Atlas 13:04 is now shipping and contains a host of usability enhancements along with a new intelligent ESD protection module, snapshot mode for archiving test data and waveforms, plus coming soon a new ergonomic probe housing. SPP capability slated for H2 2013 release. Pictured and web page.
 

Improved processed thickness capability, DRC enhancements, stackup thickness enhancements, printing enhancements, enhanced linking with other systems, run and view multiple instances of Speedstack - see for yourself now.

This new Designcon paper looks in detail at correlation of measured and modeled insertion loss and includes consideration for a range of laminates and copper foil profiles.  The paper indicates the level of correlation that may be expected between modeling tools and measurement systems in a production environment.

This Powerpoint details upcoming enhancements in Speedstack, Si8000m, Si9000e and CGen for Q1 2013 (open) (zipped) 

Available with immediate effect - Polarcare for CITS offers the following key benefits.1. Extended instrument warranty 2. Unlimited replacement of TDR front end boards 3. Polarcare reinstatement offers option to upgrade from earlier models to latest generation CITS880. Read the details here
 

Speedstack customers working on high layer count and complex PCB stackups have often asked for pan and zoom capability within this industry standard layerstackup design tool. Speedstack 12:08 brings not only pan & zoom, but a raft of other print enhancements. See a sample Speedstack technical report here and more information here

 

Atlas 12:08 is now shipping and contains a host of usability enhancements that smooth the path for new users and save time whilst adding measurement certainty for existing users. Contact polarcare@polarinstruments.com remember to quote your Polarcare contract no.
 

Polarcare customers are entitled to update to version 12:08 of CITS880. This extends support in Traditional and Simplified Chinese, along with a German language pack. 12:08 has other fixes and also adds the capability for raw TDR file export. Contact polarcare@polarinstruments.com remember to quote your Polarcare contract no.
 

Attractive trade in offers are now available for the recently introduced and well received CITS880.  If you would like to trade your CITS100, CITS200, CITS500, CITS500s2, CITS500s4, CITS800s4, or CITS900s for a brand new CITS880 please contact your local Polar office (Offers end September 30th 2012)
 

Polar recognises the importance of common standards for PCB data transfer, and encouraged by our PCB fabrication customers has joined the IPC-2581 consortium for open, neutral global standard for efficient PCB design data transfer. More
 

Speedstack Version 12:05 brings a raft of usability enhancements along with a more simplfied product naming convention. For rigid PCB fabricators and specifiers - Speedstack is the product of choice, HDI fabricators and designers are catered for by Speedstack HDI, and Flexrigid applications by Speedstack Flex. Finally if you make or design all three types then Speedstack Flex ticks all the boxes. Here is a Powerpoint preview for you.
 

Professional impedance test reporting, with the printout "look and feel" so liked by Speedstack customers. CITS DRG Pro is designed for the CITS880, but is also compatible with legacy CITS file formats.
 

The CITS880 brings the 8th generation of CITS to the market - with the emphasis on ease of migration from legacy units, and renewed emphasis on accuracy, repeatability and test throughput. 
 

Polar Instruments Ltd is offering up to 10 free licenses for Atlas Si (TM) - PCB insertion loss test software during 2012. This is a move to ease the decision to adopt insertion loss testing in the fabrication industry.  Atlas is used in combination with 35ps TDR equipment to measure insertion loss with the IPC TM 650 SET2DIL test methodology. Interested? Please contact Neil Chamberlain - Signal Integrity Product Manager. 
 

Polar email news subscribers are entitled to 10% discount on Signal Integrity training in 2012 with Dr Eric Bogatin. Refer to special code POLAR12A10 in order to qualify - more information visit:.  www.bethesignal.com

PCB fabricators with demanding schedules for insertion loss test with SET2DIL have requested faster delivery of GGB probes.  Polar Atlas customers can now order GGB probes ex Polar factory stock* - contact your local Polar office for information. *(Please check availability before ordering - as occasionally exceptional demand may alter this)
 

The 2012 edition of CGen impedance coupon generator is now shipping, Version 12.01 features improved more helpful user feedback messages, along with enhanced CITS test program generation and support for an optional additional coupon style - please note that we can also quote for adding your house style of coupon, read about CGen here.
 

