Introduction to RF Circuit Design and Simulation

Software (ADS and EMPro)

Dexter Lee, Solution Engineer
21-Sep 2023

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 Keysight Offers End-to-End Solutions Across Workflows and Markets
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SOFTWARE HARDWARE SERVICES

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 Keysight PathWave Design Solutions
L E A D I N G C O M M U N I C AT I O N P R O D U C T D E S I G N
RF & Microwave High Speed Digital System Level Design
ADS Genesys SIPro
– MMIC, – RF Board – Signal Integrity SystemVue
RF Board, Circuit design for High – Electronic
SiP, HSD Synthesis Speed Digital System
SIPro Level

RFPro GoldenGate PIPro

– EM-Circuit – RFIC Mixed Signal – Power Integrity
analysis for design for DC Power Electronics
circuit designers power distribution
RFPro PIPro network
PEPro
EMPro HeatWave - Power Electronics
MemoryDesigner
– 3D EM – IC electro- – Designs DDR4,
high speed switch
thermal analysis mode power supply
DDR5 Memory PEPro –
modules
MemDsnr

Device Modeling
IC-CAP MBP MQA WaferPro A-LFNA
– Device Modeling – Device Modeling – Model Quality Express – Advanced Low-
GaAs, GaN, Silicon Assurance – Wafer-level Frequency Noise
Custom Models automated Analyzer
Measurement measurement

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Agenda

1. IC Design Workflow with PathWave ADS (MMIC PA Design)

2. Rectenna Design with PathWave EMPro and ADS

a) Patch Antenna Design with EMPro
b) Rectifier Circuit with ADS
c) Integration of Patch Antenna and Rectifier Circuit in ADS

3. General Introduction of EMI/EMC simulation with EMPro

4. Conclusion

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IC Design Workflow with PathWave ADS
(MMIC PA Design)

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Keysight PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS)

Premier RF & Microwave Design Software

• Industry and Technology Leader Serving:

• RFIC/MMIC

• Module Design

• RF Board Design

• Silicon RFIC Design

• High Speed Digital Design

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 Keysight Pathwave MMIC Solutions
From Transistors to MMIC’s to Modules

✓ Create Robust MMIC Designs with best-in-class tools ✓ Seamless integrated EM/Circuit Co-Simulation
Best-in-class
✓ Statistical Design Tools (including DOE) ✓ Best-in-Class Non-Linear Stability Analysis / Winslow Probes
RF circuit simulators ✓ Fast & Accurate “Design & Simulation with Modulation/EVM”
✓ Non-Linear X-parameters modeling
✓ Cloud HPC ✓ Wireless Verification Testbenches (VTB) and Modulated Sources

MMIC

✓ Integrated Planar and 3D EM/Circuit

✓ Design Kits from all major Foundries
Co-Simulation with RFPro
✓ Full Front-to-Back ADS PDKs
✓ Near and Far Field Plots Foundry Design Kits and ✓ DRC / LVS with MMIC toolbar support
Integrated Planar and 3D Integrated PA/Switch Module
✓ EM with Circuit Excitation EM/Circuit Co-Simulation Models from all major
Foundries ✓ GaAs, GaN, InP, HEMT, PHEMT, etc.
✓ Cloud HPC with RFPro

✓ New Front-to-Back mm-Wave DemoKit

with Electrothermal capability

✓ Electrothermal effect at chip and ✓ Layout / Electrothermal Simulation

package/module levels Electrothermal ✓ Integrated Planar and 3D EM/Circuit Co-
✓ Layout Thermal Floor-Planning Simulation Back End Design Flow
Simulation with RFPro
✓ Many foundry PDK’s are ✓ ADS Desktop and Third-Party DRC & LVS
Electrothermally enabled ✓ Multi-technology/Smart Mount for Packaging
and Module Assembly and Simulation 7
 A Platform for Technology Assembly
Package AND IC Layout “Layout vs. Layout”

Silicon RFIC
RF Pro

Interoperable, Layout,
OA-based designs Verification
GaAs/GaN/MMIC
Heatwave
Native IC and
Technology EM,
package designs Assembly Thermal

Silicon IC Pkg or Circuit Envelope

board Simulation,
Imported designs Analysis

Data Display
X-Apps “Distortion EVM”

Models, Design Kits

Libraries, Database Management

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Integrated Solution For Pre- And Post-Layout Analysis
Layout

Post Processing RFPro - 3DEM

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Demonstration: MMIC PA/Switch on Laminate Board
Design Flow
DC Analysis of FET

Optimization of Circuits for

Stability/Impedance Matching

Using of PDK Components

Design Synchronization

Substrate Definition

EM Simulation with RFPro

Smart Mount on Laminate Board

Validation: Harmonic
Balance/Virtual Test Bench 10
Schematic Design – DC Analysis of FET
• DC Analysis is usually performed at the start of amplifier design to understand the transistor performance
• ADS provides template that quickly helps designers to setup the simulation test bench.

