To meet the high-performance and reduced footprint requirements for multi-mode/multi-band handsets, wireless smart devices, and aerospace systems, companies are differentiating themselves by developing best-in-class RF/microwave IP. Whether these products are MMIC-based or tightly integrated into a PCB and/or multi-functional module, designers of RF/microwave front-end electronics require specialized design and simulation capabilities to meet aggressive performance targets.
RF/microwave devices are defined by unique performance metrics, impacted by operating conditions, such as frequency, input power, bias and modulation waveform, temperature, and terminal impedances. In addition to operating conditions, performance is largely driven by the physical layout of the design itself, requiring a tight coupling between electrical and physical design.
Our RF/microwave design tools such as the Cadence® AWR® Design Environment, Microwave Office®, and Visual System Simulator™ software address these challenges with electrical/physical co-design through RF-aware device models, electromagnetic (EM) analysis along with specialized circuit simulation technology, and design support aids. RF product development also may require system-level analysis to simulate the behavior within a radar and communications link.
- AWR Design Environment -– Provides RF/microwave engineers with integrated high-frequency circuit, system, and EM simulation technologies and design automation to develop physically realizable electronics ready for manufacturing
- Microwave Office -– Circuit design software with intuitive interface, innovative design automation, and powerful harmonic-balance circuit simulation ensure greater engineering productivity and accelerated design cycles
- Visual System Simulator -– RF/wireless communications and radar system design software supports VSWR-aware modeling of RF and DSP blocks, providing time-domain, frequency-domain, and circuit-envelope analyses
At the IC level, our advanced EM simulation tool, Cadence® EMX® Planar 3D Simulator, allows designers to accurately and efficiently simulate large RF circuit blocks, characterize the behavior of passive components, and analyze the parasitics due to interconnect. The easy-to-use EMX Simulator shortens design cycles and helps bring to market substantially better products with less risk. It seamlessly integrates with the Cadence Virtuoso® and Spectre® platforms. The simulator has been extensively used by foundries as the “golden” reference tool for IC characterization of passive components.