The 2012 edition of Atlas is now shipping featuring increased testing speed for both insertion loss testing and impedance tests. Fabricators now also have the ability to set the sample size and averaging for insertion loss tests as specified by their customers. Read about Atlas and SET2DIL insertion loss testing  here.
 

Martyn Gaudion, CEO of Polar Instruments and a PCBDesign007 columnist, tells Pete Starkey about the latest developments in design and documentation tools for flex-rigid stack-up.  Watch the inerview here.
 

24 November 2011 –  The Pulse - Transmission lines - a voyage from DC.
Part 2

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". Second of a two part article exploring transmission lines from DC to multi GHz?–  read it here.

23 November 2011 –  2012 releases now available

The 2012 versions of Polar software are now available on general release. New for 2012, Speedflex HDI supports crosshatch/mesh.

01 October 2011 –  Major enhancement of CITS900s warranty terms

Polar is delighted to announce the following major enhancement on CITS900s warranty:
1.  12 month warranty on new CITS900s purchases.(includes front end boards)*
2.  12 month warranty on CITS900s front end repairs.*

(* Excludes consumables / replacement of components under warranty does not extend the warranty beyond 12 months)
Please contact your local Polar office for more information.

29 September 2011 –  Speedflex HDI wins PCD&F documentation tool award.

SANTA CLARA, CA – PCD&F today announced Speedflex HDI winners of the fall 2011 New Product Introduction Award for PCB documentation tools.

19 September 2011 – Fall Signal Integrity US Courses

Renowned Signal Integrity Evangelist, Dr. Eric Bogatin will be offering the following Fall US Courses:

Boston, MA
Sept 28: S-Parameters for Signal Integrity
Sept 29: Differential Pair Design

San Jose, CA
Nov 8-9th: Essential Principles of SI
Nov 10th:  S-Parameters for Signal Integrity

Special offer from Polar: Purchase a Si8000m or Si9000m license by December 21, 2011 and Polar Instruments, Inc. will reimburse class fees for attendance at one BeTheSignal course.
Details and fine print: Offers

10 August 2011 –  The Pulse - Transmission lines - a voyage from DC.
Part 1

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". First of a two part article exploring transmission lines from DC to multi GHz?–  read it here.

Speedflex HDI extends Speedstack's proven stackup design and documentation cabability with professional documentation for both Flex-rigid and HDI stackups.

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". It is interesting to stand back every now and then and look at an engineering task from a greater distance?–  read it here.

CGen V11.04 answers customer requests for a smaller and more panel size friendly insertion loss coupon. Here are screenshots before and after optimization. Please contact Polarcare for update information.

Many Si9000e customers have requested drum and treated side copper roughness modeling in the Si9000e. An updated release of Si9000e - 2011 V11.04 now supports this. Please contact Polarcare for update information.

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". When is a 10GHz transmission line not a 10GHz transmission line?–  read it here.

Polar Atlas Si enables PCB fabricators to test PCB transmission line insertion loss in a tightly controlled production environment. Atlas employs mathematical processing techniques to extract frequency dependent loss characteristics when used in conjunction with suitably designed test coupons and Atlas precision GHz probe assemblies. Contact Neil Chamberlain - Signal Integrity Product Manager.
   

1. Horizontal Autoscale
2. Improved horizontal display control
3. Improved import from CITS800s
4. User adjustable delay before auto advance
5. New and updated user interface

Please contact Polarcare for update information

The #1 most downloaded application note on the Polar website. Revised and updated for 2011,  the Powerpoint note is here (3Mb)

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". A Voyage of glass reinforcement –  read it here.

Atlas Si is Polar's new test system designed for accurate and repeatable measurement of insertion loss in a PCB fabrication environment. Following extensive successful beta trials with a number of selected PCB fabricators. Atlas will move from beta to release version during Q1 2011. For more information on Atlas please see this page or  contact Neil Chamberlain - Signal Integrity Product Manager.  Atlas supports impedance, S21 and SDD21, SDD21 uses the SET2DIL method.

