Software Update

Design and Simulation Software

A new version of the LINC2 Pro RF and microwave design and simulation software suite has been released by ACS. LINC2 V2.72 includes many new enhancements and upgrades, including new circuit models and simulation methods. Included among the many new enhancements are variable parameter sweeps, user defined equations, and special output functions for post processing simulation data. Special intrinsic functions provide new ways of processing and viewing simulation results, such as finding and tracking the frequency point at which the maximum value of a circuit response occurs or tracking the frequency of oscillation for an oscillator relative to the value of a variable parameter or circuit component value.

Applied Computational Sciences (ACS)
Escondido, CA
(760) 612-6988
www.appliedmicrowave.com

RS No. 310

Antenna Design Tool

Antenna Magus is an expert system for antenna design with a large database of antennas that makes it suitable for a broad range of applications. Its feature set is targeted at aiding engineers to get to the customization phase of an antenna design quickly and reliably. Validated, parametric models of the initial design are exported seamlessly into CST MICROWAVE STUDIO or FEKO, where customization can be done in tried-and-trusted analysis tools. Antenna Magus will expand both the number of antennas it can design and export, as well as in the number of analysis tools it interfaces with. It will aid antenna design engineers, EMC engineers requiring antenna models and system integrators who require antenna models for antenna placement studies.

Computer Simulation Technology (CST) AG
Darmstadt, Germany
+49 6151 7303 0
www.cst.com

RS No. 311

PLL Phase Noise Software

The widely popular PLL Phase Noise Calculator tool on Hittite’s website was specifically designed to help synthesizer designers select the best Hittite divider, phase frequency detector and VCO for their PLL circuit needs. The interrelation of these building blocks is critical to achieving optimal PLL phase noise, and each component in the PLL circuit will impact overall performance. A graphical interface guides the user through the component selection process, and the calculator uploads the key performance attributes for each Hittite component selected. The PLL Phase Noise Calculator quickly provides the phase noise contribution of each PLL element, as well as the total for the entire loop.

Hittite Microwave Corp.
Chelmsford, MA
(978) 250-3343
www.hittite.com

RS No. 312

EM Field Solver Update

The new version 5.20 of the EMPIRE XCcelTM 3D EM field solver for the design and analysis of RF and microwave components and antennas features the Perfect Geometry Approximation (PGA) algorithm to yield highly accurate results for curved and off-axis structures without loss of simulation speed. The on-the-fly code generation for each model and processor produces up to 1,600 million FDTD cells per second on a conventional multi-core PC supporting up to 256 GB RAM. Other features include an Object Library with 3D, 2D, wire and SMD objects, a Port Library supporting circular waveguides, internal waveguide ports with higher order modes, object snap on edges, corners and midpoint, fast plane wave excitations, superposition of near and far fields, and an Update Manager.