Issue link: https://resources.system-analysis.cadence.com/i/1302046
APPLICATION SPOTLIGHT RF PCB Design: AWR with Allegro Designers face multiple challenges when incorporating RF/microwave, analog, and digital design elements together on the same printed circuit board (PCB). These multilayer PCBs, which are commonly used in next-generation commercial and military applications, are densely populated with high-speed data lines and RF circuitry and are prone to coupling/ crosstalk and other parasitic behavior that can impair system performance. To successfully integrate RF/microwave content and mixed-signal designs, PCB layout tools and RF circuit design software must exchange design data efficiently. AWR software offers an RF/microwave intellectual property (IP) creation platform with import and export functionality to provide a pathway to and from Cadence Allegro ® or OrCAD ® PCB design tools (Figure 1). Figure 1: Cadence originated PCB imported into AWR software through an IPC-2581 file format RF/Microwave IP Integration RF/microwave designers use schematic capture to place active and passive components within a network. Unlike analog and digital designs, which use parasitic extraction after layout, these designs typically include closed-form transmission line models (such as microstrip and stripline) explicitly in the schematic to account for RF behavior much earlier in the design process. Electromagnetic (EM) analysis is also used to characterize structures and validate the overall design. In this way, the electrical and physical designs are concurrently implemented. AWR Design Environment provides the platform for RF/microwave design entry, circuit/system/EM analysis, and optimization. The result is an electrical design with the layout and PCB stackup information necessary to ensure accurate prediction of the manufactured device's performance. Transferring this layout and stackup information into the Cadence PCB layout and routing platform eliminates the need for manual design reentry, thus saving time, costs, and the potential for errors. Features f Linear/nonlinear frequency-domain simulation for RF/microwave circuit design f Schematic-driven RF-aware design with integrated EM extraction technology f Parametric studies with optimization, tuning, and yield analysis Benefits f Reduce design time with a comprehensive workflow that supports data exchange between RF/microwave and PCB design tools f Maximize engineering productivity with design automation and a user-friendly interface for engineers of all skill levels f Eliminate costly design respins through accurate design verification 1 www.cadence.com/go/awr