Click on the advert above to visit the company web site

Product category: Design and Development Software
News Release from: Ansoft Europe | Subject: HFSS
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 17 December 2003

Simulation software helps
UMC sort out inductors

UMC is claiming a breakthrough electromagnetic design methodology for RF CMOS designs that uses a combination of electromagnetic analysis tools to reduce simulation cycle times from hours to minutes

UMC is claiming a breakthrough electromagnetic design methodology (EMDM) for RF CMOS designs that uses a combination of electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools working in conjunction with each other to reduce simulation cycle times from hours to just minutes. UMC's new methodology effectively eliminates what has traditionally been a tremendous time and resource intensive commitment for RF designers.

The methodology was also created to greatly reduce overall development cycle times and costs for customers designing RF CMOS ICs.

SC Chien, Division Director of Central Research and Development at UMC, commented: "UMC is constantly seeking ways to better enhance the services available to our customers.

With our innovative EMDM, the learning curve for 3D EM simulation tools has totally been eliminated.

The inductor simulation process can now be thoroughly completed in as little as 20 minutes with a few clicks of a computer mouse, allowing UMC RF customers to realise a significant advantage over their competitors not using UMC's EMDM".

Although most silicon foundries are still struggling to provide reliable, accurate RFCMOS design models and passive component libraries, UMC's EMDM includes process-related information for EM simulation, allowing customers to design their own inductors with fast, accurate, and low-cost features.

EMDM includes the use of a variety of industry-recognised electromagnetic analysis tools, including Ansoft's leading HFSS 3D simulation software.

The EMDM allows engineers to easily and accurately create any RF structure, such as spiral inductors, in their design without going through several wafer splits and the painful tasks of measurement, data fitting and modeling.

UMC has already demonstrated the effectiveness of its EMDM with the successful creation of a "virtual inductor library".

For general inductor designs, the virtual inductor library works by using both real silicon measurement data and 3D EM simulation data to extract RF Spice models with higher accuracy.

This unique technology file can be positively represented within Si process parameters.

Based on this calibrated technology file, designers can implement their ideas, and then obtain the S-parameter for circuit simulation.

The creation of the virtual inductor library using the EMDM is just an example of the methodology's many capabilities.

The EMDM will also be well suited for signal-integrity analysis such as crosstalk and parasitic RC analysis within the IC.

Other RF elements that will benefit from the simulation tools and methodology include transformers, transmission line, and even the effects of the chip packaging on the design, all calculated with very high accuracy.

• Ansoft Europe: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• NEW
• Electronicstalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites

Put your news on Electronicstalk  |   Advertise  |   Get the free Electronicstalk newsletter
Electronicstalk Home  |   About Electronicstalk  |   Copyright © 2000-2007 Pro-Talk Ltd, UK