EDA Software helps design chip-to-chip links.
Press Release Summary:
Available as add-on to Advanced Design System 2014, Controlled Impedance Line Designer accurately optimizes stack up and line geometry for multigigabit-per-second chip-to-chip links, using most relevant metric. Program lets engineers see set of post-equalization eye openings that result from sweeping through pre-layout design parameters. To ensure accurate calculation of transmission line characteristics, software automatically employs cross-sectional (2D) electromagnetic field solver.
Original Press Release:
Agilent Technologies' ADS Controlled Impedance Line Designer Solves Key Challenges in Designing Chip-to-Chip Links
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced Agilent EEsof EDA's Controlled Impedance Line Designer. The software product quickly and accurately optimizes stack up and line geometry for multigigabit-per-second chip-to-chip links, using the most relevant metric.
The product, available as an add-on to Advanced Design System 2014 uses a novel approach to design controlled impedance transmission lines. Previous tools for this task allowed only for line characteristics, such as frequency response, as the optimization goal. In modern chip-to-chip links, this metric has become less relevant because it doesn't take holistic effects of the end-to-end link into account. Most important, the effect of the equalizer in the receiver is ignored. The metric that matters today is the post-equalization eye opening.
The integration of Agilent's Controlled Impedance Line Designer and the existing Channel Simulator in ADS rectifies this situation by letting engineers see a set of eye openings that result from sweeping through the pre-layout design parameters (e.g., line width).
To ensure accurate calculation of the transmission line characteristics, the software automatically employs a fast, cross-sectional (2D) electromagnetic field solver. The dielectric layers are modeled using the frequency-dependent Svensson/Djordjevic permittivity, which ensures both accuracy and delay causality. The metal layer model accounts for conductivity, skin effect, and top and bottom surface roughness.
The Controlled Impedance Line Designer also includes a provision to determine the effect of manufacturing variation on input parameters, such as thickness on the output parameters (e.g., impedance).
"This new approach brings line design into the multigigabit era," said Colin Warwick, product manager for high-speed digital design at Agilent EEsof EDA. "The whole point of the signal processing in the I/O of modern chips is to allow you to use lower-cost materials and yet still open the eye. For the first time, engineers can easily explore those interactions and trade-offs."
U.S. Pricing and Availability
Agilent EEsof EDA's Advanced Design System 2014 with the Controlled Impedance Line Designer software add-on will be available in February 2014. Pricing is dependent on the exact configuration desired.
Agilent also offers a wide selection of high-speed digital solutions, including essential tools to pinpoint problems, optimize devices and deliver results for design and simulation.
Agilent will demonstrate the Controlled Impedance Line Designer software for the first time in Santa Clara at DesignCon 2014, Jan. 28-31, Booth 201, along with its other high-speed digital solutions.
More information on the Controlled Impedance Line Designer software is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof-ads-cild. For a video highlighting the new software add-on for ADS 2014, go to http://youtu.be/wdlAAQgLJsc.
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, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company's 20,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic measurement business. The new company is named Keysight Technologies, Inc. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014.
Contact:
Janet Smith, Americas
+1 970 679 5397
janet_smith@agilent.com
Twitter: @JSmithAgilent
Sarah Calnan, Europe
+44 (118) 927 5101
sarah_calnan@agilent.com
Iris Ng, Asia
+852 31977979
iris-hw_ng@agilent.com
