Keysight, Synopsys, and Ansys accelerate RFIC semiconductor design

The reference flow is based on the Synopsys Custom Design Family, which provides a complete RF design solution for customers seeking an open RF design environment with higher predictive accuracy and productivity. It provides designers with a choice of best-in-class solutions and includes validated integrations with radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) design and interactive electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools from Keysight and EM modelling and signoff power integrity solutions from Ansys.

Next-generation wireless systems feature higher bandwidth, more connected devices, lower latency, and broader coverage. Design complexity of RF integrated circuits used for wireless data transmission such as transceivers and RF front-end components continues to grow. Higher circuit frequencies, smaller feature sizes, and complex layout-dependent-effects make high speed design physics challenging, requiring more accurate and comprehensive modelling and simulation to achieve the highest performance and robust product reliability.

The TSMC N4PRF design reference flow improves design turnaround time and layout productivity in the Synopsys Custom Compiler design and layout environment with rigorous validation using critical design components including low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and LC-tuned voltage controlled oscillators (LC VCOs). The reference flow features tools that enable efficient passive device synthesis, EM model extraction, thermal-aware electromigration analysis extended to include device metal, and post-layout extraction with correct handling of circuit under inductor (CUI) structures.

In addition to Synopsys Custom Compiler, the open, modern reference flow incorporates:

Signoff accuracy circuit simulation performance from Synopsys PrimeSim simulation tools and PrimeSim reliability environment, and signoff physical verification and extraction solutions from Synopsys IC Validator and Synopsys StarRC.

Ansys Totem provides thermal-aware signoff electromigration verification and power integrity analysis (EM/IR). RaptorX and Exalto provide electromagnetic modelling, with CUI features enabling significant area reductions. VeloceRF delivers fully automatic silicon layout synthesis for electromagnetic devices including multi-layer inductor spiral, baluns/transformers, and transmission lines.

Keysight PathWave ADS RFPro provides rapid, interactive EM-circuit co-simulation and analysis to find and fix layout-dependent-effects up front in the development cycle. PathWave RFIC design (GoldenGate) supports harmonic balance simulation in early chip design and verification process.

Niels Faché, Vice President and General Manager, Keysight EDA, said: “Keysight, Synopsys, and Ansys have expanded their strategic technology collaboration with TSMC to deliver the next level in RF design for TSMC’s advanced 4nm RF technology. We’ve witnessed RF designers struggling to use older-generation solutions and flows that were never intended for today’s Wi-Fi-7 system-on-chip and RF subsystem designs. New layout-dependent-effects make detailed simulation and modelling that is signoff accurate a must-have. Other commercial tools and workflows do not always include these newest foundry requirements, and often lack the capacity to model modern analogue designs with hundreds of coupled signal ports.”

Sanjay Bali, Vice President Strategy and Product Management EDA Group, Synopsys, said: “Synopsys, Ansys, and Keysight have harnessed decades of expertise in custom analogue, RF, and multi-physics design to reduce risk and accelerate success for our mutual customers. Our latest collaboration with Ansys and Keysight on the new RF design reference flow supporting TSMC’s advanced N4P process provides an open and optimized flow that delivers exceptional quality-of-results for advanced Wi-Fi-7 systems.”

John Lee, Vice President and General Manager, Electronics, Semiconductor, Optics Business, Ansys, said: “Multiphysics raises novel challenges for our customers to optimise power, area, reliability, and performance as RF frequencies climb into the millimetre wave and sub-THz range. First-pass customer success depends upon applying best-in-class solutions across the design flow. Our partnership with Keysight and Synopsys is working closely with TSMC to make our industry-leading power integrity and electromagnetic modelling technology available in a custom design flow that responds to the needs of high-speed circuit designers.”