.jpg)
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) has
announced the latest release of its RFIC simulation, verification and analysis
software, GoldenGate 2012.
Raising the bar on performance and
usability, the 2012 release offers RFIC designers a host of technology
enhancements for accelerated design verification, extended
design-for-manufacturing solutions and improved links to system design.
Additionally, new licensing models offer users greater purchasing flexibility.
Accelerating Design Verification
Design verification can be a tedious
and time-consuming task for today's RFIC designers. GoldenGate 2012 accelerates
design verification through a number of technology enhancements that allow
users to set up distributed simulations, run them with unmatched performance,
and display and analyze massive amounts of data.
Agilent also offers users an extended
"parallel simulation license" at a fraction of the cost of the base
GoldenGate simulator license. The license is supported in any scenario
launching a parallel simulation (and ADE-XL in Cadence Virtuoso).
X-Parameters* Extraction
A key feature of GoldenGate 2012 is
X-parameters extraction. X-parameters are a mathematical superset of
S-parameters and are used for characterizing the amplitudes and relative phase
of harmonics generated by nonlinear components under large input-power levels.
The new GoldenGate 2012 X-parameters feature allows designers to capture the
nonlinear behavior of active components such as amplifiers and save the data
for quick use in simulation models in RF system or circuit designs, while also
hiding all intellectual property.
"We are very pleased to see the
new X-parameters extraction support in GoldenGate," said Alireza Shirvani,
vice president of engineering at Amalfi Semiconductor Inc. "We are using
X-parameters to speed up design and co-simulation at the die-module interface,
and to share an executable circuit model that encodes the proprietary
details."
Additional Enhancements
GoldenGate 2012 features improvements
in RFIC simulation, support for advanced analysis and millimeter-wave design,
and wireless standard-compliant verification. These and other enhancements are
all designed to further improve the software's performance and usability.
Another enhancement in the area of
design-for-manufacturing is the integration of GoldenGate 2012 into the MunEDA
WiCkeD tool suite for the analysis, sizing and modeling of circuits. The
integration enables automatic compensation of process variations and parasitic
influences, and helps reduce the overall power consumption and noise in RF
circuits. With GoldenGate 2012, RFIC designers can now more confidently develop
leading-edge RF products at advanced nodes.
Expanded Foundry Support
Product enhancements and new
capabilities are essential for successful RFIC designs. Meanwhile, foundry and
EDA collaboration are equally important to ensure silicon-accurate results at
advanced RF process nodes. Agilent EEsof works closely with the major RFIC
foundries. As a result, GoldenGate gets continuously qualified against new or
updated process nodes.
"We are committed to providing our
customers with dedicated RF design-flow support to handle the challenges of
today's sophisticated RF designs," said Richard Trihy, director of design
methodology at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. "Support for GoldenGate provides our
customers with access to Agilent's proven expertise in RF and microwave design.
As a next step, we are working to qualify Agilent's RFIC solution for the 65nm
and 55nm nodes."
GoldenGate is
the most trusted simulation, verification and analysis solution available for
integrated RF circuit design within the Cadence Virtuoso design flow. Its
unique simulation algorithms are optimized for the demands of today's complex
RF circuit designs, enabling full characterization of complete transceivers
prior to tape-out. GoldenGate is part of Agilent's RFIC simulation, analysis
and verification solution, which also includes Momentum for 3-D planar
electromagnetic simulation, SystemVue and Ptolemy wireless test benches for
system-level verification, and the Advanced Design System data display for
advanced data analysis.
Agilent's GoldenGate 2012 will be
available in August.
.
About Agilent EEsof EDA Software
Agilent EEsof EDA is the leading
supplier of electronic design automation software for microwave, RF,
high-frequency, high-speed digital, RF system, electronic system level,
circuit, 3-D electromagnetic, physical design and device-modeling applications.
More information is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is
the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical
analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company's 18,700
employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues
of $6.6 billion in fiscal 2011. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.