Agilent's EDA Software has Expanded Role in Skyworks' RF Module Design

Advanced Design System has been Skyworks' workhorse simulation engine for the past seven years, said James Young, vice president of engineering at Skyworks Solutions Inc. With the ADS circuit and electromagnetic simulator integrated into a common environment, the Agilent design flow offers the quickest path to a working design.

Agilent and Skyworks engineers worked together to create design-for-manufacturing customization using the integrated Momentum 3-D planar simulator for electromagnetic simulation of module effects alongside ADS RF circuit simulation. They modified menus in ADS to include customized Process Design Kits (PDKs), component libraries and corner simulation setups. In addition, Agilent's technical staff supported the Skyworks engineers by providing a customized noise simulator specifically for the company.

Our collaboration with Skyworks has resulted in a simpler and more efficient design-for-manufacturing ADS flow, helping to fuel our innovation in this area for other customers, said Jim McGillivary, vice president with Agilent's EEsof EDA division.

ADS is a powerful electronic design automation software platform, offering complete design integration to designers of products such as cellular phones, wireless networks, radar and satellite communications systems, and high-speed digital serial links. It is the industry leader in high-frequency design, supporting system and RF design engineers developing all types of RF designs, from simple to the most complex, from RF/microwave modules to integrated MMICs for communications and aerospace/defense applications.