Subcircuit within
the FET Curve
Tracer component

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 Schematic Design – Optimization of Circuits
• After understanding the transistor performance, designer will start to create the various circuit:
1. Bias Circuit
2. Stability Circuit
3. Impedance Matching Circuit

• ADS Provides tools that helps designer to achieve their goals:

1. Smith Chart Utility Tool for Impedance Matching
2. StabFact component to measure stability quickly
3. Optimization Cockpit

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Stability Optimization

• Perform S-Parameter simulation for Stability and Impedance Matching purposes.

• Below schematic perform Optimization for Stability (K-Factor) > 1.05 at all frequencies.
• SmGamma1 and SmGamma2 to measure simultaneous-match input-reflection and output-reflection coefficient.

For Impedance
Matching after
Optimization

Optimization for K-Factor > 1.05

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Stability Optimization

• Optimized K-Factor Results with S-Parameters being measured.

• SmGamma1 and SmGamma2 values are measured for impedance matching (@ 2GHz) for the next step.

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Impedance Matching @ 2GHz – Smith Chart Utility Tool
• Based on the measured SmGamma1 and SmGamma2, these values can be placed in the Smith Chart Utility Tool to creating matching
network automatically.

SmGamma1 and Quick automatic

SmGamma2 values used generation of
for impedance matching matching network
Smith Chart SmartComponent provides
quick synthesis of matching network
together with Smith Chart Utility Tool 15
Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Impedance Matching – Smith Chart Utility Tool
• Impedance Matched Results

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components

• To bring the results one step closer to the measurement results, Process Design Kits (PDKs) from Foundries or Vendors will be used to
replace the ideal components.
• Due to the model creation depending on the Foundries or Vendors, ideal component values may not be exactly replaced with PDK
component values – especially for inductor models.

Replaced with
PDK components

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components

• Comparison of Results

Using Ideal Components Using PDK Components

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components - Tuning

• Tuning can help to fine tune the performance of the design.

• Tuning updates the results instantly – no need to re-run the simulation.

Blue plot shows updated results once

components are being tuned.

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components - Tuning

• Tuning can help to fine tune the performance of the design.

• Tuning updates the results instantly – no need to re-run the simulation.

After Tuning

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components - Tuning

• Tuning can help to fine-tune and improve the results.

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Using PDK Components – Microstrip Line

• To complete the simulation, PDK Microstrip line are used to complete the design.
• If the results shift too much, consider Tuning/Optimization to fine tune the results.

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Complete Design: 2 Stage Amplifier Design
• The final demo design is a 2-Stage Amplifier and below are the schematic and results details.

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Schematic Design – S-Parameter Simulation
Complete Design: 2 Stage Amplifier Design
• The final demo design is a 2-Stage Amplifier and below are the schematic and results details.

Sub-Circuit Symbol
representing 2-Stage Amplifier
Schematic Design

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Layout Design – Design Synchronization
From Schematic to Layout

• Design Synchronization allows designs from schematic to be brought over to layout, while maintaining the schematic parameter such
as component values, layout parameters (e.g Width, Length, No. of Turns, etc.) in layout.
• Valid for PDK Models/Components that has both schematic and layout components.

Design Synchronization options, to

bring all schematic design into
layout with a single import, or
import the components into the
layout individually.

Design
Synchronization

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Layout Design – Design Synchronization
From Schematic to Layout

• Complete Layout Design for the 2-Stage Amplifier after design synchronization.

Substrate Stack-up are typically already defined by the PDK models.

Alternatively, create substrate stack-up using the ADS substrate editor

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
What we heard over the years

Tedious, Time-Consuming and Error Prone!

