With Ansoft Designer(R) 6.0’s new Solver on Demand(R) technology from ANSYS(R) (NASDAQ: ANSS), electronic design engineers can now quickly and accurately analyse signal-integrity, power-integrity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems from a single schematic- and layout-based environment. Ansoft Designer 6.0 enables high-speed electronics and RF/microwave designers to access industry-leading field and circuit simulation tools while designing electronic packages and printed circuit boards (PCBs) – early in the design cycle before manufacturing costs are incurred.

Solver on demand technology integrates HFSS(TM), industry-leading 3-D electromagnetic field simulation software from ANSYS, and HSPICE(R), the gold-standard integrated circuit simulation tool from Synopsys (NASDAQ: SNPS), within the Ansoft Designer 6.0 design platform. The resulting benchmark design flow offers the ability to predict how high-frequency electromagnetic components affect the integrated circuits. The design platform brings the power of HFSS 3-D modeling to the layout and allows it to be combined with encrypted HSPICE models, improving engineering productivity, reducing development costs and optimizing product performance.

“High-quality simulations are essential for streamlining Epson’s design process,” said Minoru Kobayashi, general manager of Epson’s Imaging Products Information Service and Support Department. “The Japan-based electronics firm was among those that conducted beta testing on the product. “By using Ansoft Designer 6.0, we are able to easily and effectively use encrypted HSPICE models provided by semiconductor vendors, improve the accuracy of waveform analysis by including electromagnetic simulation and, thanks to the ability to integrate simulations with HSPICE, eliminate the need to run multiple simulations.”

Electromagnetic field simulation can be a challenge for electrical engineers due to the requirements of 3-D modeling, port setup and boundary conditions. That challenge has been addressed by building HFSS directly into Ansoft Designer 6.0. Models of RFIC layout, IC packages and printed circuit boards from Cadence Design Systems, Mentor Graphics and Zuken can be imported directly to Ansoft Designer and solved in HFSS without any further setup. The package layout can be parameterized to compute tuning and sensitivity to understand impedance variations due to process.

Ansoft Designer 6.0 provides a powerful user interface to HSPICE with direct links to HFSS and access to the ANSYS QuickEye(TM) and VerifEye(TM) convolution and statistical eye analysis as well as IBIS-AMI technology. High-speed electronic component designers now have a streamlined, automated design flow in which rigorous electromagnetic and circuit analysis can be performed to identify and solve signal- and power-integrity and EMI problems early in the design cycle.

“We welcome ANSYS as the newest member of the growing HSPICE Integrator Program, which has consistently delivered best-in-class flows for the electronics industry,” said Farhad Hayat, senior director of AMS marketing at Synopsys. “Through the HSPICE Integrator Program, we are enabling our partners to ensure a streamlined flow for our mutual customers.”

“Ansoft Designer 6.0 delivers capability and a design flow that the EDA community has been requesting,” said Lawrence Williams, director of product management, Electronics Business Unit at ANSYS. “Ever-smaller and sophisticated electronic products integrate digital and wireless technologies, creating tough new design challenges for RF performance, system signal integrity and EMI, low power, and communications reliability. Partnering with Synopsys allows our joint customers to tackle these challenges.”

Ansoft Designer 6.0 release highlights

• HFSS Solver on Demand provides EDA layout-centric interface to HFSS
• Solver on demand provides HSPICE users with Ansoft Designer pre- and post-processing and simulation built on rigorous ANSYS EM solvers HFSS, SIwave(TM) and Q3D Extractor(R)
• New robust EDA import capability for Cadence Design Systems, Mentor Graphics, Zuken
• High-performance computing (HPC) features allow thousands of parametric simulations to be performed on compute clusters
• IBIS-AMI for high-speed serial I/O simulation built on electromagnetics accuracy
• Integration with HSPICE provides the ability to simulate encrypted HSPICE models
• QuickEye and VerifEye fast transient and statistical serial channel analysis powered by Nexxim(R) technology