Agilent Technologies' Newest 3D-EM Software Release Increases Integration with Circuit Design Flow

The EMPro 2012 update includes a new level of integration with Agilent's Advanced Design System software, along with several simulator enhancements to improve performance and accelerate product development.

Agilent will demonstrate EMPro 2012, along with solutions that range from circuit-level modeling through system verification for general RF, microwave, 4G communications, and aerospace/defense applications at IMS 2012/IEEE MTT-S (Booth 1015), June 19-21, in Montreal, Canada. A range of premier partner solutions will also be available on Agilent Avenue and throughout the event area.

EMPro's increased level of integration with ADS is based on a shared database approach. Three-dimensional objects in EMPro can now be saved as ADS design database cells for use directly in ADS. As an example, a 3-D SMA connector cell created in EMPro now has cell views that can be placed either directly in an ADS schematic for circuit/electromagnetic cosimulation, or in an ADS layout (for an RF printed circuit board, for example) for full 3-D EM simulations in ADS.

Direct integration streamlines the design process and will give circuit designers easier access to full 3-D EM modeling capabilities, said Marc Petersen, 3-D EM product manager for Agilent EEsof EDA. No other product has this level of interoperability between 3-D EM analysis and RF/high-speed product design.

EMPro 2012 will also introduce several advances in EM simulation technology. A new low-frequency analysis algorithm improves accuracy below 100 MHz, including at DC, in finite element method simulations. Previous FEM solvers have had difficulty producing accurate, stable results at DC and low frequencies, which is required in subsequent circuit simulations, even for higher frequency applications. Additionally, Agilent has enhanced EMPro's FEM meshing technology for increased speed (typically 50 percent faster) and robustness.

The EMPro 2012 release will be available for download in July 2012. Pricing for the EMPro environment starts at $7,000. Interested parties can evaluate the software by applying for a trial version at www.agilent.com/find/eesof-empro-downloads-and-trials.