New-Tech Europe | May 2017

Design Environment V13 Enhances Design Automation and User Experience for RF/ Microwave Designers of High-Frequency ICs, RF PCBs and MCMs

National-AWR

Introduction Next-generation wireless devices, LTE-A/5G infrastructure, and aerospace/defense electronic systems are creating new challenges for the way engineers design and develop RF/microwave products. These challenges, stemming from high performance goals for bandwidth, linearity, and efficiency, are complicated by system and market requirements for smaller, lighter, and less costly devices. In addition to engineering challenges, business concerns include escalating development costs, limited engineering resources, and time-to-market pressures. To fulfill product requirements, new semiconductor and printed

circuit board (PCB) materials, as well as module technologies, are being developed to achieve unprecedented integration and functionality within an increasingly smaller form factor (Figure 1). To successfully implement these technologies, engineers require highly automated simulation software that can accurately predict electrical performance as it relates to physical design that includes excitations and measurements associated with complex waveforms used in communication and radar systems as well as support for manufacturing processes. V13, the latest release of NI AWR Design Environment, addresses these requirements with an

integrated, open platform offering system, circuit, andEMco-simulation that captures the behavior of RF font-end components such as antennas, amplifiers, filters, mixers, and related signal-controlling passive and active devices. The latest enhancements improve engineering productivity with faster, more powerful circuit/system/ electromagnetic (EM) technologies, robust model libraries, and greater design flow automation, supporting product development of microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs), RFICs, RF PCBs, and multi-technology modules. Design Environment and Automation Design for Manufacturing

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