Ansoft Designer 6.0 with Solver on Demand integrates HFSS and HSPICE

Pittsburgh, Penn. - Ansoft Designer 6.0 from ANSYS features new Solver on Demand technology, which enables electronic design engineers to quickly and accurately analyze signal-integrity, power-integrity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems from a single schematic- and layout-based environment. Ansoft Designer 6.0 also enables high-speed electronics and RF/microwave designers to access field and circuit simulation tools early in the design cycle, before manufacturing costs are incurred, while designing electronic packages and printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Solver on Demand technology integrates HFSS, the 3-D electromagnetic field simulation software from ANSYS, and HSPICE, the integrated circuit simulation tool from Synopsys, 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.

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 and VerifEye 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.

"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."

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