RFMD announces design kits for Agilent Technologies' Advanced Design System 2011 Software

The enhanced PDKs are available immediately to current and prospective RFMD Foundry Services customers for RFMD’s Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) process technologies.
The RFMD PDKs support a complete ADS front- to back-end MMIC design flow with scalable devices, a native design rule checker, and the layout capabilities in ADS 2011. The PDKs work seamlessly with ADS 2011, ADS 2009 Update 1 and ADS 2008 Update 2, enabling RFMD Foundry Services customers to take full advantage of the significant performance advantages of ADS 2011.

RFMD’s GaN and GaAs process technologies are available to Foundry Services customers, supported by RFMD’s industry-leading cycle times. RFMD’s foundry offerings include GaN1 (GaN for high power), a 0.5-micron GaN on SiC process technology enabling 65V CW operation and optimized for maximum performance at 4 GHz and below. RFMD’s GaN1 power technology provides a high breakdown voltage above 400V, while RFMD’s GaN2 is a 0.5-micron GaN on SiC process technology offering high linearity for high performance communications systems. Both GaN technologies are manufactured in RFMD’s Greensboro, NC, fab, one of the world’s largest III-V fabs.

The Greensboro fab also manufactures HBT8D, RFMD’s high-volume rugged InGap technology for handset and mixed signal applications, and IPC3, an integrated passive component technology that complements RFMD’s GaN technology portfolio with high power compatibility.

Additional RFMD foundry offerings include FD25, a low noise, 0.25-micron GaAs pHEMT technology, and FD30, a high power 0.3-micron GaAs pHEMT technology, both of which support applications up through 25 GHz. RFMD’s technology portfolio also includes FET1H, a 0.6-micron GaAs pHEMT technology, and FET2D, a 0.6-micron GaAs E/D pHEMT technology. Each of RFMD’s pHEMT technologies is manufactured in the Company’s Newton Aycliffe, UK, fab.

Dr. Tom Joseph, manager of technology in RFMD’s Foundry Services business unit, said, “The ADS 2011 release provides RFMD Foundry customers access to Agilent’s latest multi-technology platform for our GaN and GaAs process technologies. By leveraging Agilent’s new Library architecture and simulation enhancements, RFMD’s foundry customers can improve their design efficiencies and reduce time-to-market for their end market products.”

“We are very happy that our mutual customers can now leverage the ADS 2011 product enhancements in RFMD’s GaN and GaAs technologies,” said Juergen Hartung, foundry program manager of Agilent’s EEsof EDA organization. “With these PDKs, our customers can now enjoy the industry’s most comprehensive multi-technology design platform using Momentum, the industry-leading 3-D planar EM simulator, our integrated full 3-D FEM engine, the industry-proven design-for-manufacturing capabilities inside ADS, and an upgraded design rule checker. These capabilities are just some of the reasons the majority of MMIC designers choose ADS to increase performance, consistency and yield.”