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation - Introduction

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation - Introduction

• RFPro in ADS Removes EM Setup Complexity

• Layout • Solver • Integration

• No Cookie cutting • No expert setup • Integrated EM and Circuit Co-Simulation
• No exporting • Be confident in the setup of the • 3D view
simulation and accuracy of the results • Solution for RF PCB, RFIC, MMIC and
• No removing active devices
• Better automated defeaturing (via RF Modules
and placing pins & ports
merging/dummy removal/hatched • Same user interface for ADS and
• No reconnecting schematics to planes…) Cadence Virtuoso
s-parameter files • Same environment for FEM and
Momentum
RFPro

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation - Setup

• Nets Assignment (Signal, Ground, Power) for

automation in Ports Creation.

• Simple Drag-and-Drop for Ports and

Component Creation
Drag and Drop
• Various options for model presentation –
Lumped, SnP, Model DB, and Library Cell
(PDK, SPICE)

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation – Generated Sub-Circuit

• Quick sub-circuit generation for schematic use.

• Generated sub-circuit automatically connects Ports, Components, and EM simulation results together with Nets connections
• Circuit Components in the sub-circuit can be Tuned/Optimized with EM simulation results for Design Exploration

Generated Symbol to
represent the
generated sub-circuit

Components
Ports

EM Simulation Results

Generated Sub-Circuit 32
Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation – Top Level Hierarchy Simulation

• Generated RFPro Sub-circuit results in comparison with Schematic simulation results.

Generated Sub-Circuit

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Layout Design – EM-Circuit Cosimulation
RFPro Simulation – Top Level Hierarchy Simulation

• Generated RFPro Sub-circuit results in comparison with Schematic simulation results.

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Further Validation of Design
Harmonic balance/modulated signals

• Non-linear performance of the LNA is critical

➢ Designers leverage on ADS Harmonic
Balance to analyze the non-linear performance

• Designer may also be interested how the LNA

performed under Industry Standard Signals
➢ Virtual Test Bench (VTBs) provides Industry
Standard Signals that designers can use.

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Validation: Harmonic Balance Simulation
1-Tone Non-Linear Simulation

RFPro Generated
Sub-Circuit

Schematic/Data Display templates

for quick simulation setup and
results display
Power Sweep from -40dBm to 0dBm

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Validation: Harmonic Balance Simulation
1-Tone Non-Linear Simulation

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Validation: Virtual Test Bench (VTB)
Simulate with industry standard signals

5G NR, Verizon, (U)F-OFDM, FBMC

3GPP / LTE, LTE Advanced
802.11 a/b/n/ac/ad/ah
802.15.3c, 802.15.4, 802.16e
Bluetooth (Basic, Enhanced and BLE)
GNSS/GPS
DVB-x2

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Validation: Virtual Test Bench (VTB)
Simulate with industry standard signals

RFPro Generated
Sub-Circuit

LTE BS Downlink
VTB

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Validation: Virtual Test Bench (VTB)
Simulate with industry standard signals

Input Power at -30dBm

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Validation: Virtual Test Bench (VTB)
Simulate with industry standard signals

Input Power at 0dBm

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Smart Mount
Multi-technology simulation

• SmartMount allows designs with different technology to be assembled into a single layout window
• This enables full design EM simulation together with Packages, Laminate, Connectors, etc.

SmartMount Flow

Select Design as Smart Place Pcell into layout design Design Ready for EM
Select Smart Mount Subtype
Mount Pcell (through drag and drop) simulation

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Smart Mount
Mount PA onto Laminate Board

Bondwires drawn on layout

to connect PA/Switch on
Laminate Board

Drag and Drop Mount PA/Switch

onto Laminate
Board

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Smart Mount
Complete the design flow with RFPro
2

Generated Subcircuit

3
1

Top Level Test

Bench Simulation

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Smart Mount: DUT Test Board
Integrate design with DUT Test board

YouTube Videos

1. 3 Critical Requirements for RF Design Flow: PathWave ADS Overview

2. Integrated 3D EM/Circuit Co-Simulation for First-Pass Design Win
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Rectenna Design with ADS and EMPro

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Keysight PathWave EM Design (EMPro)
3D EM Simulation Tool

• Modern, efficient 3D solid modeling environment

• Flexible choice of full wave 3D EM simulation

technologies, FDTD and FEM

• Antenna Element and Array Designer for quick

design generation

• Parameterize 3D EM components for co-simulation

& optimization in ADS

• Transfer ADS Layouts to EMPro for additional 3D-

EM simulation

• Full scripting (Python) and parameterization

capability

• Windows & Linux

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EMPro Application

Microwave and RF
(E.g. Antenna, PCB Board, Waveguide) Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

