Agilent Korea (CEO and President Yoon Deok-kwon) has released the latest version of GoldenGate, RFIC simulation, verification, and analysis software.

The latest version of Agilent EEsof EDA’s GoldenGate provides RFIC designers with convenient analysis capabilities for EVM, BER, and ACPR metrics, enabling them to rapidly analyze and verify design errors diagnosed from large-signal analysis. It also offers new technologies that reduce simulation time and improve design efficiency.

Modern wireless standards such as LTE-A (4G) and 802.11ac (WLAN) require more stringent conditions regarding linearity, bandwidth, and noise performance that must be considered when designing transceiver ICs. GoldenGate is new simulation software that enables RFIC designers to conveniently verify and optimize designs using standard specification waveforms and measurement functions, such as transmitter EVM/ACLR or receiver sensitivity/desensitization.

Figure 1) Pre-configured GoldenGate 2013.10 VTB selection user interface for wireless test benches

"RF system simulation using actual standard-compliant modulation signals to capture third-order nonlinearity, AM/AM and AM/PM distortion, spectrum regeneration, and memory effects is critical for developing advanced RF products that comply with demanding wireless standards," said Juergen Hartung, General Manager of RFIC Products at Agilent EEsof EDA. "Designers can now add design margins to their initial designs, so they do not have to overdesign by adding expensive, unnecessary die areas or current consumption."

Agilent GoldenGate is recognized for its superior RF circuit simulation performance and stability. It provides analysis and optimization technologies that enable the completion of optimized RF circuits in the early stages of design. The latest version has been enhanced to allow the application of sensitivity analysis to RF circuit analysis even while performing large-signal analysis.

GoldenGate is the most reliable simulation, verification, and analysis solution available for RF circuit design within the Cadence Virtuoso design flow. GoldenGate’s unique simulation algorithms provide complete design verification capabilities for transceivers prior to tape-out, thereby supporting many of the technologies and functions required for today’s complex RF circuit designs. As Agilent EEsof’s RFIC simulation, analysis, and verification solution, GoldenGate consists of Momentum, a 3-D planar electromagnetic simulation tool; SystemVue and Ptolemy wireless test benches for full system verification; and the Advanced Design System, which displays data for advanced data analysis.

Figure 2) LTE Spectral Mask and Constellation Diagram of GoldenGate 2013.10