Geoff Pickford

TI__Expert 6825 points

Geoff,

Feedback noted! Thnx.

If it was up to me we would be using something else :-)

-Per

Audio

Audio forum

Suitable PCB Software for Reference Designs