High Speed Digital Aerospace and Defence

(E.g. Connector Models, etc) (E.g. Radar Cross Section)

Optional Title of the Presentation 48

Antenna Design Toolkit
Element Designer

• Quick generation of desired antenna

• Support the following:

✓ Aperture Antennas
• Bidirectional 16-Slotted Waveguide Antenna

✓ PCB Antennas
• Circular Pin-Fed Patch Antenna
• Inverted-F Antenna
• Rectangular Patch Antenna

✓ Wire Antennas
• End-loaded Dipole Antenna
• Folded Dipole Antenna
• Dipole Antenna

Optional Title of the Presentation 49

Antenna Design Toolkit
A N T E N N A A R R AY D E S I G N E R

• Quick generation of array from a single

antenna element in the active EMPro project

• Support the following:

✓ Cylindrical Rectangular Antenna Array
✓ Linear Antenna Array
✓ Planar Rectangular Antenna Array
✓ Planar Triangular Antenna Array

• Specify desired Beam Steering Operation

• Enable/Disable antenna element for desired

pattern of array

Optional Title of the Presentation 50

Keysight PathWave EM Design (EMPro)
EMPro Standalone 3DEM integration with ADS

Common Database ADS Layout (3D View)

• EMPro 3D drawing EMPro 3D Design

environment shares
common database with ADS

• Enables easy 3DEM –circuit

cosimulation in ADS to ADS Schematic
account for full 3DEM effects
on circuit performance, e.g.
connectors, RF shields,
antennas

• EMPro projects now saved as ADS libraries

• 3D models now directly available in ADS as schematic and layout views
• Changes made in EMPro dynamically update in ADS
• Parameters created in EMPro available in ADS for EM sweep/optimization

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Example: Design Flow with ADS - RFPro (Antenna)
*Note: Design is for Proof-of-Concept
Seamless EM-Circuit Cosimulation
Design import from CAD-System
ODB++, Zuken-Link, *.brd 3D Design Import
• Import 3D structures/design
from Keysight EM Design
(EMPro) 3D Design import from EMPro

• Common shared library

between ADS and EMPro

Perform EM simulations with RFPro

Verify under real conditions

Optimization of Circuit Component
• Assign SPICE/SMD component models
for Impedance Matching with • Run Circuit Simulations
simulated S-Parameter results
(Transient/SP/HB/Optimization)

Check Antenna behavior

with operating conditions
• Circuit Excitation with
SMD/Circuit Components 53
Demo: Rectenna Design
Antenna Design in EMPro, Rectifier PCB Design in ADS

Combine Circuit and EM Designs

in a single platform

3D Design import from EMPro EM-Circuit Cosimulation that

allows Tuning and Optimization

ADS + EMPro provides Design Insights.

Design still needs to be fine-tuned for a
Circuit + PCB Design in ADS smoother DC output voltage!
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Demo: Rectenna Design
Antenna Design in EMPro

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Demo: Rectenna Design
Rectifier PCB Design in ADS

Layout Creation + EM Simulation with RFPro

Schematic Design +
Impedance Matching Analysis

Optimization/Tuning to fine tune Test Bench simulation with RFPro Generated EM Sub-Circuit + Tuning
design performance 57
915MHz RF Energy Harvesting Variable Pitch Angle Helix Antenna Design
Integrating 3D Antenna and PCB Circuit Design

Tutorial 7: 915MHz RF Energy Harvesting Variable Pitch Angle

Helix Antenna Design
• Demonstration of Integrating 3D Antenna
Design with PCB Circuit Design

• Antenna imported from 3rd party tool into

EMPro, followed by into ADS

• RFPro simulation done with Antenna

mounted on PCB Board

• Impedance matching with Modelithics

component was done together with
Antenna and PCB Board

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Ca52H__8k 58

Another use case of EMPro and ADS Integration
Reference – RF PCB - HD TV Tuner with Embedded CPU

RF PCB - HD TV Tuner with embedded CPU Application Notes

https://edadocs.software.keysight.com/eesofapps/rf-pcb-hd-tv-tuner-with-embedded-cpu-577603432.html 59
General Introduction to EMI/EMC simulation with EMPro

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Demo: EMC Simulation with EMPro
Plane Wave Excitation on Rackmount Chassis

Plane Wave Excitation

Configuration

2 Plots showing different

plane wave excitations at
different incident angles

Near-Field Sensor

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Demo: EMC Simulation with EMPro
Plane Wave Excitation on Rackmount Chassis
Transient E-Field Plot using Plane Wave Excitation

