Choice of software for RF amplifire/oscillaror design

[g86]

Rank these software please

1. ADS
2. Genesys
3. MWO
4. Sonnet
5. MMICAD
6. Sernade
7. IE3D using Modua and tuchstone library

Must consider
1. $
2. accuracy
3. time
4. user frindly or not(degree of freedom)
5. Optimization and synthesis capability
6.complexity

Did I miss anything? :?: :idea: :!:

 

[multanova51]

Hi there

I do not want to be rude but questions like these have been put on this forum I think already ten times.
Why do'nt you look at the past history or look to the search feature ?

Regards 8O

Mike

 

[g86]

No they are of different types like and not this type. First of all I saw many discussions for antenna design and small no of discussions were made for amplifier or any active circuits. I think nobody discussed about MMICAD which also synthesis filters and simulates active devices and having an EM simulator in it, and also no discussions for IE3D mixed simulation. Look, I have seen almost all the threads like "Genesis vs. ADS" "HFSS vs. CST" but they could not satisfy my quary about amplifire/oscillator design.

But I am still looking for a serious comparison. Because i feel if sombody havs IE3D and touchstone files for a transistor or FET is available then using IE3D an LNA can be OPTIMIZED and no other softwares are required as long as you are interested in S-paramere response.

Anyway, thank you for seeing you here :!: :idea: :?:

 

[mwpro]

for circuit level sim, i recpmmend @ads. for em structure inside the design, I recommend ie3d + @ds. Forget about momentum.

 

[g86]

I think this is somthing a very interesting choice. Now my question is how can I export IE3D data to ADS any option? I know export of touchston files to IE3D is possible.

I like your comment about momentum. It is really horrible!!

:!: :idea: :?:

for circuit level sim, i recpmmend @@DS. for em structure inside the design, I recommend ie3d + @ds. Forget about momentum.

 

[g86]

Just an observation:

I have seen PUFF is also a very strong tool to start with. What is to be done is to change .s2p file to make it suitable for PUFF.

Really good to start with and manual quick optimization for amps. Though it is not listed in the list of softwares i mentioned

:!: :idea: :?:

 

[cheng]

Tools

IE3D good on MMIC or RF design? Tasteless joke I guess....
A program that does not have sound calibration and is horrible in accuracy can NEVER be good in MMIC design...
Momentum is Slow but is times more accurate.
On oscilator and amplifier designs most of the tools on the list will do the job if the designer is any good. Else, the best simulator will derail.
ADS seems to score best to me in terms of integrity. ADS environment is like an environment one can do everything inside - from simple arithmetic to Matrix computation, plus calls to Vee and Matlab. No other tool's so integrated I reckon. Plus, one can export the design to CST MWS as well.
Indeed, the learning curve is somewhat longer though.

cheers,

cheng

 

[BigBoss]

Re: Tools

But the prices? ADS charges 20000 USD per user and per year..(including discount for my company ..) with LIMITED license..
Have you ever you tough that ?

Agilent should review their price policy..
For the simulation accuracy , I agree with you and not..

For some cases , ADS is ver accurate but for some problems, it doesn't converge.
For instance , transient simulation ADS is quite poor while Cadence is very accurate for this purpose.

IF Momentum is used in MICROWAVE Mode , yeah it's accurate. But takes many hours depending on layout complexity. I never forget that a simulation has taken time 36 hours for three silicon coils and some metal-to-metal capacitors.

Sorry , my time is limited.

But generally , ADS is not optimum choise and it will never be..