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". Laminates losses and line length Part 2 –  read it here.

Polar's engineering team members are releasing some details on new features requested by Polarcare customers which will shortly be included in the 2011 releases of Si8000m / Si9000e and Speedstack. Here is a Powerpoint preview of 2011 features and options, and click here to see the new enhanced technical report printout in Speedstack 2011.

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". Laminates losses and line length Part 1 –  read it here.

To make product selection more logical, Polar Signal integrity products will move to a more consistent naming convention over the course of 2011. For lossless lines Speedstack PCB will be joined by CGen PCB and Atlas PCB and for lossy lines Speedstack Si will be joined by CGen Si and Atlas Si.  However the industry standard lossy and lossless line solvers Si9000e and Si8000m will retain their existing names.

Atlas Si is Polar's new test system designed for accurate and repeatable measurement of insertion loss in a PCB fabrication environment. Atlas is presently in beta trials with a limited number of selected PCB fabricators. Atlas beta 3 is now shipping. For advance information on Atlas please see this page and for information on joining the beta program  please contact Neil Chamberlain - Signal Integrity Product Manager: neil@polarinstruments.com.  Atlas supports impedance S21 and SDD21 using the SET2DIL method.

25 October 2010 –  The Pulse - Signal integrity - the "S" words

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". The October edition covers signal integrity terminology –  read it here.

10 October 2010 –  Polar Asia Pacific open China office

Shanghai: To better serve Polar's loyal customer base in China, Polar's long term independent partner Polar Instruments (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd announces the opening of Polar Instruments (China) Ltd sales and service office in central Shanghai:
Contact: Mr Terence Chew: email: terence.chew@polarinstruments.asia  

08 October 2010 –  Neil Chamberlain appointed Signal Integrity Product Manager

Waterlooville: Neil Chamberlain will take responsibility for bringing Polar's new and updated portfolio of signal integrity products to customers throughout the world. A vital part of the launch process for these products will be the dialogue with lead customers which will help to ensure a smooth transition from the release of the engineering version to full roll-out into the marketplace. Neil@polarinstruments.com  

Read Martyn Gaudion's column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". The September edition covers the testing PCBs for differential insertion loss: –  read it here.

Updated and refreshed, GRS CADView is a powerful paperless repair software and generic CAD viewer which reads and displays PCB layout data from a wide variety of popular CAD systems.  A useful "virtual x-ray" facility helps you trace tracks through inner layers with ease. The 2010 edition of CADView is now shipping. For more information please contact your local Polar office.

Early adopters of Polar Atlas GHz lossy line test system who participate in the beta test program are entitled to special launch pricing of Atlas software. Atlas includes SET2DIL capability, and the early adopter promotion runs from now until April 31st 2011 more.

Updated and refreshed, GRS CADView is a powerful paperless repair software which reads and displays PCB layout data from a wide variety of popular CAD systems.  A useful "virtual x-ray" facility helps you trace tracks through inner layers with ease. The 2010 edition of CADView is scheduled for a mid September release. For more information please contact your local Polar office.

Atlas is Polar's new test system designed for accurate and repeatable measurement of insertion loss in a PCB fabrication environment. Atlas is presently in beta trials with a limited number of selected PCB fabricators. Atlas beta 2 is now shipping. For advance information on Atlas please see this page and for information on joining the beta program  email: set2dil@polarinstruments.com.  Atlas supports impedance S21 and SDD21 using the SET2DIL method.

Read Martyn Gaudion's new column on PCB007 – "The Pulse". The August edition covers the best approach towards accurate and repeatable impedance measurement –  read it here.

