Ansoft has announced PExprt v6 Service Pack 3, available now for current users. Highlights of the service pack include:

* The ability to define planar technologies using minimum track width, separation and thickness
* Optimizing track width for each winding stack in a planar component
* Expanded core libraries
* Separation definition by decades
* Magnetic component design with gap at both core legs

PExprt speeds the design and optimization process of magnetic components used in electronic transformers and inductors, the company says. Using a combination of classical and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) techniques, PExprt determines the appropriate core size and shape, air gaps, and winding strategy of a design. Users can then achieve optimum reliability and performance of the magnetic component efficiently by eliminating prototyping iterations.

The company's original v6 announcement noted the following new features:

* Integrated Magnetics and Planar Component Modeling
* Thermal Calculations
* Winding-loss, magnetizing and leakage inductance calculation using FEA
* Core-losses calculation based on nonlinear core models
* Expanded core Libraries
* Open-circuit and short-circuit tests

More information can be found at www.ansoft.com