Advanced design systems ADS simulator

[Junus2012]

Hello

I would like to ask if I can use the ADS (advanced design systems from Aligent) for the design and layout for the the common analog integrated circuits like comparators and op-amp working in the low or medium frequency??

I read from Aligent website that is used for simulating the RF circuits .

Thank you in advance
Regards

 

[johnjoe]

Sure you can use it, you can also import spice-models and so on!

 

[Junus2012]

Do any one in this forum has used the ADS ??

thanx again

 

[johnjoe]

Everyday! And I think many people in this forum use ADS.

 

[Junus2012]

Hello johnjoe, are you using it ??

 

[johnjoe]

As I told you, yes, daily!

 

[Junus2012]

As I told you, yes, daily!

Hello Johnjoe,

could you please tell me how you are getting the PDK and the foundry models for your designs ?? if that is possible could you please also tell me which kind of projects you implementing in ADS ???

As you are in Germany, I was also there and I saw that most of the universities are working with Cadence or Mentor, why you then work with ADS

I really need your answers because I am going to provide ADS in to my home university

Thank you very much

 

[johnjoe]

Hi Junus2012,

I'm working in the field of RF MMIC. I only use Cadence for IC layout design and verification. I use ADS mainly for designing schematics and simulate passive structures (EM). I know many universities in Germany which are using ADS, specially in RF environment. Agilent has a quite good offer for universities.

Normally you get your models from your foundry and and they are subject to confidentiality. Models of commercial availably components are free and you can find them in the internet.

If you have more question, feel free to ask.

Johnjoe

 

[Ow@i$]

Since johnjoe you are offering your expertise :smile: ... i would like to ask here a out off topic question related to ADS,
I am designing and trying to simulate a Super-heterodyne Receiver in ADS 2009. The amplifiers in front end doesn't had a design model available so i used s parameter file, they are giving the re gain . But next is the mixer stage, I have SA602 Mixer with built in oscillator, since i don't have its model too so i took a random Mixer with LO block from Plattee in ADS and inserted values now when i simulate my "P probe" vs "freq" output graph doesn't show anything, I need to ask what i have to simulate in order to see that mixer is working fine, do i have to insert an equation or what ??
I am stuck totally!!

 

[Junus2012]

Thank you very much, Actually I would ask you much of questions I hope you could keep patience with me

During my study in Germany and Italy, I have used the Mentor Graphic tools for the design and the layout of the analog integrated circuits. As you certainly know, Mentor is a leading company in EDA tools . Some of my other friends are finished there work using Cadence Vertuso..

When we all finished our study and we returned back to our home universities in our home land, we found much of difficulties to provide either of these tools (Mentor and Cadence). However, we got a free offer to have ADS instead. Any way we dont have any idea of it so I posted my thread here.

I went again through the ADS website from Aligent, and still I read its for the high RF and Microwave application , so that my was first inquiry,,, could I use it for the low frequency chip design???. The problem is not with the simulator of course but with the models... so let me change the question, Do the foundry companies provide models for low frequency semiconductor devices for the ADS platform ???

in your last answer you told me that you are using Cadence for the layout, it means that I cant work with ADS alone without cadence and here is again my problem cause I cant afford cadence

looking forward for your kind reply

 

[johnjoe]

But next is the mixer stage, I have SA602 Mixer with built in oscillator, since i don't have its model too so i took a random Mixer with LO block from Plattee in ADS and inserted values now when i simulate my "P probe" vs "freq" output graph doesn't show anything, I need to ask what i have to simulate in order to see that mixer is working fine, do i have to insert an equation or what ??
I am stuck totally!!

Ok I try: First, be careful with s-parameter and amplifiers. S-parameters describe a linear network. Therefore, no nonlinear characteristic of the amplifier, which maybe influence your mixer, is included. But maybe it's ok for your purpose. What do you mean with "re gain"? For your mixer problem, it would be easier if you show some screenshot of your design. To test your mixer, a simple Harmonic Balance simulation should be ok with right settings.

- - - Updated - - -

During my study in Germany and Italy, I have used the Mentor Graphic tools for the design and the layout of the analog integrated circuits. As you certainly know, Mentor is a leading company in EDA tools . Some of my other friends are finished there work using Cadence Vertuso.

Yes I know a little bit Mentor.

I went again through the ADS website from Aligent, and still I read its for the high RF and Microwave application , so that my was first inquiry,,, could I use it for the low frequency chip design???.

Sure you can use it, even you can run normal DC-simulations. But the main purpose of ADS is the RF design. But the simulator doesn't care if you simulate at 10Hz or 10GHz. Only the opportunities of ADS, e.g. matching circuits, MoM-simulation and so on, makes it suitable for RF-design.

The problem is not with the simulator of course but with the models... so let me change the question, Do the foundry companies provide models for low frequency semiconductor devices for the ADS platform ???

You can import many model types into ADS: SPICE, HSPICE, S-Paramters. I think for you most important are SPICE parameters. No problem, you can use them with ADS.

in your last answer you told me that you are using Cadence for the layout, it means that I cant work with ADS alone without cadence and here is again my problem cause I cant afford cadence

You can also draw IC-layouts if you enter the layers and so on. But the problem is: Offer your foundry the PDKs for ADS. Secondly, it's quite complicate in ADS to setup DRC or LVS.

Personally, I think ADS is great for RF PCB design (schematic and layout) and MMIC (schematic), but using ADS for layout would be quite stressful. In this case maybe ADS is not enough!