Introduces next-generation radio frequency circuit simulator for RFIC chip designers

Keysight Technologies, Inc. presents RFPro Circuit, a next-generation RF simulation tool targeting the complex, multi-physics requirements of today's RF integrated circuit (RFIC) designers. Wireless, automotive, and satellite designers can now provide robust designs that overcome performance challenges in dense 3D packaging, using interoperability and automation to form complex workflows.

The company's W5600E RFPro Circuit features a new modular architecture that ensures a consistent, streamlined environment for multi-physics co-design across Cadence, Synopsys, and Keysight EDA platforms. Optional electromagnetic and electrothermal simulators also plug into this new environment, facilitating faster design and troubleshooting of wireless RFICs.

Typically, RFIC designers perform sequential, single-domain verifications using expert tools but need help identifying and troubleshooting multi-domain design issues until the end of the design process. Designers are often required to become domain experts, shouldering the overhead of setup and database manipulations for each tool. With the new simulator, these tools are more tightly integrated into highly automated and efficient workflows.

Along with electromagnetic and electrothermal simulators, the company provides RF-aware analyses for stability, system-level modulation and waveforms, and simulator settings. For example, designers can optimise a sophisticated 5G-Advanced power amplifier for error vector magnitude (EVM) while loaded with EM package parasitics. As 3D designs become denser and move into new millimetre wave frequencies, the company now supplies a path to efficient design flows that are robust and reliable enough to be employed for training tomorrow's AI and ML automation in leading-edge microwave applications.

Beyond the solution's numerous technical improvements, the company offers a flexible licensing model that gives RFIC designers greater simulation freedom and instant access to the latest features, allowing them to adapt to changing workflows on a daily basis. RFPro Circuit is available for immediate download for the Cadence Virtuoso and Synopsys Custom Compiler environments. Availability for the Keysight ADS environment is expected in late 2024.

Joe Civello, director of RF/uW Products, Keysight EDA, said, "Keysight has a long and successful history providing industry-leading circuit simulation for RFIC and module designers. On top of speed and robustness, we've built RFPro Circuit to be the EDA industry's most designer-centric RFIC simulation tool, striving for flexibility, application orientation, and context awareness between multi-physics, high-performance computing, and integration into the major vendor workflows. Designers using RFPro Circuit can accelerate their engineering cycles and shift left more of their verification effort from physical into virtual prototyping where it's easier and less costly to fix problems."