CGen Plus lossy line coupon generator with support for SET2DIL differential insertion loss test coupons is now released and shipping.  CGen plus contains full impedance coupon capability along with support for lossy line test structures. CGen information is here and for more information on loss tests with SET2DIL please email. CGen Plus supports both GGB Picoprobes(TM) and Polar Atlas probes - for more information: set2dil@polarinstruments.com

Read Martyn's new column on PCB007 - "The Pulse" Covering a variety of controlled impedance, and lossy line articles  on both test, design, interfacing between the worlds of design and fabrication. Here is a link to the first edition.

Release of CGen Plus lossy line coupon generator with support for SET2DIL differential insertion loss test coupons is slated for the August 2010.  CGen plus contains full impedance coupon capability along with support for lossy line test structures. CGen information is here and for more information on loss tests with SET2DIL please email set2dil@polarinstruments.com

A direct Excel interface into the Polar Si field solver engine is now available for lossless calculations on both the Si8000m and the Si9000e. The Excel interface means you can use all your engineering "what if" thoughts to run mathematical and statistical processing on the output of the industry standard Polar field solver.

Following extensive consultation with existing and potential users of Speedstack - who express a desire to use Speedstack in a freehand mode without reference to material libraries, we are adding VMM to Speedstack. This new mode makes experimentation with stacks fast and easy, and requires no library preparation. Once the stack  concept is complete, it can be either passed to the fabricator who edits in appropriate material, or for more specialized applications the designer can simply perform material allocation in house. More information soon.

Flex and flexrigid designers and fabricators have long asked for the capability to model impedance on structures with crosshatch (meshed) ground planes. XFE is a new optional feature for Si8000m and Si9000e which offers xhatch modeling capability on a wide range of popular impedance structures. Contact your local Polar office for more information:  (XFE - Xhatch Flex Enhancement is also useful for high speed interposer design and fabrication) XFE information

At last we are ready to receive beta release purchase orders for Atlas:  Orders can be accepted now with a 4 week delivery lead time (After receipt of confirmed order). The Atlas system is capable of differential insertion loss measurements and supports the SET2DIL technique. Atlas is described on this web page: 
Please contact your local Polar office for further information: 
(In the USA Atlas sales are through Polar Beaverton OR office - Tel: (503) 356 5270)

CGen 2010 Coupon generator, is an enhanced impedance and lossy line coupon generator.  CGen 2010 works equally well as standalone, or in conjunction with Si8000m / Si9000e and Speedstack.  CGen 2010 is available now. CGen plus will support lossy line coupons - including SET2DIL.  For more product information.

SET2DIL is a method for the extraction of Differential insertion loss on PCB traces, with the use of a single ended TDR test. Polar plans to adopt SET2DIL as one of the methods for measurement of insertion loss in our forthcoming Atlas, GHz test system. Atlas is designed for production measurement of PCBs which require control of insertion loss. In addition the soon to be released CGen Plus coupon generator will include beta SET2DIL coupons for insertion loss test (Sdd21). 

Contact: set2dil@polarinstruments.com for more information.

02 April 2010 –  Increased representation in China

To better serve our growing customer base in China, Polar is delighted to announce that from the start of April 2010, in addition to sales, service and support being available from our long standing partner, Precision International Corporation www.picsh.com.cn , customers may also purchase, and receive support and service from Polar Instruments (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd. Your additional contact for direct sales and support in mainland China is:

Mr Terence Chew: email: terence.chew@polarinstruments.asia Tel: +65 6873 7470

30 March 2010 –  New CGen 2010 Coupon generator - release candidate

CGen 2010 Coupon generator, is a soon to be released impedance and lossy line coupon generator.  CGen 2010 works equally well as standalone, or in conjunction with Si8000m / Si9000e and Speedstack. Enjoy a 6 week release candidate license for CGen 2010 by simply entering your details here. (Fill in your details now, as 6 week licenses are only being released until April 12th 2010).  

26 March 2010 –  Economics of  impedance test / cost of reducing rise time

This new application note revisits the technical reasons and the economic price you may pay when selecting to use a faster risetime TDR for impedance testing.  