Plane Wave
Excitation
direction

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 Demo: EMI Simulation with EMPro
EMI Emission

Custom Waveform Import

through .csv file

Differential or Common mode

excitation configuration

Distance for emission

levels to be calculated Differential Pair on PCB
EMI Emission Calculation
tools for emission level for Differential and
computations Common-Mode Signal 63
Demo: EMI Simulation with EMPro
EMI Emission

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Demo: EMI Simulation with EMPro
EMI Emission (with Slot added)

Slot added under the differential pair to simulate the

effects of discontinuities in the PCB Ground Plane
(See Green arrows)

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Demo: EMI Simulation with EMPro
EMI Emission (with Slot added)

Slot has increased emission levels

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Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PEPro – Conducted and Radiated EMI for Power Electronics (DC-DC Converter, etc…)

Simulation
Measurement
PEPro
testbench

Virtual
Current crowding (red) shown using Conducted and radiated EMI
circuit excitation

Designer’s
circuit 67
 Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PEPro – Conducted and Radiated EMI for Power Electronics (DC-DC Converter, etc…)

➢ For this controller, the RiseTime and FallTime in Transient PE are from PEPro SMPS
frequency plan.

➢ The Data Display shows the peak spectrum (total, differential / common mode noise)
of SMPS noise calculated from the Linear Impedance Stabilization Network (LISN)
output according to the CISPR-25 requirements of the frequency range and spectrum
resolution RBW.

The EM analysis result of the board and the

mounted parts are automatically placed as
a sub circuit.

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Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PEPro – Conducted and Radiated EMI for Power Electronics (DC-DC Converter, etc…)

➢ You need to check Enable Far Field in the Field Storage tab of Frequency Plans
in Options and select Momentum Microwave or FEM in Preset of Simulator.
➢ The built-in far-field solver in PEPro can help user obtain far-field radiation
patterns under specific excitation. The far-field data, including electric field
strength and radiation power, can be examined directly in PEPro.

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Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PIPro – Conducted EMI and Radiated EMI for High-Speed Digital Boards

DC IR Drop Current Density

CEMI EM Analysis automates ground plate reference ports. Populates
a generic switching model for large signal switching noise. HB
simulator for fast steady state frequency and time domain results.

Copy DC/IR Drop Analysis

for switching regulator to
CEMI Analysis

PIPro CEMI Analysis automates the

differential setup and generic large
signal switching model.

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Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PIPro – Conducted EMI and Radiated EMI for High-Speed Digital Boards

CEMI Export to ADS Test Bench Schematic Data Display Results

1) Toggle between data sets.
Switch between component
models.

Simple switch model is

easy to modify or replace
with higher fidelity models.

Harmonic Balance simulates in minutes not hours!

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Keysight PathWave Design EMI Solutions
PIPro – Conducted EMI and Radiated EMI for High-Speed Digital Boards

Radiated Spectrum Vertical and Horizontal Orientation and Setup Options

Common mode currents on a cable can radiate. PIPro

Radiated EMI shows results with and without the cable.

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Conclusion

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Conclusion

✓ADS provides efficient and accurate EM-Circuit simulation workflow for design covering ICs,
Modules and PCB Designs

✓EMPro provides great insights for 3D Modeling EM simulation

✓Integrate PCB and 3D component design with both ADS and EMPro

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 Keysight PathWave Design
Leading communication product design
RF & Microwave High Speed Digital System Level Design
ADS Genesys SIPro
– MMIC, – RF Board – Signal Integrity SystemVue
RF Board, Circuit design for High – Electronic
SiP, HSD Synthesis Speed Digital System
SIPro Level

RFPro GoldenGate PIPro

– EM-Circuit – RFIC Mixed Signal – Power Integrity
analysis for design for DC Power Electronics
circuit designers power distribution
RFPro PIPro network
PEPro
EMPro HeatWave - Power Electronics
MemoryDesigner
– 3D EM – IC electro- – Designs DDR4,
high speed switch
thermal analysis mode power supply
DDR5 Memory PEPro –
modules
MemDsnr

Device Modeling
IC-CAP MBP MQA WaferPro A-LFNA
– Device Modeling – Device Modeling – Model Quality Express – Advanced Low-
GaAs, GaN, Silicon Assurance – Wafer-level Frequency Noise
Custom Models automated Analyzer
Measurement measurement

75