Regards ,

IE3D good on MMIC or RF design? Tasteless joke I guess....
A program that does not have sound calibration and is horrible in accuracy can NEVER be good in MMIC design...
Momentum is Slow but is times more accurate.
On oscilator and amplifier designs most of the tools on the list will do the job if the designer is any good. Else, the best simulator will derail.
@DS seems to score best to me in terms of integrity. @DS environment is like an environment one can do everything inside - from simple arithmetic to Matrix computation, plus calls to Vee and Matlab. No other tool's so integrated I reckon. Plus, one can export the design to CST MWS as well.
Indeed, the learning curve is somewhat longer though.

cheers,

cheng

 

[jwei363]

no use

It's no use to compare different type of things.
ADS,MWO,APLAC for General system,circuit sim
CST MWS,IE3D,HFSS for EM sim
Serenade,Genesys for some kind of circuits sim

 

[g86]

Re: Tools

Just wait ..... I'll post amplifier results simulated with IE3D and PUFF.
And must remember In my list these are not there. But still you can use them as a good tool (may not be best).

:!: :idea: :?:

IE3D good on MMIC or RF design? Tasteless joke I guess....
A program that does not have sound calibration and is horrible in accuracy can NEVER be good in MMIC design...
Momentum is Slow but is times more accurate.
On oscilator and amplifier designs most of the tools on the list will do the job if the designer is any good. Else, the best simulator will derail.
@DS seems to score best to me in terms of integrity. @DS environment is like an environment one can do everything inside - from simple arithmetic to Matrix computation, plus calls to Vee and Matlab. No other tool's so integrated I reckon. Plus, one can export the design to CST MWS as well.
Indeed, the learning curve is somewhat longer though.

cheers,

cheng

 

[g86]

Re: no use

I see. Just wait and see how IE3D simulates amps..I'll be posting here the results.
:!: :idea: :?:

It's no use to compare different type of things.
@DS,MWO,APLAC for General system,circuit sim
CST MWS,IE3D,HFSS for EM sim
Serenade,Genesys for some kind of circuits sim

 

[g86]

Here is the S-para response of a very simple amplifire obtained using PUFF as well as IE3D. From the PUFF screen you will be able to see different parameters.

:!: :idea: :?:

 

[costox]

Marks: 10 Good, 1: Bad

$ accuracy time user friendly or not(degree of freedom) Optimization and synthesis capability Complexity
@DS 1 7 5 8 9 8
Genesys 5 7 6 8 8 7
MWO 7 6 7 8 8 6
Sonnet ? 7 7 6 6 5
MMICAD 5 6 7 6 6 5
Sernade ? 6 7 7 7 7
IE3D using Modua and tuchstone library ? 6 ? ? ? ?

 

[shou]

why do you think the accuracy of @ds is bad?

 

[costox]

Shou,

The first column is $ (cost). Accuracy is 7 (not bad).

 

[Needbias]

I think senrenda is also good

 

[flyhigh]

My preference was Serenade, some time ago MWO and Genesys were offering much less. I had no experience with ADS.

Now I work mostly with ADS, I find it extremely difficult to work with for everything you cannot figure out intuitively. It can be realy frustrating to simulate e.g. some nonlinear circuit sweeping over parameter and get quick response. Manuals are a nightmare and you can be lost in them easily. I regret my company stick with Agilent.

I was evaluating MWO for some time and are very happy about it, it is now a mature and good software, must have a lot to do with Steven Mass being on board! The only disadvantage I see is that EM simulator they have for the moment is not offering optimization possibility.

Working with Ansoft Designer 1.0 for a week gave me some impression on the progress thay made, it is a good-old Serenade that put some make-up to look like MWO. So far it is a good imitation, might improve in the future. Ensamble is a great EM tool included and filter tool is useful. Student version is available for free and has really great potential, it is legal!

Genesys is a fine piece of software with a strongest point in my opinion being S-Filter synthesis tool. I don't have any design experience in it.

Conclusions:

1. MWO
2. Ansoft Designer
3. ADS
4. Genesys

FlyHigh

 

[HO_220]

hi.
ADS is the best.
bests.

 

[IICCEE]

I think the genesys and ADS are helpful for AMP and OSC design.Because they have the thinesis function.

 

[pewang]

Serenade+Genesys will be better for such active circuit design.