Microwave Office and Visual System Simulator 2007 - AWR

Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR) announced the new version of its Microwave Office design suite and Visual System Simulator (VSS). Microwave Office 2007 features software is an ACE automated circuit extraction technology developed specifically to deliver productivity benefits to designers of today's complex, next-generation communications products. Visual System Simulator includes RFA technology, an system-level RF architectural planning and specification tool for RF system engineers.

ACE automated circuit extraction automated circuit extraction dramatically reduces from hours to seconds the time required to do the initial modeling of complex interconnects because users are able to leverage layout-based models for circuit extraction. This innovative approach to circuit extraction enables designers to perform interconnect modeling quickly and accurately at the earliest stages of the design flow, where problems can be identified and corrected before costly and time-consuming redesigns are required. These benefits ensure that products will be volume manufacturable, cost-effective, and achieve their market window of opportunity.

FRA technology  helps RF designer to quickly create and verify the initial specifications of a radio design before committing to hardware and/or a particular circuit design. The software offers a new simulation tool, RF Inspector, which helps designers find potential pitfalls early in the design process, at the system-level design phase, thus saving significant design cycle time and costly respins. Users can identify sources of intermodulation products and undesired spurs of an RF link, including the effects of conversions, harmonics, and noise. This enables users to isolate the sources of unwanted interferers and to better architect their RF systems. It is designed to support both tone and modulated signals, and it is integrated seamlessly into Microwave Office 2007 design suite.

Features in Microwave Office 2007 software now include:

• ACE automated circuit extraction of circuit models from layout geometries using RF/microwave models and techniques
• Integration with the VSS RF Inspector tool, enabling frequency-domain simulation from within the Microwave Office environment
• Enhanced integration with the APLAC harmonic balance simulation engines, providing industry-leading speed and accuracy
• Expanded Intelligent Net (iNet) technology now includes monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC), module, and printed circuit board (PCB) design capability
• New layout features and simulation models
• Improved EM stackup editor and layout mapping
• Expanded design rule checking (DRC) coverage and support
• AC and noise analysis with HSPICE

New features of VSS 2007 design suite include:

• RFA system-level RF architectural planning tool, including RF Inspector system simulation
• WiMAX fixed library (802.16d-2004) receiver
• WiMAX mobile library, fully compliant with IEEE 802.16e-2005 specifications, WirelessMAN-OFDMA physical layer
• RF centric measurements such as integrated phase noise and carrier-to-interference noise ratio (CINR)
• Additional RF models and enhanced existing RF models

Microwave Office 2007 design suite and Visual System Simulator is scheduled to be available in Q3 2007. Prices for yearly, time-based licenses range from $5000 - $40,000.

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