Simulation software identifies RF circuit problems
Applied Wave Research, Inc (AWR), has strengthened the simulation software used within the 2007 release of its Microwave Office package, with support for WiMAX designs now included.
The Visual System Simulator (VSS) software available with the new version contains an RF architectural (RFA) tool for planning chip manufacture.
A spokesperson for the El Segundo, California, company told compoundsemiconductor.net, “RFA makes it possible to expose weaknesses in circuits at an early stage of the design process, enabling designers to create and verify the initial specifications of a wireless design and proactively identify potential problems as early as possible.”
Another new package for automated circuit extraction, called ACE, combines with existing functions in the Microwave Office suite to quickly perform initial designs and simulate complex interconnects for modern high-frequency systems.
“With Microwave Office 2007 electronic design automation (EDA) software, and its associated Intelligent Net(iNet) and ACE technologies, monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) designers can, for the first time, adopt an analog-style design methodology and retain the accuracy of modelling all interconnect and discontinuities automatically from the layout,” AWR said.
“Microwave Office 2007 is a giant leap forward for MMIC designers.”
On its website, AWR features Skyworks Solutions amongst the companies who have successfully applied its products and claims that its customer base includes “all of the leading compound semiconductor manufacturers”.
With RFA providing an important means of pinpointing unwanted signals in power amplifier ICs, and tools for WiMAX also included in the package, AWR's new offering is well equipped to support the newest communication developments.