19 March 2010 –  CPCA lucky Speedstack Si and Speedstack PCB winners:

Dr. Eric Bogatin seminar attendees. (3 month license):
Mr. Jeffon Zhang - Jabil, Speedstack Si and Mr. YueHui Zhu - Tellabs, Speedstack Si

Polar booth attendees. (3 month license):
Mr. Luke Lin - Tyco, Speedstack Si and Mr. Rock Dai - Times Computer, Speedstack PCB
  

18 March 2010 –  Andy Shaughnessy interviews Polar CEO Martyn Gaudion

Polar Instruments' CEO Martyn Gaudion discusses Polar's plans for 2010 and 2011 in an audio interview with PCB Design 007's Andy Shaughnessy.

16 March 2010 – Steve Gold interviews Amit Bhardwaj at CPCA Show 2010

Polar Instruments (Asia Pacific) Managing Director Amit Bhardwaj paints a picture of future opportunities in China and India in a PCB007 interview with PCB007's Steve Gold. He gives his impression of the China design market and its demands and discusses the India design market, which might have even greater potential than China.

Trade in your Si6000 or CITS25 for an attractive discount on a 2010 edition of Si8000m, Si9000e, Speedstack or Speedflex. Interested? (Offer ends March 31st)

Trade in your Si6000 or CITS25 for an attractive discount on a 2010 edition of Si8000m, Si9000e, Speedstack or Speedflex. Interested? (Offer ends March 31st)

This application note demonstrates Speedstack's versatility, using the Speedflex Navigator to document a stackup where the board includes areas that are coated with photoresist and surface traces that remain exposed.

A professional tool for creating and and documenting flex-rigid PCB layer stackups, Speedflex for Speedstack is equally powerful at documenting sequential lamination/HDI. (Powerpoint 1Mb)

Version 10.02 contains a number of bugfixes and stability enhancements reported on the initial Speedflex 10.01 release.  All Polarcare users of Speedstack or Speedflex 10.01 are recommended to move up to version 10.02 as soon as possible.  (polarcare@polarinstruments.com)

2010 sees innovative new features and enhancements in Polar's PCB controlled impedance, PCB stackup and PCB signal integrity product line. Details in this Powerpoint presentation.

Rick Hartley interviews Ken Taylor at DesignCon 2010, find out the latest developments at Polar in this brief video interview, along with an update on measurement and modeling of lossy transmission lines (here) 

International language packs reflecting the new features and enhancements to the 2010 editions of the Si8000 and Si9000 are available for download from the Polar web site. Contact Polarcare with your Polarcare contract number for download information (polarcare@polarinstruments.com) 

Which is better loosely coupled or tightly coupled differential pairs? Will the location of the top and bottom planes in a stack up really affect the differential impedance? How do I achieve a 100 Ohm differential impedance in stripline? What about 85 Ohms? Why do I care? What will affect the losses in the line? How much is too much?  If you struggle with any of these questions and want to learn about how the physical design of differential pairs affects the performance of the interconnect this free webinar is for you.

Si8000m and Si9000e. Version 9_07 adds the capability to rename impedance structures with your own in house naming conventions. The renamed structures are kept in a group called MyStructures.  In addition Si9000e also gains the ability to add loss budget limit lines on the appropriate graph. Click for some sample screenshots....  

The Si9000e calc engine from Version 9_07 onwards now enforces causality in the interpolation of Er and Tan Delta.  As a result the Si9000e s-parameter output is now causal.

Zuken and Polar are delighted to announce the ability to link DFM Center with Speedstack to assist in improved communication of PCB buildup between design and fabrication. 

Q: Why are the first and last impedance readings on the graph on slide 7 of AP8171 different values? A: The solution is included in a revised version of AP8171 found here:

1st Prize: 3 month Si9000e licence: Ian Kilburn - Dyconex AG
Runner up: 1 month Si9000e licence: Radu Alexiu - Conex Electronic
Runner up: 1 month Si9000e licence: Alex Novickis - Apcon, Inc.

This Powerpoint note (AP8171) showcases the Sensitivity Analysis feature of the Si8000m and Si9000e, illustrating how multiple parameter variations may be charted to provide instant detection of trends that are not easy to discover from a single result.. (more...) 

* See competition below...

We are giving away a 3 month Si9000e license to the first person drawn at random on June 30th to correctly answer the following question: Why are the first and last impedance readings on the graph on slide 7 of AP8171 different values?
(Email your answer here)

Understand finished dimensions in this new brief Powerpoint application note - of interest both to Speedstack customers and anyone wanting a better understanding of PCB finished dimensions. (more...)

20% discount offer on the next 10 Speedstack / Speedstack PCB / Speedstack Si licences. Offer expires June 30th 2009 (more...)

Speedstack 9.04 is now fully released, including new controlled impedance results tab, color coded pass/fail structure navigation and ability to switch layer types without re entering structures. The autostack engine is also enhanced. Upgrades from PolarCare email this link for new inquires.

Please note from 08 May 2009 Polar Instruments, Inc. has a new address - telephone numbers unchanged.

Fixes a problem where if the plane above the BOTTOM LAYER is assigned a NEGATIVE polarity not all the data is visible when the gerber is loaded in. Once installed the product version should be: 9.4.3400.15582. Upgrades from PolarCare

Speedstack 9.04 is days away from release, including new controlled impedance results tab, color coded pass/fail structure navigation and ability to switch layer types without re entering structures. 

Polar's engineering team are pleased to announce an easy to use impedance coupon generator. For details please follow this link:

Rick and Ken discuss Si9000 and Speedstack at IPC Expo 2009.

3d graphing in the Si8000 and Si9000e is now shipping in version number  9_04.
To see an animated preview - click the following link.
(requires Flash and takes a few moments to load)

Improved system restore facility for CITS900s in version 9.03 
contact: polarcare@polarinstruments.com

Improved Touchstone® export from Si9000e 2009 edition is described in this brief new application note:

Speedstack 2009 and Ucam PCB cam software, now link to speed and simplify the stackup design process in the front end department.

For Ucam information please visit: www.ucamco.com

PCB fabrication considerations for lossy lines is a new introductory note -  written primarily for fabricators, it is also of interest to designers who are new to the topic.

For customers with PolarCare support contracts - a more detailed version of this note is available from PolarCare

"An S-Parameter Calibration Analysis of Polar Instruments Si9000"

In the note you will discover Eric's insights on comparing measured and modelled results using a field solver, along with a variety of comparisons of both field solved and measured s-parameter data. All this accompanied by Eric's renowned insights on the interrelationship between measured and modeled results.

Free condensed version is available here (you will need to register with bethesignal.com before downloading) it is under the Si Insights Jan 2009 heading:

Full version by subscription from www.bethesignal.com or free for PolarCare customers.

Calc engine low frequency support
S parameter - vary source and termination impedance
S parameter - enhanced graphing 
Mixed mode s parameters
Via stub check 

This application note outlines new features in Speedstack 2009

This application note explains how designers, PCB procurement specialists, PCB field application engineers and front end teams can benefit from clear communication of stackup.

This application note explains how to minimise the effect of vias - especially unconnected via stubs through the new Via stub check in the Si9000e.

1 Mania UCAM .Job Import
2 Printing - Impedance table columns now customisable
3 Symmetrical Delete
4 Symmetrical Add Drill
5 Symmetrical Move Material
6 Convert 2 Foils to a Core on import
7 Printing - New data column 'Processed Thickness'
8 Printing - 'Trace 1 In Layer' renamed to 'Impedance Signal Layer'
9 Printing - Thickness data can now toggle between Actual and Target
10 Printing - New-look Laser drills

Application note introducing forward and reverse crosstalk 

Application note explaining the advantages of Si8000m multiple dielectric boundary element field solver over the Green's function / method of moments Si6000. Plus an explanation of the enhanced coating modeling on theSi8000m

Application note and updated Si9000e version 9.01 now supports modeling of high frequency losses owing to copper roughness. 

Application note explaining how the stack "remake" capability of Speedstack simplifies the task of material allocation in PCB layer stackups.